The Eureka CIMsteel
Project
Introduction
The Pan European CIMsteel project started in
1987 and finally finished in 1998, its aim was:
"...to
improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the European Construction
Steelwork industry both through harmonization of design codes and
specification, the introduction of CIM techniques for design, analysis,
detailing, fabrication, erection and management functions."
The project has over 42 organizations from 8 European countries, collaborating
on many aspects of constructional steelwork, not just in the area of data exchange.
Other areas include Advanced Structural Analysis, Connection Design, Raw
Materials, Design Guides, to name but a few. However, one of the most
exciting and advanced area of the CIMsteel project, is that of product
modelling and data exchange.
Product modelling and data
exchange.
The initial phases (Project Definition, and Design and Specification)
developed a Logical Product Model (LPM) which concentrated on the design of
constructional steelwork. The third phase extends the project scope to cover fabrication
and erection.
As development work upon the LPM began before stable STEP resources were available, early versions of
the LPM were not STEP compliant. However, the most recent version of the LPM
has taken on board STEP methodologies and STEP technology. The third public
CIMsteel demonstration took place in London in October 1994 and featured 10
vendors exchanging information using file conforming with the STEP Part 21
neutral file format. The prototype translators were implemented using a
prototype STEP Data Access Interface (SDAI) based toolkit. As the LPM covered
the complete design of constructional steelwork, all information exchanged
was based upon local views of the LPM.
The CIMsteel project is much more than just a research project. To achieve
its stated aim, implementation in the real world of the newly developed
technology is seen as a requirement now, and not "n" years in the
future. Thus, the project has developed the "CIMsteel
Integration Standards " (CIS). The CIS identifies Data Exchange
Protocols (DEPs), based upon the LPM, that correspond to the working practices
of the construction industry. Vendors who wish to implement a DEP(s) will
have to satisfy conformance requirements specified by the CIS. The CIS
approach enables the construction industry to benefit from the STEP based
technology now, and allows vendors to develop their software towards full
STEP compliance and a technological and economical pace that they can afford.
Further details on 'Deploying
the CIMsteel Integration Standards', were presented at the 3rd
European Conference on Product Data Technology, held at CICA, Sophia
Antipolis, France, in April 1997.
Relation to ISO 10303 (STEP)
However, it is not the intention to create a standard that runs in
parallel with STEP. CIMsteel is actively working in the STEP arena, and is
developing an AP for Constructional
Steelwork (ISO 10303-230). As the AP becomes stable and progresses
towards an international standard, the CIS will migrate the DEPs to converge
with conformance classes defined within the STEP AP. By this time it is
expected that the CIS will have become a mature and accepted part of data
exchange in the construction industry. This strategy allows a smooth
transition for the deployment of fully compliant STEP data exchange.
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