HIGHWAY LOCATION-THE COMPUTER VS THE BRAIN

ONE OF THE EARLY USES OF COMPUTER PROGRAMS IN HIGHWAY LOCA- TION IS THE DIGITAL TERRAIN MODEL. THE COMPUTER STORES, IN THE FORM OF DIGITIZED DATA, A THREE-DIMENSIONAL MODEL OF A STRIP OF TERRAIN. A DESIGNER FEEDS INTO THE MACHINE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT ALIGNMENT AND PROFILES, AND THE MACHINE COMPUTES THE CONSTRUCTION COST OF EACH OF THESE. HOWEVER, THIS MACHINE DOES NOT DETERMINE WHICH IS THE BEST LOCATION FOR A HIGHWAY AND MUST NOT BE PERMITTED TO TAKE OVER AN ESSENTIALLY CREATIVE FIELD.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/hrr/1964/53/53-001.pdf
• Supplemental Notes:
  • 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.
• Authors:
  • Ostrower, Donald A
• Publication Date: 1964

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Pagination: pp 2-3
• Monograph Title: Roadside development 1963
• Serial:
  • Highway Research Record
  • Issue Number: 53
  • Publisher: Highway Research Board

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Computer programs; Computers; Construction; Costs; Highways; Location; Mathematical models; Terrain
• Uncontrolled Terms: Construction costs; Highway location; Models; Selecting
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Construction; Design; Finance; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00203100
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Dec 12 1994 12:00AM