Object-Oriented Model for Integrating Construction Product and Process Information

Abstract

Product and process models provide the necessary information framework for implementing computer systems for the architect/engineering/construction (A/E/C) industry. Although the focus of these models is slightly different, both are needed to provide a foundation for managing project information during the design and construction phases. Design information—“product” information based on building components—needs to be integrated with construction management tasks, the “process” information necessary to build the components. It is therefore important to provide an integrated information model to bridge the gap between product and process information for a construction project. An integrated information model not only encourages those involved in construction to use and add to design information, but also provides richer information representation, better efficiency and data consistency, and the flexibility to support life-cycle information management. The research presented in this paper was performed under the auspices of the collaborative engineering research program at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Construction Engineering Research Laboratories (USACERL), which is attempting to redefine existing design processes to make them more collaborative and to develop enabling technologies to support the new process. An important part of this research is the development of an integrated information model that allows agents to communicate/collaborate over the life cycle of the project. This paper presents an object-oriented model that integrates product and process information to support collaboration among design and construction agents, and two prototype construction agents for construction planning and monitoring project progress. The development of these two agents demonstrates the value of using integrated product and process models for managing facility information in the A/E/C industry.