Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Virtual reality (VR) have attracted growing attention within the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry in recent years. Integration of BIM and VR technology can develop workflow efficiency through enhanced common understanding and prepare students in architecture and engineering programs to become leaders of the AEC industry. However, the current shortage of AEC professionals trained in BIM and VR is still a barrier to collaborative working practice in this industry. This paper reviews previous work on the BIM, VR, and BIM-into-VR in AEC education/training to bridge this gap. It also presents an advanced framework to clarify creating and using the BIM model into VR workflow in the AEC industry through the integrated definition function (IDEF0) model. The authors further evaluated the BIM-into-VR applications in literature and real-life by surveying students’ learning performance in terms of eight characteristics relevant to the VR environment and students’ performance within two projects, one involving the “NASA Mars Habitat Project” and the other involving the “Norris Center Project” at Northwestern University. The results confirmed that BIM-into-VR usability and efficiency in improving students’ main learning performance characteristics: Learnability, Interoperability, Visualization, Real-world, Interaction, Creativity, Motivation, and Comfort. This study addresses the advantages of using BIM-into-VR in AEC programs. It also offers suggestions to AEC educators and students in implementing BIM-into-VR in different courses and creating a roadmap for their future as professionals in the AEC industry.

In the last few years, the application of VR has exponentially grown to give visually large field-of-view from planning to execution stages of any types of civil infrastructure systems. Handling the complexity and uncertainty of construction projects, however, requires well-prepared architects and engineers. Architecture and civil engineering students are also expected to go through the proper training to be well-equipped for this challenge. VR has proved a helpful tool for architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) education environments with the aim to leave a lasting impact on a student’s learning and experience. The purpose of this paper is to provide a brief review of the most recent VR systems in the design and construction industry and the education environment. The paper also evaluates the use of VR in a two-pronged approach by conducting a comprehensive literature review and interviewing students in the master of project management (MPM) program. This paper could provide a roadmap for future efforts to implement VR into the architectural and construction industry as well as the education environment.

The objective of this research is to create and conceptualize an integrative approach based on project management philosophies, systems, technologies, and tools. Some of the major issues that construction companies face with projects are finding design and construction mistakes before implementation; understanding details, processes, change orders, and requests for information; and lack of collaboration among project stakeholders. This paper aims to address these gaps, using a project delivery method that incorporates early stakeholder engagement. It is organized as follows: first, to define the status of this research area, the paper provides a concise review of the most recent papers about BIM, Lean, MR, BIM-Lean, and BIM-MR technologies that have appeared in peer-reviewed journals and international conference proceedings. Second, to guide the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry, the paper presents a BIM/MRLean-based project delivery management model that is based on flowchart and integrated definition function modeling (IDEF0) language. Finally, the paper highlights the advantages and challenges of the system under discussion. This paper provides a roadmap for future efforts toward implementing a BIM/MR-Lean-based management system in all stages of the construction industry. Such a management system provides significant opportunities to improve the quality of planning, understanding, and also performance of construction projects.

The architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry stands to benefit tremendously from the integration of lean construction (LC), building information modeling (BIM), and extended reality (XR) technologies at all stages of a project. These technologies enable multidimensional content viewing and collaboration through cloud-based systems and in real-scale environments, resulting in higher levels of efficiency. The aim of this research is to offer an integrative approach that combines project management philosophies, systems, technologies, and tools. The sections containing the results of this study are as follows. (1) A concise review of the benefits of LC, BIM, and XR technologies in the AEC industry, including BIM-based visualization support for LC (Lean-BIM) and BIM visualization in XR (BIM-XR). This section also presents an overview of the most commonly used wearable XRs on the market. (2) The presentation of an LBX process flow diagram and an IDEF0 diagram for the LBX project delivery management system at each stage of AEC projects, including design, construction, and operation. (3) Two possible scenarios for integrated lean, BIM, and XR implementation are suggested, referred to as “in the office” and “online or semi-online LBX meetings”. (4) An analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the LBX management system, practical implications, and open challenges of applying LBX to project management tasks. Overall, this study presents an enormous opportunity to increase the quality of construction project planning, understanding, and performance, and provides a roadmap for future efforts to implement the integration of LC, BIM, and XR technologies in the AEC industry.

Since the economic reforms that began 20 years ago, and especially with the enterprise reforms in recent years, ownership of Chinese construction firms has evolved from traditional state and collective ownership towards a mixed economy characterised by diversified ownership forms. Based on a questionnaire survey and personal interviews with individuals from firms representing four types of ownership, it has been determined that the majority of Chinese construction firms have already embraced commercial objectives and behaviour patterns similar to those of typical firms in developed market economies. Nevertheless, despite the important progress that the reforms have made, this study indicated that various construction firms during this transition are suffering serious difficulties caused by the former planned system and underdeveloped market mechanisms. Unfair practices were found to be quite serious in the construction market. Major problems stem from clients' abnormal behaviour in forcing the price down, asking contractors to finance a project wholly or partially during its construction, and delays in payment; these actions have caused severe financial difficulties to Chinese firms and seriously disrupted the normal order of market stability.

When designing a set of prequalification requirements, the first objective is to select the basic factors that are deemed appropriate to scrutinize, and the second objective is to establish the threshold for each of these factors to evaluate the capability and capacity of the bidders on a given project; together, these factors and the limits imposed on each constitute the basis for qualifying or disqualifying each of the bidders. To obtain the desired prequalification results and the consequent quality delivery of a project, both selecting the factors and determining the limits for each factor are crucial and must be given careful attention with due consideration of the prevailing environment (including market conditions, deadlines, need for technology transfer, etc.). In this study it was found that an improper design of prequalification requirements seriously affected the progress and cost of projects, provided opportunities for collusion, and encouraged the obtaining of contracts through improper practices. Based on an analysis of data from 30 Taipei Mass Rapid Transit projects, together with information gleaned from numerous interviews with contractors, consultants, and clients, it is shown that a risk-taking attitude by the Government and the establishment of relatively low prequalification requirements would be more conducive to achieving a desirable balance among (a) satisfying the schedule and sequence of contracting, (b) obtaining lower prices by an increase in competition, (c) procuring the timely delivery of a quality project, and (d) fostering the growth of local contractors.