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Author
Stahl, F. I.
Title
Standards Interface for Computer-Aided Design.
Coporate
National Bureau of Standards, Washington, DC
Report
NBSIR 83-2671
April 1983
Distribution
Available from National Technical Information Service
Keywords
buildings; structural design; construction management; building codes; design standards; quality control; cost engineering | quality control
Identifiers
computer aided design; ices/strudl computer program; genesys computer program
Abstract
Building quality can be improved and building costs reduced through more effective computer utilization in design and construction. To accomplish these objectives improved interfaces are needed between building project databases and computer-based procedures for analysis and design, and between computer-based engineering procedures and applicable design standards. This latter task involves a set of problems termed the Standards Interface for Computer-Aided Design (SI/CAD). These problems comprise the focus of the current report. The SI/CAD is shown to be a critical determinant of computer-aided design (CAD) system effectiveness, particularly in the domain of structural engineering design. This report examines the hypotheses that: (1) the ability to easily maintain design standards data is fundamental to CAD system effectiveness; (2) the configuration of presently available computer-aided structural design (CASD) system software inhibits efficient design standards data modification, requiring costly maintenance to avoid software obsolescence and limiting the overall usefulness of these systems; and (3) methods to enhance the efficiency of criterion checking and standards data maintenance are required to increase the utilization of CAD technology.