Julian Fowler

Julian Fowler has more than 25 years' experience in software development, enterprise integration software architectures, data modelling and analysis, product data technologies and standards development. He is an internationally known contributor to the development of ISO 10303 "STEP" and a leading contributor to several key international information technology development projects.

He is much in demand as a contributor to seminars and conferences worldwide, and is the author of "STEP for Data Management, Exchange and Sharing" (published by Technology Appraisals, 1995). The book is now out of print, it can downloaded free in PDF format from here, subject to normal copyright restrictions.

Professional experience

Project management

As Director of Methodology for Modulant Solutions, Inc., a US-based provider of enterprise application migration solutions, Julian has been responsible for leading and managing a team of software architects and data modellers developing, documenting, and validating the company's ContextiaTM Information Interoperability Methodology (CIIM).

As Managing Director and Principal Consultant of Product Data Technology Solutions Limited, Julian was responsible for managing a number of projects for major customers, including Shell Services International (UK), the POSC/CAESAR Association (Norway), ProSTEP Association (Germany), General Dynamics/Electric Boat (USA), and the British Standards Institution.

As Senior Consultant (later General Manager) of CADDETC, a business unit associated with the University of Leeds, Julian was responsible for managing major R&D and commercial projects for customers such as the Commission of the European Community, the Department of Trade and Industry, ICI, and Rolls-Royce plc. These projects included CADDETC's participation in the ESPRIT "PISA" project, the UK "PISTEP" and "ObjectSIP" projects, and the US-based "PDES, Inc." initiative. He was also responsible for co-ordinating joint software development programmes with Digital Equipment and SDRC.

Software Development

Julian's role as Director of Methodology for Modulant Solutions, Inc. has included leading product definition and requirements initiatives for the company's semantic interoperabity and enterprise application migration products. These activities included close liaison with internal product development and product management teams as well as interaction with key customers and partners.

As Software Development Manager for Autographics Software (NI) Ltd, a small software company, Julian was involved in the design and implementation of a number of CAD software packages for use in education and training, supervising the activities of a small team of programmers. Software developed included "COMPAS DESIGNER", a 3D modelling package, for which the company won a British Design Award in 1988.

Data modelling

Julian has experience in data model development across several industry sectors and application domains. He has contributed to data modelling projects in support of engineering data warehouses, reference data management systems, and knowledge acquisition and representation. Julian is familiar with and experienced in the use of a wide range of modelling techniques and languages, including various E-R diagramming methods, UML, XML, XML Schema, RDF, OWL, NIAM, EXPRESS, and the IDEF family of languages.

Standards development

Julian was active in the development of ISO 10303 "STEP" from 1990-2001, holding management and technical leadership positions including:

Convener of ISO TC184/SC4/WG10 "Technical Architecture"
Deputy Convener of the ISO TC184/SC4 Quality Committee
Deputy Chair of BSI Technical Committee AMT/4 "Product Data Exchange"
Project Leader and Part Editor for the development of the second edition of ISO 10303-43, "Integrated generic resources: representation structures
Part Editor of ISO 15926-1 "Integration of life cycle data for process plants including oil & gas facilities"

Julian has been a member of the development teams for several STEP Application Protocols in domains including draughting, process plant, and shipbuilding. He was involved in the development and maintenance of STEP's core "integrated resource" data models from 1992-2001, and has also contributed to the development of the "EXPRESS" data specification language (ISO 10303-11) and its mappings to XML (ISO 10303-27).

Julian has been actively involved in several industrially focused standards initiatives, including:

EPISTLE (the European Process Industries STEP Technical Liason Executive), chairing the EPISTLE working group on Parts Libraries;
The IAI (International Alliance for Interoperability) in the building & construction industry, as a member of its Technical Advisory Group (TAG)
The FunSTEP initiative in the furniture industry.

Contact details

Telephone:	0 (44) 15242 63389	(direct)
	0 (44) 7764 770511	(mobile)
Fax:	44 (0) 871 256 3404
Email:	jfowler@pdtsolution.co.uk	(work)
	julian@bellevue-barn.org.uk	(personal)
Personal web page:	www.bellevue-barn.org.uk

Employment history

2001-date:	Director, Methodology	Modulant Solutions, Inc. (San Francisco CA & Charleston SC, USA)
1999-date:	Partner	PDT Solutions (Bentham, UK)
1995-1999:	Principal Consultant and Managing Director	Product Data Technology Solutions Limited (Altrincham, UK)
1989-1995:	Senior Consultant/General Manager	CADDETC, University of Leeds Innovations Ltd. (Leeds, UK)
1983-1989:	Software Development Manager	Autographics Software (NI) Limited (Downpatrick and London, UK)
1982-1983:	Research Assistant (CAD and graphics)	Ulster Polytechnic (Belfast, UK)

Education and qualifications

Julian holds degrees in Natural Sciences from the University of Cambridge and in Computer Science and Applications from the Queen's University of Belfast.

Last modified: 2006-01-01