Formalized Representation of Specifications for Construction Cost Estimation by Using Ontology

Construction cost estimation, which is normally labor-intensive and error-prone, is one of the most important works concerned by multiparticipants during a project's life cycle. However, the proficiency of estimators on specifications for construction cost estimation greatly affects the efficiency and accuracy of cost estimation. By formalizing specifications for construction cost estimation, such specifications can be better implemented in computer programs so that the working efficiency and accuracy of estimation can be greatly improved. This study aims to establish an effective approach to formalize such specifications by using ontology. First, two typical specifications for construction cost estimation are analyzed and relevant models are established. Then, an ontology-based representation of two specifications is established based on the models. Next, a prototype tool for facilitating the establishment, modification, and extension of the ontology-based representation for estimators is presented and the use cases of the tool are illustrated. Finally, the applicability of the approach is discussed. It is concluded that the formalized representation can be used to classify the building components into items for bill of quantities and quota items automatically by computer programs to accelerate cost estimation.

[1]  Hojjat Adeli,et al.  An integrated computing environment for solution of complex engineering problems using the object-oriented programming paradigm and a blackboard architecture , 1995 .

[2]  Asim Karim,et al.  CONSCOM: An OO Construction Scheduling and Change Management System , 1999 .

[3]  Weiming Shen,et al.  Ontology maintenance in high level architecture federation development and execution process , 2013, Integr. Comput. Aided Eng..

[4]  Amin Hammad,et al.  Automated Code Compliance Checking for Building Envelope Design , 2010, J. Comput. Civ. Eng..

[5]  Jakob Beetz,et al.  An Ontology Web Language Notation of the Industry Foundation Classes , 2005 .

[6]  H. Lan,et al.  SWRL : A semantic Web rule language combining OWL and ruleML , 2004 .

[7]  Jung-Ho Yu,et al.  BIM and ontology-based approach for building cost estimation , 2014 .

[8]  Sheryl Staub-French,et al.  Ontology-based feature modeling for construction information extraction from a building information model , 2013 .

[9]  Martin Hepp,et al.  GoodRelations: An Ontology for Describing Products and Services Offers on the Web , 2008, EKAW.

[10]  Charles M. Eastman,et al.  Automatic rule-based checking of building designs , 2009 .

[11]  Hojjat Adeli,et al.  Scheduling/Cost Optimization and Neural Dynamics Model for Construction , 1997 .

[12]  Burcu Akinci,et al.  Automated processing of construction specifications to support inspection and quality control , 2007 .

[13]  Martin Hepp,et al.  BauDataWeb: the Austrian building and construction materials market as linked data , 2013, I-SEMANTICS '13.

[14]  Hojjat Adeli,et al.  Regularization neural network for construction cost estimation , 1998 .

[15]  Boyd C. Paulson,et al.  A feature ontology to support construction cost estimating , 2003, Artificial Intelligence for Engineering Design, Analysis and Manufacturing.

[16]  Zhiliang Ma,et al.  Semi-automatic and specification-compliant cost estimation for tendering of building projects based on IFC data of design model , 2013 .

[17]  Asim Karim,et al.  OO Information Model for Construction Project Management , 1999 .

[18]  Celson Lima,et al.  Domain Taxonomy for Construction Concepts: Toward a Formal Ontology for Construction Knowledge , 2005 .

[19]  Hojjat Adeli,et al.  Object‐Oriented Model for Freeway Work Zone Capacity and Queue Delay Estimation , 2004 .

[20]  Frank Boukamp,et al.  Ontology-Based Representation and Reasoning Framework for Supporting Job Hazard Analysis , 2011, J. Comput. Civ. Eng..

[21]  Pieter Pauwels,et al.  A semantic rule checking environment for building performance checking , 2011 .