Web-Based Tools for Engineering Design

Abstract. The realization of the potential of the World Wide Web as a source of information as well as a platform for collaboration in engineering design calls for developing a new generation of design tools. We provide an overview of the Concept Database (Cdb)- a prototype framework for Web-based design information resources management. The implementation of the Cdb proposes an agent architecture for the coordination and delegation of tasks related to the support of the design process. The level of delegation of design process support from designer to agent is suggested as a measure of agent intelligence. Research directions with potential for enhanced agent effectiveness in engineering design tasks are presented.