- Author
-
Danner, W. F.
- Title
- Use of Artificial Intelligence Programming Techniques for Communication between Incompatible Building Information Systems.
- Coporate
- National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, MD
- Report
-
NBSIR 87-3529
April 1987
- Distribution
- Available from National Technical Information Service
- Keywords
-
construction industry; information systems; communicating; computer programming; compatibility; artificial intelligence; design; construction
- Identifiers
- data base management systems; data bases; protocols; knowledge representation; data transfer protocols
- Abstract
- A communication capability between incompatible information systems is presented. The research develops an interface based on a format for the exchange of knowledge needed by each system to understand the other and a format for the exchange of information in the context of that knowledge. Particular emphasis has been placed on developing protocols supporting the transfer of analytical data. These data are seen as comprising not only facts but also the semantics associated with those facts. Two artificial intelligence programming techniques have been employed: frame-based knowledge representation and object-oriented programming capabilities as an integral part of the frame-based representation. These techniques make self-descriptive formats possible that provide for a virtual extension of an information management system. Such an extension provides access to information without requiring a detailed understanding of specific system operations.