AVS. Arkitektúr verktækni skipulag - 01.06.2003, Side 74

eProCon data and meta models
will be flexible, to accommodate
varied information such as docu-
ment-based (e.g., CAD, PDF,
XML, HTML), model based
(e.g., IAI ifcXML) and communica-
tion (message) based (e.g.,
bcXML, ebXML, EDI).
Furthermore, the data model will
be: Hieratical (enabling granularity
in content and level of detail),
Modular (for dynamically building
content to higher degree of quali-
ty), Described (with standard
meta-data for gluing together dif-
ferent information types),
Context-Specific (accommodating
needs of different value chain
players). The architecture will
include flexible methodology for
integrating manufacturers’ prod-
uct information into information
portal services and accommo-
date varying requirements of
information providers, such as
online interactive interfaces,
autonomous data mining and
syndication. Key Benefits
The Internet is rapidly becoming a
standard for business-to-busi-
ness (B2B) transactions and for
the exchanging of information
between trading partners. An
online presence will become
important for manufacturers, par-
ticularly SMEs, for reaching and
extending their client base and
vertical e-Markets for B2B trans-
actions, which in the near future
will be an important part of any
manufacturer business strategy.
Information providers (product
manufacturers and suppliers) are
increasingly investing in produc-
ing electronic content in business
systems and for advertising and
promoting their products
and services. Managing the var-
ied source information and keep-
ing it up-to-date requires sub-
stantial effort and resources.
EProCon product information
management solution and natural
data model enables a single copy
of the source information to be
maintained, either in information
service providers data stores or
hosted locally. Manufacturers can
easily reproduce catalogues and
rich sales material for printing or
online distribution to suppliers
and customers in different media
types, and for different client
agents in just-in-time fashion and
e-Commerce and information
exchange with supply chain part-
ners will be achieved much more
economically.
Construction professionals com-
monly use IT solutions in their
daily work practises, such as
CAD for drawing and various
applications for planning,
scheduling, cost estimating, and
structural analyses, visualization
and simulation. Communication
has for most purposes moved to
the Internet. E-Mail, FTP and
project webs are used for file
exchange and information shar-
ing. However, interoperability of
applications is still in its infancy,
even though, the international
community has spent consider-
able effort to define conceptual
models for describing the building
product. Building product models
(ISO STEP, IAI IFC) are receiving
consistent support from the
industry and software vendors as
the description language for
exchanging and sharing semantic
information about buildings and
building services between soft-
ware applications from different
vendors of AEC/FM software, but
have not made a high enough
impact in industry yet. Model
based information on building
materials and manufactured
products are still in an experimen-
tal stage - the domain is vast, the
players many and the information
requirements by individual actors
vary considerably along the value
chain. It is, however, a key
enabler in interoperability of appli-
cations, integration of construc-
tion business processes and in
successful collaboration between
value- chain partners. End-users,
architects, engineers and con-
tractors require precise informa-
tion on building products in elec-
tronic form without re-keying in all
the information from product
manufacturers. The eProCon
solution addresses this specific
problem the industry faces.
Designers should be able to
incorporate properly structured
building product information into
their applications when described
in eProCon compliant format that
can include product property
specifications to 3D models.
Similarly, contractors who receive
designer product specifications
should be able to find matching
products by applying the received
information directly in applica-
tions, locate suppliers and pro-
cure the products online.
EProCon Partners
The eProCon project is partly
funded by the Nordic Industrial
fund and includes 9 partners from
the Nordic countries:
Byggecentrum, DK, Technical
Research Center of Finland -
Building and Transport (VTT),
Building Information Foundation
(RTS) Fl, lcelandic Building
Research Institute, Building
Information Center, and ePRO,
Knowledge & Solutions Ltd, IS,
Norsk Byggtjeneste, NO, Svensk
Byggtjánst and GDL Technology
Nordic Europe, SE. ■