Abstract
In Finland, approximately 80 % of the facades of buildings are
manufactured as precast units. Currently one of the obstacles to making
the overall design and construction of precast building facades more
efficient is the exchange of data about facades between architects,
structural engineers and precast element manufacturers. The product
model approach seems to offer a new methodology for data exchange and
sharing which would solve many of the current problems. This paper
presents the results of research carried out at the Technical Research
Centre of Finland in which this approach was tested.The prevailing way
of designing facades was chosen as a reference process model. Based on
an analysis of data needs in the different stages of the process a
product data model of a facade was developed. The product data model was
restricted to facades only and does not include other information about
the building. Central data structures in the conceptual schema define
how a precast concrete facade consists of precast concrete units, i.e.,
elements. Structural wall layers that may have openings form the
elements. The conceptual schema was implemented as a prototype which
was based on existing software, modified and further developed. The
prototype was tested by an architectural design company, a structural
design company and a manufacturer. The main conclusion of testing was
that the data produced in the architectural design is directly usable in
further design. The structural or element design may use the
architectural data as such. Also, it is possible to create applications
that take into account the architect's preferred design approach.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1-31 |
| Journal | Journal of information technology in construction |
| Volume | 2 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - 1997 |
| MoE publication type | A1 Journal article-refereed |