Published as: Fridqvist, S. and J.P. van Leeuwen. 2002. “Feature Type Recognition – implementation of a recognizing feature manager.” In: Distributing Knowledge in Building, Proceedings of CIB W78 2002, Aarhus, Denmark: 12 – 14 June 2002. International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction CIB w78 conference 2002 Aarhus School of Architecture, 12 – 14 June 2002 1 Title: Feature Type Recognition – implementation of a recognizing feature manager Authors: Sverker Fridqvist and Jos van Leeuwen Institution: Eindhoven University of Technology Faculty of Architecture Design Systems Group E-mails: S.Fridqvist@tue.nl J.P.v.Leeuwen@tue.nl Abstract: This paper reports the first phase of a research project to implement and apply Feature Type Recognition (FTR). This technology has many potential areas of application, such as case retrieval, product finding, translating models between schemas, and certain types of analysis. Feature Type Recognition is part of the Internet based design knowledge sharing system developed at the authors’ department. The system allows communication of highly abstract concepts as well as concrete data. Additionally, it supports a layered approach to modelling, which will facilitate standardisation efforts. Feature Type Recognition is the process of finding feature types that correspond to a specific feature instance. The paper shows how feature based modelling creates a foundation for feature type recognition. Additionally, it presents and discusses how the Recognizing Feature Manager has been implemented. Application of Feature Type Recognition to building product finding will take place in the second phase of the research project. However, the paper already discusses basic principles of how this can be done. Keywords: Modelling; feature type recognition; design support; property-oriented modelling. Introduction Feature Type Recognition (FTR) is the ability of Feature Based Modelling (FBM) to recognize what feature types might fit a particular feature instance. Thus, a part of a design modelled as feature instances can be analysed in terms of previously defined feature types. This can be used for many purposes, one of which is to find building products that would fit in a particular design. The feature manager is the central part of the application that takes care of maintaining the database and keeping it self-consistent according to the rules of FBM. Feature based modelling is a modelling framework developed by Jos van Leeuwen at Eindhoven University of Technology to support design at early stages [van Leeuwen 1999]. It achieves modelling of generic design concepts through feature types, and of individual design objects through feature instances. FBM is property oriented, i.e. the basic modelling objects of FBM represent properties of things in addition to the traditional classes of things [Fridqvist 2000; van Leeuwen, Hendrix, Fridqvist 2001]. Thus, the designer can let the model develop as required by the design, by adding properties to the design model as they become known. In FBM, feature types are defined in terms of other feature types. Thus, high-level concepts are defined in terms of simpler ones. The user can define new feature types to model whatever concept he finds useful. Nevertheless, also user-defined feature types can be successfully communicated, provided they are based on feature types that are already known to both communicating parties. Since FBM defines a generic modelling schema, it is able to represent a wide range of concepts, including buildings and building parts. Furthermore, it supports modelling functionally defined things as well as things defined by their composition or other attributes. This enables the user/designer to define the design in terms of function at early stages and to add information about the specific implementation later on.