P. S. Brandon

Information technology support to construction design and production

This editorial paper introduces this special issue of the journal by giving an overview of the other papers that follow. It introduces non-construction readers to the nature of the construction process, the different levels of activity within the process, and the generic information technologies being applied in the sector. It then examines the use of information technology (IT) within different levels of coordination processes and identifies barriers to IT implementation in the sector. As a major review paper, it then examines the current use and future potential of generic technologies within the major distinct project phases of design and production. It concludes by shedding further light on the key issue of information integration before outlining some of the other issues that are impinging on how theory and practice are being taken forward together in the field.

An information engineering approach to modelling building design

Abstract This paper highlights potential problems in the construction industry concerning the large quantities of information produced and the lack of an adequate information structure within which to coordinate this information. The Information Engineering Method (IEM) and Information Engineering Facility (IEF) CASE tool are described and put forward as a means of establishing an information structure at a strategic level thus providing a framework for the implementation of lower level applications systems. The paper describes how the ICON (Integration/Information for Construction) project at Salford University is establishing and modelling the information requirements for the construction industry at the strategic level. The IEM and IEF are demonstrated using activity, data and interaction models with particular attention being paid to the function of building design within the broader context of design, procurement and the management of construction. Implications for future practice are also discussed.

The development of an expert system for the strategic planning of construction projects

The paper outlines the problems associated with cost models and the role of professional expertise. It then outlines the production of an expert system to be used at the strategic planning stage of the development process. The system was developed in collaboration between the University of Salford and The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Quantity Surveyors Division) and funded under the British Governments ‘Alvey’ IKBS programme.

An integrated approach to CAD: modelling concepts in building design and construction

Abstract The ICON project is concerned with the creation of a generic information structure for the construction industry. A central feature of the information model is the use of object-oriented modelling techniques to allow information to be viewed from different ‘perspectives’ and at different levels of abstraction, according to the requirements of the user. This paper discusses the object modelling of concepts and information in the design area. Drawing on knowledge elicited from protocol analysis of the design activity, a series of interrelated object models has been developed, reflecting different perspectives and abstraction levels within the design domain. Three of these models (spatial design, physical design and structural design) are presented and their implications for the communication and sharing of information discussed.

The object oriented modelling of building design concepts

Abstract This paper describes the development of an object oriented model for building design which is being developed by the ICON (Information/Integration for CONstruction) project at Salford University. This model consists of a series of sub-models of varying levels of abstraction which represent the conceptual, physical and structural perspectives of design and which fit within an industry wide framework. Such a framework will facilitate the integration of information across the various disciplines involved in a construction project; this will allow information created at any stage or level of abstraction to be viewed by any participant of the construction industry according to their own requirements. This concept of perspectives is central to the modelling techniques adopted.

The conceptual modelling of construction management information

Abstract The conceptual modelling of construction management information models the information for the activities performed at the post design stage. In this paper, such activities have been identified by a steering group of industrialists and representatives of the major professional institutions in the UK who are assisting the research team in the development of conceptual models for construction management information. The resulting conceptual models form the basis for developing construction management databases which can monitor the time, cost and quality aspects of a construction project. Proper information modelling is a key factor in realising these aspects. However, unless a sound methodology is used to structure the information required by the various disciplines involved at the construction stage, the critical factors of time, cost and quality may not be achievable. This paper reports on a methodology used by the ICON project being developed at the University of Salford which is attempting to provide a framework of information into which the modelling of construction management information fits. This methodology is based on the coupling of two powerful information modelling and analysis techniques namely Information Engineering and Object Oriented Analysis and Design with the assistance of an object oriented CASE (Computer Aided Software/Systems Engineering) tool which automates the production of information models. The Information Engineering method was used for the strategic planning of information using activity decomposition/activity hierarchy whilst the Object Oriented Analysis and Design approach was performed at the analysis, design and implementation stages due to the incorporation of the notion of information perspectives. An Object Oriented CASE tool (Ptech) is being used to assist in producing the various information models required by the construction management disciplines and to generate executable computer code from these models.

A case-based approach to construction process activity specification

This paper investigates and proposes an original approach in specifying construction project process activities by making use of case-based reasoning (CBR) techniques. The work presented falls into the scope of the EPSRC funded COMMIT and CBRefurb projects. The COMMIT project aims at providing information management support in the context of distributed collaborative construction engineering. A brief summary of the problems encountered in project process specification is given. A new approach, based on CBR, is proposed. The CBR techniques and cycle are described. A subset of the COMMIT information management model, along with its implementation, dealing with project lifecycle description is presented. The paper then addresses the process activity case representation, indexing, retrieval and adaptation. Finally, the CIMM process CBR interface is presented.

Sustainable development: ignorance is fatal – what don’t we know?

Purpose – The purpose of the article is to highlight areas of potential research which will provide a deeper understanding of sustainable development and allow a more structured approach to the development of knowledge in such a broad topic.Design/methodology/approach – The approach has been to identify the philosophy of Herman Dooyeweerd and his theory of the cosmos as a means by which knowledge can be gained, understood and developed. This approach has allowed a useful framework to be developed which provides a checklist, a deep understanding and a place to structure and place emerging knowledge. It also allows some understanding of the strength of the interrelationships between modalities which contribute to sustainable development.Findings – The findings are still being investigated but several case studies have been undertaken which suggest that this philosophical approach is a useful way forward.Research limitations/implications – The research is the development of a methodology and as such will dev...

Research and development of expert systems for the construction industry

Professor Brandons Expert System research is part of a research programme designed to enable the construction industry to operate more effectively. Also being developed at Salford are integrated databases, intelligent simulation models, and bidding modules.

Intelligent Models for Collaborative Construction Engineering

Many critical issues still need to be tackled properly in order to manage concurrent engineering projects effectively. These issues include versioning, notification, and propagation, all of which need to be addressed throughout the construction project lifecycle. To this end, the COMMIT project strives to achieve an improved level of support for the versioning of project information at both the conceptual (schema evolution) and the instance levels. Versioning, notification, and propagation are addressed through the CIMM (a generic and context-independent information management model for supporting collaborative construction projects) and are described in this paper. The main concepts of the construction-oriented COMMIT Canonical Model (CCM), specialized from the CIMM, are also presented, followed by a description of the first prototype implementation of the CIMM tackling information versioning. This research is ongoing and supported by a well-established U.K. steering group.