An integrated system incorporates building concepts, business processes, production technologies, information & communications technologies support, and training. This enables future construction to act as a flexible, agile, value-driven and knowledge based industry and most of all to be highly customer-centric, efficient and competitive.

The first international conference of CIB's new Priority Theme: Integrated Design Solutions (IDS) took place on 10-12 June, 2009 in Espoo, Finland. The conference attracted forty five experts from twelve countries worldwide. They represented the views and expertise of industry, academia, and research.

They shared their research, ideas, and thoughts during themed sessions on:

Utilisation of Building Information Models: BIMs as vehicles for simulation and virtual prototyping; BIM for supporting safety process on construction sites; use of BIM for location tracking of construction components; use of BIM to generate design alternatives and construction process sets.

Integrated Processes: knowledge sharing processes to supported integrated design and construction; identification and classification of challenges in integrated design; need to share processes across disciplines; using BIMs to structure and manage tasks on construction projects.

Sustainability: improving building design through parallel building and environmental costing; human thermal responses in energy-efficient buildings; environmental assessment of buildings.

Beyond Building Information Models: connecting structural buildings models to different construction classification systems; optimisation of construction planning through virtual prototyping and BIMs; integrated design systems for homes; BIM as a service offering; IT-based innovation in construction; construction automation for modular assembly.

User value through collaboration: knowledge based design integration; automation technology for realising as-build models of services.