Abstract

AEC professionals lack a formal methodology to complement data structures and reasoning applications to effectively communicate and integrate their design processes. We propose to design and implement a methodology that enables AEC professionals to more quickly and accurately communicate and integrate their multidisciplinary design processes and information than in current practice. We propose to do this by leveraging existing building information model (BIM) and CIFE methods and technology. Collaboratively using our proposed methodology, AEC professionals will iteratively define their objectives using the POP (Product, Organization, Process) modeling method. They will propose many design options and analyze these options with respect to their objectives using the Narrative method. They will decide upon options using the Decision Dashboard method. We propose to gather a test case from a current project, implement it retrospectively using our methodology in the CIFE I-Room, and conduct a charette-test to validate the extent to which our methodology enables AEC professionals to better communicate and integrate their multidisciplinary design processes. The practical purpose of this methodology is to enable AEC professionals to improve their multidisciplinary designs. The scientific purpose of this research is to go beyond current discussions about BIM content and better define and manage the interactions among the many disciplines BIMs, and the AEC professionals who use them.