Implementing BIM in the German Architecture, Engineering and Construction Market---A Survey about the Potentials and Barriers

The research project ＂BIM--Potentials and Barriers＂ aims to analyze existing BIM practice and the barriers to the implementation of the approach in Germany. Overseen by an ＂advisory board＂ with high-profile field, public-authority and AEC （architecture, engineering and construction market） association representatives, a set of hypotheses has been drawn up and subjected to evaluation by means of a detailed survey. The survey, having identified the relevant stakeholders, first attempts to discover how BIM （building information modeling） is currently used. The potentials of the application of BIM in the different processes and target groups are also determined, as well as the barriers and constraints. Enhancement of the considered areas is an important project solution approach： Besides technological aspects, the analysis also focuses on contracting, norms and processes, as well as education, knowledge and role perception.

Damping Collaborative Optimization of Five-suspensions for Driver-seat-cab Coupled System

Both the seat and cab system of truck play a vital role in ride comfort.The damping matching methods of the two systems are studied separately at present.However,the driver,seat,and cab system are one inseparable whole.In order to further improve ride comfort,the seat suspension is regarded as the fifth suspension of the cab,a new idea of ＂Five-suspensions＂ is proposed.Based on this idea,a 4 degree-of-freedom driver-seat-cab coupled system model is presented.Using the tested cab suspensions excitations as inputs and seat acceleration response as compared output,the simulation model is built.Taking optimal ride comfort as target,a new method of damping collaborative optimization for Five-suspensions is proposed.With a practical example of seat and cab system,the damping parameters are optimized and validated by simulation and bench test.The results show the seat vertical frequency-weighted RMS acceleration values tested for the un-optimized and optimized Five-suspensions are 0.50 m/s～2 and 0.39 m/s～2,respectively,with a decrease by 22.0%,which proves the model and method proposed are correct and reliable.The idea of ＂Five-suspensions＂ and the method proposed provide a reference for achieving global optimal damping matching of seat suspension and cab suspensions.

Tenure-Track Assistant Professor in Integrative Systems Engineering NSF Engineering Research Center for Collaborative Adaptive Sensing of the Atmosphere(CASA) Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

In conjunction with the NSF Engineering Research Center for Collaborative Adaptive Sensing of the Atmosphere (CASA),the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst invites applications for a tenure-track position in Integrative Systems Engineering(ISE) at the Assistant Professor level to begin September 2009.