Aouad, G F; Kirkham, J A; Cooper, G S; Ford, S; Sarshar, M; Brandon, P S; Brown, F E; Oxman, R E and Young, B (1993) Information modelling in the construction industry: The information engineering approach. Construction Management and Economics, 11(5), pp. 384-397. ISSN 01446193
Abstract
Modelling of knowledge in the construction industry is a cumbersome task because of the large amount of data involved and the lack of automated information-modelling tools. Adoption of a method and an automated CASE (Computer-Aided Software Engineering) tool could eliminate many problems encountered in the development of information systems in the construction industry. In particular, this approach may help to assess the information requirements and define strategies for such information systems. The Information Engineering Method (IEM) is introduced to illustrate how the conceptual models may be improved by using this method. Additionally Texas Instruments' Information Engineering Facility (IEF™) CASE tool is described to illustrate the advantages of automating such a method. The introduction of conceptual modelling in the construction industry using data and process models should lead to a better structuring of information. This should result in the development of well defined and structured, not ad hoc, applications. This conceptual modelling approach using information engineering is currently being used at the University of Salford to study the potential development of an integrated database (design, procurement and management of construction) for the construction industry. The case study describes the information analysis phase of the procurement process included towards the end of this paper.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | computer aided software engineering tools; information engineering; information modelling; procurement |
| Index terms: | case study, database, information modelling, conceptual modelling, modelling, construction industry, procurement process, strategy, software engineering, information system |
| Subjects: | management, theoretical framing, software systems, digital design, data management, industry analysis, information systems, data collection methods, contractual arrangements, analytical methods |
| Topics: | Digital Applications, Business Strategy, Research Practice, Engineering Principles, Procurement |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTE |
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