Partially Automating the Design-Construction Interface: Constructibility Design Rules for Reinforced Concrete Structures

Design and construction are highly fragmented for many types of projects in the US construction industry. This vertical and horizontal fragmentation leads to inefficiencies during construction. Knowledge based systems provide a means to partially automate the process of construction input to design and assist in reducing the adverse impact of fragmentation on project performance. This paper describes early results from a research project at Standford University to develop an expert system containing constructability design rules that support the preliminary design of reinforced concrete structures. The major topics covered are: a background review of design-construction integration; a description of the structure of constructability knowledge and its role in the design process, using reinforced concrete structures as an example; implications for performance improvement on projects; and insights for future research. The conclusions concern challenges and potential benefits from using knowledge based systems for integration at critical project interfaces.