=Paper=
{{Paper
|id=Vol-2656/paper20
|storemode=property
|title=Cloud Federation Usage in Engineering and Constrution Sector (short paper)
|pdfUrl=https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-2656/paper20.pdf
|volume=Vol-2656
|authors=Ioannis Patias,Vasil Georgiev
}}
==Cloud Federation Usage in Engineering and Constrution Sector (short paper)==
https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-2656/paper20.pdf
Cloud Federation Usage in Engineering and
Construction Sector
Ioannis Patias and Vasil Georgiev
Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics, University of Sofia St. Kliment Ohridski
5 James Bourchier Blvd., 1164, Sofia, Bulgaria
patias@fmi.uni-sofia.bg
Abstract. The aim of this paper is starting with the description of the current
achievements regarding digitalization technologies in the engineering and
constructions, to present concrete technologies like the CityGLM, BIM, and the
EUBIMTG initiative. These technologies create huge capacity of gains for the
constructions sector in all phases, and for all the actors, as constructions digitalization
has a huge unexplored potential. In addition, the clear advantage of EU BIM
as thematic module in CityGML technology in the generation and management
of buildings digital representation of physical and functional characteristics is
underlined. In this environment, the cloud-computing paradigm provides on-
demand services creating new business models. IaaS of cloud federation can be
solve many issues. There is a need strictly and precisely to define the design and
implementation guidelines for the used functionalities used. For the requirements
analysis a four points list is proposed.
Keywords: GIS, BIM, twin city, E&C, cloud federation.
1 Introduction
For almost 40 years, now Geographic Information Systems (GISs) are used
as industry standards. GIS are computer-assisted systems that are used for the
capture, storage, retrieval, analysis and display of spatial data [1]. Since the
80s, they have increase in use and their sophistication has led to new academic
interests, which have resulted in an expanding research community in many
directions. We have now formalized definitions, categorizations, terminologies
and standard data structures, showing a remarkable degree of cross-disciplinary
work. Just to mention few of those standards:
CEN TC287 GIS, for the standardization in the field of digital geographic
information for Europe;
International Standardization Organization (ISO)/TC211 GIS, for the
standardization in the field of digital geographic information; and
Open Geospatial Consortium, as an international not for profit organization
Copyright © 2020 for this paper by
200its authors. Use permitted under
Creative Commons License Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0).
committed to making quality open standards for the global geospatial
community.
Still there are many more opportunities available as result of the application of
new technologies, materials and tools. According to the World Economic Forum
[10] new technologies in the digital space, will not only improve productivity and
reduce project delays, but can also enhance the quality of buildings and improve
safety, working conditions and environmental compatibility. In this direction,
Building Information Modeling (BIM) plays a central role, as it is the key enabler
of and facilitator for many other technologies.
There is increasing interest in the integration of BIM and GIS [7]. Although
BIM and GIS applications and environments are quite different, both have
strengths, but both also make progress and first steps in new promising technologies
like the twin cities environments. As a comparison, we may refer to the BIM that
uses 3D geometry based on Industry Foundation Classes (IFC). The ISO IFC
standard is primarily used for representing constructively solid geometry, with
boundary representation, using Boolean operations. The produced data modeled
with IFC are used in exchanging information on-project basis between project
stakeholders, and partners. So BIM is used to model buildings and other similar
constructions, and structures above the ground, and it is typically used for new
buildings, constructions and other structures. Another very important concept
regarding BIM models is the decomposition and further specialization of objects
in the model. This makes the relation between different objects to be of strong
importance.
On the other hand, the GIS systems have a server-focused approach.
The focus of GIS data is on the geo-location by using real world coordinates.
Geospatial objects in the GIS environment are being related by using those
real world coordinates. The role of the GIS modeler is to model existing data,
enhanced with other tools or policies. Until now GIS has been proved strong on
2D geometry and now is being standardized with 3D.
BIM and GIS technologies can create strong synergies, when used together
in a digital twin environment. The digital twin is a set of virtual information
constructs that fully describes a potential or actual physical manufactured product
from the micro atomic level to the macro geometrical level. At its optimum, any
information that could be obtained from inspecting a physical manufactured
product can be obtained from its digital twin [4].
The aim of this paper is to evaluate the opportunities, and describe the
business models for the Engineering and Construction (E&C) sector, which the
two technologies GIS and BIM create in an integrated digital twin environment.
2 Methodology
The integration of the two concepts (of GIS and BIM) should use the strengths from
both of them, in the context of the other. This can be done by using a central model
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server for GIS like CityGML, with a thematic module for building information
modelling based on the EU BIM task force guidelines. This architecture allows
us to integrate EU BIM semantics into CityGML. The integration of BIM and
GIS generates even more applications from both domains if combined in a digital
twin platform. Finally, this new approach can create additional business models
for the E&C sector.
2.1. GIS standards and CityGML
There is an increasing interest in building virtual 3D city models, focused on
different application areas. Starting from systems for urban planning, to mobile
telecommunication, disaster management, and 3D cadaster, further to tourism, for
applications in vehicle and pedestrian navigation. The first virtual 3D city models
were defined as graphical models, without any additional semantic aspect, and
could only be used for visualization purposes, but not for thematic queries. Those
systems had also limited reusability of their models in other city models, and thus
a more general modelling approach was necessary in order to answer to those
information specifications for different applications and fields.
CityGML is the answer to this challenge, as a common semantic information
model, enabling the representation of 3D urban objects, and their sharing over
different applications. This capability namely is the most important regarding the
cost-effective, and sustainable maintenance of a 3D city model. This allows to
the developers to sell the same platform to many different customers from many
different applications and fields. Again, the applications and the fields vary from
city planning, and architectural design, to tourist and leisure activities, vehicle
and pedestrian navigation, but also environmental simulations, from mobile
telecommunication, and disaster management, to homeland security, and real
estate management.
CityGML is designed as an open data model and XML-based format for
the storage and exchange of virtual 3D city models. It is implemented as an
application schema of the Geography Markup Language 3 (GML3), the extendible
international standard for spatial data exchange and encoding issued by the Open
Geospatial Consortium (OGC) [6].
The main idea is that CityGML defines the necessary classes and relations
for the respective topographic objects in cities and regional models with their
geometrical, topological, and appearance properties but also add semantical
representation. This way the “City” gains a broader definition including built
structures, elevation, vegetation, water bodies, “city furniture”, and more so called
thematic modules. The model includes generalization hierarchies combining those
thematic modules, as relations between objects, and spatial properties. CityGML
can be applied to both large areas and small regions and can be used to represent
terrains and 3D objects with different levels of detail simultaneously, different
Levels of Detail (LOD) (see Fig. 1). LODs are required to reflect independent
data collection processes with differing application requirements.
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2.2 BIM standards and EU BIM task force
The concept of BIM has existed since the 1970s [2]. There are many different
definitions of BIM by providers varying from Wikipedia to the ISO. Most of them
describe BIM as a process or method of managing information related to facilities
and projects. All this information collected and organized coordinates multiple
inputs and outputs. Thus, we can use different representations of physical and
functional characteristics, shared and digital. In addition, we can represent built
objects like buildings, bridges, roads, or process plants.
Figure 1: The five levels of detail (LOD) defined by CityGML [6].
A pan-European approach to best practice in BIM was established. The idea
is to bring together efforts into a common and aligned approach to develop an
excellent digital construction sector. Introducing BIM at a project, organizational
or national level raises questions like where to start from, or what to do first and
what is that can define it.
Based on the existing experience of implemented until now projects for the
successful transformation of the construction sector, EUBIMTG [3], focuses on:
clearly and specifically defined activities and characteristics, and
well scheduled and phased implementation of the strategic framework in a
realistic period.
Figure 2: CityGML modularly structured [9].
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One particular area where standardization on BIM is needed is the exchange
of information between software applications used in the construction industry.
The leading organization in this domain is building SMART, which has
developed and maintains Industry Foundation Classes (IFCs) as a neutral and
open specification for BIM data model. Other standardization work includes data
dictionaries (International Framework for Dictionaries Libraries) and processes
(data delivery manuals) [5].
2.3 EU BIM as thematic module in CityGML
However, CityGML is modular and covers various thematic areas of city covering
buildings. It provides us with the opportunity of incorporating EU BIM standards
in the CityGML frame. Again, we have the ability of representing each object in
the city the above-mentioned levels of detail (LoD) (see Fig. 2). This is because
CityGML offers the flexibility of supplementing the data model with domain
specific object types and attributes, and therefore guarantees high degree of
interoperability with other systems [8].
3 Cloud federation usage in the E&C sector
There is clear advantage of EU BIM as thematic module in CityGML technology
in the generation and management of buildings digital representation of physical
and functional characteristics. All this information creates an environment with
shared knowledge resources, enabling decision-making support regarding the
building. This covers all stages, from the earliest conceptual to the building
design and construction, and even to its operational life.
In this environment, the cloud-computing paradigm provides on-demand
services, creating new business models. Users in a transparent way pay according
to pay-per-use constrains. Different providers using distributed and virtualized
computing resources arrange these services. Small and medium companies
can avoid making large investments of capital for purchasing their own IT
infrastructure equipment. Instead, there is flexible and dynamic usage of services
by virtualization technology decoupling applications from the physical machine,
on which they run. Virtual Machines (VMs) migration technology provides with
guarantee a concrete level of Quality of Service (QoS). Providers are able to
supply different levels of service:
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS),
Platform as a service (PaaS) and
Software as a Service (SaaS).
The cloud-computing ecosystem allows both large cloud providers, but
also small ones to compete. Often the smaller ones use the mega-providers for
developing their services. IaaS of cloud federation can be defined as an agreement
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between providers for the provision of virtual equipment. This equipment can
include VMs, clusters, networks, etc. We need to have in mind that there is no
strict and precise definition of design and implementation guidelines for the
functionalities used to enable IaaS cloud federation. Thus, a requirement analysis
for the definition of those characteristics and functionalities for an IaaS cloud
federation is required. In addition, here follows, what we should focus on in
applying cloud federation in E&C:
ensure flexibility: be able to work from different locations from construction
site, to home, and office, and even on the move
promote agility: be able to use highly trained and up to date specialists, and
services
secure cost-efficiency: use opex versus capex, and reduce both the upfront
investments and the risks
take advantage of scalability: depending on the concrete E&C project go up
and down to numbers, volumes etc.
Within E&C sector, there is a trend of organizations, of different sizes,
adopting cloud technologies. They prefer to move their IT infrastructure from
the traditional on premise server-based to the hosted, cloud-based IaaS cloud
federation by using the internet to run applications, without own computer servers.
5 Conclusions
In this paper is presented a description of the current achievements regarding
digitalization technologies in the engineering and constructions, together with
concrete technologies like the CityGLM, BIM, and the EUBIMTG initiative. All
these technologies create a huge capacity of gains for the constructions sector
in all phases, and for all the actors, as constructions digitalization has a huge
unexplored potential. The clear advantage of EU BIM as thematic module in
CityGML technology in the generation and management of buildings digital
representation of physical and functional characteristics was underlined. It was
concluded that in this environment the cloud-computing paradigm provides on-
demand services creating new business models. IaaS of cloud federation can solve
many issues. The problem of lack of strict and precise definition of the design and
implementation guidelines for the used functionalities used is identified. For the
solution of the requirements analysis a four points list is proposed.
Acknowledgements
This paper is prepared with the support of GATE project “Big Data for Smart Society”,
funded from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 WIDESPREAD-2018-2020
TEAMING Phase 2 programme under Grant Agreement No. 857155. Also from
the scientific project, GloBIG: cloud integration model platform with hybrid
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massive parallelism and its application for analysis and automated semantic
enrichment of large collections of heterogeneous data, contract number: DF 02/9-
17.12.2016.
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