Product data sharing in architecture, engineering and construction : assessment of middleware support and business benefits

Bakis, N

Abstract

Product data sharing is seen as an important means of improving the performance of the
Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry. However, little evidence
of its business benefits has been given. At the same time, key middleware technologies
supporting the application of product data sharing in the AEC industry have received
limited testing.
The research reported in this thesis addresses these two gaps in product data sharing
research. It examines the application of key product data sharing technologies in
practice in order to identify gaps in those technologies or provide further evidence of
their suitability. It also assesses the use of product data sharing in improving the
performance of construction organisations.
A case study of the application of product data sharing in practice was conducted. It
examined the use of product data sharing in improving the performance of a partnering
arrangement in the development of wastewater treatment plants. It dealt with: (i) the
documentation and analysis of the current practice followed by the arrangement; (ii) the
use of product data sharing in improving the performance of the arrangement; and (iii)
the assessment of the achieved improvement.
The main contributions of the research reported in this thesis are: (i) it identifies
shortcomings in the Industry Foundation Classes and the need for further research in
distributed product data sharing architectures; (ii) it provides evidence for some
business benefits of product data sharing, while at the same time finds conflicting
evidence for benefits reported in the literature; (iii) it suggests a change
notification/propagation scheme for product data sharing environments; and (iv) it
examines and demonstrates the application of product data sharing in the wastewater
treatment sector.

Citation

Bakis, N. Product data sharing in architecture, engineering and construction : assessment of middleware support and business benefits. (Thesis). Salford : University of Salford

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Oct 3, 2012
• Award Date: Jan 1, 2009