Linear reference system for life-cycle integration

Realization of the vision of integrating the facility life cycle is predicated upon the ability to share information within and between its life-cycle phases. Physical location is a potential basis for data integration, but is constrained by the lack of a common method of expression. The separation and abstraction of linear elements and measurement methods plus the formalization of location, distance, and translation expressions results in an extensible generalized Model for a linear referencing system. Location expressions tie distance expressions to the linear elements which provide the backbone along which locations are measured. The syntax and semantics of distance expressions are dictated by the measurement method being utilized. The ability to translate location expressions between methods, linear elements, and distance expressions is also formalized into a generalized translation expression. The result is a simpler model for implementation that allows data, as it is presently stored, to be utilized across the enterprise and over time. It obviates the need for conversion of the data, the applications that use it, or the business processes it supports.