Integrated computer-aided project management through standard object-oriented models

This dissertation explores new computer technologies that can significantly increase the power of Computer-Aided Project Management (CAPM) for construction while simultaneously addressing the accessibility of the software for the typical user. The technological focus is on the complementary areas of project modeling--the rich, general-purpose representation of the project in the computer--and system integration--sharing the computer model among applications (from local to industry-wide).; The dissertation's premise is that CAPM programs create models of construction projects inside the computer, that standard forms of these models should be established, and that systems then can be integrated by requiring all applications to adopt these standard models. There are three specific elements to these standard models: (1) A Data Model is a formal methodology for representing information in general. This dissertation proposes an object-oriented data model, reviews the emerging technologies of object-oriented programming and object-oriented databases, and develops the SOL object-oriented data model that could standardize data representation for integrated CAPM programs. (2) A Domain Model or schema expresses relevant project management and construction concepts in the data model. This dissertation proposes standard domain models as a technology for communication among software programs, and it develops the GenCOM domain model that combines both the requirements of typical CAPM applications and the fundamental concepts that make up construction. The domain model presents a series of object-oriented class definitions that can become the software components for building CAPM programs and serve as the universal language for communicating project data and knowledge among integrated applications. (3) A Project Model or database collects actual project data stored using the data and domain models. This dissertation uses a common project database as the mechanism for sharing data and controlling information flow in an integrated CAPM system. Tests of this approach involved developing a working prototype system, called OPIS, that combines CAD product data, a plan-generation expert system, an estimating program, and a scheduling application around a shared object-oriented project database.; This research proves that a standard models approach to system integration is possible and that the resulting system offers extreme flexibility and significant integration.