Evaluation of Computer-Aided Drafting and Design Capabilities in the Highway Development Environment

US Transportation Collection1988PDFResearch PaperWakefield, William A.Trujillo, Robert T.Arizona. Department of Transportation. Highway Plan ServicesArizona. Department of TransportationUnited States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway AdministrationArizona. Department of TransportationArizonaHighway designHighway engineeringHighway planningRoad constructionLand use planningComputer aided designSystem designDraftingPlans (Drawings)Environmental designEnvironmental engineeringComputer aided drafting and designCADD:Highway plans, Drafting functionsSystem requirementsDrafting equipmentFHWA-AZ88-204HPR-PL-1(31)Item 204Significantly expanded highway construction and rehabilitation programs by the Arizona Department of Transportation resulted in an increase of design work load with the Highway Development group. Improvements in design and drafting production were attempted trough the use of Computer Aided Drafting and Design (CADD) system. Originally the hardware and software for a small standalone CADD system with one work station was installed in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the system. The TERAK CADD system submitted by BFA Corporation was chosen for testing.Initial studies concluded that the TERAK CADD system did not have the hardware that had the capability nor the software available to effectively prepare most highway construction plan sheets. The types of plan sheets that were evaluated along with the other types of drafting functions that were conducted are described in the report.During the early stages of the project a decision was made by the Department to purchase and install a major CADD system which would have the capabilities of serving the entire organization. The decision to purchase a major CADD system was based on the technology in use by various Departments of Transportation across the nation.The study has concluded that a CADD system with proper hardware and software has an unlimited potential to reduce the cost and time in preparing plan sheets. However the cost of such a CADD system is much greater than the amount that was budgeted for this project.125