Project Dashboard: Visual representation of project metrics on 3D building model

Project management support systems have been widely used in AEC projects as planning and communication platforms since the personal computer was first invented. However, the usefulness of these systems as a control tool for project managers has been limited by their inability to represent information coherently or develop an adequate user interface.;Spatial and temporal data sets, and static (planned) and dynamic (actual) data that stem from temporal data, are produced throughout the project lifecycle. The integration of these data creates various project metrics, which can accurately depict actual and anticipated project performance. This research hypothesizes that building a 3-D model can be the most persistent and effective visual platform with which to integrate these data. Up to now, many 3-D model-based management systems have been introduced into AEC projects, but their functionality has been minimal.;This research focuses on introducing the framework for a 3-D model-based monitoring and control system which allows decision makers to view an accurate picture of the status of a project at any point during construction. The challenge of the research lies in proposing visual strategies that can support an intuitive recognition of project data. The proposed visual metaphors for a 3-D model provide intuitive identification of information by aggregation, abstraction, and omission of multivariable project data.;The system prototype, Project Dashboard, has been built to illustrate that the proposed visual frameworks are capable of providing a clear image of the current project status and its impact. This proposal for a new control system is presented as a suite of 3D model-based data visualization and user control interfaces. It is derived from continuous feedback from AEC practitioners and system case studies along with early prototype developments.