APPLICATIONS OF MICROCOMPUTERS IN BRIDGE DESIGN. FINAL REPORT
The utilization of microcomputers in bridge design activities in state transportation departments was evaluated through contacts with 32 state agencies. While the present utilization of microcomputers was found to be limited, subsequent research showed the current generation of 16-bit machines to offer significant advantages in complementing existing computing facilities in a manner that fully utilizes the power of both mainframe and microcomputers. The ability of microcomputers to run large bridge design applications in a stand-alone mode was demonstrated by successfully downloading and converting 4 mainframe programs. Running design and analysis programs in a stand-alone mode frees the mainframe CPU and increases access to software which can be run repetitively without mainframe cost considerations. When access to larger applications on the mainframe are required, the microcomputer used as an intelligent terminal can process input data locally and send it to the mainframe for processing. Output data, in return, can be downloaded to the microcomputer and reviewed off-line or input into microcomputer applications such as spreadsheets or graphics packages for further processing.
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Corporate Authors:
Virginia Highway and Transportation Research Council
Charlottesville, VA United StatesVirginia Department of Highways
Traffic and Planning Division, 1221 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA United States 23219Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC United States 20590 -
Authors:
- Love, R A
- Barton, F W
- McKeel Jr, W T
- Publication Date: 1986-1
Media Info
- Pagination: 138 p.
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Bridge design; Bridges; Information processing; Microcomputers; Software; State departments of transportation; Structural design
- Uncontrolled Terms: Hardware
- Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00462337
- Record Type: Publication
- Source Agency: Federal Highway Administration
- Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA/VA-86-R28, VHTRC 86-R28
- Contract Numbers: 2143
- Files: NTL, TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
- Created Date: Feb 28 1987 12:00AM