Internet-based collaborative design evaluation: an architect\u27s perspective

This research aims at developing a design evaluation system that employs a Product Model as the logical basis for integrating building design and construction processes. The system is implemented with Java language, which allows the system to work over the Internet. Accordingly, the system helps architects to collaborate with remote participants. Thus, this design evaluation system is a building performance evaluator like DOE-2, RADIANCE, HVAC, and the Automated Building Code Checker. This research, however, is mainly concerned with an architect's view during the schematic design and design development stage, while the existing design evaluation systems cover other special consultants'views such as those of HVAC designers, structural engineers, and contractors. From an architect's view, this evaluation system checks the compliance of design objects represented by means of physical objects such as walls and windows and conceptual objects such as rooms as well, to the design criteria focused on accommodating human behaviour, rather than other building performances such as sustaining building structures and maintaining indoor livability. As such, the system helps designers analyze and evaluate design solutions according to their original intent. The innovative points of this research lie in the following: (1) Unlike other inquiries, it addresses a systematic evaluation of building design from an architect's view focusing on the experiential quality of the built environment. This research demonstrates that such an evaluation becomes available by introducing human activity-based evaluation. (2) It can take a multi-agenda for several groups of different interests by providing an Aspect Model based on human activity-centered systematic translation of their design considerations and 3D model-based graphical representations into system readable ones. (3) As a result, it addresses the possibility of expanding the capability of the design evaluator from a mere code checker to a general design evaluator while simultaneously, enhancing the availability from stand alone to Internet based networking.