Communication in multi-discipline engineering projects using local data point references

Automation systems engineering projects typically rely on the collaboration of experts from different engineering disciplines. Multi-disciplinary interaction requires from project participants to exchange (intermediate) artefacts represented and accessed differently in each of the tools. However, local data representations are only fully understood by the tool´s expert and therefore not suitable for all possible (human) readers. In order to share engineering knowledge, the process relies on time-consuming human search and translation activities between corresponding tool data representations which causes overhead in communication and is prone to errors. In this paper, the XLink navigation concept is introduced which enables semi-automated translation and navigation between related data elements of different local representations. Using common concepts shared between various engineering tools, XLink enables project participant to define references to local data elements which may be shared with any other project participant. The concept enables direct navigation between related data elements of different local data models without the need for human search and translation activities. Based on a real-world use case and an implemented prototype evaluated in a controlled experiment, we show that the concept is more effective and efficient than the standard human-based approach.