Recommendations for Enhancement of the Design Criteria Information System (DCIS)
Abstract
Architectural and Engineering Instructions (AEIs) comprise a large, complex body of mandatory design criteria and guidance for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers facility designers, engineers, and contractors. The unabridged set of AEls is often out of date because AEIs are revised much more frequently than updates are published. Furthermore, to hold down printing and distribution costs, the unabridged body of AEIs receives very narrow distribution. Consequently, hard copies of the latest AEIs have been difficult to obtain on a timely basis. The Design Criteria Information System (DCIS) was developed to make current AEIs accessible worldwide to any authorized user with a microcomputer and a modem. DCIS, which resides on the Corps' Programming, Administration, and Execution (PAX) mainframe system, has solved the fundamental problem of distributing current AEIs online. However, DCIS cannot distribute drawings or graphics online, its text-retrieval functions are limited, and the mainframe's supporting technology makes the system cumbersome to use. This report surveys technologies that could be exploited to enhance DCIS, outlines three general alternatives for enhancement, assessing advantages and disadvantages of each. Development of a minicomputer-based system employing CD- ROM (compact disc-read only memory) technology, and accessible via microcomputer and telecommunications, is recommended. Design Criteria Information System (DCIS), Architectural and Engineering Instructions (AEI), PAX system.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA256857
Entities
People
- Jane L. Solon-wetmore
- Sandra Kappes
- William H. Flickinger
Organizations
- Construction Engineering Research Laboratory