Ontology Modeling of IDEF3 Process Description for AEC Applications Interoperability

The increased complexities of on-site construction process with subsequent need for complex information management has raised a need for advanced tools and techniques, which assist in the planning and management of the complex on-site construction process. Today there are a wide range of computer applications, which deal with the manipulation and representation of construction process information. However, almost all of the construction software applications are used throughout the construction project's lifecycle to deal with individual problems and support specific information requirements working in a stand-alone manner each with its own and unique information representation, file formats and terminology. As a result information sharing between applications is inconsistent, difficult and some times impossible without application specific translators, as the meaning of the information can be completely dependent on the context in which it is viewed and interpreted. Nevertheless, an accurate and consistent process information exchange between construction applications could benefit the construction industry tremendously in terms of time and cost of a project. One way of achieving such integration is through the development of a common representation of the underlying concepts of construction process.