Paul Teicholz

Agent-based framework for integrated facility engineering

An agent-based framework for the development of integrated facility engineering environments in support of collaborative design is introduced. This framework aims at integrating design software by allowing better software interoperability. Within their framework, design agents represent various existing design and planning systems that communicate their design information and knowledge partially and incrementally using the Agent Communication Language (ACL). ACL is a formal language proposed as a communication standard for disparate software. It is based on a logic-based language called Knowledge Interchange Format (KIF) and a message protocol called Knowledge Query Manipulation Language (KQML). Design agents are linked and their communication of design information is coordinated via system programs called facilitators in a federation architecture. The federation architecture specifies the way design agents and facilitators communicate in an integrated software environment. In concert with pursuing fundamental research concepts, we have been developing an integrated design software environment that spans different phases of the facility life cycle. This environment serves to demonstrate the primary aspects of this research methodology. In this paper, we first discuss the integration problem and review related research projects. We then present the major aspects of agent-based software engineering methodology and its application to integrated facility engineering. A highlight of the current integrated design environment development is given to illustrate the advantages of this approach. Finally, we summarize and discuss some of the important research issues in light of previous research.

Virtual components consisting of form, function and behavior

Abstract Software can produce a product model of a building as a consequence of the designers actions in drawing and evaluating the design. The actions of the designer include interpreting, predicting and assessing the emerging design and describe the building in terms of forms, functions and behaviors. A software prototype has been implemented that incorporates this understanding of the design process in the field of building design. It employs object-oriented classes to represent forms, functions and behaviors. As a software user draws and interprets the design for multiple evaluation issues, the software creates a unique `virtual component for each entity. During automated reasoning to evaluate the emerging design, virtual components collect and organize form, function and behavior instances to describe the parts of the building. In comparison to other product models, our approach, which we refer to as a `Virtual Product Model, better accommodates change, provides increased support for the design process and enriches the product representation by including function and behavior.

Interpretation Objects for Multi-Disciplinary Design

The computer-based representation of semantic meaning for multi-disciplinary design remains a difficult problem. Commercial computer-aided design (CAD) systems which emulate the drafting metaphor are inadequate for representing complex semantics and accommodating dynamic changes during the design stage. Research computer systems which impose a formal symbolic approach for representing designs typically are unable to support fast, multi-faceted visualization and feedback that designers can obtain with pencil and paper. By building upon design theory literature and observation of a case study of an actual building design project, we have identified and devised computational strategies for addressing these needs. We describe a conceptual approach and a prototype implementation, Semantic Modeling Extension (SME), for representing multi-disciplinary semantic meaning of a shared 3D graphic building model. SME is part of an on-going research project which explores the development of an Interdisciplinary Communication Medium (ICM) for collaborative design. Our approach distinguishes sharply between the interactive graphic model necessary for creative design and the symbolic models necessary for automated reasoning, yet provides a dynamic link between the graphic model and the symbolic models. The fundamental concepts discussed in this paper include: (1) Context, a domain of relatively independent reasoning about the design performance; (2) Feature Object, a pointer to a graphic entity and an associated symbolic object, representing the meaning of that graphic entity within a particular Context; (3) Interpretation Object, a Context and an associated list of Features; and (4) Interpretation Manager Object, a list of Interpretation Objects associated with a shared 3D building model to support multiple points of view. The prototype provides an open system integration architecture which enables designers to share a graphic 3D model, yet dynamically support multiple interpretations of the design. We describe the operation of SME with an illustrative example.

Interdisciplinary communication medium for collaborative conceptual building design

Collaborative conceptual design involves intensive cross-disciplinary communication of design concepts and decisions. Difficulty in producing and expressing such information leads to extensive delays, miscommunication and confusion, which often have an impact upon the quality of the final design and the time required to achieve design concensus. Computer tools provide little support for the special needs for representation and reasoning posed by cross-disciplinary communication in collaborative conceptual building design. By building upon design theory, literature and observations for a case study of an actual building design project, we identify and devise computational strategies for addressing these needs. Our objective is to help improve the communication among design team members. Our test case focuses on the communication between architects and structural engineers. We propose a conceptual framework for interdisciplinary communication to support collaborative conceptual design and present a prototype called Interdisciplinary Communication Medium (ICM). Our conceptualization suggests that designers propose a shared form model, interpret the form model into discipline models, critique the discipline form models to derive behavior and compare it to function, and explain the results to other members of the team. We present this propose-interpret-critique-explain paradigm as a communication cycle for collaborative conceptual building design. We explore and test the conceptualization by modeling it with an experimental software prototype, ICM, that integrates graphic representations and AI reasoning about, the evolving building design. ICM provides a graphic environment as the central interface to reasoning tools to support collaborative design.

Support for integrated value-based maintenance planning

The paper considers how IRTMM intelligent real-time maintenance management system helps process-plant engineers and owners perform value-based plant maintenance. With IRTMM, they can inspect subsystems, identify component operating parameters, and review and make notes regarding component performance or operational and maintenance history.

An approach for the interoperation of web-distributed applications with a design model

This paper defines the data and inference requirements for the integration of analysis applications with a product model described by a CAD/CAE application. Application input conditions often require sets of complex data that may be considered views of a product model database. We introduce a method that is compatible with the STEP and PLIB product description standards to define an intermediate model that selects, extracts, and validates views of information from a product model to serve as input for an engineering CAD/CAE application. The intermediate model framework was built and tested in a software prototype, the Internet Broker for Engineering Services (IBES). The first research case for IBES integrates applications that specify certain components, for example pumps and valves, with a CAD/CAE application. This paper therefore explores a sub-set of the general problem of integrating product data semantics between various engineering applications. The IBES integration method provides support for a general set of services that effectively assist interpretation and validate information from a product model for an engineering purpose. Such methods can enable application interoperation for the automation of typical engineering tasks, such as component specification and procurement.

The design of user interfaces for intelligent layout generation systems

The generation of architectural layouts through knowledge-based techniques forms a notable focus in design research efforts. A significant aspect of this research centres on the development of user interfaces which permit designers to take a participatory role in the development of layout solutions. This paper focuses on issues associated with the development of these user interfaces, and introduces one implementation (intelligent bubble diagrams) under development in the Computer-Aided Architectural Design Expert project at Stanford University.

Facility Quality Measurement as the Engine of Continuous Product and Process Improvement in the AEC/EPC Industry

This article demonstrates a method for measuring facility quality and for using these measured data to adjust the facility development process so that it produces increasingly higher-quality facilities. The plant managers satisfaction with the operatio..