Method and system for building, designing with and managing elements of construction

A method for assisting users in editing a construction detail design, comprising the steps of:

• providing an electronically accessible construction detail classification system storing elements that comprise construction design details;
• providing at least one construction design detail or at least one construction design specification having construction elements selected from said classification system;
• and
• providing programming for allowing a user to interact with said classification system, said programming capable of operating so as to allow a user to edit said construction elements associated with said at least one construction design detail or said at least one construction design specification.

A construction design tool, comprising:

• an electronically accessible construction detail classification system storing elements that comprise construction design details pertaining to a plurality of construction design assembly levels, said design assembly levels comprising one or more of:
• at least one assembly level, at least one sub-assembly level, at least one material level, at least one treatment level and at least one connection level;
• a first user interface for allowing a user to select construction elements from said classification system,
• a second user interface for allowing a user to request recommendations for construction elements from said classification system;
• a third user interface for allowing a user to request a performance assessment associated with said selected construction elements;
• a fourth user interface for allowing a user to specify an intended level of performance for a design;
• and
• means for obtaining a detail, a specification, or a performance assessment associated with said selected construction elements.

A construction design tool, comprising:

• an electronically accessible construction detail classification system storing elements that comprise construction design details pertaining to a plurality of construction design assembly levels, said design assembly levels comprising one or more of:
• at least one assembly level, at least one sub-assembly level, at least one material level, at least one treatment level and at least one connection level;
• a first user interface for allowing a user to request a performance assessment associated with said selected construction elements;
• and
• a second user interface for allowing a user to specify an intended level of performance for a design.

A construction detail portal, comprising:

• an electronically accessible construction detail classification system storing construction element details pertaining to a plurality of construction design assembly levels, said design assembly levels comprising at least one overall form level, at least one assembly level, at least one sub-assembly level, at least one material level, at least one treatment level and at least one connection level;
• a design professional user interface;
• a builder user interface;
• and
• a product manufacturer user interface for uploading at least construction element information into said classification system.

A construction detail classification system, comprising:

• a concept component for categorizing detailing level, style and form options pertaining to one or more construction project types;
• an assembly component for categorizing at least vertical, horizontal and component element options, said options being based on said options categorized by said concept component;
• a sub-assembly component for categorizing at least surface, support, separation, system and subcomponent element options, said options being based on said options categorized by said concept and assembly components;
• a material component for categorizing at least inorganic, organic, and amalgam element options, said options being based on said options categorized by said concept, assembly and sub-assembly components;
• a treatment component for categorizing at least cut, shaped, textured, modified and coated element options, said options being based on said options categorized by said concept, assembly, sub-assembly and material components;
• a connections component for categorizing at least internal, termination and interruption element options, said options being based on said options categorized by said concept, assembly, sub-assembly, material and treatment components;
• a details component for categorizing at least underground, façade, roof edge and midroof element options, said options being based on said options categorized by said concept, assembly, sub-assembly, material, treatment and connections components;
• an interface component for receiving at least one selection from a user of an element from said element options;
• and
• an output component having at least a detail drawing output option, a specification output option or a performance assessment output option.