Tool support for computer-aided requirement traceability in architectural design: The case of DesignTrack

Requirement traceability is the commonly used term to refer to the management of the relationships that exist between design requirements and solutions throughout the design life-cycle. Enabling traceability within computer-aided design assists improving change management, consistency checking, and design compliance verification. DesignTrack is a prototype tool providing an integrated design environment for requirement specification and form exploration in the same design session. DesignTrack provides a navigation environment for complex design information spaces via enabling requirement traceability. This paper describes the design and functionalities of DesignTrack. It evaluates the applicability, power, and drawbacks of requirement traceability enabled computer-aided design by structuring the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standard requirements with DesignTrack as a case study.