Big data for Design Options Repository: Towards a DFMA approach for offsite construction

A persistent barrier to the adoption of offsite construction is the lack of information for assessing prefabrication alternatives and the choices of suppliers. This study integrates three aspects of offsite construction, including BIM, DFMA and big data, to propose a Big data Design Options Repository (BIG-DOR). The proposed BIG-DOR system will connect BIM clients to manufacturers/supplier's information such as prefab component cost and production lead times. In this study, we propose a framework for integrating BIG-DOR into the process of offsite construction delivery. The design of the BIG-DOR system architecture, as well as the key components such as the DFMA option-based 3D objects classifier, is presented. The contribution to the knowledge of this study is the successful integration of BIM, big data, DFMA and offsite construction in a single framework and the development of a design alternatives assessment system for offsite construction adoption using this framework. •A framework for integrating Big-Data for Design Options Repository (Big-DOR) is proposed.•An approach for integrating Big-DOR into Offsite Construction Delivery is presented.•A system Architecture for Big-DOR Prototype is developed.•A case study is used to evaluate the proposed system.•Potential practical implications were discussed.