Procession: using intelligent 3D information visualization to support client understanding during construction projects

The latest results in the development of the software tool 'Procession' is presented. The research underlying Procession delivers a conceptual 3D framework for the interpretation of non-physical construction industry processes. Procession is the implementation of the proposed 3D framework, as an information visualization software tool. The conceptual transformation of construction clients' informational needs into 3D visual structures is documented. Also discussed is the development of an 'intelligent' software process to calculate the relevance of individual project elements. This is used to determine the representation of project elements within a 3D surface. Construction is not short of technologies for visualizing physical building models. However, it would seem that little or no consideration has been given to improving the intelligibility of non-physical construction processes. This type of information is usually known as Project Planning data and is concerned with the individual tasks that make up construction projects. While, there are software applications that allow access to this data for the professional members of the project team, clients are currently without a suitable tool. Procession's data surface is an abstract representation of three selected project dimensions. Its 3D progress reports provide construction clients with an 'at-a-glance' indication of project 'health'.