Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
7.3.2 DyCE architecture
Overall Architecture
The overall structure of the system is designed as an integration of product and
process model of a project. It is depicted in Figure 7.6.
The structure is based on engineering communication as process of solving
technical problems where problems and solutions are mainly communicated in
form of images, drawings (2D, 3D graphics), tables and lists, textual descriptions,
animations, and so on. Further, information is communicated according to the
process model and schedule plan. A robust, multimedia, user friendly, context
sensitive personal network adds an additional layer on top of the structure, offering
instant access to every needed person in the network, every needed design and site
data, any needed data repository (to store and communicate data) and software
applications.
Deployment Architecture
By using a workflow management system (WFMS), extensive coordination,
communication and data exchange in construction processes can be optimized
and the interaction between project partners improved. However, the advantages of
using WFMS have been limited to office environments and to controlling general
project workflows.
Extending WFMS to include context sensitive and mobile work can provide
workflow control and support in a flexible and personalized way. An extended
WFMS should initially control all process information of one project and,
additionally, the project partner (or other entity) in organizing his/her daily
work. The following scenario demonstrates the extended functionality:
During a construction phase a contractor perceives a problem and needs a
solution. The contractor requests his process information using a mobile device
connected via a network to the workflow management server. The system deter-
mines the person, the time, the device, the location, and responds with relevant
information (availability of persons and documents that are directly connected to
the performed activity) displayed on the contractor's device.
As evident from the scenario, the main characteristic of the extended system is
the ability to adjust to the user's situation, especially if the user is accessing the
system by using a mobile device. Adjusting the process consists of determining
the user's situation (capturing the user's context), mapping the user's context to the
project and processing data and output generation (reporting, presentation for
different mobile devices) (Figure 7.7).
By determining the user's situation, different context data (person, time [system
time], mobile device, location) are collected using either the agent on the user's
mobile device or using the monitoring agent on the server's side.
The user's access data is stored as a user access profile. A context collection agent,
supported by its knowledge base, is able to interpret the user's access data and
extend it with additional information collected from external data sources (e.g.
existing WFMS, presence management system). The information consolidation
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