MICROCOMPUTERS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT PLANNING

Local government faces increasing responsibilities that must be met with static or even diminishing resources in a period of rapid technological and social change. The microcomputer offers opportunities for improved capabilities for evaluating the services required, and in providing information for decision making. This paper describes the development of a suite of microcomputer-based software expressly designed for local government use. The software is being produced at CSIRO division of Building Research; in close co-operation with municipalities in Victoria and elsewhere, and with support from the commonwealth Department of Territories and Local government. The areas of interest include environmental management, traffic planning, social planning, town planning, infrastructure planning, and construction management. The paper outlines the scope of the software development program, its objectives, and its applications. An important part of the program is the collection and dissemination of information, through a series of seminars, and through surveys of needs and interests of local government officers. The results of these surveys are included. Although the study is ongoing, it has already demonstrated the great potential of microcomputers in the local government sphere, and the gains in productivity, information quality, decision making, and community interaction that are possible. (Author/TRRL)

• Supplemental Notes:
  • The paper was prepared for presentation at the "Third National Local Government Engineering Conference" of the Institution of Engineers, Australia. To be held at the University of Melbourne, 26-29 August 1985.
• Corporate Authors:

  Monash University

  Department of Civil Engineering
  Clayton, Victoria  Australia  3800
• Authors:
  • TAYLOR, MAP
  • Newton, P W
  • Anderson, M
• Publication Date: 1985-6

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 6 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Computer programs; Conferences; Construction; Data collection; Decision making; Digital computers; Environment; Highway planning; Information dissemination; Local government; Local government agencies; Management; Microcomputers; Planning; Population; Public participation; Software; Traffic; Transportation
• Uncontrolled Terms: Micro
• Geographic Terms: Australia
• Old TRIS Terms: Traffic planning
• ITRD Terms: 8006: Australia; 8525: Conference; 8673: Digital computer; 192: Local authority; 9045: Micro; 143: Planning; 335: Population; 8645: Software; 755: Traffic; 1155: Transport
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Construction; Design; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Society; Transportation (General);

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00452330
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Report/Paper Numbers: 85/8
• Files: ITRD, TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: May 31 1986 12:00AM