The RATAS project - developing an infrastructure for computer integrated construction

Computer Integrated Construction (CIC) is a target state for construction computing characterised by extensive digital information flows between computer applications. Fully developed CIC requires an infrastructure of data structuring and transfer standards, digitised construction information services, changing patterns of organising projects etc. The creation of such an infrastructure is currently a high priority area for research and development in many countries. In Finland this work has been organised as a fruitful co-operation between industry and researchers. The process known as the RATAS-project was initiated in 1983 and is still continuing. This paper describes the background of the project, its organisation and major phases, and gives brief descriptions of a number of its technical subprojects. The paper ends with an evaluation of the impact of the project on commercial software development and practice.