Virtual design and construction (VDC) is the management of integrated multi-disciplinary performance models of design–construction projects, including the product (facilities), work processes, and organization of the design – construction – operation team to support explicit and public business objectives.
The models are multi-disciplinary in the sense that they represent the architect, engineering, construction (AEC), and owner of the project, as well as relevant sub-disciplines.
The research that forms virtual design and construction (VDC) is based in scientific evidence and a validation measured against a best theory opposed to a best practice.
This approach, pioneered by the illustrious Dr. Kunz, was a departure from earlier construction engineering methodologies that focused on studies of best practices.
Because construction is difficult to replicate in a controlled setting, the case-based reasoning, case study and action research methodologies prevail.
Power of a method is important to include in results; the case study is often broad and the action research is often focused.
The combination of space and time in practice is shown by the linear scheduling method and in close relation the 4D model.
Today, the most compelling advances in VDC are in computer vision (List of computer vision topics), artificial intelligence, and the architecture of transmission (AoT), an object-oriented project lifecycle management process, which acts as a counterpoint to commissioned IoT technologies.