Das, M; Cheng, J C P and Law, K H (2015) An ontology-based web service framework for construction supply chain collaboration and management. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 22(5), pp. 551-572. ISSN 0969-9988
Abstract
Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to present a framework for integrating construction supply chain in order to resolve the data heterogeneity and data sharing problems in the construction industry. Design/methodology/approach - Standardized web service technology is used in the proposed framework for data specification, transfer, and integration. Open standard SAWSDL is used to annotate web service descriptions with pointers to concepts defined in ontologies. NoSQL database Cassandra is used for distributed data storage among construction supply chain stakeholders. Findings - Ontology can be used to support heterogeneous data transfer and integration through web services. Distributed data storage facilitates data sharing and enhances data control. Practical implications - This paper presents examples of two ontologies for expressing construction supply chain information - ontology for material and ontology for purchase order. An example scenario is presented to demonstrate the proposed web service framework for material procurement process involving three parties, namely, project manager, contractor, and material supplier. Originality/value - The use of web services is not new to construction supply chains (CSCs). However, it still faces problems in channelizing information along CSCs due to data heterogeneity. Trust issue is also a barrier to information sharing for integrating supply chains in a centralized collaboration system. In this paper, the authors present a web service framework, which facilitates storage and sharing of information on a distributed manner mediated through ontology-based web services. Security is enhanced with access control. A data model for the distributed databases is also presented for data storage and retrieval.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | ontology; supply chain integration; collaboration; construction supply chain; semantic web services; data mediation |
| Index terms: | information sharing, construction supply chain, construction industry, supply chain integration, project manager, access control, database, data model, integration, methodology, collaboration, semantic web services, material procurement, data mediation, data storage, specification, face, ontology |
| Subjects: | contractual condition, data exchange, research methods, education and knowledge transfer, management, industry analysis, data management, organizational analysis, networking, construction logistics, profession, contractual arrangements, supply chain integration, data science, operations management, psychology |
| Topics: | Research Practice, Roles and Professions, Digital Applications, Supply Chain Management, Site Management, Organizational Design, Contract Administration |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
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