A Framework for Composition: A Step Towards a Foundation for Assembly

A Framework for Composition: A Step Towards a Foundation to Assembly, written by the Information Management Framework team in collaboration with the Construction Innovation Hub, sets out an ontological pattern that is a contribution to the Information Management Framework’s Foundation Data Model – a data model grounded in science and engineering principles that provides the structure and meaning of data -. The Foundation Data Model is the focus of the fifth circle of the 7 circles of Information Management; the intended audiences for the report are data architects and ontologists.

The report outlines the foundation for composition – a general formal structure at the heart of engineering breakdowns, including the assembly of assets from parts. Most current information systems have been designed around specific breakdowns, without considering their general underlying formal structure. This is understandable, given the focus on devising the breakdown and that there is not a readily available formal structure to build upon. It is a step towards providing a solid general structure; one that will not only be reusable across all kinds of breakdowns but also a solid foundation for the future.