Robert Amor's Publications in 2017

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Shastri, Y., Hoda, R. and Amor, R. (2017) Understanding the Roles of the Manager in Agile Project Management, Proceedings of ISEC 2017, Jaipur, India, 5-7 February, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3021460.3021465, pp. 45-55.

Abstract: Agile project management (APM) does away with the role and the job title of the manager and instead places emphasis on self-organizing teams. However, recent surveys show that the job title of managers, particularly the project manager, is in existence on a significant number of agile projects. At the same time there is very little empirical evidence on the manager's role in an APM framework. To address this issue, a Grounded Theory study involving 20 software professionals from 18 different organizations which employed Agile Software Development (ASD) was carried out. The key finding of this preliminary study is the identification of the four roles played by managers on agile teams: mentor, coordinator, negotiator, and process adapter. As a mentor, the manager guides and supports the team in agile practice; the coordinator facilitates and coordinates the teams functioning; the negotiator takes care of the budget and customer requirements; and as a process adapter, the manager customizes agile and also implements agile-waterfall hybrids. The results of this study highlight the need for in-depth research into the different management roles and functioning of the agile team and manager. Additionally, this study will help guide new and existing managers to better understand the various aspects and boundaries of their new roles on agile projects and enable them to better facilitate self-organizing teams.

Lather, J.I., Amor, R. and Messner, J.I. (2017) A Case Study in Data Visualization for Linked Building Information Model and Building Management System Data, Proceedings of IWCCE 2017, Seattle, USA, 25-27 June, pp. 228-235.

Abstract: This paper presents the development of a framework for leveraging the 3D nature of spaces, their attributes, and sensor location data in conjunction with Building Management System (BMS) sensor data to allow both users and operators to more easily access building data in the operations and maintenance of facilities. A case study, using data from various sensors of an operational facility and data from the Building Information Model (BIM) used in the construction of the facility, is presented in a spatial data visualization framework. The initial prototype focuses on 3D data visualization by building occupants to enable exposure and access to facility data. The framework offers an initial system to integrate two typically disparate data streams to aid in building life-cycle data integration as well as increase transparency and awareness of operations for building occupants.

Dimyadi, J., Governatori, G. and Amor, R. (2017) Evaluating LegalDocML and LegalRuleML as a Standard for Sharing Normative Information in the AEC/FM Domain, Proceedings of CIB W78 2017, Crete, Greece, 4-7 July, pp. 639-646.

Abstract: Legal text is typically conveyed in natural language and thus not readily suitable for computer processing. Numerous work-around approaches have been proposed by researchers in the Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Facilities Management (AEC/FM) domain over the last four decades to create computable representations of normative data that can be used to automate some of the processes in the domain. The transition from human-readable text to a structured representation can occur in many possible ways, e.g. through Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques, manual annotations, or through direct coding. In all cases, however, the human-readable document at the source remains the sole point of reference. Ideally, however, one digital structured representation should also be available and recognised as the single digital point of reference. Research in the AEC/FM domain has shown that automated compliant building design processes would benefit from a single standardised and manageable digital representation of normative data. Recent efforts in the legal domain have shown promising developments in legal mark-up languages such as LegalDocML and LegalRuleML as emerging open standards for legal knowledge interchange. In this article, we explore the potential of adapting these emerging standards to accommodate specific requirements of the AEC/FM domain.

Solihin, W., Dimyadi, J., Lee, Y-C., Eastman, C. and Amor, R. (2017) The Critical Role of the Accessible Data for BIM-based Automated Rule Checking Systems, Proceedings of CIB W78 2017, Crete, Greece, 4-7 July, pp. 53-60.

Abstract: This paper proposes a concept of an accessible BIM database that supports integration with geometry enabling simplified and efficient queries of the IFC-based building model. The simplified schema, BIMRL, is shown to be significantly effective for the purpose of an implementation of an automated BIM-based rule checking system. The schema has been shown to successfully work in both traditional RDBMS and the NoSQL graph database. It complements a missing piece in the current research of automated rule checking, which mostly focuses on the formulation and representation of computable rules involving logic, checking algorithm, and parameterization. Even though these present approaches have largely assumed that data is available and easily accessible from a building model, this assumption is typically infeasible in a real-world implementation. Building rules require not only base data explicitly available in the model but also higher level semantic concepts that typically involve multiple relationships and spatial operations, which cannot be captured explicitly in the model. Without addressing this issue, a rule checking system will severely underperform and will be filled with opaque algorithms that act as black-boxes.

Lovreglio, R., Gonzalez, V., Amor, R., Spearpoint, M., Thomas, J., Trotter, M. and Sacks, R. (2017) The Need for Enhancing Earthquake Evacuee Safety by Using Virtual Reality Serious Games, Proceedings of CIB W78 2017, Crete, Greece, 4-7 July, pp. 381-390.

Abstract: Enhancing evacuee safety is a key factor in reducing the number of injuries and deaths that result from earthquakes. This can be achieved by designing safer buildings taking into account behavioral factors and by training occupants. However, traditional approaches such as evacuation drills cannot be used in buildings in which occupants cannot easily leave the building (e.g. hospitals). In addition, these traditional approaches may not provide the intended learning outcomes and do not allow for the investigation of the impact of multiple evacuation factors on behavior. Virtual Reality (VR) and Serious Games (SG), i.e. games having education (in its various forms) as the primary goal, represent novel and effective alternatives to overcome the limitations of traditional approaches. We discuss the advantages and limitations of using VR SGs to investigate how building occupants behave during earthquake evacuations and to train building occupants to cope with such emergencies. We explore the key design components to develop the VR SG framework namely (a) what features constitute an earthquake event; (b) which types of buildings can be selected and how they should be represented within the VR environment; (c) how damage to the building is to be determined and represented; (d) what factors need to be included for agent behavior in earthquakes; and (e) what level of interaction should there be between agents and the human players. We highlight the important aspects that need to be addressed in further research to effectively develop VR SG tools for earthquake evacuation training.

Dimyadi, J. and Amor, R. (2017) Automating Conventional Compliance Audit Processes, Proceedings of Intl Conference on Product Lifecycle Management, PLM'17, Seville, Spain, 9-12 July.

Abstract: Any product, especially those with safety features or concerns, is normally subject to compliance audit with various standards and legal requirements at different stages throughout its lifecycle. These requirements are typically described in voluminous written documents requiring much expert interpretation. The compliance audit process has conventionally been a manual undertaking, which is known to be laborious, costly, and error-prone. In an era of increased legislation, it is prudent that some of these manual processes should be automated. One prerequisite of automation is a computable representation of legal knowledge, which is usually conveyed in written natural language intended for human interpretation. This paper describes the capabilities of an automated audit framework that can be incorporated into the compliance management of a product lifecycle. Apart from the product data model that is subject to audit, essential components of the framework include machine-readable legal knowledge and executable audit process models. Supplementary human input and an interface for data exchange with simulation tools are also supported.

Andriyani, Y., Hoda, R. and Amor, R. (2017) Reflection in Agile Retrospective, Proceedings of XP 2017, Cologne, Germany, 22-26 May, pp. 3-19.

Abstract: Knowledge management and reflection are important aspects in daily stand-up and retrospective meetings, which contribute to agile teams continous improvement. Research in knowledge management in agile software development has shown knowledge classifications which do not seem closely related with agile practitioners and current research has not treated agile reflective practice in detail. This research, which will focus on daily stand-up and retrospective meetings, addresses two objectives: (i) to investigate specific knowledge types (i.e. product, project and process knowledge) in everyday agile practice and knowledge management strategies applied by agile teams; (ii) to explore the actual knowledge involved in the meetings, which helps agile teams to perform reflection and use that knowledge for reflection. Case studies will be applied for this research to analyse both meeting practices. It is expected that the research results will provide a framework for agile teams to manage knowledge and perform reflection, which would be useful for team and process improvement.

Andriyani, Y., Hoda, R. and Amor, R. (2017) Understanding Knowledge Management in Agile Software Development Practice, Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Knowledge Science, Engineering and Management, Melbourne, Australia, 19-20 August, pp. 195-207.

Abstract: Knowledge management in agile software development has typically been treated as a broad topic resulting in major classifications of its schools and concepts. What inherent knowledge is involved in everyday agile practice and how agile teams manage it is not well understood. To address these questions, we performed a Systematic Literature Review of 48 relevant empirical studies selected from reputed databases. Using a thematic analysis approach to the synthesis, we discovered that (a) agile teams use three knowledge management strategies: discussions, artifacts and visualisations to manage knowledge (b) there are three types of software engineering knowledge: team progress as project knowledge; requirements as product knowledge; and coding techniques as process knowledge. (c) this knowledge is presented in several everyday agile practices. A theoretical model describing how knowledge management strategies and knowledge types are related to agile practices is also presented. These results will help agile practitioners become aware of the specific knowledge types and knowledge management strategies and enable them to better manage them in everyday agile practices. Researchers can further investigate and build upon these findings through empirical studies.

Dimyadi, J., Thomas, G. and Amor, R. (2017) Enabling Automated Compliance Audit of Architectural Design, Proceedings of the Architectural Science Association conference, ASA 2017, Wellington, New Zealand, 29 November - 2 December, pp. 387-396.

Abstract: A rapid uptake of Building Information Modelling (BIM) by architects in recent years has enabled improved collaboration and better information sharing among project stakeholders. BIM will continue to have a positive impact on the quality improvement of the built environments and the overall productivity boost in the industry. One activity that has not fully benefited from this collaborative approach is the compliant design process whereby certain design aspects must be audited for compliance with some normative standards or requirement specifications. A challenge to automate this laborious and error-prone conventional manual process has been attributed to the inability of machines to readily process legal knowledge that is conveyed in natural language texts. There have been a number of approaches suggested by researchers towards enabling an automated compliant design process, each has its advantages and also drawbacks. This paper introduces emerging open standards LegalDocML and LegalRuleML for exchanging legal knowledge and describes an automated compliance audit framework that treats both the building design data and the normative information as independent input components to be processed. The framework incorporates a human guidance element to facilitate the audit process. Lastly, a case study highlighting common compliant architectural design problems is used to illustrate the approach.

Hartmann, T., Amor, R. and East, E.W. (2017) Information Model Purposes in Building and Facility Design, ASCE Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering, 31(6), 04017054:1-10.

Abstract: This paper introduces three quality indicators - degree of semantic representation, conceptual completeness, and ease of implementation and querying - for different purposes for building information (BI). Based on a synthesis of theoretical purposes for information models in general, the paper logical-deductive describes the differences between these possible information model purposes and suggests that there is a conicting tendency between the three indicators. The indicator and this tendency is illustrated by analyzing three existing information models used within the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction industries: The Industry Foundation Classes, a widely used ISO standard to support software interoperability, as an example of a model designed to support information exchange; the COBie standard, a widely used information exchange standard to provide information for facility management, as an example of direct information exchange; and a specifically developed information model to support tunnel safety assessment as an example of a bespoke information model to support a very specific engineering decision making task.