UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI _____________ , 20 _____ I,______________________________________________, hereby submit this as part of the requirements for the degree of: ________________________________________________ in: ________________________________________________ It is entitled: ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ Approved by: ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ A Web-based Commissioning System A thesis submitted to the Division of Research and Advanced Studies Of the University of Cincinnati In partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE In the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering and Computer Science Of the College of Engineering 2002 by Lan Ye B.S., Fudan University, P.R.China, 2000 Committee Chair: Dr. Chia Y. Han Abstract This thesis work focuses on the design and implementation of a Web-based building commissioning system in order to help building commissioner go through the whole building commissioning process. The commissioning system provides a framework to extract information from the web server or other file server in a distributed environment, do automatic information acquisition based on commissioning procedure, do analysis based on expert experience or industry standard codes, do verification based on the cooperative construction fields’ requirements, and provide report based on the results of the inspection. This system provides a basis for future expansion when the construction industry standards gradually get more detailed and refined. The system utilizes the most prevalent web technology. The combination of Java and XML technology provides the system the desirable “portable code, portable data” feature. Java Servlet technology used makes the system a thin-client architecture; so the commissioner could use this system by only carrying light portable tools when working on commissioning job. Acknowledgment This research was accomplished with great direction and inspiration of Professor Chia Yung Han of the University of Cincinnati. He suggested me this topic, a web-based commissioning system. His patient advice and most cutting-edge academic vision in the research are greatly appreciated. In addition to this, Dr. Han spent mounts of his own time on this project. As one of his students, I was greatly impressed and encouraged by his serious and strict spirit in academic research. I sincerely feel I really learn a lot from him in both research ability and academic life style. Without his marvelous advise on this research, I would never have been started and completed. I would like to acknowledge great help from my friend Jie Situ on the construction information collection. Also, I would like to take this opportunity to express my deep appreciation to my thesis committee: Dr. Carla Purdy and Dr. George Purdy for their critical assistances and tireless teaching on my research and study. Table of Content Chapter 1 Introduction …………………………………………………………….…………...4 Chapter 2 Background Review (Existing work and current technology) .…………………..9 2.1 Access smart systems to help do testing, inspection and verification ………….………...9 2.2 The system provides easy-to-use commissioning tools for end users …………………..10 2.3 The Commissioning Knowledge Management system ………………………………….11 2.4 Web-based technology used in the Commissioning Knowledge Management System ...13 2.4.1 Java Technology …………………………………………………………………..13 2.4.2 Java Servlet Technology …………………………………………………………..13 2.4.3 XML Approach ……………………………………………………………………14 2.4.4 JDBC Database Technology ………………………………………………………15 2.4.5 Component Technology ……………………………………………….....………..15 2.4.6 JAXB Approach ……………………………………………………….....………..15 2.4.7 Converting the XML Data to HTML with XSLT …………………………………16 Chapter 3 Problem Statement ……………………………………………………….………..18 Chapter 4 Proposed Solution / Supposed Architecture ……………………………………...20 4.1 Proposed Commissioning System ………………………………………………………20 4.2 Developing Environment ………………………………………………………………..23 4.3 Web Technology Used …………………………………………………………………..24 4.4 Commissioning System Control Interface Design……………………………………….26 Chapter 5 Implementation Details ……………………………………………………………28 5.1 System War Files and Deployment …………………………………………….………..28 5.2 Modeling Databases in XML ………………………………………………......………..32 1 5.3 Creating the XML object class ………………………………………………………… 35 5.4 Developing the Data Access Object (DAO) …………………………………………… 37 5.5 Developing a Servlet for HTTP Access ……………………………………......………..38 Chapter 6 Illustration Cases & Discussion ………………………………………….………. 42 6.1 Define Commission Plan ………………………………………………………………..42 6.2 Generate Commissioning Guideline …………………………………………………….44 6.3 Generate Component Check Sheet and Report ………………………………………….45 Chapter 7 Conclusion + Future Work ………………………………………………………..48 Bibliography ……………………………………………………………………………………51 2 Table of Figure Figure 1.1 Building commissioning coordination process ..……………………………………...6 Figure 2.1 XML marshalling and unmarshalling ……………………………………………….16 Figure 2.2 XML Transformation Pattern ………………………………………………………..17 Figure 4.1 Commissioning System Architecture ………………………………………………..21 Figure 4.2 Client-Server Web Schemas …………………………………………………………23 Figure 4.3 XML Rule Transformation …………………………………………………………..24 Figure 4.4 Data Access Object Design Pattern ………………………………………………….25 Figure 4.5 Apply XSLT Style sheet to the output file …………………………………………..26 Figure 5.1 Web Application Files Structure ………………………………………….…………29 Figure 5.2 Rule Database Schema ………………………………………………………………33 Figure 5.3 Check Code Database Schema ………………………………………………………33 Figure 5.4 Check Procedure Database Schema …………………………………………………34 Figure 6.1 Building Number Control List ………………………………………………………42 Figure 6.2 Rule Contributor Control List ……………………………………………………….43 Figure 6.3 Inspection Type Control List ……………………………………………….………..43 Figure 6.4 General Commission Check Sheet …………………………………………………..44 Figure 6.5 Fire-protective Element Check Sheet ………………………………………………..45 Figure 6.6 Fire Protective Commission Report …………………………………………………46 Figure 6.7 Plumbing element check sheet generated with another XSLT style sheet …………..47 Figure 7.1 Two Database Solution approaches ………………………………………………….48 3 Chapter 1 Introduction According to the National Environmental Balancing Bureau [1], building commissioning is a process of an authorization to act in a prescribed manner to ready all building mechanical and electrical systems for active service. Essentially, it is the process of systematically evaluating building equipment, subsystems, and operation and maintenance procedures, and the performance of all building components to ensure that they function efficiently as a system [2]. Moreover, commissioning determines if a building or facility provides a safe, efficient, and comfortable shelter conducive to the activities for which it is used. Integrating commissioning into the design and post-construction phases of new buildings helps the whole building system operate efficiently. A good commissioning can benefit a lot to the construction process. Building Commissioning Association identified commissioning process a critical and valuable part in construction industry [3]. First, It can provide better building operation. Commissioning assures that retrofit and design specifications and drawings are updated to reflect actual modifications to the building ("as-installed" and "as-built") and that O&M manuals have been delivered and can be easily understood by those who use them. Commissioning provides operation and maintenance personnel with the knowledge and training to operate building equipment properly and generally perform their responsibilities in a manner that will increase operational savings. It schedules activities that maintain and extend equipment life. Secondly, through commissioning process, the construction can have improved design and construction. Commissioning results in greater cooperation among professionals involved in the retrofit and permits a cross-check of the performance of a building's equipment and systems. This ultimately results in fewer call-backs and fewer construction litigation problems. Thirdly, it can reduce the construction liability. 4 Commissioning can decrease complaints and consumer construction injuries, and lower the risk of post-construction legal action stemming from conditions like indoor environmental pollution. Commissioning buildings usually covers air conditioning, electrical, communications, security and fire management systems and their controls. They may also include other systems and components, particularly if they are unusual or complex. According to NEBB’s operational procedures [4], the building commissioning process consists of five main steps. They are: 1) commission plan preparation, 2) plan field coordination, 3) functional performance testing, 4) acceptance and post acceptance. They are detailed described as following: Commission plan preparation: Review plan provided in specifications or developed by the NEBB system commissioning administrator, which is specific to each project. Commissioning plan field coordination: Review project commissioning plan with the owner’s representative, architects or design team, construction engineers, contractors, selected vendors, project managers and any other involved parties.