| Robert Amor's Publications in 2004 |
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Grundy, J.C., Hosking, J.G., Amor, R.W., Mugridge, W.B. and Li, Y. (2004) Domain-Specific Visual Languages for Specifying and Generating Data Mapping Systems, Journal of Visual Languages and Computing, Vol 15(3-4), pp 243-263. |
Abstract: Many application domains, including enterprise systems integration, health informatics and construction IT, require complex data to be transformed from one format to another. We have developed several tools to support specification and generation of such data mappings using domain-specific visual languages. We describe motivation for this work, challenges in developing visual mapping metaphors for different target users and problem domains, and illustrate using examples from several of our developed systems. We compare cognitive dimensions-based evaluations of the different approaches and summarise the lessons we have learned.
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Amor, R., Jain, S. and Augenbroe, G. (2004) Online Product Libraries: The State-of-the-art, Proceedings of the CIB Triennial, Toronto, Canada, 3-7 May. |
Abstract: The movement of product catalogues from paper-based systems to electronic and online systems has proceeded rapidly over the last decade. The commercial product catalogue vendors have established nationally-based online systems of varying sophistication at the same time as classification and standardization producing organisations have developed their national and international support systems. There have also been independent initiatives from major CAD vendors to enable manufactured product data and CAD detailing integration with their design tools. Underpinning much of this work has been a suite of research projects addressing infrastructures which will better support access to product information of all types for all classes of users and their design tools. This paper surveys the state-of-the-art in this domain across all these efforts as a way of assessing where we have got to. It also analyses the gaps which exist between expectations and actuality in order to identify the gaps in research and practice which need to be bridged to enable effective access to, and interaction with, this most important resource in construction activities across all stages of a building’s life.
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Bossung, S., Stoeckle, H., Grundy, J., Amor, R. and Hosking, J. (2004) Automated Data Mapping Specification via Schema Heuristics and User Interaction, Proceedings of the 19th International Conference on Automated Software Engineering, ASE 2004, Linz, Austria, 20-25 September, pp. 208-217. |
Abstract: Data transformation problems are very common but they are challenging to implement for large, complex datasets. We describe a new approach for specifying data mapping transformations between XML schema using a combination of automated schema analysis agents and selective user interaction. A graphical tool visualises parts of the two schemas to be mapped and a variety of agents analyse all or parts of the schema, voting on the likelihood of matching subsets. The user can confirm or reject suggestions, or even allow schema matches to be automatically determined, incrementally building up a fully-mapped schema. An implementation of the mapping specification can then be generated from the various inter-schema matches.
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Amor, R. and Kloep, W. (2004) eProduct Catalogues Using Web Services, International Journal of Design Sciences and Technology, 12(1), pp 47-54. |
Abstract: Online product catalogues for construction have tended to mimic traditional paper-based catalogues. This approach adds little value to the electronic format and does not integrate well with the object-based design world which is starting to become accepted within CAD systems. The development, and mass deployment, of new Internet-based technologies such as XML, SOAP, UDDI, WSDL, etc support new approaches to online product catalogues. The potential benefits provided by these technologies include: identification of products via actual parameters; a single data transport mechanism; dynamic identification of available products as required; the ability to handle multiple information formats from manufacturers; support for product differentiation by manufacturers; and manufacturer control of their information base. These potential benefits have been tested in example projects which show that difficulties still remain in creating an open framework for product brokering. The lessons learned from these projects and paths for future work are presented here.
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Amor, R.W. (2004) Supporting standard data model mappings, Proceedings of EC-PPM 2004, Istanbul, Turkey, 8-10 September, pp 35-40. |
Abstract: Very little work has been done on specifying a standard mapping between the overlapping semantic specifications in the standardized data models used in architecture, engineering and construction (A/E/C, e.g., IAI-IFC and ISO-STEP standards). However, several companies have developed bespoke mappings from these standards into their design tools, and back out again. With this approach it is difficult to understand how complete their mappings are, and what assumptions are made in the development of the mappings. Yet for semantic mappings, as distinct from mappings over geometric representations, this has a profound implication for the correctness of the resultant data. In this paper the development of a suite of mapping support tools is discussed to illustrate the level of support required to ensure semantically correct mappings across data models.