MICROCOMPUTERS IN CIVIL ENGINEERING

The speed and capacity of microcomputers, coupled with their portability and inexpensiveness, make microcomputers attractive to the engineer. Microcomputers have the greatest potential for civil engineering projects being undertaken by individuals and small firms and for projects of a more modest size. In these situations mainframe computer processing has not been feasible because of costs and inconvenient access methods. Microcomputers can be used even for large engineering firms and large projects because they can support cheaper and more efficient communications, and they can provide graphics, spread sheets, and other utilities that are not available in the mainframe environment. Virtually every area of civil engineering can profit from the use of a microcomputer. Standard utility programs alone can provide extensive and useful capabilities. In addition, a number of applications packages are becoming available to support specific civil engineering activities. Computer-aided design (CAD) and critical path method (CPM) systems are useful in most engineering operations, irrespective of the specific application. Some examples of application-specific software include various coordinate geometry systems for roadway and site layout, earthwork programs that calculate cut, fill, and slope stability, and structural design programs that handle simple beam design and member selection, plane frame and grillage analysis, and two-dimensional stress and truss analyses. In addition, hydraulics analysis and pavement design programs are available, as well as systems for evaluating existing pavement conditions and for assisting in establishing the priority order of maintenance measures.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1983/932/932-006.pdf
• Summary URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=MICROCOMPUTERS+IN+CIVIL+ENGINEERING&author=G.+Davies&publication_year=1983
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309036224
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Task Force on Microcomputers in Transportation. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Davies, Gary W
• Publication Date: 1983

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Pagination: pp 20-23
• Monograph Title: MICROCOMPUTERS IN TRANSPORTATION
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 932
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Civil engineering; Computer aided design; Computer programs; Critical path method; Evaluation; Graphics; Highway design; Highway engineering; Hydraulics; Maintenance management; Microcomputers; Pavement design; Pavement maintenance; Pavement performance; Pavements
• Old TRIS Terms: Graphic methods
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Design; Highways; Pavements; I10: Economics and Administration;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00386687
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309036224
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Jul 30 1984 12:00AM