Created at the Co-operative Research Centre for Construction Innovation, based at Queensland University of Technology, in collaboration with CSIRO Materials Science and Engineering, the software monitors the metal health of buildings across the state, including 1200 schools.
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The system accesses a number of databases of component lifetimes, derived in different ways, making it more robust. It reduces the need to physically inspect a building to find out if metal is corroded. 字串5
The Queensland Department of Public Works, which collaborates with the CRC, is investigating ways of using the tool for building design and maintenance. Further research will assess the expected maintenance cost savings. 字串3
QUT IT faculty senior lecturer Richi Nayak said the building components life predictions system was the first based on data mining. "The department wanted a system that could take various information about the service life of building components and automatically predict the service life of any new components or new building part in the future, based on historical information," said Dr Nayak, a data mining researcher.
"For example, if they are planning a new building in a particular location and they want to know what metal would last the longest, they can feed the basic information into the system and it would predict the estimated service life."
The service life predictions would enable the department to plan its maintenance schedule. The system also helps to make cost-effective material selections for new buildings and replacement parts. "It would take the information of the current building and predict how many more years these components would last," Dr Nayak said. 字串2
The system involves 10 components such as downpipes, ridge capping, roof fasteners, roof sheeting, sub-flooring, window frames and steel supports.
The materials it covers include galvanised steel, Zincalume and Colorbond. 字串3
Dr Nayak said timely maintenance rather than reactive repairs would cut maintenance bills on buildings while improving safety. 字串8
