CIL Report 4: Construction Information Limited were hosts of the 2002 assembly of the Interational Construction Information Society (ICIS). A summary report is enclosed below. It includes the following highlights.
First open day Congress subject: "Delivering product data to specifers". -
IAI/ICIS Co-operation project on construction attributes. -
2002 Conference in Newcastle, UK.
This is a short summary of a report on the ICIS congress and delegates assembly held in Auckland, New Zealand in March 2002. Don Bunting, Norrie Johnson, Rolf Huber and CIL Chairman Russell Hawken all attended, along with delegates from Australia, Canada, Germany, Finland, Japan, The Netherlands, Norway, United Kingdom, United States and guests from Norway and The Netherlands.
In addition 12 local and International speakers were invited to make presentations at the one-day congress and to attend the follow-up workshop sessions on the second day. The annual ICIS delegates’ assembly was held on the final day.
SUMMARY
22 ICIS delegates from 12 member organisations was an excellent attendance result for what was to most a very remote location. However there was disappointment at the recent lack of interest shown by CSI of the United States. Recent company changes meant that neither Sweden nor Belgium were represented, while the Czech representative felt unable to justify the cost of a long and relatively expensive trip.
For the first time, the ICIS Delegates Assembly was preceded by an open Congress, with the theme of “Delivering product data to specifiers.” The range of speakers we were able to attract, coupled with the level of local interest we engendered, showed that the new approach was a success. As a result the ICIS Delegates Assembly on Wednesday confirmed that the new format will continue at both Newcastle, UK (in 2003) and Toronto, Canada (in 2004).
The new format offered a level of focus that earlier assemblies have struggled to achieve. It also provided the opportunity to introduce the ICIS philosophy to a wider audience and conversely to introduce ICIS members to parallel activities by other organisations. In this instance the involvement of members of the IAI (the International Alliance for Interoperability) was a positive one. It revealed that what had seemed to be a purely academic exercise was now having a real impact on the world of construction data management in general and on the commercial software houses in particular.
As well as the success of the open Congress, the workshop on Tuesday allowed delegates and invited IAI guests to exchange ideas on both the practical implications and possible application of the principles and “systems” espoused by the IAI. This resulted in a proposal to ICIS from those IAI members present, for consideration during Wednesday’s Delegates Assembly.
The Delegates Assembly was shorter this year, due to a major reduction in “show and tell” presentations by member companies. This was a deliberate change, as delegates felt that presentations were becoming mundane, with too many being mere summaries of the previous year’s activities.
However the three presentations - by Finland, United States and Japan - were all well received and each offered delegates practical ideas for their own future direction.
During the afternoon there was a presentation on behalf of the IAI by Terry Wright, a recommended change to the ICIS statutes by Don Bunting and a report from the new ICIS board recommending a change in the future direction of the organisation. All engendered lively debate and gave the resolutions committee a busy task in preparing the formal resolutions for voting.
IMPLICATIONS FOR CIL
The 2002 Congress and Delegates Assembly showed up a number of implications and some specific new ideas for CIL to consider in planning its future direction. At the most general level it again illustrated the advantages for a small organisation at the bottom (or is it the top?) of the world in being able to take part in such broad-based forums. In particular this year it presented current ICIS activities first hand to those CIL board members and CIL staff who attended.
IFCs and other acronyms
There was a great deal spoken about IFCs, bcXML, STEP, the LexiCon and other such international protocols and activities. For most ICIS delegates the detailed technical content behind these activities will remain as mysterious as quantum physics. Nevertheless what became clear was that for significant change to occur, we must reach a consensus on how we define and present digital data.
This is perhaps one of the greatest advantages for CIL in being part of ICIS. We are able to remain aware of – and in a small way even to play our part in – the future of data manipulation and exchange, without having to come to grips with some of its more demanding concepts.
In particular, CIL has agreed to take part in the planned ICIS/IFC trials, by providing relevant input on timber framing. Guidance on what is required of us will be provided after the next series of IAI meetings in Europe in April. Participating organisations are expected to report their findings to the June 2003 DA in Newcastle.
The Auckland event
The weather was great, the assistance from CIL’s shareholders, board members and staff was outstanding and the event was voted “the best ever.” This made the time and effort required in putting together a new and demanding programme worthwhile.
Final thoughts
CIL is now seen as an even more important part of the ICIS organisation; reinforcing the positive contribution made by Rolf Huber at earlier assemblies. The personal relationships developed are of major importance in ensuring that CIL are kept “in the loop” and that we are seen as worthy of sharing in the work of our fellow member companies.
Already CIL has received an offer of support from Digicon of Canada for future programmes. This is in addition to our ongoing relationships with STABU in Holland, Arcom in the USA and NBS in Great Britain.
Don Bunting
GENERAL MANAGER
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