Consolidation of methods for visualization and management of engineering design data sets

Abstract

Existing design support tools and methods struggle to deal with numerous data management situations that arise in medium and large-scale design projects. Authors analyse and compare the suitability and efficiency of several methods for managing and visualization of relationships between engineering objects and propose guidelines for building a framework/interface for consolidated usage of those methods in industrial practice. The proposed matrix-based consolidation methodology builds on findings gathered from two monitored design projects as well as previous research in areas of traceability and visualization. For engineering objects (data sets) that belong to one or two domains which are not hierarchically structured it is argued that a simple matrix interface is sufficient to record the relations. Furthermore, if the engineering objects are hierarchically structured the browser interface is suggested. In the most complex situation, where objects belong to multiple different domains the use of diagrams and digital white boards is suggested.