CAE group research
The CAE group is concerned with issues relating to the application of information and communications technologies (ICT) to improve the processes of design, manufacture, construction, operation and de-commissioning of structural and civil engineering projects. Much of this work has related to achieving interoperability in the context of structural design but the wider implications for the overall procurement of facilities, and the achievement of sustainability goals, are a growing interest.
A selection of the research projects in which the CAE group has participated is given below, please follow the links for further information:
CIMsteel
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Within the context of the CIMsteel project, the CAE group led the innovative application of product model concepts drawn from ISO10303 (STEP) to data exchange and information sharing within the construction industry. This involved the incremental development, implementation in software, and trial industrial deployment of the "Logical Product Model". This comprehensive information model, addresses the engineering data involved in the design, analysis, manufacture and erection of the steel frame of a building. Formalised as the "CIMsteel Integration Standards", this key deliverable from the CIMsteel project was initially published by the CAE group in 1985 as a preliminary version (CIS/1). The CAE group subsequently substantially enhanced the specifications, with CIS/2 being published early in 2000.
eLSEwise - Esprit project 20876:
European Large Scale Engineering Wide Integration Support Effort. This
user reference project was directed at understanding the information flows
within the European Large Scale Engineering sector, and defining the resulting
Information Technology and Product Data Technology needs of this sector.
EIME
- EPSRC project: Engineering
Information Management Executive. The EIME project began in 1993. It
investigated how STEP data, in the form of exchange files, can be effectively
managed in a distributed engineering environment.
CI-PM
- EPSRC project GR/G54344:
Creation and use of Product models in the Construction Industry. The CI-PM project began in 1992 and was
completed in August 1995. It investigated how product models are developed, the
technologies involved, and how they will be used by industry.
ProCure - Esprit project 29948: ICT at work in the LSE procurement Chain. This three-year project commenced early in 1999 with the aim of taking a significant but achievable step forward in the application of available ICT to large scale engineering. The CAE group was heavily involved in the industrial deployment of project extranets and developed the DocLink standards.
CIMclad - EPSRC LINK project GR/N12770: Computer Integrated Manufacture
of cladding systems. This two year project started in April 2000 with
the aim of taking a small but crucial first step towards the realisation of
computer integrated design and manufacture within the cladding sector. CIMclad
investigated the feasibility of improving the efficiency and competitiveness of
the cladding sector through the development of a standardisation framework for
computer-integrated design and manufacture of cladding systems.
An exploratory product model to capture the scheme design of "layered cladding
walls" (commonly called rainscreen cladding)
was developed and evaluated. Two RAIS industrial
secondments followed the main project.
LANTERN - ESRC JIF award:
RC+IFC - An
assessment of the potential of IFC version 2x3 as a basis for interoperability
during the design, detailing and construction of UK reinforced concrete building
frames (PhD student
As a consequence of the above research, the CAE group has been involved in several standards activities relevant to the construction industry:
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Data exchange standard for engineering ISO 10303. |
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The CIMsteel Integration Standards, data exchange standard for structural steelwork |
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A former STEP project to develop ISO10303 Part 230 - Building Structural Frame : Steelwork Application Protocol. |
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The Industry Foundation Classes, data exchange standard for buildings. |
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XML specifications for transferring project documents and their associated meta-data between corporate document management systems and project websites (extranets). |
Also see CIS and IFC data exchange translator
implementations
To follow-up any of the
following please contact Alastair Watson.
The CAE group is founded on
collaborative research and development.
All our research projects involve collaboration with industry (our goal
is to make an impact on industrial practice), and most involve collaboration
with complementary research organisations.
Such collaboration, be it on a national or an international basis, is an
essential element of our approach.
Informal approaches about
collaborative research possibilities from the construction industry, from the
software industry, or from other research organisations are always welcomed.
The CAE group has hosted a substantial number of successful PhD students. Formal and informal enquires from strongly motivated prospective research students are warmly welcomed. Applicants with particular skills or industrial experience are particularly welcome.
Potential research areas include:
BIM-based
applications software
RFID and related technologies in construction and facility management
The impact of ICT on the construction sector and on procurement processes
The strategic implications for sustainability
Please note that:
Most research topics do not involve traditional computer programming, the primary requirement is an ability to think logically (plus good communication skills).
Generally research topics are not pre-defined but are developed and refined in partnership with the applicant/student to maximise their ownership and suit the interests and capabilities of the both individual and the supervisor.
To make an informal enquiry
please email
Alastair Watson. If you do not already have funding arranged
please ensure that you make a formal application in good time. Competition for the available funding sources
is intense; if you are to stand a realistic chance of making a successful
application your qualifications and your application must be strong.
For further guidance, and to
instigate a formal application,
please refer to the faculty
Research
Degrees page. On
your application you
should indicate
"Civil Engineering, Computer Aided Engineering" as being your general
area of study, but please include as much further information as you see fit on
your areas of interest and/or any particular topics you may have in mind.
Like most fields, Computer
Aided Engineering has its own terminology which can be confusing. This terminology includes many types of model, a few key types are informally defined below:
Process Model = A formal representation of how a
specific (complex) process takes place. Typically a process model systematically
decomposes a single high level activity into simpler lower level activities that
are interconnected by flows of resources, information and control. It is normal for a process model to be created
from a specified perspective on a real world activity. The model may synthesis knowledge acquired from
multiple sources (often these include interviews with domain experts).
A process model normally includes a coherent glossary of the terms used within
the model. Process model(s) may be created as an initial
step in developing an information or product model for a particular domain. A
process model is also known as an activity model.
Information Model = A formal representation of the data relating to a specific context (or domain). An information model identifies and characterises each item of relevant data, and forms these into an appropriate and coherent structure that may also enable identified relationships between elements of the information to be represented. An information model normally includes a coherent glossary of the terms used within the model and assigns data types to each item of data. Information models are a widely used tool in computer science.
Product Model = A particular type of information model that is developed for a specific type of engineering artefact, a product model typically spans the information arising from one, several or all the phases in its life cycle and seeks to capture the engineering semantics. The term is usually applied to models for which some degree of consensus has been achieved (potentially ranging up to international standards) and which are based on ISO10303 (STEP), at least in terms of the modelling technology that is used. Product models are currently used as the basis of engineering data exchange standards but also have implications for product and project databases.
Building Information Model (BIM) = The term BIM software is being used to refer to the new generation of object oriented CAD like applications software which are based on the concept of a product model. These allow buildings to be modelled (and designed/detailed/constructed) in terms of engineering semantics using objects such as beams, walls, spaces and pumps rather than just the graphical representations that are stored and manipulated in traditional CAD systems. The model used is proprietary, unlike the public product models employed in data exchange standards, but the concept of holding coherent information about the building is the same.
The CAE group periodically
has funding to recruit appropriately qualified researchers.
Sorry, we are not currently seeking new research staff.