Towards a hypermedia approach of data organization in building-modeling CAD systems

Abstract

The development of architectural CAD systems implies a trend of using a comprehensive building model as the storage space for all relevant data about one design project. Instead of a set of drawing files, a building is represented as a collection of building object data and their relationships. In order to create and manipulate this complex organizational structure, we have to empower the CAD system with a more sophiSticated manipulating tool than it now possess. Hypermedia, as an associative way of organizing and presenting information, is able to support the practical requirements of designers. The thesis approaches the idea from two aspects: one is to represent a building model in a data structure, based on hypermedIa nodes and links. During this authoring process, we should create a hypermedia structure which can not only cope with the original building data structure but also provide the structural basis we can use in inquiring for buIlding data in the design process. The second aspect is to browse for building information in a model embedded in a hypermedia structure. The possibilities it provides can go far beyond the constraints of conventional organizational methods. The way we access building data can be greatly broadened. The flexibility and interactivity of hypermedia are leading us to better desIgn environments, with more machine power and intelligence being brought to architectural CAD systems. From the viewpoint of system analysis, the ideas and methods, together with the potential problems the thesis discusses will be of value to the real practice of creating and managing this kind of data structure in future architectural CAD systems.