An interoperability workbench for design analysis integration

Past design analysis integration efforts have addressed the need to achieve seamless data integration between design and analysis software applications. These efforts have been dominated by an interoperability focus. Recently, it has been recognized that these solutions suffer from several limitations. For one, they assume a `perfect world' in which all information is structured and all mappings between design and analysis representations exist on a generic level. Secondly, most interoperability solutions have a data focus, whereas true design analysis integration requires a "language" to express both analysis requests and the answers that are generated by experts responding to these requests. An intrinsic part of this language is the logic of the design analysis process. Hence, the integration effort requires a strong process rather than data focus. The Design Analysis Integration (DAI)-Initiative aims to steer towards new solutions for design analysis integration that may overcome the limitations of current data-centric interoperability approaches. This paper reports on the first phase of the development, which has produced a first-generation `workbench' prototype for managing a process driven design analysis dialogue. The workbench is meant to enable a more robust use of existing building models such as IFC for the mapping to simulation tools. The paper presents the underlying theories, prototype development, and findings from the research and concludes with a discussion of future work, targeting extension and benchmarking of the current prototype. (C) 2004 Published by Elsevier B.V.