Cumincad : CUMINCAD Papers : Search Results

CumInCAD is a Cumulative Index about publications in Computer Aided Architectural Design
supported by the sibling associations ACADIA, CAADRIA, eCAADe, SIGraDi, ASCAAD and CAAD futures

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_id	ddss9811
id	ddss9811
authors	Barbanente, A., Conte, E. and Monno, V.
year	1998
title	Changing trends and approaches in human and computer modelling for social housing policies
source	Timmermans, Harry (Ed.), Fourth Design and Decision Support Systems in Architecture and Urban Planning Maastricht, the Netherlands), ISBN 90-6814-081-7, July 26-29, 1998
summary	The paper discusses conceptual issues, goals and preliminary results of an on-going research which aims at building a Decision Support System for public housing environmental oriented maintenance and management in a city in Southern Italy, Bari. Traditional post-war Italian housing policies are compared with more recent approaches in the field, pointing out the change from quantitative, aggregated, more simple building problems and relatedapproaches to qualitative, differentiated, complex ones integrating social, economic and environmental dimensions with the aim of regenerating deteriorated residential areas. The paper claims for the need shift, both in the human and computer areas, from traditional quantitative models to new approaches able to manage also qualitative variables, temporal dynamics, emergencies, and intentionality, since they appear key aspects of the real world to be modelled. The housing estate of Bari and its needs of maintenance and management are examined, eliciting essential related knowledge using the interview technique. The clear orientation towards sustainable policies for urban regeneration, at a local, national, and Community level, is also considered. The innovative and collaborative nature of such policies and the attention to be paid to the social aspects ofthe problem require a complex DSS, integrating various kind of hypertexts, information systems and case-based fuzzy expert systems, whose main aims, functions, software and general organisation are outlined in the paper.
series	DDSS
last changed	2003/11/21 15:16

_id	ddss9806
id	ddss9806
authors	Besio, M., Frixione, M. and Pedemonte, O.
year	1998
title	GIS technologies in the transfer of theknowledge project to the plan projectmultiple representation of the environmental spaces
source	Timmermans, Harry (Ed.), Fourth Design and Decision Support Systems in Architecture and Urban Planning Maastricht, the Netherlands), ISBN 90-6814-081-7, July 26-29, 1998
summary	An analysis is made of the relation between the conceptualand paradigmatic level of GIS technologies and the new forms of plan, whichmake environment the center of attention. The intention is to study newcriteria for zoning able to give contextual representations of theterritorial, environmental and landscape aspects of the geographical space,and also to study new legislative principles, able to establish integratedrules for theprojecting of soil uses, the safeguarding and recovery ofenvironmental systems and the tutelage and boosting of the landscape. The experimentation of GIS (Geographical Information System)technologies aims at the construction of systems helping to make decisionsfor the control of the environmental and landscape aspects of theterritory. An analysis is made of the ways in which there are formulated thedescriptions of the various aspects of the environment: the conceptsthrough which knowledge is expressed, the languages used forrepresentations, the cognitive models adopted. GIS technologies have made it possible to represent in an explicitmanner the paradigms underlying the various models of knowledge.Specifically, the following cognitive models have been developed:- ecological models of nature- ecological models of human settlement- ecological models of inhabitants’ mental perceptions
series	DDSS
last changed	2003/11/21 15:16

_id	ddss9808
id	ddss9808
authors	Boelen, A.J.
year	1998
title	Pattern Matching for Decision Support
source	Timmermans, Harry (Ed.), Fourth Design and Decision Support Systems in Architecture and Urban Planning Maastricht, the Netherlands), ISBN 90-6814-081-7, July 26-29, 1998
summary	In this paper is discussed how we can use pattern matching techniques in combination with object orientation to support decision makers in arranging offices and industrial and commercial facilities in existing urban areas. The method used is based on the findings of a Ph.D. project almost finishedwhen writing this. The tool under development is specifically useful for rehabilitation of deteriorated industrial or commercial areas.I consider such an area already occupied and surrounded with all kinds of urban objects and connected to all kinds of infrastructure. I can describe this area in available objects and facilities. Furthermore we can describe the areas capacity left within the infrastructure, the capacity in forexample work force or clients and the available band width in noise or pollution. By describing the area in terms of availability of capacity to absorb or produce flows of people, goods, energy and information we sketch the room available for certain types of industrial or commercial facilities. I developed a technique to describe industrial and commercial facilities in such a way that we enable the match between these and the characteristics of an area available. Pattern matching techniquesenable the system to generate best matches between available areas, locations and facilities. This model can be adapted in several object oriented geographical information systems and be integrated with other information systems that for example calculate the pollution of certain kinds of facilities. The rules to match with are partly based on objective, measurable data like available capacity on the electricity network and needed electrical power for certain facilities. Other matching rules are based on political norms on for example acceptable pollution levels and suggested pollution of facilities. The paper presents the problem area of industrial area rehabilitation, describes the architecture of the modeling technique and presents the first findings of implementation studies.
keywords	Pattern matching, Object GIS, Urban object modeling, Facility planning
series	DDSS
last changed	2003/11/21 15:16

_id	1beb
authors	Coomans, M.K.D. and Timmermans, H.J.P.
year	1998
title	A VR User Interface for Design by Features
source	Timmermans (ed.) Proceedings of the 4th Conference on Design and Decision Support Systems in Architecture and Urban Planning, Maastricht
summary	We present the design of a Virtual Reality based user interface (VR-UI). It is the interface for the VR-DIS system, a design application for the Building and Construction industry (VRDIS stands for Virtual Reality - Design Information System). The interface is characterised by a mixed representation of the task domain: an analogue "mock-up view" is being integrated with a descriptive "feature view". It uses a Fish Tank VR configuration which integrates the virtual objects in the designer's normal working environment. The issues underlying the design of the feature view are discussed, as well as the choice of input devices.
series	other
last changed	2003/04/23 15:50

_id	ddss9812
id	ddss9812
authors	Coomans, M.K.D. and Timmermans, H.J.P.
year	1998
title	A VR-User Interface for Design by Features
source	Timmermans, Harry (Ed.), Fourth Design and Decision Support Systems in Architecture and Urban Planning Maastricht, the Netherlands), ISBN 90-6814-081-7, July 26-29, 1998
summary	We present the design of a Virtual Reality based user interface (VR-UI). It is the interface for the VR-DIS system, a design application for the Building and Construction industry (VRDIS stands for Virtual Reality - Design Information System). The interface is characterised by a mixedrepresentation of the task domain: an analogue “mock-up view” is being integrated with a descriptive “feature view”. It uses a Fish Tank VR configuration which integrates the virtual objects in the designer’s normal working environment. The issues underlying the design of the feature view are discussed, as well as the choice of input devices.
series	DDSS
last changed	2003/08/07 16:36

_id	a15e
authors	Dijkstra, J. and Timmermans, H.J.P.
year	1998
title	Conjoint Analysis and Virtual Reality - A Review
source	Timmermans (ed.), 4 Ih Design and Decision Support Systems in Architecture and Urban Planning Conference.
summary	This paper describes a review of an ongoing research project which aims to develop a conjoint analysis and virtual reality (CA&VR) system as part of a design information system in virtual reality. The research project aims to develop a design system that can be used for interactive design and evaluation of design alternatives. A virtual environment model and dynamic virtual objects representing the different design aspects of interest can present a design. The different design aspects are called attributes. Each attribute level is a different state of the concerned virtual object. In the case of a virtual walk through a building design, the system can be viewed as a visual simulation of the environment. The CA&VR system has the potential advantage that individuals' preferences can be measured in designed hypothetical choice situations. As part of the ongoing research project, principles underlying the CA&VR system will be illustrated by simple examples. The status of this research project, both in retrospect and in prospect will be described.
series	other
last changed	2003/04/23 15:50

_id	ddss9818
id	ddss9818
authors	Dijkstra, Jan and Timmermans, Harry J.P.
year	1998
title	Conjoint Analysis and Virtual Reality – a Review
source	Timmermans, Harry (Ed.), Fourth Design and Decision Support Systems in Architecture and Urban Planning Maastricht, the Netherlands), ISBN 90-6814-081-7, July 26-29, 1998
summary	This paper describes a review of an ongoing research project which aims to develop a conjoint analysis and virtual reality (CA&VR) system as part of a design information system in virtual reality. The research project aims to develop a design system that can be used for interactive design and evaluation of design alternatives. A virtual environment model and dynamic virtual objects representing the different design aspects of interest can present a design. The different design aspects are called attributes. Each attribute level is a different state of the concerned virtual object. In the case of a virtual walk through a building design, the system can be viewed as a visual simulation of the environment. The CA&VR system has the potential advantage that individuals’ preferences can be measured indesigned hypothetical choice situations. As part of the ongoing research project, principles underlying the CA&VR system will be illustrated by simple examples. The status of this research project, both in retrospect and in prospect will be described.
series	DDSS
last changed	2003/08/07 16:36

_id	ddss9823
id	ddss9823
authors	Groot, E.H. de and Pernot, C.E.E.
year	1998
title	Energy Impact Knowledge-based System project:Outcomes of the Netherlands Workshops
source	Timmermans, Harry (Ed.), Fourth Design and Decision Support Systems in Architecture and Urban Planning Maastricht, the Netherlands), ISBN 90-6814-081-7, July 26-29, 1998
summary	Overcoming barriers in the current building process that hinder the realisation of optimal energy efficiency in buildings is the aim of the Energy Impact Knowledge-based System [EIKS] project. During this project, a demo-version of a knowledge based assistive information and decision supportsystem was developed, considering the design and evaluation of integrated daylight and artificial lighting systems for office rooms. Twenty workshops with building experts were carried out in four European countries. The first set of sixteen workshops delivered the specifications of the system.During the second set of four workshops, this prototype was shown to some of the building experts who had attended one of the workshops of the first series. The outcomes of the first series EIKS workshops were very general and not really specifying the EIKS-prototype as expected. However, from the generally enthusiastic response of participants during the second workshop series it can be concluded that the prototype is a good basis for further development.
series	DDSS
last changed	2003/08/07 16:36

_id	ddss9826
id	ddss9826
authors	Hendricx, A., Geebelen, B., Geeraerts, B. and Neuckermans, H.
year	1998
title	A methodological approach to object modelling in the architectural designprocess
source	Timmermans, Harry (Ed.), Fourth Design and Decision Support Systems in Architecture and Urban Planning Maastricht, the Netherlands), ISBN 90-6814-081-7, July 26-29, 1998
summary	The paper describes a first prototype constructed in search for a central object model. It presents all possible data, concepts and operations concerning the architectural design process in the early phases.A central model of the process of design is essential: going from one design phase into another, the model describes geometrical shapes, abstract concepts like space and activity, concrete physical building elements and the basic operations all these entities undertake. Emphasis is put on combining all these different viewpoints, thus enabling the designer to use a broad range of design strategies. The aim is to help him and not steer or even hamper his creative process. Information necessary toassist the user of the system concerning energy calculation, stability checks etc can be extracted. By means of appropriate interfaces not only those tests built on top of the system but also existing software packages can make use of the model’s object structure. The implemented object model is one of the cornerstones of the IDEA+ project, aiming to provide an Integrated Design Environment for Architecture.
keywords	object model, building model, CAAD, IDEA+, MERODE
series	DDSS
last changed	2003/08/07 16:36

_id	ddss9827
id	ddss9827
authors	Heylighen, A., Segers, R. and Neuckermans, H.
year	1998
title	Prototype of an Interactive Case Library for Architectural Design
source	Timmermans, Harry (Ed.), Fourth Design and Decision Support Systems in Architecture and Urban Planning Maastricht, the Netherlands), ISBN 90-6814-081-7, July 26-29, 1998
summary	Architects acquire an important part of their design knowledge from existing designs. Specific design projects from the past form an indispensable source of information and inspiration. Hence the idea todevelop a digital library of design cases that can be easily accessed during design. The paper describes a recently developed prototype of such a case library, intended to assist architecture students in the studio,yet with the potential of expansion into the office setting. When students enrol into a design project, they usually receive a reader with some relevant examples. At first sight, the digital case library only seems torepresent these examples into another medium, yet there are some important differences between both. Unlike the reader, the library has at its core an indexing-system which allows the easy retrieval of relevantinformation. By labelling projects with several features and making links between similar designs, the tool supports both directed search and browsing. A second difference is that the library is interactive. Studentsare not only able to consult interesting examples, but also to add other projects they consider relevant, to make links between them, to create extra indices etc. Finally, the tool allows to combine several media andto create links to external information sources.
series	DDSS
last changed	2003/08/07 16:36

_id	ddss9831
id	ddss9831
authors	Kellett, Ronald and Girling, Cynthia
year	1998
title	Informing Public Participation in Neighborhood ScalePlanning and Design
source	Timmermans, Harry (Ed.), Fourth Design and Decision Support Systems in Architecture and Urban Planning Maastricht, the Netherlands), ISBN 90-6814-081-7, July 26-29, 1998
summary	Neighborhood scale planning and design in many areas of the United States has been evolving toward a system of negotiated priorities and agreements. Common models include public workshops and design 'charrettes' which bring diverse stakeholders (citizens, land owners, developers, consultantsand public officials, for example) together to develop a mutually acceptable plan. Crucial to the quality and effectiveness of the outcome are decision support tools that help this diverse audience understand, communicate, collaborate and make decisions about complex and often emotional issuesof land use and design. Net Energy Communities (NEC), the project summarized in this paper, creates a suite of computer based tools for this purpose. NEC links three types of computer software — the spatial data manipulation, modeling and visualization capabilities of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), the illustration and information retrieval capabilities of multimedia relational databases and, the simulation and comparison capabilities of spreadsheet-based calculation models;into four tools — a site modeller, an elements of neighborhood database, a scenario modeller and ascenario calculator. This paper reports on the NEC project as an example of decision support tools for public participation using illustrations and examples from a 420 acre demonstration neighborhood design in progress for the City of Corvallis, Oregon, USA.
series	DDSS
last changed	2003/08/07 16:36

_id	ddss9832
id	ddss9832
authors	Keuren, A. and Sanders, F.M.
year	1998
title	Integrated Land-Use and Network Modelling
source	Timmermans, Harry (Ed.), Fourth Design and Decision Support Systems in Architecture and Urban Planning Maastricht, the Netherlands), ISBN 90-6814-081-7, July 26-29, 1998
summary	In this paper, the integration of modelling the changes in land-use and the changes in the infrastructure network will be described. Emphasis is laid on the automatic development of the network instead of changing the network by hand before simulating the changes in the land-use pattern.The approach and working procedure were tested by developing a pilot model simulating the spatial situation on the Frisian island Ameland (The Netherlands). The pilot is developed within the geographical information system Arcinfo. In this pilot model, special attention is paid to the extension of the infrastructure network and the allocation of more than one activity. Network analysis for the purpose of network extension is based on graph theory. Selection of links is based on the increase of the total accessibility within the network system as a result of adding a link to the network. The allocation of activities is based on several selection criteria and takes place within a cellular grid. Several methods ofselecting cells and links and the choices made will be discussed.
series	DDSS
last changed	2003/08/07 16:36

_id	ddss9833
id	ddss9833
authors	Koutamanis, Alexander
year	1998
title	Information systems and the Internet: towards a news counter-revolution?
source	Timmermans, Harry (Ed.), Fourth Design and Decision Support Systems in Architecture and Urban Planning Maastricht, the Netherlands), ISBN 90-6814-081-7, July 26-29, 1998
summary	The explosive evolution of the Internet into a ubiquitous infrastructure influences the generation, dissemination and use of information. From a historical perspective it redefines issues that have been central to the news and information industry since the seventeenth century. One such issue is periodicity. The practicalities of news media and news as a commodity have resulted into the periodical appearance of news and, by extension, of all actual information. Integral to periodicity iscontrol of information production by institutions or other authorized channels. With the advent of the Internet we are reverting to an a-periodical information system characterized by personalization anddirect contact between information provider and information user. Rather than relying on the institutional status of the propagation channels, we are increasingly evaluating information quality by the integrity, up-to-datedness and reliability of its source. Moreover, we are able to complement orcorroborate information by linking different sources together in compound representations. The extent and complexity of the Internet make search intermediaries necessary. These collect and collate information either ad hoc (responding to a user query) or as part of wider documentation projects. These projects re-introduce institutionalization but the autonomous, intelligent mechanisms used by such intermediaries promote personalization in information retrieval and facilitate decentralization ofinformation supply into a cottage industry. In addition to a-periodicity, directness and wider availability of information, decentralization provides a new social and technical context for precedent and case-based approaches in designing.
series	DDSS
last changed	2003/08/07 16:36

_id	ddss9847
id	ddss9847
authors	Ruokolainen, Anne and Tempelmans Plat, Herman
year	1998
title	A System for Optimizing Private House Owner’s Spendings and Benefits
source	Timmermans, Harry (Ed.), Fourth Design and Decision Support Systems in Architecture and Urban Planning Maastricht, the Netherlands), ISBN 90-6814-081-7, July 26-29, 1998
summary	Investment decisions about privately-owned houses are usually based on limited investment budget and vague information about choice alternatives available. Since a household buying a dwelling has to compare the housing expenditure with other expenditures, the financial consequences of the housing investment should be transformed on an annual basis. Furthermore, to be able to make a choice out of various choice alternatives within the annual housing budget, the annual costs of the most importantattributes have to be calculated separately. Cost information about the choice alternatives should be used in combination with their utility in order to be able to allocate the household’s budget. The cost information is objective while utility depends on an individual household. As a consequence, the household should determine its own utility scale. This is accomplished by defining a willingness to pay amount for each choice alternative using a bidding game. The willingness to pay amount reveals the maximum additional amount of money the household is willing to pay for an additional quantity orquality of a certain attribute. In order to maximise the total utility within the budget, the ratios of marginal utility to marginal cost for the attributes have to be compared. The definition of subjective utilities as willingness to pay amounts has drawbacks. Future research should improve the system as concerns utility measurement for the decision support of individual households.
keywords	Private house owner, attributes, annual budget, marginal utility, marginal cost
series	DDSS
last changed	2003/08/07 16:36

_id	ddss9849
id	ddss9849
authors	Sariyildiz, S. Ciftcioglu, Ö. and Veer, Peter van der
year	1998
title	Information Ordering for decision support in building design
source	Timmermans, Harry (Ed.), Fourth Design and Decision Support Systems in Architecture and Urban Planning Maastricht, the Netherlands), ISBN 90-6814-081-7, July 26-29, 1998
summary	A systematic approach for the application of AI-based information processing for information ordering in architectural building design is described. For this purpose fuzzy associative memory (FAM) method is considered. In this system FAM is used for knowledge representation in building design concerning the functional & technical requirements information and its graded relevance to individuals concerned in the same context. A set of FAM rules having been established as a knowledge base for use, a pattern of information in the form of a fuzzy vector is fed to each FAM rule. Here, a decision support system is aimed to convey the information to the respective individuals and/or bodies involved, in a graded form, according to their capacity of involvement in the building design. By exploiting the binary logic, each FAM rule is fired in parallel but to a different degree so that each rule generates an m-dimensional output fuzzy vector Pi. The union of these vectors creates m-dimensional fuzzy decision vector D that provides the ordered information addressed to respective individuals and/or bodies mentioned. Using simulated data, a verification procedure for the performance of the approach is investigated and by means of the work, the role that artificial intelligence in architecture and building design might play, is pointed out.
series	DDSS
last changed	2003/08/07 16:36

_id	ddss9853
id	ddss9853
authors	Sidjanin, Predrag and Gerhardt, Waltraud
year	1998
title	A design tool for analysis and visual quality control of urbanenvironments supported by object databases
source	Timmermans, Harry (Ed.), Fourth Design and Decision Support Systems in Architecture and Urban Planning Maastricht, the Netherlands), ISBN 90-6814-081-7, July 26-29, 1998
summary	In the paper, the main concepts about a design tool supported by an object database system will be described. The design tool should improve architectural design with respect to analysis and improving existing and planned urban environments regarding several quality criteria, especially those associated with visual aspects. Preconditions for defining the design tool's purpose are the determination of the "well-situated" urban elements, their impact on cognitive mapping, and the exploitation of thisknowledge on cognitive mapping for the improvement of urban environments. Cognitive mapping is a kind of representation of schematic knowledge that a person has about familiar environments. A cognitive map is stored information or knowledge about the purpose and function of the environment. This leads to the conclusion that an urban environment design which takes of the process of cognitive mapping into consideration, will be experienced by most of the people in the same way. Investigationsof this process result in a theoretical model of elements of urban environments, their relationships and their dependencies. The theoretical platform of the tool is based on design theory, cognitive science andcomputer science. Design theory and cognitive science will be used to develop the theoretical model. This theoretical model together with computer science will be the basis for tool development. The tooluses a schematic representation of urban environment, based partly on Lynch's theory of "urban form". Lynch's theory is crucial for the tool because it explains almost all elements of urban environments. Systematic investigation of urban environments and their characteristics are important for theoretical modeling as well as for the later computational modeling of the tool. The main computational support for the tool will be provided by an object database system, which helps to represent and to handle all the urban elements with their properties and relationships, with their natural semantics. The information represented in the database will be used to analyze urban environments as well as to improve andcontrol their visual quality.
series	DDSS
email
last changed	2003/08/07 16:36

_id	ddss9859
id	ddss9859
authors	Tonarelli, P., Delaporte, J.L., Tahon, C.
year	1998
title	Geographical and logistical Information System for building management
source	Timmermans, Harry (Ed.), Fourth Design and Decision Support Systems in Architecture and Urban Planning Maastricht, the Netherlands), ISBN 90-6814-081-7, July 26-29, 1998
summary	Nowadays, most of building managers (e.g., companies, local communities, government agencies) have to face up a common set of problems. For instance, these problems are a deficient knowledge of ancient buildings and networks (e.g., gas, water), an inefficient management of green spaces, ora lack of communication between users (e.g., technical staff, suppliers, building end users). In addition, building and spaces to be managed may be shared among several distant areas. LAMIH works aim to achieve methodologies and computer tools for building management andassociated logistic. These works include two aspects we present in this paper:- a methodological one: the establishment of a project business plan, applied to building and logistic management,- a computer aspect: the design and implementation of a decision and management support system, the Geographical and Logistical Information System (G.L.I.S.). The project business plan includes the creation of a task force which has to lead the project and the description of the project plan.The G.L.I.S. is a software set which uses shared database. In particular, this set allows the different users to:- manage a patrimony as a whole, with the help of a Geographical Information System,- manage buildings and networks,- improve communication and logistic aspects with the help of a groupware tool. We present the achievement of these methodology and tools as part of a particular area: theUniversity of Valenciennes which is shared among four towns. The project takes into account existing buildings and those to be built, spaces which separates them, and the relationships betweenthe four different sites of the University. A task force is created as well as a specialised service, the Building Management Department. This department represents an interface between the task force,the LAMIH, and a centre of Information Technologies in construction (CERTIC) which is created as part of the SCENIC project (Support Centres Network for IT in Construction, Esprit project 21772).
series	DDSS
last changed	2003/08/07 16:36

_id	ddss9851
id	ddss9851
authors	Torre, Carmelo and Selicato, Francesco
year	1998
title	Consequences of Interdisciplinary Approaches in the Construction ofKnowledge-Bases
source	Timmermans, Harry (Ed.), Fourth Design and Decision Support Systems in Architecture and Urban Planning Maastricht, the Netherlands), ISBN 90-6814-081-7, July 26-29, 1998
summary	The character of interdisciplinarity in planning approaches create a new, intriguing, emerging complexity (Funtowitcz and Ravetz, 1994) in problems and in knowledge-structuring of contexts of planning practices. The key-role played by information systems (IS) implicates a re-consideration ofcharacter of knowledge to be used in knowledge-bases. The necessity of considering knowledge domains coming from social, cultural, economical, technical, physical and naturalistic approaches means dealing with different scales of value, with non homogenous parameters. The necessity ofmanaging flexible knowledge rises on the fore as fundamental issue for future information system oriented to supporting decisions. Might information systems be useful in this interdisciplinary approach ? It is necessary to contain in a knowledge-base both quantitative and qualitativeinformation ? Three alternatives are available for a conceptual discussion :the possibility of identify new approaches, in order to develop information systems able in managing new knowledge; the necessity of adding new support systems oriented to manage soft knowledge, to traditionalgeographic information systems (GIS); the possibility of non using support systems coming from a technological vision of problem for nontechnical knowledge (Latouche 1996). The first two paragraphs are due to F. Selicato. The third and the fourth paragraph are due to C. Torre.
series	DDSS
last changed	2003/08/07 16:36

_id	ddss9821
id	ddss9821
authors	Varghese, G., Dhingra, S.L. and Sikdar, P.K.
year	1998
title	The Role of Expert Systems, and RDBMS Strategies in a DSSfor Urban Bus Transport Management
source	Timmermans, Harry (Ed.), Fourth Design and Decision Support Systems in Architecture and Urban Planning Maastricht, the Netherlands), ISBN 90-6814-081-7, July 26-29, 1998
summary	Efficient and well-managed urban bus transport systems supported by information systems with decision support capabilities developed within the framework of an advanced Relational Data Base Management System (RDBMS) can provide critical information at the right moment and assisttransport managers in conducting performance evaluations. This paper includes discussions on the use of the entity-relationship (E-R) model (a semantic data modeling technique) in the development of thestructure of the conceptual database for the information system planned to be implemented using RDBMS. The E-R data modeling approach enables database designers in obtaining the third normal forms of related databases for the efficient functioning of the information system. The inportance of decision tables in the development of DSS modules using Expert System shells are also discussed. The DSS modules will assist transport managers in the analysis of operational performance for bus depots or the organization as a whole. The E-R diagrams generated and the decision files developed will serve as important documents that can enhance the adaptability of the DSS to the changing needs ofthe organizations. The conceptualization of the information system to support decision-making in an RDBMS framework provides the advantage of a very low 'disk seek' time and facilitates frequent generation of reports.
series	DDSS
last changed	2003/08/07 16:36

_id	ddss9802
id	ddss9802
authors	Akin, O., Aygen, Z., Cumming, M., Donia, M., Sen, R. and Zhang, Y.
year	1998
title	Computational Specification of Building Requirements in theEarly Stages of Design
source	Timmermans, Harry (Ed.), Fourth Design and Decision Support Systems in Architecture and Urban Planning Maastricht, the Netherlands), ISBN 90-6814-081-7, July 26-29, 1998
summary	We have been exploring computational techniques to help building designers to specify design requirements during the early stages of design. In the past, little has been accomplished in this area either in terms of innovative computational technologies or the improvement of design performance.The prospect of improving design productivity and creating a seamless process between requirements specification and formal design are our primary motivations. This research has been conducted as partof a larger project entitled SEED (Software Environment to Support Early Phases in Building Design). SEED features an open-ended modular architecture, where each module provides support for a design activity that takes place in early design stages. Each module is supported by a database to store and retrieve information, as well as a user interface to support the interaction with designers. The module described in this paper, SEED-Pro (the architectural programming module of SEED), is a workingprototype for building design requirements specification. It can be used by other modules in SEED or by design systems in other domains, such as mechanical engineering, civil engineering, industrial designand electrical engineering. Our approach to SEED-Pro is divided into two phases: core, and support functionalities. The core functionalities operate in an interactive mode relying on a case-based approach to retrieve and adapt complex specification records to the problem at hand. The supportfunctionalities include the case-base, the data-base, and the standards processing environment for building specification tasks. Our findings indicate that SEED-Pro: (1) is a tool that structures the unstructured domain of design requirements; (2) enables the integration of design requirements with the rest of the design process, (3) leads to the creation of complex case-bases and (4) enables the observation of their performance in the context of real world design problems.
series	DDSS
last changed	2003/11/21 15:15

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