DAMOCLES: an observer-based approach to design tracking

The first phase of DAMOCLES, which involves developing a data management system subset of an entire design tracking system using the observer approach, is described. The designer is provided with a cockpit data management view of the project, without changing the way in which design groups do data management. The observer approach creates a cockpit view for the designer without changing the current point-task view. The cockpit view presents a designer with a design state perspective consisting of an object-oriented view of design data, tool flow and methodology information, history and audit trail information, etc. The designer can use the cockpit view to get the larger picture about project progress as and when the designer chooses. This view is extracted from the traditional designer environment by DAMOCLES while the designer is working through the point-task view.<>