USING CONTEXT-AWARE COMPUTING TO SUPPORT ENGINEERING

COLLABORATION

Dr Zeeshan AzizCenter for Innovative

Collaborative Engineering, Loughborough University, UK.

 

Presentation Outline

• Need for Context-Awareness in Collaborative Working

• Service Delivery Framework• Case studies of Service Delivery Framework

Implementation – Transportation– Learning Environment– Construction Site Operations

Foreman

CraftsmenWorking forces

Project Manager

Architects/Engineers

Suppliers

Design Project Partners

Administration

Issues in Collaborative Working

Reasons for Contractor Re-WorkReasons for Contractor Re-Work

(Source: ICE, 1998)

Issues in Collaborative Working • “the cost of construction can be reduced by 25%

through the efficient transfer of information”. ICE Publication

• “BP Exploration estimates that reducing the time needed to locate and acquire information would increase efficiency and result in annual savings of between US$10 million and US$20 million”

Project Collaboration Management

The Problem

ClientClientProject Project

CollaborCollaborationation

Arch.Arch.

Q.S.Q.S.

Eng.Eng.

ContractorContractor

Site-Based Site-Based PersonnelPersonnel

Collaborative Needs of Mobile Workers

• The need to address the collaboration needs of mobile workers have long been understood

• To exploit the potential of emerging mobile communication technologies, many recent research projects have focused on the application of these technologies to support mobile engineers

Limitations of the Existing Approaches

• Existing mobile ICT deployments see support for mobile engineers as a “simple” delivery of static information using asynchronous or synchronous communications

• There is no consideration of user context and dynamic conditions of a project or changing user requirements

Need for Context-Awareness

CONTEXT-AWARENESS THE DIGITAL WORLD

THE REAL WORLD

Key Benefits of Context Aware Information Delivery

• Reduction in distractions related to the volume and level of information;

• Improved Usability via reduced user interaction;

• Improved decision making.

• Perception – the basic perception of important information• Comprehension – the integration of multiple pieces of information and a

determination of their relevance to the person’s goals• Projection – the ability to forecast future situation events and dynamics

Decision Making

Context Awarenes

s

Environment

Performance

Feedback

ProjectionInterpretatio

nPerception

Improved Decision Making via Context Awareness

Service Delivery Framework

Pilot – Construction Site

Profile: Project Manager

Context Aware Data DeliveryBLOCK ABLOCK AFLOOR 4FLOOR 4

Profile: Project ManagerTask: Inspect work done by

Electrical Contractor

Context Aware Data Delivery

BLOCK ABLOCK AFLOOR 4FLOOR 4BLOCK BBLOCK B

FLOOR 4FLOOR 4

Context Dimensions

Time(e.g. Excavation, foundations,

formwork placement, finishing, etc)

Time(e.g. Excavation, foundations,

formwork placement, finishing, etc)

User Activity(e.g. Inspect the work, pick up

skips, roof wiring on ground floor Etc)

User Activity(e.g. Inspect the work, pick up

skips, roof wiring on ground floor Etc)

User Device(e.g. PDA, Tablet PC, Notebook,

etc)

User Device(e.g. PDA, Tablet PC, Notebook,

etc)

Location(e.g. on-site office, close to cranes,

Floor 1, etc)

Location(e.g. on-site office, close to cranes,

Floor 1, etc)

User ID(e.g. Foreman, Project Manager, Site Supervisor, Electrician, etc)

User ID(e.g. Foreman, Project Manager, Site Supervisor, Electrician, etc)

Context Dimensions

Context Dimensions

Profile Based Task Allocation

Tracking People for Improved H&S

Real Time Tracking

Inventory Management

Real Time Inventory Updates

Intelligent Wireless Project Management

Zone NZone N

Zone BZone B

Case-Study :Context-Aware Services Delivery

in Transportation

Pilot Objectives Station Staff- Location-based access to video-cameras-Context-based Security Alerts - Context-Aware VoIP

Train Dispatch Staff- Access to traffic information- Interconnection information- Ticket issuing & control

Maintenance Engineers- Task notification- Access to diagrams/data- Collaboration tools

General Public- Location-based services- Ad-push- VoIP

ContextTracking

Context-Based Pull& Push

Context-AwareApplications

1. Real-time monitoring of user-location and status

2. Monitoring of external events (e.g. Train disruptions)

3. Monitoring of user device type

1. Delivery of information/secu

rity alerts to users based on

their context2. Information pull

based on user-context

1. Integrating context knowledge with legacy systems

Corridor 1Escalator E Talk 2 Chief

Silent Alarm

Back to Normal

Escalator E

Front 3 Back 3

Talk 2 Chief

Silent Alarm

Lateral 3

EXIT 3

Origin: RunningLocation: Corridor 1Time: 10:34

OKOK

ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR ALERT!

Corridor 1

Corridor 1Escalator E Talk 2 Chief

Silent Alarm

Back to Normal

Escalator E

Front 3 Back 3

Talk 2 Chief

Silent Alarm

Lateral 3

EXIT 3

Back to Normal

Aspects of Deployment

Deployment Architecture

Context Engine

Positioning Engine

Client

Client

WirelessBase Station

CE

Client

Rail Timetables

Audit DatabaseContext

Engine

CE

ApplicationServers

3rd PartyServicesPacket Gateway

(PDSN, GGSN)

GPRS/UMTSNetwork

WAN

NETWORK

PosGPRS, UMTSCell-basedLocation Enabler

Operator

Applications Deployed

• Context-aware security alerts

• Context-aware audit support

• Context-aware access to train-running information

Alert

Get AreaContext

Device

Role

Network

Position

Find ClosestUsers

Push Info

Origin: Bill SmithLocation: Exit 3, Time: 10:34 OKOK

ALERT !

Origin: RunningLocation: Corridor 1Time: 10:34OKOK

PDA

WiFi Pos

Cell ID

Security

Wi-Fi

GPRS

Context Aware Security

Talk 2 ChiefSilent Alarm

ENTRANCE 2

Alarm

Warning

Origin: Bill SmithLocation: Exit 3Time: 10:34OKOK

ALERT !

Talk 2 ChiefSilent Alarm

ENTRANCE 2

Trigger a Silent Alarm

Alarm!

Alert Closest Users!

Alert Closest Users!

Push Event, picture and

Coordinates

Show Map and Picture

Push Event Information

Front 3 Back 3

Talk 2 Chief

Silent Alarm

Lateral 3

EXIT 3

Origin: RunningLocation: Corridor 1Time: 10:34OKOK

Take Action!

Context-Aware Security

Context-Aware Audits

Maintenance Task List

Localization of the Maintenance Tasks

The escalator 8104 is out of order

Comment: to be fixed ASAP

OKOK

Urgent Task

Escalator 8104

Esc. 8104 MaintenanceManual

Tag

Tag

Context-Aware Audits

Rail Timetables

Access to Time-table web-service – Details of the station of origin is automatically captured

The Findings

• Overall Positive Response

• Ergonomic Issues - “Not enough hands”

• The wow factor – “the shiny new gadget”

• Demands on user attention

Context-aware data delivery in an Education Pilot

Location Specific

Time Specific Device & User

Specific

( x1,y1,z1)

( x2,y2,z2)

Key objective: Context-Aware Access to Learning Material

•Pushing class notes / presentations•Questionnaires / Surveys•Delivery of applications

Avionics

Physics

Pic Database

Control

Physics

Location-based presentation of

documents/applications

Context Criteria = Location

Lecture Room 2

Lecture Room 1

Lecture Room 2

No Services

MIS class

Strategic Management Class

Location Aware Services Delivery

1

2

3

1

2

3 Letcure Room1

VLE

Avionics

Physics

Pic Database

Control

Physics

Time-based presentation of

documents/applicationsCourse –

CAD Design

Course – Geograph

ic Informati

on Systems

No Courses

Context Criteria = Time

Context Criteria = Device

Device-based presentation of services

DisturbanceManual Disturbance

Teacher InterfaceStudents Interface

Class room response system

General Feedback

• 78% respondents said the approach is better compared to existing approaches

• “It implies equipping all students with portables, otherwise may creates a discrimination issue”

• “Will be easier to annotate hard copies”• “Much depends on students’ preference for

learning – via a screen or using hard copies”

Conclusions

• Enabling technologies are still evolving. • There is a great deal of technological convergence

taking place as well. • This convergence is taking place at several

different levels, including software, hardware and functional levels.

• Convergence reflects that these technologies are complementary and may exist side by side.

Questions ?