Knowledge-based Macmillan 2001 Framework for Conceptual Design

203 that their prior knowledge is accurate. Therefore, the extended Macmillan framework made explicit the required knowledge for both architect and mechanicalelectrical experts to perform their work with reliable information. 204 Table 6.1. Findings from observation process Knowledge From Macmillan Activities Architects MechanicalElectrical Engineers 1 Specify the business need - Specify kind of building function - Site characteristics - Owner aspirations - Exist building problems - Mission statement about requirements Specify required technologies: - BIPV - Solar air conditioning - Wind turbine - Rainwater harvesting system - Waste management - Daylighting 2 Assessing stakeholders requirements - Building modules regarding defined mission - BIPV location, tilt angle and direction - Rainwater usage, location and storage tank requirements - Daylight strategy to catch optimum sky light - Solar air conditioning area needs Wind turbine location and requirements 3 Identify problems with exist solutions - Sun path movement - Wind direction - Constraints arising from technologies such as wind velocity points 4 Developing requirements - Space function and requirements - Standard modules - Height of buildings - Minimum daylight standard for spaces - Ventilation requirements such as required space between blocks - Pressure variants - Necessity of mechanical ventilation due to stack effect caused by height of building 5 Setting requirements Specify drawing requirement and diagrams - Solar collector location - Water catchment location - PV panels location, tilt angle and location - Wind turbine location 205 Table 6.1. Findings from observation process Knowledge From Macmillan Activities Architects MechanicalElectrical Engineers 6 Determining project characteristics 7 Generating initial concepts - Specify effect of courtyard for better distribution of daylight - Use of building shade - Specify PV panel location base on need to cool 8 Transformation Combination of concepts - Design alternatives for building modules - Specify width and length of buildings 9 Selecting suitable combinations - Specify size of blocks of buildings - Specify space between buildings 10 Firming up into concept proposals - Alternative forms of design - Specify height of buildings - Finalize PV location 11 Evaluating and choosing proposal - Specify chosen alternative - Rainwater catchment diagram 12 Improving detail and costing proposal - Estimating storage tank base on roof area - Specify location of pump and water tank - Estimation of needed air condition - Cooling capacity - Estimation of needed space needed for solar requirements - Life cycle cost - Estimation operating cost saving The structure of this knowledge-based framework for the conceptual design phase was borrowed from repertory grid Liou, 1992; Boose, 1989-See Section 2.4.4 for more details where rows are activities of Macmillan 2001 framework for conceptual design phase, and columns are the required knowledge for this stage. Thus, the study proposed this knowledge-based conceptual design framework as a 206 technique to capture expert knowledge. Using this framework, project managers know what knowledge each expert needs in order to perform hisher own activity more efficiently. Finally, this framework can be used to create a user interface for a knowledge portal. Knowledge portals make an important contribution in enabling knowledge management by providing users with a consolidated, personalized user interface that allows efficient access to various types of structured and unstructured information. Therefore, it can be used to develop a user interface in which the required knowledge can be exchanged among experts through a knowledge portal.

6.5 Limitation of Study

This study is limited to the activities of 4 th year architect students as team members of a Green building project in UPM. Data collection took place through the conceptual design phase of this project.

6.6 Knowledge Contribution

There are three knowledge contributions for this study which are stated as follows: 1- Extending Macmillan’s conceptual design framework to include explicit required knowledge during the conceptual design phase. According to Nissen 2006, knowledge flow rest on the critical paths of workflows and the associated organizational performance. Hence, knowledge flows should be 207 planned and managed like workflows. Macmillan 2001 framework for the conceptual design phase includes just the sequence of activities for achieving the concept design of building projects. This study had discovered the required knowledge during the concept design and provided a linkage between the steps of the existing Macmillan framework and the required knowledge. To this end, this study used detailed definitions for Macmillan’s step. The proposed knowledge-based framework is displayed in Figure 6.1.