Managing formalised knowledge to support collaborative design - A research approach for integrating and reasoning on different ontological levels.

The presented theoretical model is the core of a knowledge representation and management system that, by virtue of the interoperability established among the various semantic universes, aims at enhancing the level and the quality of the exchanged information while leaving unchanged the operating modes the designers are accustomed to. By means of a deductive reasoning layer able to match rules among the considered ontology entities, a case study illustrates how the system will allow the designers to use in a coherent manner different levels of abstraction and to exploit a real interoperability of concepts. Coupling current problems with past experiences actors can be acknowledged ahead of time what will be the implications of their proposed action.