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What information can or cannot be exchanged between different systems? Since the dawn of the computer-aided design and engineering era, interoperability has been an issue. The exchangeable set of information between different systems has been loosely defined as the intersection of information. Yet, as information flow has directionality, a general definition of 'intersection' is inadequate to define an exchangeable set of information. This paper proposes a new directive set operation, semantic intersection, and discusses which information can or cannot be exchanged between different systems using the concept of semantic intersection. This opens up the possibility of predetermining or calculating the exchangeable set of information between two or more systems or the possibility of automated generation of a standard product model between different systems. This paper focuses on data exchange between systems, but the proposed theory is also applicable to data exchange between human beings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents results of transdisciplinary research on the development of a bioinspired computational framework for engineering design. This framework is intended to support design by addressing three critical design objectives, including novelty, optimality, and robustness. It provides several computational models and methods, which are inspired by fundamental processes occurring in nature, and discusses their potential for enhancing design. They include models and methods for evolutionary, developmental, and coevolutionary design. Their use is illustrated with examples from the area of steel structural design ranging from a simple cantilever beam design problem to a much more complex problem of designing wind bracings in tall buildings. The paper also shows how several methods and models can be integrated and form a coherent bioinspired computational framework for engineering design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a new system that utilizes the advantages of boundary element analysis in structural engineering applications. A standardized building information model (BIM) for automated structural analysis and design of reinforced concrete plates based on the boundary element method (BEM) is proposed. Based on the model view definition approach, BIM standards are presented for the preprocessing and postprocessing of BEM analysis. Furthermore, standards are proposed for automated structural design of structural slab and beam elements based on the BEM analysis results. For each of the BIM components, standards are provided for the object structure, data flow, and graphical user interface (GUI). The extensibility of the software and applicability for a wide range of research and practical applications are considered in all the proposed standards. The system created can act as the basis for structural analysis and design of building floor and foundation problems. Object-oriented programming is used to implement the standards in a prototype. The prototype was verified by application to the solution of practical structural engineering problems. The performance of the proposed system is evaluated in terms of the modeling and the processing time required to analyze typical structural engineering applications using the prototype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widespread use of computer-aided drafting (CAD) systems within the engineering domain has provided significant advances in the capability to model design solutions. However, the focus of these systems on detailed design solutions has resulted in a corresponding lack of automated design assistants for the generation of conceptual design solutions, the primary reason being the incompatibility between the emphasis on geometric coordinates in detailed design and the emphasis on qualitative definitions in conceptual design. This paper presents one approach to bridging this representation gap, through the use of a qualitative geometric reasoner for integrated design (GRID). The paper presents a prototype GRID system that uses artificial intelligence representation and reasoning techniques to interpret CAD models and respond to qualitative geometric queries from automated design assistants within an integrated design environment. The expansion of qualitative geometric reasoning beyond spatial reasoning to include temporal and logical reasoning is introduced as a primary focus of the GRID system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]