Hi Pamela,
You would be surprised how many organizations are now figuring out how critical 'terminology' is to our work. I saw your post, and wanted to make sure you were aware of a global movement to standardization of terminology - called buildingSMART Data Dictionary (bSDD).
The bSDD is based on an ISO standard for object-oriented terminology databases (ISO 12006-3), and its intent is to use global unique IDs (GUIDS) to uniquely identify and define every concept. The technology allows:
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unlimited languages, as well as synonyms within languages,
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semantic relationships to related concepts (such as specialization, composition, classification, etc).
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unlimited distinct 'contexts' (viewpoints), most are public, some can be private
To date, all of the IFC entities have been input, and more content is being added every day. Please check out this technology by browsing the buildingsmart International web site (www.buildingsmart.org), or browse the bSDD itself at
http://bsdd.buildingsmart.org. -------------------------------------------
David Watson
Digicon Information Inc
Beaumont AB
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Original Message:
Sent: 05-28-2015 13:25
From: Pamela Sams
Subject: Announcing - Definitions Research Project
TDBP has started research into the varied and disparate uses of terminology used to describe aspects of High Performance Design and Enclosure Technology as it is applied to building design. The moniker "High Performance" is itself ubiquitous, ambiguous, powerful and often misleading in the design and construction industry. "Rainscreen" is another similar term. While the application of the underlying principles about a rainscreen wall assembly can deliver a very high performing system, the term itself has been so completely overused and in-accurately applied that it often causes confusion rather than communicating clear ideas.
Our goal is to identify clearly a full list of terms concerning high performance design and building enclosures, to research their beginnings and how they are used now and to finally develop industry standardized definitions.
We are currently identifying a methodology for collecting all of the terms and we intend to hire a researcher to help us execute the project. Members of the TDBP Knowledge Community interested in knowing more details about this effort or participating are asked to respond to this post.
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Pamela Sams AIA
SE Design Realization Leader
Gensler
Washington DC
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