Information is a critical element for architects to accomplish their tasks. The overwhelming increase and complexiv of digital informaiion has revealed problems concerning information acquisition. New techniques of handling information are needed to improve the transformation of data into information, and then into knowledge. Applying inforwtation visualisation (Iv)techniques is seen as one of these techniques. This paper discusses the importance of irrformation in architectural practice and the potentials ojr utilizing IV techniques to improve the information acquisition process. The paper attempts to draw an application model for developing IV tools. It explores in detail four main factors that influence their successful application, which are: ( I ) underlying data structure, (2) information seeking strategies. (3) identification of IV techniques, and (4) analysing the user profile. Based on these factors, the paper critically examines different possible /.V development approaches f o r the architectural practice, these include: technology push, data structure based, and task driven approaches. 1: Introduction to the role of Information in the Architectural PracticeInformation processing is the most common theoretical perspective on the architectural processes found in the contemporary literature of design research, [1,2,3,4]. The ontology of the design process, as information processing, assunies that information has a neutral value and different interpretations are transferred according to its codification (designed) [4]. Information in the architectural practice falls into two categories: (a) project related information, and (b) general information [5,6]. The architects' role is to manipulate this information to reproduce it in a meaningful form, which are often described as designs.With the overwhelming increase and complexity of 'digital' information, problems, particularly regarding information acquisition and use, have clearly appeared. Whereas information use is a large area of study, this paper focuses on identifying the problems concerning information acquisition in terms of accessibility and assimilation.Recently researches emphasized the crucial role of information acquisition in the building industry, as well as the lack of interest among practitioners in using information resources. Several surveys on IT usage in the building industry [6,9] show the reluctance in adapting advanced IT systems for both information acquisition and management, while interest and investment is still directed towards CAD solutions. Vries [ l ] and Love [4] emphasized that both exploration and finding information are as important sub-processes as the architectural design process itself. On the other hand, Davidson [6] advocated that practitioners still do not see searching information as a productive activity. He identifies this phenomenon by the lack of the 'acquiring information skills' training in the current educational programs. The implications of lack of information accessibility were addressed by many other ...
Small architectural firms (those that employ less than six people) account for an estimated 4525 or 74% of the total number of practices in the UK (RIBA, 2000), and market research has shown that there is a poor uptake of existing project specification information technologies in this sector. We present the results of an analysis of the ways that small practices currently create, manage and communicate project specification information and an overview of our research into new models to support these processes. The research has focused on the creation and population of appropriate, re‐usable information models and we describe these in the context of other modelling initiatives in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry. The research has resulted in the definition of a large pool of domain specific data objects, which have the potential to provide a generic information resource for the industry. The Architectural Informatics Group, in conjunction with the National Building Specification (NBS), have implemented the results of this research through the development of a new commercial software tool for use in small design practices in the UK.
This paper examines how the adoption of e‐commerce will influence the processes of dis‐ semination, communication and management of information in the AEC industry. We argue that e‐commerce will render redundant the business models that currently support these processes, and propose templates for the business models of the future. Effective information flow is fundamental to the process of realizing a construction project and within this project information pool, manufacturers' product information forms a core component. It provides designers with technical information to support decision making during design, the data necessary to communicate specification requirements to contractors and finally a means by which contractors can source the materials required to construct the project. We examine the current business model and motivations for each actor in this sector before going on to discuss the areas where e‐commerce can most effectively be adopted. We propose a three generation model for e‐business and conclude by describing the changes to the underlying business models that we believe are necessary to support effective e‐commerce in the future.
Small architectural firms (those that employ less than six people) account for an estimated 4525 or 74% of the total number of practices in the UK (RIBA, 2000), and market research has shown that there is a poor uptake of existing project specification information technologies in this sector. We present the results of an analysis of the ways that small practices currently create, manage and communicate project specification information and an overview of our research into new models to support these processes. The research has focused on the creation and population of appropriate, re-usable information models and we describe these in the context of other modelling initiatives in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry. The research has resulted in the definition of a large pool of domain specific data objects, which have the potential to provide a generic information resource for the industry. The Architectural Informatics Group, in conjunction with the National Building Specification (NBS), have implemented the results of this research through the development of a new commercial software tool for use in small design practices in the UK.
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