Aircraft systems architecting: a functional-logical domain perspective

Presented is a novel framework for early systems architecture design. The framework defines data structures and algorithms that enable the systems architect to operate interactively and simultaneously in both the functional and logical domains. A prototype software tool, called AirCADia Architect, was implemented, which allowed the framework to be evaluated by practicing aircraft systems architects. The evaluation confirmed that, on the whole, the approach enables the architects to effectively express their creative ideas when synthesizing new architectures while still retaining control over the process

Multimedia and Knowledge-based Computer-aided Architectural Design

It appears by now fairly accepted to many researchers in the field of the Computer Aided Architectural Design that the way to realize support tools for these aims is by means of the realization of Knowledge Based Assistants. This kind of computer programs, based on the knowledge engineering, finds their power and efficaciousness by their knowledge bases. Nowdays this kind of tools is leaving the research world and it appears evident that the common graphic interfaces and the modalities of dialogue between the architect and the computer, are inadequate to support the exchange of information that the use of these tools requires. The use of the knowledge bases furthermore, presupposes that the conceptual model of the building realized by others, must be made entirely understandable to the architect . The CAAD Laboratory has carried out a system software prototype based on Knowledge Engineering in the field of hospital buildings. In order to overcame the limit of software systems based on usual Knowledge Engineering, by improving architect-computer interaction, at CAAD Lab it is refining building model introducing into the knowledge base two complementary each other methodologies: the conceptual clustering and multimedia technics. This research will make it possible for architects navigate consciously through the domain of the knowledge base already implemented

Methodology of process models creation when using the software tool enterprise architect

A continuous improvement of business processes is a must for any company that wants to stay in the market. Customers requiring better and better products and services force all enterprises to think continuously about improving of their business processes. Such an approach is based on a good understanding and measuring of an existing process and, thus, from the resulting stimuli of its improvement. A software (SW) tool called Enterprise Architect enables, among others, to model individual business processes. The main objective of business processes modelling is to create a correct specification of these processes and to analyse their properties. The purpose of business processes modelling is to create such an abstraction of a process, which would enable to understand all its activities and all relationships existing between these activities on the one hand and roles represented by capabilities of people and facilities involved in a given process. The objective of this paper is to create a uniform methodology of business processes modelling when using the SW tool Enterprise Architect.Process model methodology of modeling activity process modelling area

Development of a Collaborative Design Tool for Structural Analysis in an Immersive Virtual Environment

This paper contains the results of an on-going collaborative research effort by the departments of Architecture and Computer Science of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, U.S.A., to develop a computer visualization application for the structural analysis of building structures. The VIRTUAL-SAP computer program is being developed by linking PC-SAP4 (Structural Analysis Program), and virtual environment software developed using the SVE (Simple Virtual Environment) library. VIRTUAL-SAP is intended for use as a collaborative design tool to facilitate the interaction between the architect, engineer, and contractor by providing an environment that they can walk-through and observe the consequences of design alterations. Therefore, this software can be used as an interactive computer-aided analysis of building systems