nD Modelling for Collaborative Working in Construction

There is currently an abundance of research into new and emerging issues in IT to improve construction practice. Some of these initiatives have become buzzwords and have failed to deliver, largely because of a lack of a scientific foundation for construction IT research in general. This paper addresses the issue of nD modelling at the University of Salford. nD modelling is a research topic that has started to gain momentum and interest worldwide. This paper examines nD modelling opportunities within a business context; the issues surrounding nD are not just technological, but also cultural, human and process related. The nD modelling approach can assist in bringing various participants in the construction project together, but the willingness to work together in an interdisciplinary way is questionable. The research at Salford proves that the nD modelling approach is ideal, but not achievable in the short term for various reasons that will be explored in this paper. The findings are based on four workshops run over 18 months to explore the opportunities that nD modelling can offer to the construction sector. The nD prototype tool is also presented, as tested on the new Lowry extension building.