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In this contribution, the design of an analysis environment is presented, that supports an analyst to come to a decision within a gradual collaborative planning process. An analyst represents a project manager, planner or any other person, involved in the planning process. Today, planning processes are managed by several geographically distributed planners and project managers. Thus, complexity of such a process rises even more. Prediction of consequences of many planning decisions is not possible, in particular since assessment of a planning advance is not trivial. There have to be considered several viewpoints, that depend on individual perceptions. In the following, methods are presented to realize planning decision support.
In the AEC (Architecture / Engineering / Construction) industry a number of individuals and organisations collaborate and work jointly on a construction project. The resulting consortium has large pool of expertise and experience and can be defined as a Virtual Organisation (VO) formed for the duration of the project. VOs are electronically networked organisations where IT and web based communication technology play an important role in coordinating various activities of these organisations. This paper describes the design, development and implementation of a Grid enabled application called the Product Supplier Catalogue Database (PSCD) which supports collaborative working in consortia. As part of the Grid-enabling process, specialised metadata is being developed to enable PSCD to effectively utilise Grid middleware such as Globus and Java CoG toolkits. We also describe our experience whilst designing, developing and deploying the security service of the application using the Globus Security Interface (GSI).
The conceptual structure of an application that can support the structural analysis task in a distributed collaboratory is described in (van Rooyen and Olivier 2004). The application described there has a standalone component for executing the finite element method on a local workstation in the absence of network access. This application is comparable to current, local workstation based finite element packages. However, it differs fundamentally from standard packages since the application itself, and its objects, are adapted to support distributed execution of the analysis task. Basic aspects of an object-oriented framework for the development of applications which can be used in similar distributed collaboratories are described in this paper. An important feature of this framework is its application-centred design. This means that an application can contain any number of engineering models, where the models are formed by the collection of objects according to semantic views within the application. This is achieved through very flexible classes Application and Model, which are described in detail. The advantages of the application-centred design approach is demonstrated with reference to the design of steel structures, where the finite element analysis model, member design model and connection design model interact to provide the required functionality.
Communication software and distributed applications for control and building performance simulation software must be reliable, efficient, flexible, and reusable. This paper reports on progress of a project, which aims to achieve better integrated building and systems control modeling in building performance simulation by run-time coupling of distributed computer programs. These requirements motivate the use of the Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA), which offers sufficient advantage than communication within simple abstraction. However, set up highly available applications with CORBA is hard. Neither control modeling software nor building performance environments have simple interface with CORBA objects. Therefore, this paper describes an architectural solution to distributed control and building performance software tools with CORBA objects. Then, it explains how much the developement of CORBA based distributed building control simulation applications is difficult. The paper finishes by giving some recommendations.
The contribution introduces a method for the distributed process modelling in order to support the process orientation in Structural Engineering, i.e., the modelling, analysis and management of planning processes. The approach is based on the Petri Net theory for the modelling of planning processes and workflows in Structural Engineering. Firstly, a central and coarse process model serves as a pre-structuring system for the detailed modelling of the technical planning activities. Secondly, the involved planning participants generate distributed process models with detailed technical workflow information. Finally, these distributed process models will be combined in the central workflow net. The final net is of great importance for the process orientation in Structural Engineering, i.e., the identification, publication, analysis, optimization and finally the management of planning processes.
The process of matching data represented in two different data models is a longstanding issue in the exchange of data between different software systems. While the traditional manual matching approach cannot meet today’s demands on data exchange, research shows that a fully automated generic approach for model matching is not likely, and generic semi-automated approaches are not easy to implement. In this paper, we present an approach that focuses on matching data models in a specific domain. The approach combines a basic model matching approach and a version matching approach to deduce new matching rules to enable data transfer between two evolving data models.
This paper describes an ongoing research on the representation and reasoning about construction specifications, which is part of a bigger research project that aims at developing a formalism for automating the identification of deviations and defects on construction sites. We specifically describe the requirements on product and process models and an approach for representing and reasoning about construction specifications to enable automated detection and assessment of construction deviations and defects. This research builds on the previous research on modeling design specifications and extends and elaborates concept of contexts developed in that domain. The paper provides an overview of how the construction specifications are being modele d in this research and points out future steps that need to be accomplished to develop the envisioned automated deviation and defect detection system.
The increased implementation of site data capture technologies invariably results in an increase in data warehousing and database technologies to store captured data. However, restricted use of data beyond the initial application could potentially result in a loss of understanding of site processes. This could in turn lead to poor decision making at production, tactical and strategic levels. Concrete usage data have been collected from two piling processes. These data have been analysed and the results highlighted potential improvements that could be made to existing site management and estimating processes. A cost benefit analysis has been used to support decision making at the strategic level where the identified improvements require capital expenditure.
Information science researchers and developers have spent many years addressing the problem of retrieving the exact information needed and using it for analysis purposes. In informationseeking dialogues, the user, i.e. construction project manager or supplier, often asks questions about specific aspects of the tasks they want to perform. But most of the time it is difficult for the software systems to unambiguously understand their overall intentions. The existence of information tunnels (Tannenbaum 2002) aggravates this phenomenon. This study includes a detailed case study of the material management process in the construction industry. Based on this case study, the structure of a formal user model for information retrieval in construction management is proposed. This prototype user model will be incorporated into the system design for construction information management and retrieval. This information retrieval system is a user-centered product based on the development of a user configurable visitor mechanism for managing and retrieving project information without worrying too much about the underlying data structure of the database system. An executable UML model combined with OODB is used to reduce the ambiguity in the user's intentions and to achieve user satisfaction.
Spatial data acquisition, integration, and modeling for real-time project life-cycle applications
(2004)
Current methods for site modeling employs expensive laser range scanners that produce dense point clouds which require hours or days of post-processing to arrive at a finished model. While these methods produce very detailed models of the scanned scene, useful for obtaining as-built drawings of existing structures, the associated computational time burden precludes the methods from being used onsite for real-time decision-making. Moreover, in many project life-cycle applications, detailed models of objects are not needed. Results of earlier research conducted by the authors demonstrated novel, highly economical methods that reduce data acquisition time and the need for computationally intensive processing. These methods enable complete local area modeling in the order of a minute, and with sufficient accuracy for applications such as advanced equipment control, simple as-built site modeling, and real-time safety monitoring for construction equipment. This paper describes a research project that is investigating novel ways of acquiring, integrating, modeling, and analyzing project site spatial data that do not rely on dense, expensive laser scanning technology and that enable scalability and robustness for real-time, field deployment. Algorithms and methods for modeling objects of simple geometric shape (geometric primitives from a limited number of range points, as well as methods provide a foundation for further development required to address more complex site situations, especially if dynamic site information (motion of personnel and equipment). Field experiments are being conducted to establish performance parameters and validation for the proposed methods and models. Initial experimental work has demonstrated the feasibility of this approach.
During the establishing of fundamentals in a building project a huge amount of influence factors and boundary conditions have to be investigated in order to provide the prerequisites for further planning processes. These investigative tasks are often related with a great effort concerning time and money, because there are no standardized workflows and interfaces which provide an efficient access to the necessary information related to a specific construction site. Within the fundamental investigation human and natural circumstances have to be taken into account. Thus, in this project two examples have been chosen in order to demonstrate the holistic approach for an integration and provision of georeferenced information. The developed internet-site http://www.grundlagenermittlung.de has been designed to support architects and civil engineers in early planning phases of a building project efficiently. It offers web-based services based on dynamic interfaces for a flexible search and collection of information concerning the building site. Therefore, a central Metadatabase-Server for Description, Discovery and Integration has been established which enables a registration of georeferenced services and the redirection of incoming requests to other, distributed data pools. Using this Yellow-Page concept in combination with the underlying meta-data based on the ISO 19115 standard an efficient investigation of geographical and environmental information becomes possible.
The problem of data interoperability is now very important. The formal description of construction systems and objects must base upon the modeling for the description of construction data domain. The XML-language was selected as a basis of a universal data format, ensuring natural hierarchy of objects, flexibility, good layout and expandability. The language, developed by the author, is called Building Object Description Extensible Markup Language (bodXML). The types of all objects used by data transfer should be definite beforehand with existing methods of programming. It limits the possibilities of IT in application of new types. But the recipient software must recognize the building objects even if the kind of object is unknown at the outset. The author offers a set of main topological and geometric properties being sufficient for recognition of main three-dimensional building constructions with flat edges. The tests of artificial neuron network have shown that the recognition of a kind of the constructions represented as a set of indicated parameters happens enough confidently.
Advances in construction data analysis techniques have provided useful tools to discover explicit knowledge on historical databases supporting project managers’ decision making. However, in many situations, historical data are extracted and preprocessed for knowledge discovery based on time-consuming and problem-specific data preparation solutions, which often results in inefficiencies and inconsistencies. To overcome the problem, we are working on the development of a new data fusion methodology, which is designed to provide timely and consistent access to historical data for efficient and effective management knowledge discovery. The methodology is intended to be a new bridge between historical databases and data analysis techniques, which shields project managers from complex data preparation solutions, and enables them to use discovered knowledge for decision making more conveniently. This paper briefly describes the motivation, the background and the initial results of the ongoing research.
All construction project are constrained by their schedules, budgets and specifications, and safety and environmental regulations. These constraints made construction management more complex and difficult. At the same time, many historical data that can support the decisions in the future are kept in construction enterprises,. To use the historical data effectively and efficiently, it is essential to apply the data warehouse and data mining technologies. This paper introduces a research which aims to develop a data warehouse system according to the requirements of construction enterprises and use data mining technology to learn useful information and knowledge from the data warehouse system. The design, the development and the application of this system are detailedly introduced in this paper.
This paper will present a number of technical aspects for one of the most elaborate instrumentation and data acquisition projects ever undertaken in Canada. Confederation Bridge, the longest bridge built over ice covered seawater has been equipped with the state of the art data acquistition devices and systems as well as data transfer networks. The Bridge has been providing a fixed surface connection between Prince Edward Island and Province of New Brunswick in Canada since its opening in 1997. The Bridge has a rather long design service life of 100 years. Because of its large size and long span length, its design is not covered by any existing codes or standards worldwide. The focus of the paper is to introduce the data acquisition, transfer, processing and management systems. The instrumentation and communications infrastructure and devices will be presented in some details along with the data processing and management systems and techniques. Teams of engineers and researchers use the collected data to verify the analysis and design assumptions and parameters as well as investigate the short-term and long-term behaviour and health of the Bridge. The collected data are also used in furthering research activities in the field of bridge engineering and in elevating our knowledge about behaviour, reliability and durability of such complex structures, their components and materials.
There are many construction projects in China and mass documents are exchanged among the multi-party, including the owner, the contractor and the engineer in the projects. Based on previous studies, an approach to the utilization of the exchanged documents is established by using data warehouse technology and a prototype system called EXPLYZER is developed. The approach and the prototype system are verified through their application in a construction project. It is concluded that the approach can support the decision-making in project management.
The development of a life cycle structured cooperation platform is described, which is based on an integrated process and goal-oriented project model. Furthermore the structure of a life cycle oriented object structure model and its implementation in the platform are documented. The complete conceptual model is described, which represents the basis of a lifecycle -oriented structuring of the planning object and supports the thematic classification of the object and project management data.
Business and engineering knowledge in AEC/FM is captured mainly implicitly in project and corporate document repositories. Even with the increasing integration of model-based systems with project information spaces, a large percentage of the information exchange will further on rely on isolated and rather poorly structured text documents. In this paper we propose an approach enabling the use of product model data as a primary source of engineering knowledge to support information externalisation from relevant construction documents, to provide for domain-specific information retrieval, and to help in re-organising and re-contextualising documents in accordance to the user’s discipline-specific tasks and information needs. Suggested is a retrieval and mining framework combining methods for analysing text documents, filtering product models and reasoning on Bayesian networks to explicitly represent the content of text repositories in personalisable semantic content networks. We describe the proposed basic network that can be realised on short-term using minimal product model information as well as various extensions towards a full-fledged added value integration of document-based and model-based information.
The evolution of data exchange and integration standards within the Architectural, Engineering and Construction industry is gradually making the long-held vision of computer-integratedconstruction a reality. The Industry Foundations Classes and CIMSteel Integration Standards are two such standards that have seen remarkable successes over the past few years. Despite successes, these standards support the exchange of product data more than they do process data, especially those processes that are loosely coupled with product models. This paper reports on on-going research to evaluate the adequacy of the IFC and CIS/2 standards to support process modeling in the steel supply chain. Some initial recommendations are made regarding enhancements to the data standards to better support processes.
This paper describes the concept, implementation and application of the Web-based Information System ‘Turtle’ for data monitoring, analysis, reporting and management in engineering projects. The system uses a generalised object-oriented approach for information modelling of physical state variables from measurements and simulations by sets of tensor objects and is implemented platform-independently as a Web application. This leads to a more flexible handling of measurement and simulation information in distributed and interdisciplinary engineering projects based on the concept of information sharing. The potential and advantages of Web-based information systems like ‘Turtle’ are described for one selected application example: a measurement programme dealing with the physical limnology of Lake Constance.
This paper presents a generic methodology for measurement system configuration when the goal is to identify behaviour models that reasonably explain observations. For such tasks, the best measurement system provides maximum separation between candidate models. In this work, the degree of separation between models is measured using Shannon’s Entropy Function. The location and type of measurement devices are chosen such that the entropy of candidate models is greatest. This methodology is tested on a laboratory structure and, to demonstrate generality, an existing fresh water supply network in a city in Switzerland. In both cases, the methodology suggests an appropriate set of sensors for identifying the state of the system.
The design of mobile IT systems, especially the design of wearable computer systems, is a complex task that requires computer science knowledge, such as that related to hardware configuration and software development, in addition to knowledge of the domain in which the system is intended to be used. Particularly in the AEC sector, it is necessary that the support from mobile information technology fit the work situation at hand. Ideally, the domain expert alone can adjust the wearable computer system to achieve this fit without having to consult IT experts. In this paper, we describe a model that helps in transferring existing design knowledge from non-AEC domains to new projects in the construction area. The base for this is a model and a methodology that describes the usage scenarios of said computer systems in an application-neutral and domain-independent way. Thus, the actual design information and experience will be transferable between different applications and domains.
Site superintendents performing project management tasks on construction sites need to access project documents and need to collect information that they observe while inspecting the site. Often, information that is observed on a construction site needs to be integrated into electronic documents or project control systems. In the future, we expect integrated product and process models to be the medium for storing and handling construction project management information. Even though mobile computing devices today are already capable of storing and handling such integrated product and process data models, the user interaction with such large and complex models is difficult and not adequately addressed in the existing research. In this paper, we introduce a system that supports project management tasks on construction sites effectively and efficiently by making integrated product and process models accessible. In order to effectively and efficiently enter or access information, site superintendents need visual representations of the project data that are flexible with respect to the level of detail, the decomposition structure, and the type of visual representation. Based on this understanding of the information and data collection needs, we developed the navigational model framework and the application Site Data Collection System (SiDaCoS), which implements that framework. The navigational model framework allows site superintendents to create customized representations of information contained in a product and process model that correspond to their data access and data collection needs on site.
A distributed geotechnical remote analysis of data system (Distributed G-RAD) can benefit both owners and contractors in providing better quality control and assurance on geotechnical projects. The Distributed G-RAD approach involves efficient data acquisition using PDAs with GPS capability, radio frequency identification (RFID) tags for labeling soil samples, laser scanning for measuring lift thickness and volumes of stockpiles and borrow pits. Spatial data storage is provided using a geographic information system (GIS). Portions of this system are already developed while other parts are still being considered. This paper also describes how RFID and laser scanning technologies can be used in the larger Distributed G-RAD system.
This paper describes monitoring of the in-valley discharge and underground water level at the place where the tunnel will be constructed and also, the numerical analysis for prediction applying the Tank Model and Linear Filter Method to calculate the prediction. The application of these analyses has actually allowed the change of underground water level to be grasped and more effective information system to be established by comparing the real-time monitoring data with the real-time calculation of prediction.
A vast growth of advanced information technology systems and tools nowadays is opening new ways to collect accurate as-built data. Since the turn of the millennium, new technology developments enable for the first time to gather accurate as-built information. Accurate as-built data will be of great usage to construction management as well as to designers and engineers. Given that most of the planned data are already digitally available, as-built data remains on paper forms. Information technology developments are opening new ways to digitize construction field data in order to develop intelligent tools for construction management allowing design engineers to update as-planned data. 3D Laser scanning, digital close-range photogrammetry and mobile computing are among the promising data collection technologies, which are auspicious to create new opportunities to develop advanced construction management and engineering tools. Primarily, accurate collected as-built data will be highly beneficial for the process of updating as-planned data.
With the speedy development of transportation of China, especially construction of many high-grade highways, some information technology successes have been achieved in the highway and bridge engineering, such as survey, design, construction and maintenance etc. In this paper, some applications about information technology in the highway engineering were introduced and some bridge professional software developed by RIOH (Research Institute Of Highways) in recent years was also introduced.
The AEC industry is conscious of the potentials arising from the usage of mobile computer systems to increase productivity by streamlining their business processes. Discussions are no longer on whether or not to use a mobile computer solution, but rather, on how it should be used. However, the implantation process of this new technology in Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) and Facility Management (FM) practise is very slow and should be improved. One way to encourage and ease the usage of mobile computer systems in AEC is a more process-oriented usability and context appropriateness of mobile computer solutions. Context-sensitivity is defined as a crucial feature to be taken into account for further research in the area of Mobile Computing. Context-sensitive, mobile IT-solutions depend on two features: (1) flexible definitions of (construction) processes describing the context and (2) tools for flexible, multi-dimensional information management representing the context. It is on this premise that the authors propose the n-dimensional data management approach for the implementation of mobile computing solutions. In this paper, we analyse working scenarios in the AEC and FM sector, defining context aspects which are transformed and formalized as dimension hierarchies of the envisaged context model.
The paper describes further developments of the interactive evolutionary design concept relating to the emergence of mutually inclusive regions of high performance design solutions. These solutions are generated from cluster-oriented genetic algorithm (COGAs) output and relate to a number of objectives introduced during the preliminary design of military airframes. The data-mining of multi-objective COGA (moCOGA) output further defines these regions through the application of clustering algorithms, data reduction and variable attribute relevance analyses. A number of visual representations of the COGA output projected onto both variable and objective space are presented. The multi-objective output of the COGA is compared to output from a Strength Pareto Evolutionary Algorithm (SPEA-II) to illustrate the manner in which moCOGAs can generate good approximations to Pareto frontiers.
The optimization of continuous structures requires careful attention to discretization errors. Compared to ordinary low order formulation (h-elements) in conjunction with an adaptive mesh refinement in each optimization step, the use of high order finite elements (so called p-elements) has several advantages. However, compared to the h-method a higher order finite element analysis program poses higher demands from a software engineering point of view. In this article the basics of an object oriented higher order finite element system especially tailored to the use in structural optimization is presented. Besides the design of the system, aspects related to the employed implementation language Java are discussed.
This paper describes an Internet-enabled software model that could facilitate the development and utilization of nonlinear structural analysis programs. The software model allows users easy access to the analysis core program and the analysis results by using a web-browser or other application programs. In addition, new and legacy codes can be incorporated as distributed services and be integrated with the software framework from disparate sites. A distributed project management system, taking advantages of Internet and database technologies, is implemented to store and manage model information and simulation results. Nonlinear dynamic analysis and simulations of a bridge structure is performed to illustrate the facilities of the Internet-enabled software model.
This paper describes a couple of new truss structures based on fractal geometry. One is the famous Sierpinski Gasket and another is a fractal triangle derived by means of applying a process forming leaves of a cedar tree using M. F. Barnsley’s contraction mapping theory. Therefore a pair of x-y coordinates of an arbitrary nodal point on the structures are generated easily if IFS(Iterated Function System) codes and a scale of them are specified. Structural members are defined similarly. Thus data for frame analysis can be generated automatically, which is significant if the objective structure has complex configuration. Next analytical results under vertical and wind loadings in Japanese Building Code are shown. Here members are assumed to be timber and to have cross section of 15cm×15cm. Finally authors conclude that geometrically new truss structures were developed and automatic data generation for frame analysis was attained using IFS. Analytical results show they contribute to saving material when compared it with King-post truss.
In this contribution the software design and implementation of an analysis server for the computation of failure probabilities in structural engineering is presented. The structures considered are described in terms of an equivalent Finite Element model, the stochastic properties, like e.g. the scatter of the material behavior or the incoming load, are represented using suitable random variables. Within the software framework, a Client-Server-Architecture has been implemented, employing the middleware CORBA for the communication between the distributed modules. The analysis server offers the possibility to compute failure probabilities for stochastically defined structures. Therefore, several different approximation (FORM, SORM) and simulation methods (Monte Carlo Simulation and Importance Sampling) have been implemented. This paper closes in showing several examples computed on the analysis server.
The paper gives a general overview and concerns with a specified set of computer-aided analysis modules for hybrid structures loaded by extreme excitations. All problems are solved by methods of linear, quadratic or nonlinear mathematical optimization, that leads to very effective and economic design solutions. All approaches are derived from general optimization problem that can be easily altered to conform to specific design tasks. Some advantages and possibilities of hybrid structural modeling (single or mixed model-supported) are discussed. The methods will be illustrated by an example structure and optimization schemes.
This paper describes a framework for computer-aided conceptual design of building structures that results from building architectural considerations. The central task that is carried out during conceptual design is the synthesis of the structural system. This paper proposes a methodology for the synthesis of structural solutions. Given the nature of architectural constraints, user-model interactivity is devised as the most suitable computer methodology for driving the structural synthesis process. Taking advantage of the hierarchical organization of the structural system, this research proposes a top-down approach for structural synthesis. Through hierarchical refinement, the approach lends itself to the synthesis of global and local structural solutions. The components required for implementing the proposed methodology are briefly described. The main components have been incorporated in a proof-of-concept prototype that is being tested and validated with actual buildings.
This paper introduces the current development of electronic catalogues of construction products. The common system architecture of Web-based electronic products catalogues are discussed, followed by a discussion on construction products information standardization and latest distributed-systems technologies for communicating construction products information. Finally, this paper presents an implementation of Web service in e-commerce systems to enable sharing of construction products information.
The construction management has been under pressure to reduce operating costs and to improve productivity using innovative information technologe (IT) solutions conformed to structural characteristics, site conditions and past experiences. Given the growing emphasis on effectiveness and efficiency in construction projects, there is an imminent need to develop a formal procedure to select the best IT application for each proposed construction project and research and development (R&D) project. As there are numerous factors that have to be considered in selecting appropriate IT in a given situation, decision-makers need to have multicriteria decision-making ability. To enable them to make the most appropriate decision in any situation, it is important that effective tools incorporating multicriteria decision-making techniques are available. In this paper, an Analytic Network Process (ANP) model is conducted for the selection of appropriate IT application for innovative construction management prior to construction or research. The paper concludes that the ANP is a viable and capable tool for conducting IT application selection in multicriteria decision-making environment.
The objective of the joint project 'Life cycle optimised system solutions for densified housing with massive wood technology', short form Basys, was the development and application of an open building system for sustainable construction in a virtual enterprise. Four partners coming from building economy and a university institute developed the building system in a comprehensive planning process. By applying massive wood technology, most requirements of densified housing can be met and individual buildings can be produced on demand.
A simulation system has been developed as a computer aided design tool to evaluate the effect of proposed design on the thermal environment during the designing process. This system calculates outdoor surface temperatures in order to evaluate the thermal impact of a design factor in outdoor space. In this study, the previous heat balance simulation system was improved to predict the surface temperature of a proposed design using 3D-CAD. This system is able to input the complicated outdoor spatial forms efficiently and also to evaluate the surface temperature distribution from any viewpoint.
Current software solutions for real estate planning, construction and use, do not model the complete life cycle of a building. Well-integrated software tools exist for the planning and construction phases. Data integrity exists throughout the planning and construction phases, but problems occur at the transition to the use-phase. At this interface, the complete data set of planning and execution gets lost. Another software deficiency is that current software solutions don’t handle construction work and maintenance work equally. This is why a new software generation is demanded, which continuously covers the entire workflow process from the planning phase to the demolition of a building. New data concepts have to be developed, which allow bringing work items for construction together with work items for real estate use.
The paper presents the abstraction of process relevant information in order to enable the workflow management based on semantic data. It is shown for three examples, how the standards define the information needed to perform a certain planning activity. Abstraction of process relevant information is discussed for different granularities of the underlying processmodel. As one possible application ProMiSE is introduced, which uses process relevant data in individual tokens in a petri-net based process-model.
The contribution introduces an adaptable process model to meet the special requirements of the coordination of planning activities in AEC (Architecture, Engineering, Construction). The process model is based on the concept of Coloured Petri-Nets and uses metainformation to characterize process-relevant information and to enable process-control based on the actual results of the planning.
The presented work focuses on collaboration- experiences gathered with complex design and engineering projects, using the learning platform POLE- Europe. Within the POLE environment student-teams from different universities, disciplines and cultural backgrounds are assigned to real-world projects with clearly defined design - tasks, usually to be accomplished within one semester while working in a virtual environment for most of the time. The concept of POLE and the information and collaboration technology is described.
On Computer-Aided Instruction Tools for Teaching College Engineering Mechanics Related Courses
(2004)
In this research, questionnaires are designed to survey among teachers and students the current situation of applying Computer-Aided Instruction (CAI) tools to teaching and learning of college engineering mechanics related courses in Taiwan. The needs for CAI tools for teaching these mechanics related courses are investigated in the survey. Several prototypes of interactive multimedia tools are designed and implemented using information technologies. The applicability and effectiveness of these tools on assisting teaching of engineering mechanics related courses are discussed and evaluated. Moreover, a website for managing and sharing collected and developed CAI resources is constructed.
In the focus of the Bologna-contract of the European secretaries of education the universities are invited to aim a unification and comparability of certificates and to offer compatible and cooperative models of education. Among existing lectures in the Internet there will arise a new competition between the universities in netbased teaching and learning environments. For the use of distributed sources of information and for the possibility to generate free configurable sequences of education modules you need management systems which are able to handle different formats of documents and to assemble it to consistent and valid lessons. Beside elementar viewing-functions, fusion of information also administrative tasks are needed, e.g. automated efficiency controls, adaptive learning surroundings. This paper attends to three aspects: - netbased teaching and learning in the area of the instruction of civil engineers - netbased information assembling and fusion of knowledge bases to higher level documents - netbased learning with international coordinated projects
In the field of Civil Engineering, the content of reinforcement concrete design course (RC course) has complicated design procedures and many difficult specifications to recognize, so most of the students regard the RC course a tough course, and teachers very often find the class time insufficient. Also, teachers of the RC course usually spend a lot of time in organizing the examinations for handling tedious calculations and complicated logical reasoning. Furthermore, correcting examination papers with partial scoring takes even more time of the teacher’s. Therefore, the objective of this research is to design and develop a partial scoring assessment system to meet the needs in engineering design courses, such as the RC course. This assessment system can generate test items with variable parameters. It also supports inference diagnosis on the examinee’s misconceptions and gives partial scores in grading the examination. In this research, the example test subject is the analysis of rectangular reinforced concrete beam with single layer steel bars.
PKPM series CAD software is an integrated CAD system for building design, which integrated the following parts: architectural design, structural design, building service design and statistic analysis of quantity and budget. These four parts share the same database with high efficiency. Over 80% of design corporation in China are using PKPM series CAD software. The detailed information and some key modules of PKPM series CAD software are mainly introduced in this paper.
Information and Communication Technologies (ITC) in education have been extensively discussed nowadays. In this e-learning scenario, the construction and use of environments that support teaching and learning is a reality. Therefore, for time and general resource savings it is crucial the access to hypermedia contents with great interactivity and with high reusability. Substantial efforts have been centered in the search for a metadata proposal (metadata is a generic term used to describe data that can be used to identify and to describe common characteristics among different documents) that can be standardized and is system independent for the so called learning objects.
Beside the standard calculation programs for civil engineering buildings mathematical programs have been lately established for the solution of differential equations for the analysis of mechanical and static systems. Programs like Maple, Matlab, MathCAD and Mathematica are popular in this field. To the knowledge of the authors, the widest application functionality offers the program Maple. Its advantages are, e.g. the alternatively symbolic or numerical solution of differential equation systems, the easy handling of parameter studies, the immediate visualization of results, the definition of macros for selected calculation steps and their export in other computer languages and, not least, the automatically generated, very clear documentation of the matehematical calculus.
Recent research shows that current learning strategies in construction industry have not been effective in implementing lean principles in construction. With that in mind the researchers set to investigate an alternative learning strategy in order to promote learning at the international level. A web-based environment, was developed for this project with the intent of promoting learning and knowledge exchange on the theory and practice of "process transparency" across different countries.
Die fachlichen und organisatorischen Aufgaben der Informationsverarbeitung im Prozeß der Bauauftragsrechnung werden als theoretische Grundlage für die Anpassung und Neukonzeption netzverteilter Informationssysteme formal beschrieben. Hierzu erfolgen Untersuchungen von Methoden, Verfahren, Strukturen und Abläufen sowie der in Bauunternehmen angewendeten Informationssysteme. Grundlage einer Modellierungsmethode sind Abstraktionen von Prozeßschritten und Ereignissen in einer Ereignisgesteuerten Prozeßkette, Entitytypen in einem Entity Relationship Model, Funktionsbäume und Organisationseinheiten sowie deren mögliche Relationen. Mit dieser Methodik werden die Prozesse, Informationsdefinitionen, Funktionen und die Organisationsstruktur einzeln modelliert und Relationen zwischen den Modellelementen gebildet. Aus der fachlichen Auswertung der Modelle und Relationen folgen fachgebietsspezifische Prozeßabläufe und Arbeitsumgebungen. Deren Anwendung wird für ein Customizing vorhandener Informationsysteme und bei einer Neuimplementierung betrachtet. Neben einer umfangreichen fachlichen Problemanalyse leistet die Arbeit einen Beitrag zum methodischen Vorgehen bei Neukonzeption baubetrieblicher Informationssysteme.
In dieser Arbeit wird eine neue Methode für die Integration von Informationen in digitalen Planungsunterlagen erarbeitet. Die Grundidee des Integrationsansatzes stützt sich auf die aktive Einbeziehung der Anwender während der Realisierung der Übernahme von Informationen und bei der Aktualisierung von Planungsunterlagen, die inkonsistent zu anderen Planungsunterlagen sind. Diese Grundidee kombiniert mit den Möglichkeiten neuer Kommunikationstechnologien war für die Spezifikation von neuen Methoden für die Übernahme von Informationen und für die Überwachung von Veränderungen ausschlaggebend. Die neuen Methoden werden in dieser Ausarbeitung erarbeitet und vorgestellt. Ziel der Ausarbeitung ist die Definition von implementationstechnischen Regeln, die alle auszutauschenden Objekte erfüllen müssen. Die Realisierung der Integrationsaufgaben durch den Anwender basiert dabei auf den Möglichkeiten der traditionellen Integration analoger Dokumente.
Das Ziel dieser Arbeit war es, durch Verwendung geeigneter vorhandener CAD-Pläne die Bearbeitung neuer CAD-Pläne zu unterstützen. Entstanden ist ein generischer Ansatz zum fallbasierten Schließens. Da in CAD-Plänen die räumliche Struktur eine wichtige Rolle spielt, ist das Konzept auf strukturorientierte Anwendungen ausgerichtet. Deshalb bezeichne ich es als ein Konzept zum " strukturorientierten fallbasierten Schließen". Die Arbeit spezifiziert das Minimum an Wissen, welches zur Suche und Wiederverwendung von Fällen benötigt wird, wie das darüber hinausgehende Wissen verarbeitet wird, welche Zusammenhänge es zum Beispiel zwischen Vergleichs- und Anpassungswissen gibt und wie man das Wissen modellieren kann. Zur Erläuterung wird das benötigte Wissen anhand verschiedener Anwendungen dargestellt. Das in der Arbeit vorgestellte Konzept erlaubt die Ergänzung, Detaillierung und Korrektur einer Anfrage. Die beiden entscheidenden Algorithmen dienen dem Vergleich von Anfrage und Fall und der Anpassung der Information des Falles zur Modifikation der Anfrage.
Das Ziel der Arbeit besteht in der Entwicklung von Konzepten zur effizienten Implementierung von ingenieurgemäßer Tragwerksplanungs-Software. Der vorgeschlagene Lösungsansatz basiert auf einer optimalen Anpassung der Nutzeroberfläche an den spezifischen Arbeitsablauf, der Erhöhung des Wiederverwendungsgrades sowie der Möglichkeit der unabhängigen Erweiterbarkeit von Software-Systemen. Verbunddokumente werden als Nutzeroberfläche und Software-Architektur benutzt, um eine Zusammenführung von Standard-Software und fachspezifischen Software-Komponenten zu ingenieurgemäßer Tragwerksplanungs-Software zu ermöglichen. Die Umsetzbarkeit des Konzeptes wird durch eine Pilotimplementierung verifiziert.
Vor dem Hintergrund einer sich verschärfenden Umweltgesetzgebung sowie der Erkenntnis, dass Bauabfälle sich grundsätzlich für eine Stoffkreislaufführung eignen, hat der Rückbau von Bauwerken in den letzten Jahren verstärkt an Bedeutung gewonnen. Aufgrund oftmals strenger Zeit- und Kostenvorgaben für einen Rückbau, begrenzter Verfügbarkeit von Personal und Betriebsmitteln, einer weitgehenden Unikatfertigung sowie wechselnder Standorte kommt dabei der projektorientierten Planung von Maßnahmen auf der Baustelle große Bedeutung zu. Im Rahmen des Beitrages werden Ansätze zur Modellierung und Lösung der sich hieraus ergebenden Probleme zur Planung und Optimierung von (Rück-) Bauabläufen unter Verwendung von Projektplanungsmodellen und -methoden vorgestellt. Hierbei werden neben betriebswirtschaftlichen auch umweltrelevante sowie technische Fragestellungen im Zusammenhang mit der Planung von Rückbauprojekten aufgegriffen. Eine Anwendung der Planungsansätze auf reale Gebäude zeigt, dass sich durch Kombination von Gebäuderückbau und Aufbereitungstechnik eine Qualitätsverbesserung von Recyclingbaustoffen erzielen lässt. Zur Umsetzung der hierzu erforderlichen Maßnahmen werden unter Berücksichtigung individueller abfallwirtschaftlicher Rahmenbedingungen der jeweiligen Planungsregion, gebäude- und baustellenbezogener Besonderheiten, technischer sowie kapazitiver Restriktionen Ablaufpläne für den Gebäuderückbau berechnet. Die für unterschiedliche Planungsregionen vorgenommenen Modellrechnungen weisen nach, dass sich die Demontage von Gebäuden gegenüber einem konventionellen Gebäudeabbruch unter bestimmten Rahmenbedingungen bereits wirtschaftlich vorteilhaft realisieren lässt. Abgerundet wird der Beitrag durch einen Ausblick auf Möglichkeiten einer Realisierung komplexer Bauabläufe auch unter strengen Zeitvorgaben sowie bei begrenzten Platzverhältnissen mit Hilfe fertigungssynchroner Ressourceneinsatzplanung sowie auf die Berücksichtigung von Unsicherheiten in der Planung und Ausführung von Rückbauprojekten.
In Anbetracht der leistungsstarken Computernetzwerke und der intensiven Globalisierung von Wissenschaft und Technik im Bauwesen ist es das Ziel der Bauinformatik, die Planungsprozesse des Konstruktiven Ingenieurbaus für die Nutzung verteilter Ressourcen zu gestalten, geeignete Kooperationsmodelle für die Fachplanung im Informationsverbund der Projektbeteiligten zu entwickeln und die kooperative Projektbearbeitung unter Nutzung verteilter Fachmodelle in Netzen zu ermöglichen. Dazu werden neue methodische Grundlagen geschaffen, welche die tiefgreifenden Veränderungen der Arbeits- und Organisationsstrukturen berücksichtigen. Vor diesem Hintergrund zeigt der Beitrag aktuelle Forschungsinhalte der Bauinformatik auf, die insbesondere im Rahmen des DFG-Schwerpunktprogramms 1103 'Vernetzt-kooperative Planungsprozesse im Konstruktiven Ingenieurbau' von verschiedenen Projekten arbeitsteilig entwickelt werden. Es wird ein integratives Prozessmodell vorgestellt, das die Grundlage für die Unterstützung der vernetzt-kooperativen Planung mit modernen Methoden der Informationsverarbeitung und Kommunikationstechnik zusammenführt. An einem Beispiel aus dem baulichen Brandschutz werden die methodischen Ansätze der Prozessmodellierung mit Petri-Netzen und der mobilen Softwareagenten zur Unterstützung der Kooperation in der Fachplanung des Bauwesens dargestellt und erläutert.
After more than hundred years of arguments in favour and against quaternions, of exciting odysseys with new insights as well as disillusions about their usefulness the mathematical world saw in the last 40 years a burst in the application of quaternions and its generalizations in almost all disciplines that are dealing with problems in more than two dimensions. Our aim is to sketch some ideas - necessarily in a very concise and far from being exhaustive manner - which contributed to the picture of the recent development. With the help of some historical reminiscences we firstly try to draw attention to quaternions as a special case of Clifford Algebras which play the role of a unifying language in the Babylon of several different mathematical languages. Secondly, we refer to the use of quaternions as a tool for modelling problems and at the same time for simplifying the algebraic calculus in almost all applied sciences. Finally, we intend to show that quaternions in combination with classical and modern analytic methods are a powerful tool for solving concrete problems thereby giving origin to the development of Quaternionic Analysis and, more general, of Clifford Analysis.
Werden Bauwerke für eine begrenzte Lebensdauer ausgelegt, kann es sinnvoll sein, die Tragfähigkeit von Tragkonstruktionen zu überwachen, um Schäden zu vermeiden und eine sichere Funktionsweise zu gewährleisten. Die Überwachung, hier auf Basis von Schwingungen der Struktur, wird zumeist von einer rechnergestützten Messtechnik automatisch durchgeführt. Der Computer überprüft spezielle physikalische Kennwerte oder Kennfunktionen des Tragwerks auf Veränderungen. Eine Schädigung ruft eine Veränderung hervor. Aufgabe der Systemidentifikation ist es, eine solche Veränderung zu erkennen. Eine Modellbildung kann z.B. auf theoretischer Basis als Finite Element Modellierung, oder als Black Box Modellierung aus Messwerten mit der Methodik der deterministischen oder stochastischen Systemidentifikation vorgenommen werden. In diesem Aufsatz werden die Analyse allgemeiner deterministischer und stochastischer Erregungen und deren Schwingungsantworten zur Modellbildung und Systemidentifikation beschrieben. Als Anwendungsbeispiele für die Bauwerksüberwachung werden Methoden zur Schadens-Erfassung und -Lokalisation vorgestellt. Den Abschluss bilden Ausführungen zur numerischen Modellierung von Windlasten als stochastischen Prozess und der Kopplung dieser Modelle mit finiten Element-Modellen, um eine bessere Abschätzung der Lebensdauer eines Bauwerks schon im Entwurfsprozess zu ermöglichen.
Computational Steering provides methods for the integration of modeling, simulation, visualization, data analysis and post processing. The user has full control over a running simulation and the possibility to modify objects (geometry and other properties), boundary conditions and other parameters of the system interactively. The objective of such a system is to explore the effects of changes made immediately and thus to optimize the target problem interactively. We present a computational steering based system for fluid flow problems in civil engineering. It is based on three software components as shown in figure 1. The modeler is the CAD-system AutoCAD, which offers a powerful programming interface allowing an efficient access to the geometric data. It also offers convenient manipulators for geometric objects. The simulation kernel is a Lattice-Boltzmann (LB) solver for the Navier-Stokes equations, which is especially suitable for instationary flows in complex geometries. For the visualization and postprocessing we use the software tool AVS, which provides a powerful programming interface and allows the efficient visualization of flow fields. These three components are interconnected through two communication modules and three interfaces as depicted in figure 1. Interface 1 is responsible for the transformation of the modified system for the simulation kernel, interface 2 is responsible for the proper preparation of the simulation data whereas interface 3 transforms the data from the modeler into a format suitable for the visualization system. The whole system is synchronized by the two communication modules.
Die digitale Unterstützung der Planungsprozesse ist ein aktueller Forschungs- und Arbeitsschwerpunkt der Professur Informatik in der Architektur (InfAR) und der Juniorprofessur Architekturinformatik der Fakultät Architektur an der Bauhaus-Universität Weimar. Verankert in dem DFG Sonderforschungsbereich 524 'Werkzeuge und Konstruktionen für die Revitalisierung von Bauwerken' entstehen Konzepte und Prototypen für eine fachlich orientierte Planungsunterstützung. Vor dem Hintergrund zunehmender Komplexität der Bauaufgaben steigt die Zahl der an einem Projekt Beteiligten und deren örtliche Verteilung. Planungsvorhaben sind dadurch verstärkt gekennzeichnet durch einen erhöhten Aufwand in Planungskoordination, -organisation und Kommunikation. Globale Computernetzwerke - das Internet - bieten Potential zur Lösung dieser Aufgaben. Vor diesem Hintergrund sind in der letzten Zeit eine Vielzahl von Systemen die sich unterschiedlichsten Techniken bedienen entstanden. Allen diesen Systemen gemein ist die Vision der Optimierung des Planungsprozesses, Vereinfachung der Kommunikation und die Verbesserung des Zeitmanagements. Aus Sicht der Architekten stellt sich die Situation derzeit als ambivalent dar: Einerseits sind die Ideen, die den 'IBPM - Systemen' zugrunde liegen, nachvollziehbar und offerieren einen sofort messbaren Nutzen. Auf der anderen Seite stehen vielfältige Aspekte, die den uneingeschränkten Einsatz dieser Systeme augenscheinlich verhindern. Ein Focus bei der Beleuchtung dieser Schwachstellen liegt auf dem omnipräsentem Problem der mangelhaften Unterstützung graphischer Daten als die bedeutendste Informationsgrundlage im Planungsprozess. Aus der konkreten, fachspezifischen Analyse des Planungsprozesses, der Untersuchung potentieller Entwicklungsmöglichkeiten vorhandener Systeme und der intensiven Auseinandersetzung mit neuen Internettechnologien entstand im Zuge dieses Forschungsschwerpunktes eine architekturpraxisnahe Applikation, die das Internet weg vom reinen Präsentationsmedium, über ein reines Kommunikationsmittel hinaus, hin zu einer leistungsfähigen interaktiven Schnittstelle für alle am Entwurfs- und Planungsprozess Beteiligten erschließt.
Die verteilte Bearbeitung gemeinsamer Produktmodelle ist im Bauwesen Gegenstand der aktuellen Forschung. Der vorgestellte Lösungsansatz bewegt sich in einem Spannungsfeld: Zum einen sollen die zu bearbeitenden Teilmengen des Produktmodells sehr flexibel durch die Planer zu bilden sein, zum anderen müssen Revisions- und Freigabestände dauerhaft und unveränderlich definiert werden. In einer versionierten Umgebung mit vielen Abhängigkeiten sind diese Anforderungen schwierig zu erfüllen. Der vorgestellte Lösungsansatz zeigt die Bildung von Revisions- und Freigabeständen, ohne die flexible verteilte Bearbeitung einzuschränken. Die Freigabestände müssen bestimmte Eigenschaften erfüllen: Es darf beispielsweise nur eine Version eines Objekts enthalten sein und es müssen die Bindungen zu anderen Objektversionen in einer konsistenten Weise berücksichtigt werden. Es wird eine mathematische Beschreibung gewählt, die auf der Mengenlehre und der Graphentheorie basiert.
Limit state design of hybrid structures with meshless methods using mathematical optimization
(2003)
The revitalization of existing structures belongs to the frequently tasks in urban reconstruction processes. The adaptation for new requirements will commonly affect substantial changes in the general configuration of structures. The resulting revitalized structures are characterized by a hybrid design, where old and new, identical or diverse materials and members will be coupled in different ways. In the planning stage the treatment of these systems leads to application of complex and hybrid mechanical models respectively. High performance numerical instruments have to be applied for solving not only analysis but also targeted design problems. Because of the hybrid character of mechanical models in revitalization planning processes the use of hybrid technologies is advantageous. In this paper mixed domain technique will be used for connecting EFG and FE. The models derived will be adopted for design purposes of non-linear loaded hybrid structures. The investigations show a good adaptability of the meshless methods to the design of hybrid structures by using optimization strategies. With this method the advantages of both finite element and meshless methods can be utilized most suitable. With the property of a minimum amount of unknowns by maintaining an adequate quality of the results the application of mixed finite element and meshless methods is a promising alternative to traditional methods in structural analysis and optimization.
In intelligente Gebäudesysteme wird Informationstechnik in systematisch geplanter Form eingesetzt, um die Eigenschaften von Gebäuden in den Bereichen Betriebskosten, Sicherheit und Flexibilität begl. der Nutzung zu verbessern. So müssen Gebäude während ihres Lebenszyklus Nutzer- und Nutzungsänderungen bewältigen. Dies gilt nicht nur für Zweckbauten, sondern auch für Wohngebäude, die früher auf den klassischen Familientyp (4-köpfige Familie) hin optimiert wurden. Heute ist mehr eine nutzungsneutrale, funktionsoptimierbare Gestaltung von Gebäuden gefordert. Die Kleinfamilie löst sich mehr und mehr zugunsten anderer Haushaltsformen auf, ein Gebäude soll auch für Single- oder Zweipersonenhaushalte gut geeignet sein, es soll eine optimale Verbindung von Wohnen und Arbeiten zulassen oder später älteren, pflegebedürftigen Personen ein möglichst langes selbstbestimmtes Leben ermöglichen. Das System intelligentes Gebäude besteht aus der Gebäudehülle und einer Kommunikations- und Informationsverarbeitungs-Infrastruktur, zu der alle im Gebäude eingebauten Geräte gehören, die zum Betrieb des Gebäudes erforderlich sind. Die Koordination der Funktion von Einzelkomponenten erfolgt dabei weniger durch den Nutzer, sondern durch eine spezielle Software, die auf die Knoten im System verteilt ist. Diese Architektur ist Grundlage der Verbesserung der Gebäudeeigenschaften in den genannten Bereichen, die möglichen Funktionen und die damit verbundene Flexibilität in der Nutzung wird mit dem Ausdruck Intelligenz des Gebäudes assoziiiert. Der Beitrag versucht zunächst, auf Basis der Konzepte und Erfahrungen des Innovationszentrums Intelligentes Haus Duisburg, kurz inHaus, und des vom Fraunhofer-Institut IMS seit 1993 gewonnenen einschlägigen Know-Hows einen Überblick über den aktuellen Entwicklungsstand bei Systemintegrations-Technologien und -funktionen für ganzheitliche, intelligente Haus- und Gebäudesysteme zu geben, insbesondere für den Bereich der integrierten Bedienung und der Nutzung der Internet-Anbindung