Computer Aided Systems in Civil Engineering Using Drainage as the Prime data Base

Abstract

Computer aided management systems have been available, through computer bureaus, for several years. However, successful introduction into many companies has failed because of the inflexibility of management systems or the inability of computer facilities to meet the needs of the organisation. This was recognised by the company management (Civil Engineering Division, Bryant Holdings Limited), but it felt that successful introduction could be achieved by studying the needs of the company and subsequently developing computer facilities to fulfil those needs. This work may be divided into four broad sections. Firstly, the organisation is analysed and its objectives and the existing communication systems' shortcomings isolated. The analysis indicates that additional computer aided planning, estimating and value-cost control facilities would both increase the flexibility of the estimating and planning functions and make feedback of value-cost information to management possible. Secondly, the creation of a data base containing main drainage work study information and historical performance data to be used in the development of realistic computer aided planning and estimating techniques. Thirdly, three computer programmes are developed and implemented. Two of these use the work study data base to produce raw planning and estimating information (gang size, construction time, etc.) for main drainage, the third being a general programme for simulating a working project to determine the cost of resources used and the variations in performance. Finally, the design, selection and subsequent introduction of commercially available "software" packages to create a value-cost monitoring system within the company as a whole.