ITcon Vol. 6, pg. 149-162, http://www.itcon.org/2001/11

A conceptual framework for multi-modal interactive virtual workspace

submitted:July 2001
revised:November 2001
published:December 2001
editor(s):Rezgui Y and Zarli A
authors:Rob Aspin, Mr.
Centre for Virtual Environments, University of Salford, UK
email:r.aspin@salford.ac.uk http://www.nicve.salford.ac.uk

Laurent DaDalto, Dr.
CSSI, France
email:laurent.dadalto@C-S.FR http://www.c-s.fr

Terrance Fernando, Prof.
Centre for Virtual Environments, University of Salford, UK
email:t.fernando@salford.ac.uk http://www.nicve.salford.ac.uk

Enrico Gobbetti, Dr.
CRS4, Italy
email:gobbetti@crs4.it http://www.crs4.it/vvr

Mathieu Marache, Dr.
CSTB, France
email :marache@cstb.fr http://cic.cstb.fr

Mark Shelbourn, Mr.
Construct IT, University of Salford, UK
email:m.a.shelbourn@pgr.salford.ac.uk http://www.construct-it.org.uk

Souheil Soubra, Dr.
CSTB, France
email :soubra@cstb.fr http://cic.cstb.fr
summary:Construction projects involve a large number of both direct stakeholders (clients, professional teams, contractors, etc.) and indirect stakeholders (local authorities, residents, workers, etc.). Current methods of communicating building design information can lead to several types of difficulties (e.g. incomplete understanding of the planned construction, functional inefficiencies, inaccurate initial work or clashes between components, etc.). Integrated software solutions based on VR technologies can bring significant value improvement and cost reduction to the Construction Industry. The aim of this paper is to present research being carried out in the frame of the DIVERCITY project (Distributed Virtual Workspace for Enhancing Communication within the Construction Industry - IST project n°13365), funded under the European IST programme (Information Society Technologies). DIVERCITY's goal is to develop a Virtual Workspace that addresses three key building construction phases: (1) Client briefing (with detailed interaction between clients and architects); (2) Design Review (which requires detailed input from multidisciplinary teams - architects, engineers, facility managers, etc.); (3) Construction (aiming to fabricate or refurbish the building).Using a distributed architecture, the DIVERCITY system aims to support and enhance concurrent engineering practices for these three phases allowing teams based in different geographic locations to collaboratively design, test and validate shared virtual projects. The global DIVERCITY project will be presented in terms of objectives and the software architecture will be detailed.
keywords:Virtual Environments, Product modelling, Construction Industry, Client Briefing, Design Review, Construction Planning
full text: (PDF file, 0.271 MB)
citation:Aspin R, DaDalto L, Fernando T, Gobbetti E, Marache M, Shelbourn M and Soubra S (2001). A conceptual framework for multi-modal interactive virtual workspace, ITcon Vol. 6, Special issue Information and Communication Technology Advances in the European Construction Industry, pg. 149-162, https://www.itcon.org/2001/11