Obonyo, E; Anumba, C and Thorpe, T (2005) Apron: An agent-based specification and procurement system for construction products. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 12(4), pp. 329-350. ISSN 0969-9988
Abstract
Purpose - The successful implementation of an optimal online system for specification and procurement has been impeded by the existence of semi-structured or non-structured product information held in catalogues in various formats. Consequently, a significant amount of time is spent in gathering relevant information. Proposes introducing a successful optimal online specification and procurement system for construction products. Design/methodology/approach - The design and specification of the prototype were based on the analysis of closely related agent-based implementations in various domains. Findings - In the development phase it emerged that agent infrastructure is still maturing, even when a stable development environment is finally available. This is consistent with the latest research in this area which places the highest value on internet agents within the context of the semantic web. Originality/value - This research demonstrated how agent technology can be used alongside other paradigms such as web services and XML to make the specification and procurement of construction products more effective and more efficient.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction materials; control systems; information retrieval; worldwide web |
| Index terms: | product information, semantic web, information retrieval, implementation, internet, procurement system, paradigm, construction material, prototype, specification, construction product, agent, control system, methodology |
| Subjects: | contractual arrangements, economic analysis, modelling and simulation, building materials, computing systems, practitioner, innovation studies, data management, networking, contractual condition, monitoring and control, education and knowledge transfer, research methods |
| Topics: | Roles and Professions, Procurement, Business Strategy, Research Practice, Engineering Principles, Contract Administration, Digital Applications |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCT |
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