A harmonized classification system for construction products and elements: The designers' perspective

Thumbnail Image

Files

master_Mladenov_Aleksandar_2025.pdf (937.74 KB)

URL

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

School of Engineering | Master's thesis
Unless otherwise stated, all rights belong to the author. You may download, display and print this publication for Your own personal use. Commercial use is prohibited.

Authors

Date

2025-09-27

Department

Major/Subject

Mcode

Degree programme

Master's Programme in Building Technology

Language

en

Pages

88

Series

Abstract

This thesis investigates how construction products and elements are classified and proposes a prototype of a harmonized, designer-oriented classification system. The literature review explains the role of classification systems and builds the foundational understanding for the prototype to be harmonized, aligned with existing standards and designer needs by synthesizing the research. Additionally, thematic and comparative analysis of widely used classification systems shows that no single system simultaneously provides broad scope, fine granularity, and straightforward data exchange while also supporting everyday designer workflows. To address the identified gap, an action research approach is used with three iterative cycles, in which the classification system prototype is developed collaboratively with practitioners representing fields of structural, architectural, and MEP design, as well as BIM coordination. Additional insight is gathered through interviews, where input is acquired in regard to classification system usage and designer practices such as product discovery. The outcome is an illustrative prototype classification system that implements classification through additive tag sequences from three parallel hierarchies (Element, Function, and Material) and enables multi-perspective navigation. The schema combines the taxonomy with discipline tags, machine and human-readable code, linking to attributes such as performance characteristics and other, flexible mapping to external classification systems. The prototype is intended to enable better product discovery, support other designer tasks, and facilitate structured data exchange while augmenting established classification systems. Practitioners judged the concept intuitive and useful for typical designer tasks. The main limitations include the illustrative scope of the current taxonomy and a modest practitioner sample. Further work should focus on broadening the coverage, continue attribute set formalization using normative sources, extend classification mappings, create an alias table for international translations, and validate the performance through pilot UI and BIM integrations.

Description

Supervisor

Peltokorpi, Antti

Keywords

classification system, BIM, interoperability, harmonization, product discovery, ISO 81346

Other note

Citation

Permanent link to this item

https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-202510208265

Collections

[dipl] Insinööritieteiden korkeakoulu / ENG