Computer system for the selection of trenchless and conventional methods for underground utilities: Fid-Bau Portal

Computer system for the selection of trenchless and conventional methods for underground utilities

Russell, A.D. / Udaipurwala, A. / Alldritt, M. / El-Guindy, K.

This paper describes the current status of an ongoing research project, the goal of which is to develop a knowledge-based methods-selection tool that can assess specific construction conditions against the capabilities and limitations of available techniques to determine the best method(s) for a specific project. A flexible system architecture is presented which consists of a Standards Level, a Project Level, and an interface between the two. The Standards Level facilitates the capture of experience, expertise and market information about current methods and supporting resources as well as standard descriptions of project elements. The Project Level provides a description of the physical elements and the site context for a given project along with the methods selected for the various steps in the construction process. The interface permits the easy use of coded knowledge, and allows the user discretion in the level of assistance the system should offer in selecting construction methods and formulating an overall game plan. The system architecture builds on a specific vocabulary and supporting constructs for describing methods. Elements of this vocabulary include Method Statement, Operation, Method Class, Method, Resource Class and Resource. The installation of underground utilities using both trenchless and conventional technologies provides a context for the work, and is used in the paper to illustrate the concepts developed.