The Editor's Viewpoint

When CSRF was founded by CSI in 1967, its goal and charter was to implement the recommendations of the Stanford Report, published by CSI as STD-1. A major goal was to improve Construction Communications, later given the acronym CONCOM®by CSRF as they implemented the programs defined by the Stanford Research Institute (SRI). In fulfilling these program recommendations, CSRF was able to develop COMSPEC®, computer supported specifications, using time sharing on the Bechtel mainframe computer and telecommunications network. With all the programs and databases on the same mainframe computer, integration of the information and software was possible if the programmers had time and funds to support the effort. Access to the specifications and other programs was slow and costly because most subscribers had to use conventional telephone lines, and data storage and operation of large mainframes was expensive.

With the advent of the PC, only the largest firms could justify the continued use of this arrangement. The PC offered a computer on every desk, soon with the power of the mainframe. The catch was that we now had a "Tower of Babel", due to the many software programs and operating systems that were mostly incompatible. Only recently have Microsoft WORD, WordPerfect® and other text processing programs become even a little bit compatible.

On August 12^th,1999 Bentley Systems announced development of a program they named aecXML. Bentley has developed the initial specification for aecXML -- an XML schema for project and business-to-business communication for architecture, engineering and construction (A/E/C). The preliminary specification is now ready for industry review and comment, and Bentley is actively seeking cooperation with other interested parties before submission to the Microsoft BizTalk Framework.

aecXML is a framework of XML-based schemas to facilitate communications between and among the various constituents involved in the A/E/C process, including: architects, engineers, contractors, owner/operators, estimators, consultants, materials suppliers, building product manufacturers, and others. aecXML uses the XML-standard revolution to remove the current barriers to exchanging A/E/C-specific information in electronic business-to-business conversations.

Keith Bentley, CEO of Bentley explains: AaecXML is an extension of, rather than a replacement for, today's software and databases. Those tools individually function well and are fine-tuned for their domains. What's necessary is a vocabulary for exchanging their important A/E/C facts and figures between systems. For example, aecXML is not intended to be a format for transferring CAD drawings, but rather a technique for expressing what's in them. In theory, with a well-defined and universally accepted aecXML schema, two companies using completely different software systems could exchange meaningful project data. That's the general appeal of XML, and the reason we're so excited about the possibilities for aecXML."

Microsoft, McGraw-Hill, Primavera, BidCom, and many others have expressed enthusiasm and support for this concept. WordPerfect® offers XML as one of their formats. The construction industry may be at the point where a "Common Language" is possible. You will find lots of information about aecXML at the Bentley Web site bentley.com or at aecxml.org.

CRCJR

The CSRF newsletter is published for SPECTEXT® subscribers and others involved in design and construction. To obtain your copy of Creating a Common Language®, please contact the CSRF Support Center by telephone at 1-877- SPECTXT or 410-838-7561 or you may e-mail us at supportcenter@csrf.org

©  Copyright 2007, The Construction Sciences Research Foundation, Inc.  Updated January 12, 2007.