ABSTRACT
The concept of ‘build virtually then build actually’ has been a key driver in research and process innovation within the AECO industry for the last 20 years, and was the vision that led to the formation of the Center for Integrated Facility Engineering (CIFE) at Stanford University in 1988. After many years of research, testing and incremental uptake, this concept is now being realized under the banner of virtual design and construction (VDC). VDC is the use of multidisciplinary performance models of designconstruction projects, including their products (the facility), organization and work processes, to meet the business objectives across the stakeholders. Design and construction are intimately linked in the process, as the uptake of this technology enables changes in the role and responsibilities of designers and constructors. There will also be implications for facilities managers (see Ding et al., Chapter 20 in this volume).
