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 Picture: Juha Juntunen, VTT
 

 


 
 


REQUIREMENT MANAGEMENT and EcoProP

 EcoProP is a software tool for the systematic management of building project requirements. The EcoProP software helps to fulfil customer requirements and expectations by describing the properties of the final product using a hierarchy of performance requirements and different performance ‘levels’. The technical solutions can then be designed on the basis of the specified performance requirements. EcoProP can also estimate life cycle costs associated with different scenarios, based on the environmental ‘costs’ that result from the construction and operation of the building. EcoProP has been used in various projects including office buildings, schools, nurseries, residential developments and shopping centres.

Flexible content – wide applicability

EcoProP comprises a database of performance requirements and an easy-to-use interface to the database. There are a number of requirement definition sets that correspond to the possible requirements of different building project types. The application has been primarily designed for the building and construction domain but it can also be used in other domains by adding new requirement definition sets. The user can select from one to five pre-set performance levels for each requirement and then add their own comments. EcoProP can be used to manage performance requirements for new building projects, and can also be used, to some extent, for evaluating the performance levels of existing buildings.

Functionality

Based on the specified performance requirements, the user can print out a project brief in HTML or Word format. The reports can be customised for relevant stakeholders. For example, only part of the requirements are relevant for the electrical engineer so there is an option to print out separately the relevant requirements only. It is possible to also have a report only on certain performance properties (such as adaptability) or a thematic report such as ‘health-related’ requirements.

The application provides estimates of the life cycle costs of the building. This analysis is based on the cost factors associated with different performance levels and the baseline information of the project. The user can use NPV and Annuity methods in the calculation and the discount rate and timeframe can be changed. Additionally, the environmental ‘costs’ due to the operational energy consumption can be estimated.

The first step for setting requirements in EcoProP is to start a new project.  The user then selects the correct requirement definition set, e.g. office building or apartment building, and then adds the baseline information on the project, e.g. investment cost, operational cost, energy unit cost, size of the building etc. It is also possible to add different scenarios for each project. The user then selects the appropriate performance level for each relevant requirement. The requirements are listed on the left hand side of the window. The information on the requirement can be found on the right hand side: name, description, validation, place for own comments and one to five pre-set levels.

A requirement profile can then be created on the basis of the average of the normalised performance levels for each requirement.

The user can compare different scenarios and get a quick understanding of the project performance requirement levels.

Contact:

Janne Porkka, VTT Materials and Construction p. +358 20 722 6203

Pekka Huovila, VTT Materials and Construction p. +358 20 722 5903

 

 VTT Services and built environment


 
 

 



 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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