Building information modelling and vertical farming : data integration to manage facilities and processes

Khan, RRA; Ahmed, V

Abstract

Purpose
The UN statistics shows that the world’s population is expected to be 9 billion by the 2050. As a result, the food production must also to be raised 70% or more. Vertical Farming (VF) is an innovative alternative approaches to meet the challenges, however, its management will also be a challenge. This paper, therefore, shares the understanding of future food challenges and, BIM and its application to manage the facility.
Design/methodology/approach
A conceptual digital prototype of a VF is developed in a BIM environment using design science. First the data is collected from literature review and then analysed and simulated for optimum conditions in a BIM enabled digital prototype.
Findings
The results showed that BIM to manage a Vertical Farm has not been researched or explored yet. However, Building Information Modelling (BIM) has proven its numerous benefits to the AEC and FM industry, and it is a powerful solution to design and manage Vertical Farms to solve future food production problems.
Originality/value
There is a very limited research on vertical farming in the literature, and BIM for vertical farming is also not discussed or researched yet. The originality and value of this research stems from both Expanding BIM horizons, and designing and managing vertical farm.

Citation

Khan, R., & Ahmed, V. (2017). Building information modelling and vertical farming : data integration to manage facilities and processes. Facilities, 35(13/14), 710-724. https://doi.org/10.1108/f-03-2016-0026

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Aug 29, 2017
• Deposit Date: Oct 25, 2017
• Journal: Facilities
• Print ISSN: 0263-2772
• Publisher: Emerald
• Volume: 35
• Issue: 13/14
• Pages: 710-724
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/f-03-2016-0026
• Keywords: Human Factors and Ergonomics, Architecture , Building and Construction
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/f-03-2016-0026
• Related Public URLs: http://www.emeraldinsight.com/loi/f