6.3 Suspended Ceiling Design Process - Bilkent University

and structural engineering students for an initial period, after which,
students should have the chance to choose their specialization field.
2.2.2 Studies of Communication and Negotiation
Developments in communication technologies have motivated a great
amount of “technology-driven research” (Galle, 1995) in the field of
computer supported collaborative work (CSCW) in the AEC industry.
Internet-based technologies have formed the basis for collaboration of
geographically distributed AEC teams which are often called “virtual
offices.” (Low and Sloan, 2001). European Commission funded projects
such as EVONET (European Virtual Office Network) and RECITE
(Remote Electronic Construction Industry Telematics Experiment)
proved that electronic communications enable considerable increases in
the operational efficiency of AEC firms (Moller, 1997).
Shared virtual reality environments utilizing VRML (Virtual Reality
Modeling Language) models constitute another developing research
field in computer supported communication in the AEC industry. These
environments enable collaborating parties to be virtually located within a
given three-dimensional environment in which they are able to interact
with one another or with virtual objects that are also present in the
environment. The intended aim of these environments is to create the
illusion of “being there” (Caneparo, 2001; Woo et al., 2001; Lee et al.,
2001; Atsuko et al., 2001).
13