Andrej Tibaut

Interoperability requirements for automated manufacturing systems in construction

Multi-disciplinary software interoperability in the Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Operations industry is becoming a new and widely adopted business culture. Technical advances in interoperability architectures, frameworks, methods and standards during the last decade resulted in higher maturity of product and process models. Mature models, in effect, enable data exchange by an increasing number of software applications in the industry. This establishes trust in data exchange and results in the lower cost impact of inefficient interoperability. The negative cost impact increases with advancing life-cycle phase, from planning and design phase to construction phase and to operation and maintenance phase. Interoperability in the planning and design phase is most mature and well published, while interoperability in the construction phase and for automated manufacturing is less researched. This paper reviews state-of-the art automated manufacturing systems in construction and researches interoperability requirements for automated construction in context of the entire building lifecycle. Our research is based on experimental free-form clay building, designed with embedded simple HVAC components, and manufactured with additive layer technology. Conclusions provide valuable results for interoperability research and practice in construction projects with automated manufacturing systems in place.

A standardised approach for sustainable interoperability between public transport passenger information systems

A significant number of passenger information systems for public passenger transport exist throughout Europe at national levels but, regrettably, their trans-national interoperability is very limited. Any passenger information system depends on several underlying heterogeneous information systems; ranging from the management of transport infrastructure networks, public transport infrastructure objects, public passenger transport services, and public transport processes and regulations. Public transport service providers have their own local information systems that should be vertically interoperable with their national passenger information system. In the future, a trans-national interoperability system is anticipated for national passenger information systems when journey-planning across Europe. This paper explores the interoperability of passenger information systems and any appropriate ITS standards. An existing information system for the management of public passenger transport is described, and a proposal put forward for implementing sustainable interoperability requirements. Finally, a European Passenger Information System - EPIS is proposed as a new solution for the possible sustainable trans-national interoperability of passenger information systems across Europe.

Fast 3D visualization of road product models

Due to its monolithic nature, 3D visualization software integrated with legacy engineering applications contain every possible feature you might use-whether or not a user really wants them. With the advent of distributed objects and interpreted platform-independent languages such as Java and VRML it is possible to develop cross-platform portable 3D visualization software as components that work in an easy-to-use manner. Adopting these advances, fast 3D visualization can considerably simplify the job of maintaining the life cycle of a road integrated within an agreed road product model. The paper aims to introduce new levels of support to engineers throughout the integrated product life cycle by dealing with issues such as fast platform-independent 3D visualization and product modelling using roads as an example.

Development of Knowledge Model for Construction Projects

The growing need for interoperability and the use of BIM (Building Information Modeling) within the AEC domain (Architecture, Engineering and Construction) is leading to the increased need for efficient knowledge management. In order to digitally manage and understand large volumes of information contained in construction works projects, the paper suggests a knowledge engineering approach with a common knowledge model. The new knowledge model (ontology) for AEC domain is presented and applied as a case study in a real construction project. As a result, a more effective knowledge management throughout the whole lifecycle of AEC projects is expected.

Ontologizing the Heritage Building Domain

New challenges for cultural heritage have arisen from the expansion of digitalization, the broader range of available applications, and the increase in individuals and organizations interested in obtaining and sharing heritage knowledge. Supporting digital knowledge sharing relating to cultural heritage entails the challenges of structuring and transforming of data to information, information to knowledge and knowledge to application, etc. Digital cultural heritage processes must be knowledge-based and interoperable. Knowledge-based approaches using the concepts of linked data and ontologies are recognized as a basis for efficient solutions.

Inter-university Virtual Learning Environment

Virtual learning environments are irreversibly shaping the way of teaching and learning at universities. They have become more and more popular as practitioners recognized the advantages virtual learning environments offer when applied in online teaching and learning. Nevertheless, most of the virtual learning environments do not provide straightforward support for inter-university interoperability between heterogeneous learning environments. This paper presents a use case of ITC-Euromaster with collaboration concept for inter-university interoperability. Furthermore, a taxonomy, an ontology and a high level architecture using intelligent software agents that enable dynamic inter-university interoperability are proposed to further develop an existing virtual learning environment used among four European universities.

Sustainable management of construction site big visual data

Architecture, Engineering, Construction, Operation and Ownership (AECOO) team up in a multi-disciplinary collaborative system to create buildings and infrastructure. The participating disciplines have reached a state in which traditional methods and forms of input data introduce entropy that compromises sustainable construction in larger projects. It became difficult to reach planned optimum project duration and costs this way. New approaches based on the systematic digitalization of the building lifecycle, from design to demolition, can solve the problem by involving the concepts of building information modeling (BIM) systems and big data. Previous research on BIM and big data only studied the potential for construction performance. In addition to extending research into systems’ thinking and technical sustainability of big visual data, this paper extends our previous work in the area by introducing a new conceptual and technical framework for sustainable management of construction site big visual data.