Nicholas Nisbet MA(Cantab) DipArch(UNL) 07816 168554

46 St Margaret's Grove, Great Kingshill, Bucks HP15 6HP 01494 712811

Born 15^th November 1958. British, married with two children. Full driving licence.

Curriculum Vitae

2002-present Jeffrey Wix Consulting Ltd

as Consultant

working on XML, IAI/IFC’s etc

Jeffrey Wix Consulting is the leading consultancy in the field of information systems for architectural, engineering and construction sectors and for faciltities management applications.

1994 - 2001 Visual Technology, Nottingham and StAlbans

as Senior Analyst

working on Reflex, Sonata and Retail FOCUS.

With Visual Technology (formerly Engineering Technology) he has been responsible for the core development of the product modelling section and recent developments in shape recognition applications and on-line manufacturers product databases in partnership with the BRE. Recently he lead the development of a significant rule-based system with application to major construction and retail operations including vertical integration of merchandising, planning and fixture manufacturing.

Database synchronisation and reporting tools (Oracle, SQLserver, ADO, DAO, XML, Crystal Reports 7)

Automatic system analysis of HVAC drawings with symbol recognition of pipe and duct runs, including transformation and tapering. (Autocad, Bslink VC5++, Perl/Awk)

Automated and optimised design of office toilet cores, stairways with lifts, and complete office buildings with links to fabric and HVAC cost analysis. These models were driven by current code of practice and planning rules and were designed to allow rapid prototyping and development feasibility analysis. Automated design of football and athletics stadiums with optimised sight-lines and overall cost estimation. (Various scripting languages)

Integrating various object-orientated design systems with web-based product catalogues culminating in working on the BRE Arrow project for a heterogeneous and distributed product catalogue for construction. (AutoLisp, Autocad, C++, Internet protocols, WinSock 1.1, VRML)

Introducing detailed geometric adjacency analysis into an existing Retail product so that physical and visual rules can be checked and displayed. This included working with the lead client to implement their merchandising coding systems. (VB SQL, SQLserver, AutoCAD, RetailFOCUS)

The specification and development of a 'dynamic fixture builder' that uses rules stored in a conventional RDMS. There is no user programming involved: the user without any programming knowledge can review and develop the discrete rules. The rules are driven by a dynamic list of user defined parameters and the resultant 'fixture' is generated with a name, description, specification, costs and full 2D and/or 3D representation for use in the client application, such as modelling, draughting or reports. These include HVAC components, such as valves, entire buildings and typical building and retail components, incorporating the clients' own internal business rules. The configuration of these 'fixtures' can be inter-dependant with the context within the building, so end conditions and zoning are taken into account without user intervention. Underlying the dynamic builder is a comprehensive mathematical and logical parser. It is both unit and currency aware so that any application is self-checking and usable in any locale. The major applications of the dynamic fixture builder have been to introduce object-orientation into existing working practices, especially where accuracy, integration and productivity were previously seen as antagonistic. Major retailers are using the dynamic builder to accelerate the production of accurate and quantifiable store schemes. A construction developer is using the technology to constrain and optimise the design of low rise high quality industrial warehousing so as to target both retail and storage markets. The most significant application of the Dynamic Fixture Builder has been in automating the generation of estimates and quantities of specific parts for the fixture supplier of a major retailer. Implementation involved integrating and rationalising the current parts catalogues, the pricing policies and the assembly rules and best-practice experience so as to generate immediate reports as soon as proposals are released by the retailer. (RetailFOCUS, VB6, ADO, Access/Jet, Microsoft Certified Professional SQLserver, Oracle, VC6++, COM)

1993 - 1994 Oscar Faber and Partners Consulting Engineers

as Analyst Programmer

working on MicroStation, FACET and APACHE/INDUS

At Oscar Faber and Partners he developed original tools for the automatic interpretation of architectural and HVAC drawings and integration with databases and analysis for thermal, shadow, lighting and servicing requirements. Automatic spatial analysis of multi-storey building plans and sections with tolerant symbol recognition of windows, doors and construction details. This analysis is now used for thermal, shadow and escape analysis. (Microstation, MDL, C++, FACET, APACHE, Indus)

1984 - 1993 Alias Research UK Inc

in Sales Support, Implementation, and System Development

working on RUCAPS and Sonata

In 1984 he joined GMW Computers, which became t² Solutions and subsequently a division of Alias Research Inc. He has been involved in the application, support and development of several major building modelling and Computer Aided Design applications and particularly in developing the integration of product modelling systems into the design office. He was involved in the implementation of new retail systems at Allied Carpets, Texas Homecare, John Lewis Partnership and Littlewoods as well as new construction co-ordination systems for Alfred McAlpines, HBG Kyle Stewart and Daiwa.

Implementing a recursive sub-division algorithm for very large hidden line drawings including HVAC servicing plans within a 32k overlaid memory limit. (Fortran)

Data transfer protocols for CAD integration (DXF, IGES, SIF, STEP, CSV, VRML and many proprietary formats)

Adding dynamic reporting and 3d view-ports into a 2.5D production system. This involved integrating a 3d hidden line package into a 2.5D production system and integrating the two database structures. Automatic flight path specification from drawings. (Fortran, C++)

Developing comprehensive parametric HVAC and steel libraries for several CAD products along with design links with design and analysis packages. User specified parametric triangulated radiuses trusses and space-frames. (Rucaps, Sonata, Reflex)

Use of convergent iteration based on fundamental physics in the automatic design of ductwork systems within an object-orientated CAD system. Uniquely this is able to solve distributed ring-main designs for low profile ductwork installations. (Reflex, VEL, C++)

Implementation of clash reporting and avoidance systems. Implementation of time-evented animation of production drawings integrated from external project plans including demolition, temporary works and phased building. (Sonata, Reflex, Primavera, Microsoft Project, BSLink, Division VR)

Automatic 2D to 3D translation of site and building survey drawings with algorithms for Delauney triangulation with detailed volumetric analysis. (C, C++)

He developed the first Retail application that integrated design, fit-out and merchandising EPOS data. (Sonata, Perl/Awk)

1983 - 1984 Diamond Redfern and Partners, Architects

as architect, designer

and system administrator for RUCAPS

He was responsible for the layout and production information for several large speculative housing layouts in West London (Rucaps, Primos, Dec OS

1981 - 1984 University of North London

awarded Diploma in Architecture.

lectured in Computer Aided Design.

Major thesis on an urban conference centre produced entirely using CAD (Rucaps, PrimOS)

1980 - 1981 GMW Partnership, Architects.

designer

system administrator using RUCAPS.

He worked on Rhiyad University and the Royal Bank of Scotland, Islington. He innovated in the area of visualisation of architectural designs based on production information. Generation of the first animated walk-through of a proposed building generated directly from production and detailing drawings. (Dec OS, Unix scripting, Rucaps, Autoprod)

1977 - 1980 Queens' College, Cambridge:

awarded Master of Arts in Architecture.

Major design thesis on the design of a corporate headquarters for a multinational company including extensive analysis and design simulations. (HP RPN programming)

1977 - 1977 Edinburgh University Computer Aided Architectural Design programmer and research assistant

This Research group pioneered CAD in the housing design sector. He introduced experimental automatic route finding for estate layouts. (Fortran, GENO, PHIGS)

1976 - 1976 Format Software, Sunningdale

programmer

He transformed a research paper on the factors effecting the growth and health of pigs into a commercial application optimising the net profit per pig pen per year for RHM Foods. (BASIC, Fortran IV)

1972 - 1976 Sherborne School, Dorset.

12 O-levels and 5 A-levels

(Advanced mathematics, speed-reading, typing and assembler-level programming.)

Summary

Nick studied architecture at Cambridge and North London before commencing a career in the application of computer aided design in architecture, construction, HVAC and retailing. He has considerable experience in working with both clients and developers at every level and has a strong history of innovative and successful solutions in a commercial environment.

He has lectured on methods of improving productivity of design and procurement systems and contributed to a number of industry and government initiatives. He is currently preparing a thesis on shape, symbol and pattern recognition in drawings and documents. He has wide-ranging knowledge in data transfer protocols within the design and construction industry. He has a strong mathematical and analytic background to complement his design experience, and this has been applied to the re-design of several large data schemas.

Many of the applications listed below are distinguished by a desire to obtain the maximum added value from existing data and products. By building on core products, I have designed and implemented a number of innovative and highly productive integrated sub-systems that have deepened and widened the commercial appeal of the products. They frequently have involved using advanced geometric and mathematical algorithms to ensure generality and robustness. Latterly I have designed applications that open up closed applications to the benefit of user specified rules, by integrating Knowledge Engineering capture with standard database techniques.

Publications

Nisbet, N. (1994) Bridging the gap – Integrating Design and Production. Building Evaluation and Performance. University of York. 6-8 April, pp. 323-330.

Newnham, L., Parand, F., Amor, R. and Nisbet, N. (1997) The ARROW Framework for Object Warehouses, CIB W78 Workshop on Information Technology Support for Construction Process Re-Engineering, IT-CPR-97, Cairns, Australia, 9-11 July, pp. 319-328.