Ontology for Linking Delay Claims with 4D Simulation to Analyze Effects-Causes and Responsibilities

Abstract

Visualizing and analyzing the specifics of delay claims in relation to effects and causes and assigning responsibility are a challenge for attorneys, jurists, and judges. Four-dimensional (4D) simulation can be considered as a part of a claim management system for representing the responsibility and impact, and can be used as the main scheduling method of claims resolution. Building information modeling (BIM), 4D simulation, delay effects and causes (DEC), and claims are knowledge domains with active research in the construction industry, which are individually described in the literature using taxonomies and ontologies. However, there is a gap in integrating these ontologies in a more formal and overarching ontology-based approach to grasp essential concepts such as liability, causality, and quantum in a delay claim using 4D simulation. This article proposes a new method for using 4D simulation for visual analytics of delay claims based on an integrated ontology (called Claim4D-Onto), which includes a taxonomy of the quantum, causality, and assigned responsibility. A case study is used to demonstrate the benefits of the proposed method. This method can provide a promising multidisciplinary tool for quicker and fair settlement of construction delay claims by facilitating hearing procedures and catalyzing pretrial negotiations.