One of the principal challenges facing the construction industry today is how to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the design and construction process. Moreover, what contribution can the effective use of information technology make to this?

Recent years have witnessed a major change in the approach to construction innovation and research. There has been a huge concentration, from both the academic and industrial communities, on the development of a single building/ product model and/ or on the expansion of 3D CAD modelling with other design attributes (such as time and cost). nD modelling expounds by bringing together an nth number of design perspectives. Thus, an nD model is an extension of the building information model that incorporates multi-aspects of design information required at each stage of the lifecycle of a building facility; including scheduling, costing, accessibility, crime, sustainability, maintainability, acoustics and energy simulation. We believe that nD modelling is a realistic potential for an improved construction industry. It is an integrated tool that will enable construction stakeholders – across time zones – to cohesively and comprehensively work within their own specialised discipline on one model. Thus, they can negotiate and collaborate to bring about an improved design by enabling true what-if analysis of design decisions. The information in the model is linked, so that when design information is changed, for example, the cost of the project will also change to reflect the new design.

• Oct 1st 2004: Expressions of interest.
• Nov 1st 2004: Full papers due
• March 1st 2005: Review process completed; final versions of papers ready.
• April 2nd 2005: Special issue published.