Cloud Computing Support for Construction Collaboration - Mobile and Pervasive Computing in Construction - page 252

Business Process Execution Language (BPEL), an XML-based specification
released by the Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information
Standards (OASIS) for composition and orchestration of web services.

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In addition, the implementation tools that may be used are the family of open
source tools from the Apache Software Foundation, such as Apache Hadoop,a
framework for distributed processing of large data sets across clusters of comput-
ing, Apache Axis2, a framework that supports deployment of web service units and
provides system accessibility using standardized SOAP and WSDL technologies,
Apache Orchestration Director Engine (ODE) an execution engine that deploys and
implements BPEL processes, Apache Struts, a framework that offers system
accessibility using web browsers or wireless devices and enables control of page
flows and management of consistent layouts, and Apache Tomcat, a servlet
container that executes web applications which are programmed and packaged
using the Java Servlet technologies, management, and blogging. Other proprietary
software houses likeMicrosoft have also brought out a family of products for cloud-
based systems likeWindows Azure and Google App Engine.

12.7 Summary

This chapter has summarized the emerging cloud computing technology and the
potential benefits for the construction industry, particularly for collaboration and
communication among different stakeholders of a project. The major potential
benefits discussed in this chapter are cost reduction, enhanced mobility, improved
flexibility, and facilitation of system maintenance and updating. The limitations
and challenges for adopting cloud technology were also highlighted. Both technical
and social challenges should be considered in order for wide adoption of cloud
technology in the construction industry. Amodel for cloud-based collaboration for
construction projects was proposed and its main features were discussed. A full
blown implementation of the model is under development and testing.

References

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Workshop on Enabling Technologies: Infrastructure for Collaborative Enterprises, 18-20
June, pp. 56-61. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), New York.
Anumba, C.J., and Evbuomwan, N.F.O. (1997) Concurrent engineering in design-build
projects. Construction Management and Economics, 15 (3), 271-281.
Armbrust, M., Fox, A., Griffith, R., Joseph, A.D., Katz, R.H., Konwinski, A., et al. (2009).
Above the clouds: A Berkeley view of cloud computing. No. UCB/EECS-2009-28,
EECS Department, University of California, Berkeley, USA. http://www.eecs.berke-
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Armbrust, M., Fox, A., Griffith, R., Joseph, A.D., Katz, R.H., Konwinski, A., et al. (2010)
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