Transcript CONCUR IMS implementation

CONCUR
Project Summary
 CONCUR was aimed at exploiting the developments that were made in Product Data Technology
specifically for the construction industry during the mid 1990s. Mechanical, aeronautical, automobile and
maritime engineering were successfully exploiting the STEP advances of the 1980s, AP225 and CIMsteel
had made a start, but here were technologies aimed specifically at the wider construction industry. In
particular, the CONCUR partners wanted to exploit the IAI-IFCs in the processes that were used in the
pre-tender phases of construction.
 The CONCUR partners examined the processes and the information flows with the aim of using ICT
and open standards for integration. The project looked at the project inception stage, the concept design
phase with links to power engineering processes, the scheme design phase and estimating. A common
thread through the project was the desire to use product models and 3D modelling throughout the process
and to move the start of modelling higher up the chain.
 Where possible, established commercial software was used so that the project results could be
deployed for commercial use. Technical assistance was both received from and given to software
vendors. A number of vendors were involved as associate partners and undertook major enhancements
to their software to support the goals of the CONCUR project.
 Technically CONCUR has made major advances in: inception modelling, using web based Information
Management Systems, linking these systems to advanced object oriented Product Data Technology, a
method for PDT model merging, a method for using XML to interface with a PDT database, a metadata
schema for the IAI, a set of derived attributes for the IAI-IFCs, driving forward the creation of a lexicon
of construction terms which will support the needs of both PDT and eCommerce for construction,
showing that IFCs can be used for storing models as well as exchanging them, and in methods for
browsing and adding to the the contents of IFC models.
 CONCUR has helped to move the IAI-IFCs closer to widespread use by using them on industrial
information and by critiquing the IFC translators developed by the major vendors of modelling systems.
 CONCUR has demonstrated that IFCs can integrate the processes of different companies using different
software applications being used for different purposes.
 CONCUR partners are deploying the results commercially and have a clearer vision of how to
profitably extend the use of PDT further into their businesses.
 CONCUR has identified weaknesses and gaps in these technologies and has helped initiate work to
improve and strengthen them – The Way Forward.