SGML/DTD Pilot Project

INFORMATION ABOUT PILOT PROJECTS TO BE FUNDED THROUGH NATIONAL PARTNERSHIP FOR REINVENTING GOVERNMENT GRANT

PROJECT TITLE: Developing Data-Input Standards for Operations, Maintenance and Support Information for Buildings

DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT: The National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS), Facility Maintenance and Operations Committee, is collaborating with the National Research Council's Federal Facilities Council to promote the development and implementation of a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) data format standard for equipment manufacturers to follow to supply information to building owners and managers in a form which can be directly integrated with a CMMS database.

The project will apply the data standard to the operation, maintenance, and support information specified in federal construction projects. Architectural-engineering and/or new construction contractors will also be funded to convert their project information to the data model standard. New construction of highly technical buildings that use CMMS will benefit from obtaining operation, maintenance, and support information electronically using the new standard. The major objective of the project is to foster the implementation of the model data standard.

A demonstration project will be performed to investigate all the steps required to fully implement use of the data standard. Candidate buildings will be selected from the agencies that have participated in development of the data standard model. Project funding will be used to apply the model to the operation, maintenance, and support information specified in the construction contracts and required as project submittals. The architectural-engineering and/or construction contractors will also be funded to convert their project information to the data model (in Standard Generalized Markup Language).

NIBS will be tasked to contract with publishing firms experienced in Standard Generalized Markup Language. The publishers will apply the data model to the submitted project data. The vendors of the CMMS used for the demonstration project buildings will be funded to develop data exchange interfaces to allow use of the project data within the context and functionality of their software products.

This effort will be coordinated with other ongoing computerization efforts, e.g., the National CADD Standard and Total Building Commissioning. Success with this project will encourage proper attention to the larger issue of computerization of data across the entire life-cycle of facilities. In many instances the challenge is simply to exercise the forethought to capture needed data already created for prior needs in the facility life cycle.

PROJECTED MILESTONES

• Conduct 1999 workshop - October 13, 1999 at the National Academy of Sciences
  
• Award contracts to publishing firms for conversion of data to the model - October, 1999.
  
• Select buildings for demonstration project - 90 days after notice of award. (To be done from buildings nominated by the three agencies which have developed the model through the National Institute of Building Sciences Facility Maintenance and Operations Committee.)
  
• Coordinate CMMS vendor tests of DTD data input generated in Milestones 2 & 3 above.
  
• Perform a Cost Comparison Study to assess the savings generated from use of the new data standard.
  
• Definition of Data Transfer Requirements from CADD As-Builts to O&M Management Systems