COLLABORATIVE CAD MODELING PROCESS ANALYSIS TO SUPPORT TEAMWORK FOR BUILDING DESIGN

Collaborative tools are information systems which allow document sharing through local area networks, intranets and extranets. Collaborative design can be a solution to increase the productivity and the final quality of the product in a building design office. In this way it is possible to assure the information integration and also the data integrity during the design process based on computer network communication. The goal of this article is to analyze how one CAD system based on BIM concept (ArchiCAD software - Graphisoft/Nemetschek) can support a collaborative teamwork structured on an integrated model for different design views. In this model, the tasks are assigned by a coordinator and executed by the designers in different places following the client-service scheme. It is intended to contribute with the diffusion of this information technology tool and to present its potentiality for the improvement of the design performance. The research method used was a case study of the development design. In this case study, communication guidelines had been applied to verify the software behavior in relation to the task execution in a shared framework. The use of the collaborative CAD modeling in the development design provided information sharing, track and control of document versions and also the integration of design modifications in such automatic and simultaneous way between different computers used.Collaborative tools are information systems which allow document sharing through local area networks, intranets and extranets. Collaborative design can be a solution to increase the productivity and the final quality of the product in a building design office. In this way it is possible to assure the information integration and also the data integrity during the design process based on computer network communication. The goal of this article is to analyze how one CAD system based on BIM concept (ArchiCAD software - Graphisoft/Nemetschek) can support a collaborative teamwork structured on an integrated model for different design views. In this model, the tasks are assigned by a coordinator and executed by the designers in different places following the client-service scheme. It is intended to contribute with the diffusion of this information technology tool and to present its potentiality for the improvement of the design performance. The research method used was a case study of the development design. In this case study, communication guidelines had been applied to verify the software behavior in relation to the task execution in a shared framework. The use of the collaborative CAD modeling in the development design provided information sharing, track and control of document versions and also the integration of design modifications in such automatic and simultaneous way between different computers used

Modeling the Effect of Oceanic Internal Waves on the Accuracy of Multibeam Echosounders

When ray bending corrections are applied to multibeam echosounder (MBES) data, it is assumed that the varying layers of sound speed lie along horizontally stratified planes. In many areas internal waves occur at the interface where the water’s density changes abruptly (a pycnocline), this density gradient is often associated with a strong gradient in sound speed (a velocline). The internal wave introduces uncertainty into the echo soundings through two mechanisms: (1) tilting of the velocline, and (2) vertical oscillation of the velocline’s depth. A model has been constructed in order to examine how these effects degrade the accuracy of MBES measurements. The model numerically simulates the 3D ray paths of MBES soundings for a synthetic flat seafloor, as though the soundings have been collected through a user-defined internal wave. Along with sound speed information, the ray paths are used to estimate travel times which are then utilized as inputs for a conventional 2D ray trace. The discrepancy between the 3D and 2D ray traced solutions serve as an estimate of uncertainty. The same software can be extended to model the expected anomalies associated with tidal fronts and other phenomena that result in significant tilting or oscillation of the velocline. A case study was undertaken using observed internal wave parameters on the Scotian Shelf. The case study examines how survey design parameters such as line spacing, direction of survey lines, and water column sampling density can influence the uncertainty introduced by internal waves. In particular, an examination is undertaken in which 2D ray tracing models are augmented with MBES water column imaging of the velocline. The investigation shows that internal waves have the potential to cause vertical uncertainties exceeding IHO standards and that the uncertainty can potentially be mitigated through appropriate survey design. Results from the case study also indicate that acoustic tracking of the velocline has the potential to counteract the effects of internal waves through augmentation of 2D ray tracing models. This technique is promising, however, much more research and field testing is required to ascertain the practicality, reliability and repeatability of such an approach

Understanding the perception of very small software companies towards the adoption of process standards

This paper is concerned with understanding the issues that affect the adoption of software process standards by Very Small Entities (VSEs), there needs from process standards and there willingness to engage with the new ISO/IEC 29110 standard in particular. In order to achieve this goal, a series of industry data collection studies were undertaken with a collection of VSEs. A twin track approach of a qualitative data collection (interviews and focus groups) and quantitative data collection (questionnaire), with data analysis being completed separately and finally results merged, using the coding mechanisms of grounded theory. This paper serves as a roadmap for both researchers wishing to understand the issues of process standards adoption by very small companies and also for the software process standards community

Modelling Uncertainty Caused by Internal Waves on the Accuracy of MBES

A 3D ray tracing model has been developed to estimate the effects of internal waves upon the accuracy of multibeam echosounders (MBES). A case study examines the variability in these effects as a function of survey line direction and also considers the case of improving 2D ray tracing models with wave parameters derived from MBES water column imagery. Results indicate that, under certain circumstances, the effects of internal waves can prove to be a significant source of uncertainty that detracts from the ability to efficiently map the seafloor with wide swath angles

Using software development progress data to understand threats to project outcomes

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