ABSTRACT

The Advanced Construction Technology System (ACTS) facilitates the classification, documentation, and retrieval of information about emerging construction technologies. It currently includes more than 400 technologies that relate to civil, architectural, electrical, instrumentation, mechanical, and process piping systems. The development of ACTS was supported by the Construction Industry Institute, the Construction Productivity Advancement Research Program (CPAR) of the Corps of Engineers, and General Motors. The project's long term objective is to establish ACTS as on-going information service to the construction industry that will help owners, designers, and contractors identify and use emerging technologies that can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of construction. ACTS was developed in Actor, an object oriented programming system, and runs under Microsoft Windows 3.0 on IBM compatible computers. It is available from the author upon request. This paper will also describe the design of ACTS as it relates to the technology documentation format, the hierarchical classification system using the CSI Masterformat, the indexing and retrieval process using keywords, and the use of the system from a user's and database administrator's viewpoints. The paper will also include a discussion of issues relating to large databases with variable and non-homogeneous record structures, and the design of a graphical, mouse-only, very user-friendly random access user interface.

AUTHORS

Photios G. Ioannou and Liang Y. Liu

Civil & Environmental Engineering Department

University of Michigan

Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2125, U.S.A.

e-mail: photios@umich.edu

KEYWORDS

Classification, computer applications, computer software, contractibility, construction industry, database management systems, information retrieval, information systems, technology assessment.

AVAILABILITY

Ioannou, P.G., L.Y. Liu, "Advanced Construction Technology System—ACTS," Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, ASCE, Vol. 119, No. 2, 288-306, June 1993.