Bouchlaghem, D; Shang, H; Anumba, C J; Cen, M; Miles, J and Taylor, M (2005) ICT-enabled collaborative working environment for concurrent conceptual design. Architectural Engineering and Design Management, 1(4), pp. 261-280. ISSN 1745-2007
Abstract
Effective concurrent conceptual design (CCD) in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry is essential for reducing project lead times and improving the quality of the resulting design. Computer-aided techniques and tools are needed to facilitate concurrent engineering (CE) between geographically distributed project team members during conceptual design (CD). This paper reports on a research project that has both designed the system architecture and developed a Web-based CE tool to improve AEC projects during the CD stage. It describes the applications requirements for construction projects and presents a layered and integrated approach for the integration of multidisciplinary perspectives in concurrent conceptual design. A prototype system (INTEGRA) has been developed to encapsulate this approach. Details of the overall system architecture and software components are included in the paper. The aim of the INTEGRA system is to develop IT-based CE tools that support AEC professionals' collaborative work in a conducive and flexible way. The paper concludes that CCD is an interesting and challenging area, and that many topics remain open for further investigation. In particular, there is a need to ensure the integration of legacy systems used by AEC professionals into new collaborative design systems.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | client/server architecture; conceptual design; concurrent conceptual design; concurrent engineering; web-based systems |
| Index terms: | system architecture, integrated approach, prototype, construction project, concurrent engineering, investigation, collaborative design, lead time, project team, integration, web-based system, conceptual design |
| Subjects: | design methods, data collection methods, design practice, project controls, digital technology, design theory, modelling and simulation, project delivery, contractual arrangements, production management, engineering methods, organizational analysis |
| Topics: | Project Management, Procurement, Time Control, Digital Applications, Research Practice, Design Practice, Organizational Design, Engineering Principles |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here