Accela to Lead Codes & Standards Domain Committee for Global Standards-setting Alliance.

Business Editors

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 23, 2000

Chief Strategic Officer, Ho Wing Sit, Will

Represent Accela as Chairman of Codes & Standards Domain for

International Alliance for Interoperability

Accela, the leader in permit management solutions, today announced that it was selected to chair the Codes and Standards Domain of the International Alliance for Interoperability (IAI). The C&S Domain is one of several technical groups IAI conducts world-wide to develop, review, and promote industry foundation classes (IFCs) and aecXML schema. Accela's Chief Strategic Officer Ho Wing Sit, will chair the domain on the company's behalf.

The IAI is a global standards-setting organization established in 1995 to facilitate an effective means of freely exchanging information among all software platforms and applications serving the AEC+FM (architecture, engineering, construction, and facilities management) community. The IAI's Domains provide the basic framework for development of interoperability standards. The C&S Domain was created specifically to address IFC development to support code compliance applications for architects, engineers and others in the AEC+FM community during the preliminary design stages. Eventual IFC development will enable code enforcement officials to electronically process building permits.

"The success of the IAI depends on the commitment of members, like Accela, who are actively involved in the everyday processes of the building industry," said Norbert W. Young, Jr., FAIA, IAI's board chairman and president of McGraw-Hill Construction Information Group. "Accela has a solid understanding, not only of the processes and workflow of building professionals, but also of the government agencies involved in the building industry. This makes them uniquely qualified to address the issues faced in developing relevant standards that effectively meet the needs of both sides of the industry."

Domain committees, the fundamental working unit of the IAI, are composed of AEC+FM professionals and software technologists representing IAI-member companies. Each domain represents a specific discipline in the AEC+FM industry. In addition to codes and standards, IAI domain committees address the following areas:

-- Architecture

-- Building Services

-- Civil Engineering

-- Construction Management

-- Estimating

-- Facilities Management

-- Project Management

-- Structural Engineering

-- Cross-Domain Projects

"The ability to share information between construction professionals and government agencies will have a significant, positive impact on the building industry as a whole," said Sit. "It will enable the efficient use of contemporary information technology throughout the industry, and has the potential to dramatically cut costs and expedite the building process. The IAI-adopted IFCs and aecXML schema provide the necessary framework for facilitating this industry-wide sharing of information, paving the way for effective Web-based communication and collaboration among all AEC+FM disciplines. Accela.com is delighted to be able to contribute to this process by chairing the Codes and Standards Domain."

About the International Alliance for Interoperability

The International Alliance for Interoperability is a global organization with nine independently established IAI organizations in North America, Europe, and the Pacific Rim representing 620 members in 24 countries. The Alliance has developed industry foundation classes (IFCs) - standards for exchanging dynamic objects among various platforms and applications serving the AEC+FM community. One of the IAI's primary standards project is the aecXML initiative to define language standards for the exchange of architecture, engineering, and construction data, enabling building industry professionals to share and manage information across all software platforms.

About the aecXML Project

aecXML is a framework for using the eXtensible Markup Language (XML) standard for electronic communications in the architectural, engineering and construction industries. It includes an XML schema to describe information specific to the information exchanges between participants involved in designing, constructing and operating buildings, plants, infrastructure and facilities. The various software applications used by these participants can transfer messages formatted according to the aecXML schema to coordinate and synchronize related project information. In addition, a standard aecXML specification will facilitate e-commerce between suppliers and purchasers of equipment, materials, supplies, parts and services based on that same technical information.

About Accela

Accela.com provides the most robust interactive, real-time e-permitting solutions for government agencies, enabling contractors and the public to apply for and obtain building permits, track the status of permits, and schedule inspections online, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Accela is the market leader in permit automation solutions for local governments and building professionals with 300 client cities using their solutions. Leveraging more than 20 years of experience and exceptional domain knowledge in developing and installing government software applications, Accela carved out the largest installed base in the industry. Accela is headquartered in San Francisco. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.accela.com or [phone] x111.

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