Tools for the 21st Century Construction Worksite

Built2Spec: Built to Specifications

Built2Spec is a European Union Horizon 2020 funded project.

About the Project

Meeting EU energy efficiency targets for both new builds and retrofits is now easier to manage thanks to the development of new and innovative on-site quality assurance tools.

Built to Specifications (Built2Spec) is a Horizon 2020 EU-funded project involving 20 European partners that sought to reduce the gap between a building’s designed and as-built energy performance. To do this, the project put a new set of breakthrough technological advances for self-inspection checks and quality assurance measures into the hands of construction professionals. This collection of smart tools helps building stakeholders at all levels in meeting EU energy efficiency targets, new build standards and related policy goals.

Watch this video to learn more about Built2Spec

Project Process

Built2Spec delivered a set of tools that are connected to a Virtual Construction Management Platform supporting the collection and sharing of all project data, from initial design to the delivery. During the project, this platform was integrated into the operations of small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) contractors, large construction firms and end user clients directly within the consortium and work program activities, assuring systematic and scientific performance measures, feedback and powerful exploitation.

Tools delivered by Built2Spec:

Quality Checks
Built2Spec compiled and further developed the know-how of various experts within and outside the consortium to achieve an easily usable expert tool and to guarantee high quality construction work.

Indoor Air Quality Tool
Built2Spec optimized the first analyzer dedicated to real-time measurement of indoor air quality by developing a truly portable version, designed and adapted for field operation.

Thermal Imaging Tool
In the construction sector, the measurements from TIR devices are exploited in a mostly qualitative way. Built2Spec proposed methods to allow quantified assessment of thermal properties of buildings.

Smart Building Components
Built2Spec implemented the novel use of embedded sensors in precast elements in order to continuously monitor both the thermal and structural performance of the building.

Building Information Modelling
Built2Spec used the information in BIM to check whether the as-built situation complies with the design – not just after the project is delivered, but also during the construction process.

Airtightness Test Tools
This new device enabled quick checks (<1min) by generating and analysing a low pressure pulse from an autonomous unit which does not penetrate the building envelope. A robust unit for construction sites, is being developed.

Acoustic Tools
Built2Spec developed a novel lightweight sound source for acoustic testing that provides a more diffuse field than standard loudspeakers and ensures easy portability and regulation compliance.

3D and Imagery Tools
3D reconstruction aims to capture real objects. This process can be accomplished either by active or passive methods. The combination of these methods can be used to reconstruct a large variety of scenes in 3D!

The project, coordinated by the French technological center NOBATEK, started in January 2015 and ended in December 2018 after 4 exciting and very successful years.

Built2Spec Partners

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Built2Spec & NUI Galway

The team at NUI Galway's role within the project was to:

  • Embed structural/environmental performances sensors, including RFID, to ORAN construction elements
  • Use embedded sensors data for self-inspection and quality assurance of building components
  • Link sensor information to performance benchmarks generated by calibrated numerical simulation models

Dr Marcus Keane PhD.

Dr. Marcus Keane founded the Informatics Research Unit for Sustainable Engineering (www.iruse.ie ) in 2000. IRUSE is affiliated to the Ryan Institute at NUI Galway (http://www.ryaninstitute.ie/). IRUSE focuses on the systematic development and deployment of whole building and reduced order energy simulation models to underpin optimised operation of energy systems in buildings utilising a range of software/hardware applications/systems such as 3-D CAD modelling software, whole building (EnergyPlus) and wireless Building Management and Automation Systems (BMS/BAS).

Dr. Magdalena Hajdukiewicz PhD.

Dr. Magdalena Hajdukiewicz is a research fellow at NUI Galway. She is a graduate of Wrocław University of Science and Technology where she obtained a Masters of Civil Engineering. She completed her PhD, as part of the NEMBES project (2009-2013), under the supervision of Dr. Marcus Keane at NUI Galway. Since 2013, Magdalena has worked as a researcher and an adjunct lecturer in Engineering at NUI Galway. She has worked on a number of national and international research projects including Irish Research Council Enterprise Partnership Scheme with Oran Pre-Cast,  Hit2Gap project (EU Horizon 2020) and Built2Spec (EU Horizon 2020) in which she acted as Project Manager on behalf of NUI Galway.

Sustaining our Planet and People

NUI Galway are on a mission to support the transformational changes that are necessary for human society to steer itself towards sustainable development. 

Through a collaborative approach and partnerships, our researchers are delivering research and innovations in areas such as climate action, clean energy, ocean, freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems, sustainable bio-economy and One Health. 

Our location on the Atlantic shore, surrounded by lakes, rivers and wetlands affords us a living laboratory. Our international reputation in this areas is led by research across all Colleges and by the work of our Ryan Institute.

Find out more about the Project...

Visit the Built2Spec Website

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