Easier communication and seamlessdata interchange for project partnersin the construction and buildingindustry is the aim of thepartnership between EPM Technology (EPMT) and concad GmbH. The two companies are now teaming up, integrating their suites ofsoftware tools for development andstandardized data modelling.

- Architectures are different with the computer systems used
by companies working together in the construction industry, says Bernd Ingenbleek, President and founder of concad GmbH. - The different partners use highly specialized tools and systems, which may function very well doing their specific tasks. But there might in fact be a real communication problem. The need to establish some kind of common ground, that is what the STEP-standard is set to solve.
At present time Norwegian EPM Technology and German concad GmbH is working together to launch complete software developing tools for the IAI community and version 2.0 of the IAI model. The systems are using the technology developed by EPMT, the Express Data Manager product line and concad's IAI Toolbox 1.0. The systems will support both IAI and existing STEP standards.

Innovative technology
concad, founded in 1989, is among the leaders in the area of technical data systems integration area, with a highly focus to the building industry. The company is contributor to various application protocols in the ISO 10303 standards.
- Realization of this vision requires the active participation of the vendors of specialist application software and of STEP technology vendors. The EPM’s Express-based middleware is playing a vital role in the implementation of data exchange, and the realization of a integrated global framework, says Dr. F.K. Garas at the UK based engineering company Taywood Engineering Ltd.
- The working relations between our two companies represent a significant breakthrough for the building industry, says Kjell A. Bengtsson, senior vice-president of EPM Technology.
Programmers who work with IAI standards will be allowed to use the upgraded version 2.0 standard with the familiar function call of concad's library, a new viewer, the instance browser and the Standard Data Access Interface (SDAI) - ISO 10303-22 for sharing of object data. Optionally, the complete product range
from EPM Technology can be plugged-in to provide functionality for data modelling.

Covering the life cycle
IAI's mission is to integrate the AEC/FM industry. This is done by specifying Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) as a universal language to improve the communication, productivity, delivery time, cost and quality throughout the design, construction, operation and maintenance life cycle of buildings./ins

Caption: Seamless interchange of construction data and easier communication between project partners should be the result using Express-based standard models.

For further information contact:
Kjell A Bengtsson, EPM Technology AS
Grenseveien 107, N-0663 Oslo, Norway
Phone:+47 23 17 17 00, Fax: +47 23 17 17 01
E-mail: info@epm-consult.no
Internet home page:http://www.nettinfo.no/jotne/epm-technology/