Adding Function and Behaviour to Project Model Objects to Integrate Aec Information

A number of trends in Information Technology (IT) indicate that the challenge of integrating information for construction projects may be served best by tight coupling of application methods with project model objects. A paradigm is proposed in which designers, contractors and suppliers process project information, which is stored on a central server, using application routines provided on-line as object-oriented methods, which reside in the central server. Development of such “intelligent” object sets will be financed by construction component suppliers; they will be based on foundation class standards, programmed by software houses, and provided on-line by project management web sites. The use of Intelligent Parametric Templates (IPT) in three sample applications suggests how Building Project Models (BPM) can support this vision of Computer Integrated Construction (CIC). The obstacles and research requirements relating to the proposed paradigm are discussed, in light of the experience gained in development and use of the IPTs.