Areas of Application for 3D and 4D Models on Construction Projects

TLDR

Three‑dimensional and four‑dimensional models are increasingly adopted in construction projects, yet managers lack a clear record of past applications, making it difficult to determine how best to use the technology. This study provides a comprehensive account of the application areas and purposes of 3D/4D models and calls for further research into integrating these technologies into project teams’ work and business processes. The authors qualitatively aggregate 26 case studies and employ a project‑challenge–3D/4D model application matrix to describe each application area, its benefits, and the challenges practitioners face. The analysis reveals that on most projects practitioners use 3D/4D models for only a single application area.

Abstract

In recent years more and more construction projects used three-dimensional/four-dimensional (3D/4D) models to support management tasks. However, project managers still struggle with evaluating how the 3D/4D model technology can be most efficiently applied on their specific project. One main reason for this struggle is that an account about how 3D/4D models have been used in the past is missing. This paper offers practitioners and researchers such an account of the application areas of 3D/4D model technologies including the purposes for which these technologies have been applied. The paper qualitatively aggregates the results of 26 case studies of 3D/4D model applications on construction projects to show researchers and practitioners how 3D/4D models have been applied to address project challenges. Using a “project challenge—3D/4D model application” matrix the paper explains each application area and describes why the application has been beneficial to the case study projects. The paper then analyzes the challenges that practitioners have faced with 3D/4D models on the test case projects. The main findings of this analysis are that practitioners on most of the test case projects have used the models for only one application area. The paper suggests that further research on the integration of 3D/4D model technologies into work and business processes of project teams is needed to address this opportunity for a more widespread use of 3D/4D models throughout the lifecycle of a project.