| We are now entering the third decade of engineering computer applications. In the past twenty years, the computer has become a requisite tool in civil engineering. One is hard-pressed to imagine the analysis and design of structures such as high-rise buildings (exemplified by the Sears Tower, John Hancock Building, World Trade Center, etc.) without such a powerful computational tool. Unfortunately, the computer is still used as a basic tool, and has not been fully integrated into the design process. There has been a significant increase in the scope, range, and power of the computer applications, but there has been little progress in the development of an integrated computer aided engineering environment.;Attempts to advance computer utilization in engineering are being blocked by the current state of engineering software technology. Much of the software being used was developed in the mid-sixties. There have been some changes in the underlying software concepts utilized, but a large portion of current software is rooted in the computer technology of the sixties. In order to move forward and provide future advanced engineering systems, significant changes in engineering software systems are required.;Two problems, (a) the design of an integrated multi-disciplinary engineering design software system, and (b) interfaces to finite element systems, are presented to show: (1) why the current state of engineering software technology is not capable of supporting the development of advanced engineering computer systems, and (2) what types of capabilities are needed in these systems. Particular issues discussed in detail include: standards processing, data management and handling, program interfaces, and logic and process control.;To develop the next generation of engineering computer systems, advanced computer technologies must be integrated into engineering software. Topics such as relational database management and knowledge based artificial intelligence are discussed, and it is shown how aspects of these technologies can be applied to the problems currently limiting engineering software. These technologies provide the basis for a proposed software environment which may be used to develop advanced computer aided engineering software systems.;The computer has the potential to take a much larger role in the engineering design, analysis, construction, and project management processes. The use of computer systems to maintain the large volume of data present for a project, to verify the compliance with standards, and to provide project management, in addition to its traditional design and analysis role is desirable. Integration of the computer throughout the design process can produce better engineered systems by allowing the computer to assure consistency, completeness, and compliance, in a rigorous manner, throughout the design cycle; the current lack of these aspects is a major problem. |
