5.2. Types of data exchange
The type of information, which can be exchanged
between applications, can be categorised into two
groups; the element/object and the document groups.
Information transferred at the element or object level
is normally detailed and can impact the outcome of
the application. For example, information about a
beam or a column can be exchanged between two
design packages. Any changes to this type of information
will automatically impact the other information,
which exist in the other application, while
information transferred at a document level is normally
considered as an image, which can only be
viewed, shared and annotated by users.
Exchanging information at the element or object
level is far more difficult to manage compared to
exchanging information at the document level. The
former needs compatible hardware and software where
information can be read and freely transferred between
the applications. Or it requires common standards,
which enable information to be transferred freely
between applications, such as the industry foundation
classes (IFC). The document level, on the other hand,
can use standards such as the Internet to transfer documents
as attachments to a web-based application. All
existing web-based project management software is
based on exchanging and sharing documents. Information
is exchanged as documents, which can be stored in
a single database, whereby users can view, track and
manipulate as and when required.
Currently, there are many commercially available
software to cater for different types of document-based
data exchange; they all come under the umbrella of
web-based project management. These software cater
for the application needs of the different stages of the
project life cycle, i.e. the tender stage (where tender
documents are exchanged between clients, contractors,
subcontractors, etc.), and the design and construction
stages, (where drawings and other documents are
exchanged between project partners), and the construction
stage (where buying and selling of building materials
take place over the Internet).