Paper from proceedings of the CIB W78 conference The life-cycle of Construction IT

In this paper we discuss the requirements for an information system for design and outline a prototype that tests these principles in the context of building design. Information systems can be characterised as static or dynamic concerning the definition of classes in the model schema, and concerning classification of model objects. An information system for routine design can be closed in both respects, while an information system for innovative design must be open in these respects. The BAS•CAAD information system, presented in this paper, is a dynamic information system for design, built on a generic ontological framework. The system supports the definition of classes in different levels of universality, the classes may originate from different standards or the individual designer, and allows a free combinations of attributes