1. Jim Skon Kenyon College January 2016
Architecture Engineering: International Building Code Requirements Assessment
Jim Skon
Kenyon College
January 2016

2. Architecture Engineering: International Building Code
Legal documents
Specify the requirements for building for public safety
Codes are written by experts in the field:
Architect, engineers, fire marshals, manufacturers, contractor, end users

3. Defined by historical events
Building Codes
Defined by historical events
Human abuse/ life loss produces change in code
Industrial revolution
Coconut Grove fire
Nursing Homes in the 60’s
Inaccessible facilities in the 80’s
911/ Twin Towers, etc.
Most codes allow for public review and submittal

4. Design Process Requirements Design Code Cost Based on design Architect
Customer provides requirements and costs goals
Design
Architect
Code
Architectural engineer
Cost
Based on design

5. Design Process Requirements Design Code Cost Based on design Architect
Customer provides requirements and costs goals
Design
Architect
Code
Architectural engineer
Cost
Based on design

6. Architectural design is expensive
Issues
101’ tall - $$
99’ tall - $
Architectural design is expensive
Building code Assessment is expensive
Mistakes can be costly
Meeting certain requirements can be expensive.
Requirements based on distinct boundaries

7. Goal – minimize cost of building
Implications
Goal – minimize cost of building
Find the minimum codes requires careful review by expert (expensive)
Traditional process of minimizing costs requires iterative review (very expensive)
Real world: Buildings are “overbuild” by 5-10% to avoid costs of either reviews or code mistakes

8. Code Parameters: Type of building
Residential
Mercantile
Assembly
Business
High Hazard
Storage
Educational
Factory
Utility
Institutional

9. Code Parameters: SUBType of building Assembly (A)
A-1 Fixed Seating Theaters Concert Halls
A-4 Sporting Arenas
Skating rinks
Swimming pools
A-2 Food or drink Banquet Hall
Night Club
Restaurants
Bars
A-3 Worship, Recreation Arcades
Art Galleries
Churches
Courtroom …

10. TABLES

11. RULES

12. RULES

13. RULES

14. Computations

15. An adaptive interactive architecture code requirements design tool
Research Goal
An adaptive interactive architecture code requirements design tool

16. Basic Architecture Planning
Requirements: Ask user questions about building features/goals
Refine: Use knowledge about building code to ask to ask follow-up questions
Code requirements: Display code requirements for this design
Cost estimate: Based on design plus code

17. Enhanced Architecture Planning
Requirements: Ask user questions about building features/goals
Refine: Use knowledge about building code to ask follow-up questions
Code requirements: Display code requirements for this design
Cost estimate: Based on design plus code
Explain: Explain correspondence between requirements and cost
Revise: Update requirements, go back to step 2.

18. Existing Tool Adaptive E-Learning System
Students
Learning System
Internet
Expert System (AI)
Learner Knowledge
Curriculum Repository
Mentor

19. Existing Tool Adaptive ELearning System
Students
Questions
Internet
Learning System
Mentor

20. Existing Tool Adaptive ELearning System
Students
Answers
Internet
Learning System
Mentor

21. Existing Tool Adaptive ELearning System
Students
Customized curriculum
Internet
Learning System
Mentor

22. Existing Tool Adaptive ELearning System
This system is implemented and being actively used as part of a relationship improvement learning system
System works with married, dating, and engaged couples and mentor to adaptively help with relationship issues.

23. Re-use Learning System Platform Tool Adaptive ELearning System
Builders
Design System
Internet
Building Requirements Knowledge
Expert System (AI)
Building Code Repository
Architect

24. Research Questions
How can we appropriately represent architectural code and building requirements in the form of expert system rules?
Can we use an expert system to determine the optimal (or even adequate) code requirements from a set of building requirements?
Can the expert system explain the costs (and codes) selected for building design. (The why?)

25. Research Questions
Can expert system use building cost tables to estimate the cost of proposed building?
Can the learning system platform be used to efficiently ask adaptive questions (successive refinement) about building plans, and then report the results.
Can we use the expert system and learning system to build a web based design program where the user can play with building designs, and iteratively adapt it to achieve a set of goals (cost, size, safety, etc.)