Knowledge Sharing for Collaborative Design

This paper presents the preliminary results of a research project that aims to develop and apply Design Knowledge Servers (DesKs) in the building and construction industry. The paper starts with a view on where the development of computer application in design and construction might be heading. It briefly looks at the current situation concerning information modelling for design support and compares two alternative ways of developing standards in this area. After this sketch of its context, the DesKs project is introduced and its objectives, characteristics, implementations issues, and application scenarios are discussed. The paper concludes with a preview of the next steps we will attempt to take and with an explanation of why it all takes so long.