Automated system for assisting the architectural process

摘要

There is disclosed an automated system for assisting the architectural process on an open-network. The system may include a data entry means for user-selected project features and at least one catalog database from which the user-selected feature is identified. The system may further incorporate filtering means for providing a graphical interface with filtered data associated with a user-selected feature, at least one user database which stores a unique identifier of the user-selected feature, automated selection means for incorporating data associated with the user-selected feature into at least one document, and generation means for creating an architectural document, such as a specification, detail, or schedule. The system may include at least one remote catalog database from which the user-selected feature is identified. Included are tracking the architectural process, querying a user database or a group of user databases, and generating Industry Foundation Class tags for industry compatibility searching.

主权项

1. A computer implemented method for automatically generating aspects of an architectural contract document for a building after an owner of the building has provided an architect with a proposed use and approximate size for the building, the method comprising using a computer comprising a processor and a computer readable storage medium to automatically generate multiple aspects of the architectural contract document, wherein the computer readable storage medium has stored thereon a set of instructions operable to configure the computer to perform a set of acts, the set of acts comprising:
a) providing a plurality of forms that are each specific to an architectural work category to a user; b) displaying one of the forms from the plurality of forms to the user, wherein the displayed form comprises at least one or more drop down boxes and at least one field corresponding to a dimension of an architectural feature corresponding to the architectural work category, wherein the architectural feature has a geometry defined at least in part by the dimension; c) receiving a value from the displayed form specific to the architectural work category for the dimension for the architectural feature from the user; d) based on the value received from the form specific to the architectural work category, filtering choices for the architectural feature by selecting one or more stored catalogs that are identified by the architectural feature and retrieving as the filtered choices one or more items from the one or more stored catalogs that comply with the value received, displaying to the user the filtered choices in the displayed form, and receiving one or more of the filtered choices from the user; e) receiving a selection from one of the drop down boxes, the selection opening a catalog page for the user to select a catalog item to populate attributes of the selected catalog item into the displayed form; f) receiving the selection of the catalog item and populating the attributes of the selected catalog item into the displayed form; g) determining if the catalog item from the page is in drawing format; h) allowing the user to request the automatic generation of multiple aspects of the architectural contract document, wherein the user is allowed to request a third aspect and also at least one of a first and second aspects, through selection from the group consisting of:
i) the first aspect comprising a listing of attributes of the architectural feature;ii) the second aspect comprising a written detailed description of materials and processes related to including the architectural feature in the building; andiii) the third aspect comprising a drawing comprising the architectural feature;and i) receiving the request and corresponding multiple aspect selections from the user and automatically generating the requested multiple aspects of the architectural contract document; wherein: i) automatically generating the requested multiple aspects of the architectural contract document comprises:
A) propagating the received value, the received one or more choices from the filtered choices, and the selected item's attributes into each of the aspects selected by the user; andB) generating the drawing using the received value and inserting into the drawing of the third aspect, the selected catalog item when the selected catalog item was determined to be in the drawing format;and ii) the architectural contract document is the architectural contract document for the building and comprises the automatically generated aspects.