A contextual ontology for distributed urban data management. Issue 3 (12th February 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hoare, Cathal; Pinheiro, Sergio; Hu, Shushan; O'Donnell, James
• Is Part Of: Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers. Volume 172:Issue 3(2019:Sep.)
• Page Start: 96
• Page End: 105
• Publication Date: 2021-02-12
• Subjects: data -- information technology -- knowledge management; Construction industry -- Technological innovations -- Periodicals; Construction industry -- Information technology -- Periodicals; Building -- Technological innovations -- Periodicals; Smart structures -- Periodicals; Smart materials in design -- Periodicals; 624.0285
• DOI: 10.1680/jsmic.19.00015
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2397-8759

Abstract

Abstract : The evolution of information and communication technology in the construction domain has yielded a variety of heterogeneous data sources. While bespoke approaches have been developed to explore data merging for a variety of purposes, few have explored how to develop a multipurpose information organisation that can be reconfigured on a per-project basis. This paper describes an approach that, using a lightweight central server, is used to investigate the effectiveness of loose federations of information sources that together serve the information needs of a project. The central server provides both a common context through which relationships between the information sources can be expressed and a data register to enable information discovery. The paper describes the creation of an ontology to capture this context and a software architecture to support its use. The efficacy of the approach is illustrated through describing the use of the server for marshalling data used in a renovation project.