NIRMANI: an integrated case-based system for strategic design and estimating

NIRMANI (meaning “Creator” in Sinhalese) is an integrated case-based design and estimating system developed for the construction industry. It uses a multimedia case base of previous designs (which enables visualisation of designs plus the end product) and their corresponding cost analyses to develop new design and the corresponding cost plans (initial estimates) for future design development. The adaptation process is interactive for the most part with the system providing knowledge guided assistance for Design & Cost adaptation where appropriate. This paper briefly identifies the need for integration of design and estimating and introduces CBR as an ideal cognitive model for case based design & estimating and explains in detail the case memory organisation structure,retrieval and adaptation of cases. This paper also includes a critical comparison of the NIRMANI system with other comparable CBD systems in the domain of building design.