Visual knowledge specification for conceptual design: Definition and tool support

Current CAD tools are not able to support the conceptual design phase, and none of them provides a consistency analysis for sketches produced by architects. This phase is fundamental and crucial for the whole design and construction process of a building. To give architects a better support, we developed a CAD tool for conceptual design and a knowledge specification tool. The knowledge is specific to one class of buildings and it can be reused. Based on a dynamic and domain-specific knowledge ontology, different types of design rules formalize this knowledge in a graph-based form. An expressive visual language provides a user-friendly, human readable representation. Finally, a consistency analysis tool enables conceptual designs to be checked against this formal conceptual knowledge.In this article, we concentrate on the knowledge specification part. For that, we introduce the concepts and usage of a novel visual language and describe its semantics. To demonstrate the usability of our approach, two graph-based visual tools for knowledge specification and conceptual design are explained.     

定性立体形状表达和建模方法

概念设计在整个产品开发过程中的地位越来越重要,计算机辅助概念设计是计算机辅助设计的发展方向之一。传统的产品建模技术由于不能在产品开发的初期阶段很好地为产品的设计服务,因此有必要研究和开发面向产品概念设计的新的产品建模方法。本文介绍了一种基于领域和领域关系的定性立体形状表达方法和建模方法。该方法满足了概念设计对形状表达的要求,并能简化定性立体构筑过程。     

Regional Process Modeling for Design for Environment

This research is an effort towards providing higher level Design for Environment (DFE) tools for a broad industrial region. Issues ranging from the levels immediately above existing design tools, to the envisioned highest level for a broad geographical region are discussed. A tool for the regional planning of the DFE activities is proposed, considering a model construction based on material flows across the industry. The Multi-Lifecycle approach is supported by organizing the input/output flows for industries, potentially utilizing waste material, side products and recycling. Capitalizing on the conceptual integration of the design and process activities, an Abstract Design Environment is used for the design of the basically process oriented material flow tool. Within the context, the relations among design, process and flow-modeling concepts are discussed.     

用三维几何约束构建概念化设计阶段的三维布局

概念化设计是产品设计中的一个重要环节，其主要任务是实施产品结构的空间布局，并确定连接关系．由于概念化设计阶段产品结构信息不明确，因此现有的三维设计工具(如solidedge7．0，MDT等)无法有效支持概念化阶段的设计活动．在对装配关系进行抽象的基础上，利用三维约束与驱动实现概念化设计阶段的空间布局设计活动，为进行三维设计工具自顶向下的设计模式奠定了基础．     

The design and realization of CoViD: a system for collaborative virtual 3D design

Many important decisions in the design process are made during fairly early on, after designers have presented initial concepts. In many domains, these concepts are already realized as 3D digital models. Then, in a meeting, the stakeholders for the project get together and evaluate these potential solutions. Frequently, the participants in this meeting want to interactively modify the proposed 3D designs to explore the design space better. Today’s systems and tools do not support this, as computer systems typically support only a single user and computer-aided design tools require significant training. This paper presents the design of a new system to facilitate a collaborative 3D design process. First, we discuss a set of guidelines which have been introduced by others and that are relevant to collaborative 3D design systems. Then, we introduce the new system, which consists of two main parts. The first part is an easy-to-use conceptual 3D design tool that can be used productively even by naive users. The tool provides novel interaction techniques that support important properties of conceptual design. The user interface is non-obtrusive, easy-to-learn, and supports rapid creation and modification of 3D models. The second part is a novel infrastructure for collaborative work, which offers an interactive table and several large interactive displays in a semi-immersive setup. It is designed to support multiple users working together. This infrastructure also includes novel pointing devices that work both as a stylus and a remote pointing device. The combination of the (modified) design tool with the collaborative infrastructure forms a new platform for collaborative virtual 3D design. Then, we present an evaluation of the system against the guidelines for collaborative 3D design. Finally, we present results of a preliminary user study, which asked naive users to collaborate in a 3D design task on the new system.     

CRITON: A Hypermedia Design Tool

The WWW has turned into a development and run-time environment for large-scale and complex applications. Such sophisticated applications are being deployed in increasing numbers without having been developed according to appropriate methodologies, tools and quality standards. The reason is not only that the hypermedia industry resists to utilize formal methods, but also that these methods and corresponding tools are very few and of dubious standards. The consequence is that the hypermedia applications being developed are of poor functionality and lack qualities such as modifiability, usability and maintainability. Especially the design phase is one of the phases that lack sufficient support from methods and CASE tools. This paper presents CRITON, a cross platform tool, built to support a hypermedia design method within an integrated environment. CRITON manages all three aspects of hypermedia design: conceptual design, navigational design and graphical user interface design, utilizing well-established theories and practices from software as well as hypermedia engineering. It employs these designs to generate a preliminary, exemplary form of the hypermedia application for the purpose of assessing the designs before the implementation phase.     

SUMLOW: early design‐stage sketching of UML diagrams on an E‐whiteboard

Most visual diagramming tools provide point‐and‐click construction of computer‐drawn diagram elements using a conventional desktop computer and mouse. SUMLOW is a unified modelling language (UML) diagramming tool that uses an electronic whiteboard (E‐whiteboard) and sketching‐based user interface to support collaborative software design. SUMLOW allows designers to sketch UML constructs, mixing different UML diagram elements, diagram annotations, and hand‐drawn text. A key novelty of the tool is the preservation of hand‐drawn diagrams and support for manipulation of these sketches using pen‐based actions. Sketched diagrams can be automatically ‘formalized’ into computer‐recognized and ‐drawn UML diagrams and then exported to a third party CASE tool for further extension and use. We describe the motivation for SUMLOW, illustrate the use of the tool to sketch various UML diagram types, describe its key architecture abstractions and implementation approaches, and report on two evaluations of the toolset. We hope that our experiences will be useful for others developing sketching‐based design tools or those looking to leverage pen‐based interfaces in software applications. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基于Petri网的机电产品概念设计功能模型研究

功能分析是概念设计中最重要的阶段,从黑箱法的理论出发,以流及其状态和功能为基本要素建立了基于Petri网的机电一体化产品概念设计功能模型,为产品概念设计过程的优化以及设计效率的提高打下了良好基础,为以后智能软件的开发提供了良好的模型.     

Container spaces and functional features for top-down 3D layout design

Although there have been many advances in computer-aided modelling techniques and representations of mechanical parts, there are areas where exact modelling is a handicap. One of these is 3D layout design. Here, simpler models are useful for initial design sketches to verify kinematic behaviour and organise product structure before the detailed component design phase begins. A commitment to exact, or close approximational geometry too early can imply a commitment to form before functionality has been finalised. This paper describes a system for top-down 3D layout design based on simple conceptual elements which can be used as a basis for visualisation, discussion, definition of product structure and kinematic functionality in the conceptual design phase before the embodiment or detailing begins. This tool forms a bridge between the abstract nature of the conceptual design phase and the geometric nature of the embodiment phase. The 3D layout module uses design spaces with simple geometry and kinematic connections to represent a product. The design spaces act as containers or envelopes within which the final component design is to be realised. The kinematic connections allow the behaviour of the product to be simulated to gain more information (such as overall component dimensions and areas of potential collisions) for the detailed design phase. In addition the paper describes the design process based on the proposed 3D layout design system and contrasts this with the traditional design process. An industrial case study is presented to illustrate the following advantages of the proposed approach: (i) the design process proceeds faster because unnecessary layout parameter and constraint modifications are avoided since kinematic functionality verification precedes the detail design, (ii) the design process can produce better designs since alternative solution principles can be explored early in the design process. Theoretical issues are discussed concerning kinematic constraint inheritance during design space decomposition and concerning computer support for non-rigid design spaces.     

A formal approach to automating conceptual structural design,Part I: Methology

In the conceptual phase of structural design a designer develops and investigates many potential alternatives for safe and economic transfer of loads that are to be carried by the structure. A methodology for automating conceptual structural design is presented in this paper. Some of the salient aspects of the methodology are: (1) an explicit representation of the structural form, function, and behavior; (2) modeling the structural engineering domain as well as the strategy employed by expert designers; (3) usingcost/value ratio as an intrinsic measure of the merit of a design alternative; and (4) reduced reliance on heuristics with more emphasis on first principles and fundamental knowledge. The categories of knowledge that need to be represented in a computer system to support the reasoning for conceptual structural design are identified. The use of such knowledge is illustrated through examples based on several different types of structures. A constraint classification system (to organize the constraints that arise from structural and exogenous considerations) is also proposed.     

SpidersRUs: Creating specialized search engines in multiple languages

While small-scale search engines in specific domains and languages are increasingly used by Web users, most existing search engine development tools do not support the development of search engines in languages other than English, cannot be integrated with other applications, or rely on proprietary software. A tool that supports search engine creation in multiple languages is thus highly desired. To study the research issues involved, we review related literature and suggest the criteria for an ideal search tool. We present the design of a toolkit, called SpidersRUs, developed for multilingual search engine creation. The design and implementation of the tool, consisting of a Spider module, an Indexer module, an Index Structure, a Search module, and a Graphical User Interface module, are discussed in detail. A sample user session and a case study on using the tool to develop a medical search engine in Chinese are also presented. The technical issues involved and the lessons learned in the project are then discussed. This study demonstrates that the proposed architecture is feasible in developing search engines easily in different languages such as Chinese, Spanish, Japanese, and Arabic.     

Tools used in Global Software Engineering: A systematic mapping review

ContextThis systematic mapping review is set in a Global Software Engineering (GSE) context, characterized by a highly distributed environment in which project team members work separately in different countries. This geographic separation creates specific challenges associated with global communication, coordination and control.ObjectiveThe main goal of this study is to discover all the available communication and coordination tools that can support highly distributed teams, how these tools have been applied in GSE, and then to describe and classify the tools to allow both practitioners and researchers involved in GSE to make use of the available tool support in GSE.MethodWe performed a systematic mapping review through a search for studies that answered our research question, “Which software tools (commercial, free or research based) are available to support Global Software Engineering?” Applying a range of related search terms to key electronic databases, selected journals, and conferences and workshops enabled us to extract relevant papers. We then used a data extraction template to classify, extract and record important information about the GSD tools from each paper. This information was synthesized and presented as a general map of types of GSD tools, the tool’s main features and how each tool was validated in practice.ResultsThe main result is a list of 132 tools, which, according to the literature, have been, or are intended to be, used in global software projects. The classification of these tools includes lists of features for communication, coordination and control as well as how the tool has been validated in practice. We found that out the total of 132, the majority of tools were developed at research centers, and only a small percentage of tools (18.9%) are reported as having been tested outside the initial context in which they were developed.ConclusionThe most common features in the GSE tools included in this study are: team activity and social awareness, support for informal communication, Support for Distributed Knowledge Management and Interoperability with other tools. Finally, there is the need for an evaluation of these tools to verify their external validity, or usefulness in a wider global environment.     

A feature-based approach towards an integrated product model including conceptual design information

Due to the highly complex and informal data that has to be managed in the conceptual design this early design phase still lacks of suitable computer support. Furthermore, existing approaches towards a computer aided conceptual design are insufficiently integrated with the downstream applications of the product development process. The paper therefore introduces an approach towards a feature-based integrated product model that incorporates a feature-based representation scheme for capturing product semantics handled in the conceptual design phase and links early design with part and assembly modelling.     

Industrial application of topology optimization for combined conductive and convective heat transfer problems

This paper presents an industrial application of topology optimization for combined conductive and convective heat transfer problems. The solution is based on a synergy of computer aided design and engineering software tools from Dassault Systèmes. The considered physical problem of steady-state heat transfer under convection is simulated using SIMULIA-Abaqus. A corresponding topology optimization feature is provided by SIMULIA-Tosca. By following a standard workflow of design optimization, the proposed solution is able to accommodate practical design scenarios and results in efficient conceptual design proposals. Several design examples with verification results are presented to demonstrate the applicability.     

An ontology-based universal design knowledge support system

An effective and efficient knowledge support system is crucial for universal design process, as it has become a major design issue in the last decade with the growth of the elderly population and disabled people. There are a limited number of CAD investigations on the nature of knowledge processing that supports the cognitive activities of universal design process. Therefore, this paper proposes an ontology-based computer-assisted universal design (CAUD) plug-in tool that supports designers in developing satisfactory universal design solutions in the conceptual design phase. The required knowledge processing and representation of the developed tool is motivated by the ontological language. It is based on the multiple divergence–convergence cognitive strategies and cognitive needs of designers in the analysis/synthesis/evaluation operations. The CAUD plug-in tool is the first attempt to interface the universal design knowledge ontologically and respond to the requirements of conceptual design phase. According to the user acceptance study, the tool is assessed as useful, understandable, efficient, supportive and satisfactory.     

Ergonomics action research II: a framework for integrating HF into work system design

This paper presents a conceptual framework that can support efforts to integrate human factors (HF) into the work system design process, where improved and cost-effective application of HF is possible. The framework advocates strategies of broad stakeholder participation, linking of performance and health goals, and process focussed change tools that can help practitioners engage in improvements to embed HF into a firm's work system design process. Recommended tools include business process mapping of the design process, implementing design criteria, using cognitive mapping to connect to managers’ strategic goals, tactical use of training and adopting virtual HF (VHF) tools to support the integration effort. Consistent with organisational change research, the framework provides guidance but does not suggest a strict set of steps. This allows more adaptability for the practitioner who must navigate within a particular organisational context to secure support for embedding HF into the design process for improved operator wellbeing and system performance.

Practitioner Summary: There has been little scientific literature about how a practitioner might integrate HF into a company's work system design process. This paper proposes a framework for this effort by presenting a coherent conceptual framework, process tools, design tools and procedural advice that can be adapted for a target organisation.     

The Society's Lecture 1987 The Use of Models in Human-Computer Interface Design

A user-centred approach to human-computer interface design requires that the designer has appropriate tools to aid in the design process and employs iterative design procedures which incorporate user evaluations. The concept of using models of the user as an interface design tool is discussed, and several approaches to user modelling are described. These approaches are divided into the broad categories of conceptual and quantitative models. Conceptual models deal primarily with representations of users1 cognitive processes, structures and strategies. Quantitative models include performance, ergonomic, computer simulation and statistical models. Examples of both a conceptual and a quantitative model are provided to illustrate human-computer interface design implications. Some unresolved issues pertaining to both categories of models are discussed, and recommendations are made to improve modelling as an interface design tool.     

Parametric feature constraint modeling and mapping in product development

This paper presents the exploration and application of a feature-based design methodology within mechanical product development cycles. Based on a review of the feature technology and previous research work, this paper focuses on the modeling of intricate relations among features of different design aspects. A concept of feature parameter map that leads to a constraint mapping method is proposed. Further, features are classified into different levels; and information management for product lifecycle support is considered. The application of this method is demonstrated with the conceptual design and optimization of a gearbox as the study case. In addition, an extended feature system for product development was explored. With a spreadsheet package and a computer aided design (CAD) tool, the product model generation, change management and final optimization of the case assembly including its bulk shape, have been achieved. Two important information chains were used to address the aspect of “design for post-manufacture services” with concurrent engineering consideration, i.e. a field installation pattern and a set of wrapping dimensions for product transport packaging. In order to demonstrate the feasibility of change management, a different product derivative model was regenerated by adopting and changing the values of a main conceptual feature. The result is promising.