Modelling the evolution of computer aided design models: Investigating the potential for supporting engineering project management

The development of Computer Aided Design (CAD) models is a fundamental and distinct feature of Engineering Projects. CAD models can be considered to be the digital embodiment of the products’ design and are used to support a wide variety of tasks that span the embodiment, detail, manufacture and commissioning phases of a project. With this in mind, it is proposed that the monitoring and modelling of the edit trace behaviour of CAD files may provide additional understanding and evidence that supplements current approaches to monitor and manage engineering projects. To explore this proposition, this paper presents results from an exploratory study that seeks to model the edit trace behaviour of CAD files based upon their meta-data attributes (for example, file size, date modified & date accessed). The edit trace behaviour has been mapped to a sigmoid function in order to be able to describe and potentially predict future behaviour. The potential impact of being able to provide this type of information to engineering project management is also discussed.