GALLICON: a prototype for the design of water treatment plants using an integrated project database

Abstract

There are great similarities between a water treatment project and a building project. Usually, they both involve the collaboration of a multidisciplinary project team. In recent years, considerable research effort has been devoted to the integrated project database approach for the issues of cross-discipline communication and information sharing in construction projects. The same approach should be applicable equally to the design and construction of water treatment systems. This paper describes a prototype for the design of water treatment plants, which has an underlying integrated project database, and a suite of architecture, engineering & construction (AEC) software applications. It argues that such a system is capable of supporting better communication and enhancing the partnering relationship between clients, contractors, and design consultants.

Keywords: Integrated project database, data model, process model, collaborative working, water industry