Support Collaborative Design Research Articles

Special Issue on “Engineering Informatics”

Special Issue on “Engineering Informatics”

Constructing Web-Based Object-Oriented Design Support System for Collaborative Ship Modeling

Multidiscipline three-dimensional (3D) design tools are utilized by most advanced shipyards in the world to gain both competitive advantage and productivity. While deadlines become shorter and shorter, the complexity of modern commercial vessels increases steadily; therefore, it is imperative for the marine industry to integrate diverse engineering information systems. 3D models are repetitiously constructed mainly because specified requirements on different design stages are time-consuming. In order to supersede costly point-to-point integration or system-specific integration that have been used, much attention has been paid to develop the advanced and open platform to not only codevelop parts by designers at different geographical locations, coordinate dissimilar applications and application components, but facilitate connectivity and the overall communication process to provide the end user with integrated and consistent data. This paper describes the object-oriented data-sharing collaborative design support system (DSS). DSS is proposed to speed up the construction of 3D models by the Internet technologies to translate product data and further be capable of providing reasonable model configurations of XML descriptions and sharing Web Services on the Internet to comply with shipyards' specific strategies.

CoDesign Space: a collaborative design support system in a network environment

In order to satisfy the various applicational requirements in a network environment, a multi-mode collaborative design method is proposed. Based on XML and VRML technology, the implement method of product data sharing and integration is also discussed. A general type net-based collaborative product design support system called CoDesign Space is designed, and the system architecture and realization method are presented. The CoDesign Space system has a flexible and extendable three-tier B/S architecture. Meanwhile, the system can satisfy the requirements of geographically dispersed collaborative design in many ways by integrating several collaborative design support tools that can be used independently.

Knowledge Network Driven Coordination and Robust Optimization to Support Concurrent and Collaborative Parameter Design

This study presents a parameter coordination and robust optimization approach based on knowledge network modeling. The method allows multidisciplinary designer to synthetically coordinate and optimize parameter considering multidisciplinary knowledge. First, a knowledge network model is established, including design knowledge from assembly, manufacture, performance, and simulation. Second, the parameter coordination method is presented to solve the knowledge network model, monitor the potential conflicts due to engineering changes, and obtain the consistency solution space corresponding to the given knowledge. Finally, the robust parameter optimization model is established, and genetic arithmetic is used to obtain the robust optimization parameter. A design instance is introduced to show the validity of this method.

Special Issue on Collaborative Engineering

Special Issue on Collaborative Engineering

Knowledge-intensive collaborative design modeling and support: Part II: System implementation and application

Contemporary design problems embody significant levels of complexity, which make it unlikely that a single designer can work alone on a complex design problem. Knowledge-intensive collaboration has emerged as a promising discipline for dealing with the modeling and decision-making processes in distributed design systems. In this paper, we present the implementation and application of a web-based knowledge-intensive collaborative design support system called WebKIDSS. With the modularization of design, a modules networked system could be developed and deployed according to CORBA standard to facilitate the rapid construction of the concurrent integrated distributed models for the design process and the coordination among designers within the range of enterprises and even virtual enterprises. The prototype web-based collaborative design platform, is implemented for proof-of-concept through the distributed knowledge server based framework (KS-DMME) with concurrent integration of multiple cooperative knowledge sources and software using Java/Java Bean and CORBA technologies. The unified user interface of the WebKIDSS provides a cross-platform for distributed users to access to module servers throughout the network. By use of the developed the prototype system, collaborative design can be carried out in an integrated and distributed open environment on the internet/intranet. Based on the preliminary application to the collaborative design of a micro robotic assembly system on the Internet, the developed system indicates some advantages to increase the efficiency of the design coordination and decision-making in the design process.

Constraint-Based Techniques to Support Collaborative Design

We develop a framework to support collaborative constraint-based geometric design systems with multiple views for concurrent engineering. The framework is based on a conceptual architecture with a master view and several client views with a two-way flow of information between the master and client views. The tools in the framework are used to open a new application’s view and to maintain consistency when one of the applications changes its view by editing it and when either the master view or one of the other views must be updated. A simple case study illustrates how the tools in the framework work.

Distributed object models for collaboration in the construction industry

Information about products for the construction industry is increasingly often provided to designers in digital ways that enable them to apply the information directly in the design process. Digital product catalogues are provided using various media and formats and several initiatives are taken by the industry and by CAD developers to integrate this kind of information into CAD systems. Generally, current practice is to distribute the information to designers, for example, by using CD-ROMs or a website where the information can be downloaded. In our research, we recognise that distributing information in this manner detaches it from the business processes in the construction supply chain, which is a major disadvantage. The project presented in this paper concerns the implementation in the Dutch construction industry of a methodology for sharing product information through a distributed object model. The methodology, which is called Concept Modelling, forms a generic basis for the support of collaborative design, but is applied in this project to the integration of information from the supply chain in the design process. Through the distributed object model, design information and product information can be integrated while the actual data objects remain at their source. This enables the supply chain to provide information of a high semantic level to designers while keeping the control over the information and maintaining the relationship of the information with their business processes. The advantages of this approach in which information is shared, rather than exchanged, are numerous. Redundancy of information is minimised, consistency is improved, and updated information is available immediately. Moreover, design and construction processes can benefit significantly from the dynamic aspects of accessing information that is tied to business processes in the supply chain. For example, product selection during design can be based on latest information on product details, prices, production methods, and variants of products. This information can be provided to designers automatically and on demand.

Conceptual design support system in a collaborative environment for injection moulding

The shortened time-to-market of new products requires experts from multiple disciplines to cooperate in product development. In this collaborative product development environment, an Internet-based conceptual design support system for Injection moulding is developed. It can help designers to put forward feasible design solutions quickly and provide strong support for collaborative design. The architecture, implementation and evaluation of this system are discussed in this paper. The proposed system makes fully use of component-based web technology and has a flexible distributed architecture. A hybrid neural network and genetic algorithm approach is also adopted for more accurate and efficient retrieval. Experiment results indicate it is superior to conventional systems in accuracy and time.

Creating Shared Information Spaces to Support Collaborative Design Work

The provision of computer support for collaborative work is a central concern for Information Systems (IS) research and practice. In this paper we present the details of an information flow study undertaken in the household division of a large European design and manufacturing company (Delta). The goal of the study was to elicit user requirements for a computer system to facilitate the collaborative work of new product design teams. These requirements form the basis for the design and development of a Web-based LIRE (Living Repository) prototype system, the functionalities, features, and rationale of which are discussed. We also present the results of the evaluation of LIRE by the users at Delta and our observations on enhancing the sophistication and usefulness of this class of system. A production version based on the prototype but using commercially available software is currently in use by the New Product Development group at Delta.

A collaborative design process model in the sociotechnical engineering design framework

Collaborative engineering design involves various stakeholders with different perspectives. The design process is relatively complex and difficult to handle. Various conflicts always happen among the design tasks and affect the design team performance. Therefore, to represent the collaborative design process and capture the evolution of design perspectives in a structured way, it is critical to manage the design conflicts and improve the collaborative design productivity. This article provides a generic collaborative design process model based on a sociotechnical design framework. This model has a topological format and adopts process analysis techniques from Petri Nets. By addressing both the technical and social aspects of collaborative design activities, it provides a mechanism to identify the interdependencies among design tasks and perspectives of different stakeholders. Based on this design process model, a methodology of detecting and handling the design conflicts is developed to support collaborative design coordination.

Supporting collaborative design groups as design communities

This paper explores computer support for unstructured collaboration. It describes a web-based online environment that was used in conjunction with a graduate-level architectural studio, giving special attention to patterns of online behavior and the perceptions of those who used the environment. Asynchronous collaborative environments like the one studied may alleviate certain problems like evaluation apprehension and production-blocking but will not on their own motivate group contributions in an unstructured setting. It was hypothesized that open participation can be fostered by a sense of community, which in turn at least partially depends on factors intrinsic to the support environment. The environment studied failed to promote open interaction and did not appear to sustain a strong sense of community. Environmental factors thought to have played a role include page structuring, page-naming conventions, and the spatial clustering of text-based exchanges.

Model-based virtual document generation

Virtual documents are hypermedia documents that are generated on demand in response to reader input. This paper describes a virtual document application that generates natural language explanations about the structure and behavior of electromechanical systems. The application, called DME, structures the interaction with the reader as a question–answer dialog. Each page of the hyperdocument is the answer to a question, and each link on each page is a follow-up question that leads to another answer. DME is amodel-basedvirtual document generator; unlike conventional database front-ends that provide views onto data, DME dynamically constructs the document's content (i.e. coherent explanations in English) from underlying mathematical and symbolic models. DME-based virtual documents have been running on the WWW since late 1993. They are used to document engineered systems in support of collaborative design and simulation-based training.In this paper we describe and demonstrate the DME application (with examples that run), and describe how it generates virtual documents on the web. We discuss the impact that model-based virtual documentation can have on the way technical documentation is authored and delivered.

épée A support environment for process engineering software

This paper describes épée, a distributed environment for the integration of software applications. It was developed with the aim of aiding the process of design by providing the necessary support for a design information management system. The software environment is first described in general terms and then our specific application of épée to process engineering design is presented. épée uses an object-oriented approach to data management. Data are represented as objects whose definitions, via templates, reflect the process engineering design environment. The use of focussed methods promotes a consistent look and feel to the tools in the environment. Method reuse reduces software development costs and increases users' confidence in the reliability of the methods. The benefits of the history recording mechanism in épée and its object publishing facilities are described. A history record is a critical component of a high level design management system. This, together with the sharing of data through object publishing, provides the necessary support for collaborative design. The application of épée to process engineering design illustrates the benefits of object-oriented techniques to the process systems and design community. The inherent extensibility of object definitions facilitates the application of the support system to any area of design. The dynamic nature of object definitions in épée encourages exploration and experimentation with new data types and methods.

Supporting Collaborative Design in a Seamless Environment

The paper describes an environment that supports the collaboration of designers located at different sites. It argues that a requirement for such an environment is seamlessness, which means there is freedom to move between independent design activity and shared design activity with design artifacts. The collaborative design activity is formally specified, and the transitions between independent and shared activities are identified. Functions that support these transitions are supported by a system architecture composed of software agents. A prototype implemen tation of the architecture is used to illustrate a seamless environment for urban designers.

Support for collaborative design

Support for collaborative design

Hypermedia support for collaborative design

This paper proposes the use of hypermedia technologies to enhance collaborative engineering design by following the grounding of abstract concepts with links to related multimedia information. The extension of a collaborative design support tool using these technologies is present and its advantages illustrated with an example of the design of a building's floor system.

Supporting collaborative engineering design

The complexity of current engineering design demands the collaboration of specialists. Collaboration involves both communication between and coordination among members of a design team. Currently, design collaboration is carried out through the use of schedules, specifications and drawings which only capture the end results of the design process. They fail to record important design information such as the reasoning behind design decisions. In this paper, we describe a tool CADS, that supports collaboration in engineering design. CADS is based on an extension to the Axiomatic Design methodology which not only captures the design elements but also the rationale used to conceive them. CADS serves as a shared database of design information with facilities that support communication and coordination in engineering design.

Agent-based framework for integrated facility engineering

An agent-based framework for the development of integrated facility engineering environments in support of collaborative design is introduced. This framework aims at integrating design software by allowing better software interoperability. Within their framework, design agents represent various existing design and planning systems that communicate their design information and knowledge partially and incrementally using the Agent Communication Language (ACL). ACL is a formal language proposed as a communication standard for disparate software. It is based on a logic-based language called Knowledge Interchange Format (KIF) and a message protocol called Knowledge Query Manipulation Language (KQML). Design agents are linked and their communication of design information is coordinated via system programs called facilitators in a federation architecture. The federation architecture specifies the way design agents and facilitators communicate in an integrated software environment. In concert with pursuing fundamental research concepts, we have been developing an integrated design software environment that spans different phases of the facility life cycle. This environment serves to demonstrate the primary aspects of this research methodology. In this paper, we first discuss the integration problem and review related research projects. We then present the major aspects of agent-based software engineering methodology and its application to integrated facility engineering. A highlight of the current integrated design environment development is given to illustrate the advantages of this approach. Finally, we summarize and discuss some of the important research issues in light of previous research.

Supporting Indirect Collaborative Design With Integrated Knowledge-Based Design Environments

We are developing a conceptual framework and a demonstration system for collaboration among members of design teams when direct communication among these members is impossible or impractical. Our research focuses on the long-term, indirect communication needs of project teams rather than the short-term needs of face-to-face communication or electronic mail. We address these needs with integrated, domain-oriented design environments. Our conceptual framework and our system-building efforts address two major issues: (a) How does individual work blend into project work (especially in large projects that span great distances and time)? and (b) What role do the work objects play in this coordination? We use a specific domain-oriented design environment (NETWORK-HYDRA-for the design of computer networks) to illustrate our approach, and we discuss HYDRA as the underlying domain-independent, multifaceted architecture for design environments.