HI-TECH THINKING AT THE DRAWING BOARD

Speedy and efficient working is required on highway construction projects as a result of strong competition and strict contract terms. This article reports on brian colquhoun and partners' search for greater productivity in its design projects and shows how it is applying the power of computer aided design (cad) to its work on the m1-a1 link. Work on this long-awaited 45 mile (72km) dual carriageway between the Midlands and East anglia started in 1989 and is due to be completed in 1991; it will fill a major gap in england's primary road network. It provides a good example of the most modern thinking and practice in highway design. To carry out its design work, colquhoun chose mcdonnell Douglas' gds, a cad system well-proven in civil, structural and building services engineering; gds was appropriate for highway work and could be adapted closely to colquhoun's precise needs. While colquhoun's staff were being trained in the use of cad, a control system was set up for the preparation of drawings and a library of standard items. Once installed in the library, images of important structures can be generated rapidly on a display screen. Another area being explored is the integration of cad work undertaken by colquhoun's roads and bridges groups, using moss systems' imoss software; this will eventually enable the production of an entire highway scheme by computer.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/01434187
• Corporate Authors:

  Municipal Journal Limited

  178-202 Portland Street
  London W1N 6NH,   England 
• Authors:
  • Ireland, P
• Publication Date: 1989-5-5

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 38-39
• Serial:
  • MUNICIPAL JOURNAL
  • Publisher: Municipal Journal Limited
  • ISSN: 0143-4187

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridges; Computer aided design; Data banks; Highway design; Layout; Reinforced concrete; Rigid pavements; Surveying
• ITRD Terms: 3455: Bridge; 8657: Computer aided design; 8614: Database; 2855: Highway design; 2885: Layout; 4794: Reinforced concrete; 2964: Rigid pavement; 4025: Surveying (land)
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00498777
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 30 1990 12:00AM