Computerization of building regulations (original) (raw)

Since the advent of computers, the construction industry has sponsored considerable research and development for computerizing building regulations. Unfortunately, few of these developments have resulted in computer applications that are currently available in wide use in practice. In the meanwhile, computer users are seeking and demanding automated solutions to assist in comprehending building regulations and in facilitating access to existing building regulations, codes and standards and more sophisticated users are interested in the integration of code information with computer-aided design systems. Emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, knowledge-based expert systems, objectoriented programming, hypertext, and relational databases, are providing new environments, as well as new concepts, for computerized building regulations. These new technologies are a possibility for developing tools for fast, intelligent, and comprehensive access to building regulations. Most recently,. expert systems have received considerable favour for building regulation access, but they may not provide a full solution in the intermediate future. Alternatively, hypertext provides the potential for quick retrieval of text-based infomation and may address other needs in the short term. Decision Tables provide the most comprehensive solution but are extremely expensive to develop and maintain. This paper presents a bibliography of international activities in the development of computerized building regulations. It locates centres of excellence-for research and development, identifies key players in these activities, and abstracts the research projects and products. The paper also details the many Canadian activities for computerizing building regulations and specifically outlines the work in producing a hypertext version of the National Building Code of Canada and an automated check list for code compliance.