info@SCARECROW.CSEE.LEHIGH.EDU (Info Directory-x4508) (10/12/88)
In response to sean@cadre.dsl.pittsburgh.edu (Sean McLinden) query for pointers to AI applications to building design and construction Sean states: >I am well aware of a number of AI applications to CAD that are used >in building design, but I am curious to know if anyone has looked at >the various processes that occur during the engineering phase of a >project.... >Considering the number of dollars involved in U.S. Government funded >construction, it seems that GSA or OMB might be interested in developing >such a system. As part of a government directive to assist the U.S. construction industry to be more competative in the world marketplace, Lehigh University was awarded a NSF block grant of $10 million to develop technical innovations for the industry. Lehigh University's NSF sponsored Advanced Technology for Large Structural Systems (ATLSS) Engineering Research Center has several projects, some of which are looking into developing intelligent interfaces between various phases/processes of the multi-million dollar fragmented construction industry. >There is a common expertise between participants which >allows them to make decisions quickly by sifting through a lot of >information while retrieving only that which pertains to the problem >at hand. True. It is this fact that allows us to start developing intelligent interfaces between these groups. Only the necessary information required to make a decision is asked. The rest is shared amongst the players involved in the construction process. The key is to determine and classify the common information and the specific information required to assist in making construction decisions. The project that I am involved in is the Designer/Fabricator Interface (DFI) which will assist design engineers in understanding downstream fabrication and erection problems associated by their upstream design decisions. The initial limited domain of DFI deals with design fitup of beam to column connections in buildings. The DFI system critiques the designer's initial connection details and reports gross and subtle fitup errors before he sends out his design document for bid to fabricators. This requires the system to utilize general fabrication and erection knowledge in one mode of operation and specific knowledge if a particular fabricator has won the bid and is working closely with the designer. The system will later be expanded to include fitup of beam to beam connections as well as provide a functional critique (real Civil Engineering strength issues). Also, an architect/designer interface is under development as well as completion of several specific KB systems (including simple connection design and bridge fatigue investigator (BFI) that determins what to do in repairing cracks in bridges). For more information contact: General ATLSS Information KBS Systems Information Dr. John Fisher Dr. John Wilson Director, ATLSS Center KBS Thrust Leader Room A206 Room 220 Building H Fritz Engineering Lab, #13 Lehigh University Lehigh University Bethlehem, PA 18015 Bethlehem, PA 18015 (215)758-3535 (215)758-4828 jwf2@lehigh.BITNET jlw2@lehigh.BITNET or jwf2%lehigh.bitnet@ibm1.cc.lehigh.edu jlw2%lehigh.bitnet@ibm1.cc.lehigh.edu