A web-based system for sharing and disseminating research results: The underground construction case study

Researchers often have to go to multiple information sources in order to identify high-quality, time-critical information. Due to the dynamic and unstructured nature of research results, they are faced with such problems as distributed sources and inter-disciplinary differences in terminology that prevent them from accessing the information they need. This paper presents the System for Active Knowledge Management (SAKM), a web-based system that addresses these problems by supporting effective information search and analysis, and by enhancing communication and collaboration among researchers.The system was implemented in the underground construction field, which has experienced tremendous growth and is facing increasingly complex and challenging research issues.Preliminary testing suggested that a tool like the SAKM could improve the information transfer of research results. The validation stage confirmed that the system met the requirements of the initially defined scenarios.