Automatic code compliance checking in designing building envelopes

Automating the checking of building envelope design according to design regulations is a complex process because design regulations consist of complicated logic statements covering multiple functions. Existing mechanisms of building code computer-aided checking have some limitations dealing with design regulations. This thesis presents a new approach to automate code compliance checking for building envelope design based on simulation results and the building codes. In this approach, building codes and building performance simulation results are independent from the compliance checking software. During the process, a hierarchical object-based representation of simulation results called EBIM (Extended Building Information Model) is proposed to describe the attributes of a building and its sub-systems. A new representation of building codes based on decision tables called EBC (Extended Building Codes) is also proposed so that users can check the building envelope design against building codes based on the standardized simulation results. A rules engine is applied for matching the data of the EBIM against the rules derived from the EBC. This new approach integrates building information modeling, simulation applications, building codes, and decision tables together for automated code compliance checking in designing building envelopes. A prototype implementation system is developed based on the proposed approach. The case study gives two examples: the first one is the procedure of evaluating the hygrothermal performance of an exterior wall of a house using this system, and the second one is an energy analysis comparison when an energy-efficient wall system is installed in a small building as a replacemen

An E-Government Information Architecture for Regulation Analysis and Compliance Assistance

The complexity and diversity of government regulations make understanding the regulations a non-trivial task. One of the issues is the existence of multiple sources of regulations and interpretive guides. In this work, we propose an information infrastructure for regulation analysis, which includes a document repository and tools for compliance assistance and similarity analysis. A regulatory repository is developed based on an XML format, and important features, such as concepts and measurements, are extracted using handcrafted rules and a text mining tool. Our framework provides compliance assistance using a reasoning tool based on First Order Predicate Calculus logic, where users are alerted of detected conflicts or otherwise compliance with the regulation. A relatedness analysis is performed by comparing the extracted features as well as structural and referential information from regulations. Examples of an electronic-rulemaking scenario and a compliance checking procedure are shown to demonstrate current capabilities of the prototype system

IS standards in designing business-to-government collaborations.

IS STANDARDS IN DESIGNING BUSINESS-TO-GOVERNMENT COLLABORATIONS. Elaborating the impact of standards on inter-organizational collaborations, inter-organizational studies demonstrated a standard’s positive impact on the collaboration between governmental and business partners. How and under which conditions information systems (IS) standards contribute to the effectiveness of business-to-government (B2G) collaborations in customs management is the topic of this thesis. Chapter 2 provides the theoretical and methodological background of the thesis. It illustrates how standards research emerged under institutional conditions such as actor types, linkages and social structures. With the case study in Chapter 3, the thesis introduces a reference framework that gathers different aspects in three pre-selected international business-to-government collaborations. Describing the cases that are subject to the export from EU to non-EU countries a diagnosis of B2G collaborations and relevant elements for the design of the artifact is conducted. A diagnosis of related work in the field of B2G collaborations is provided in Chapter 4. The assessment of collaboration forms revealed necessary constructs of a procedure model and institutional steps necessary to form B2G collaboration as such. Chapter 5 distils related work of IS standards research. In Chapters 6 and 7 considerations from the previous chapters lead to the core part of the thesis, the design and build of a procedure model to institutionalize B2G collaborations, the B2G Procedure Model (B2GPM). The results from the first round of design, the building blocks for B2G collaborations, are subject to Chapter 6. They conclude in a set of design principles of the B2GPM that are being introduced in the chapter. Chapter 7 covers the second round of design by refining the elements of B2G collaboration and the design principles. It continues with the design of the B2GPM. The composition, description, and documentation of the procedure model are the core part of this chapter. Chapter 8 is dedicated to the question of required organizational adoption to deploy the B2GPM. The model is seen as a procedural innovation by which B2G collaboration in customs management can be further improved. The applicability of the B2GPM is based on a series of evaluation cycles and results in the provision of influencing factors of organizational adoption.