Citation

Jenik EC. Transp. Res. Rec. 1977; 631: 64-68.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1977, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences USA, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In the telephone company, the outside-plant-location record is the permanent inventory of all outside plants in service. It serves as a primary document and tool for engineers designing additions, deletions, and changes in the plant. The use of this record is described briefly. The drafting effort required to maintain this large data base is discussed, and the difficulties in maintaining it by manual methods are emphasized. Explorations into applications of computer-graphics technology are reviewed. The implementation of a pilot, interactive-graphics iminicomputer system that completely automates all drafting of outside-plant-location records and engineering work order is described. This system is an on-line system that replaces paper records by electronically stored records that can be assessed and retrieved by a computer in real time at interactive-graphics terminals. It is used to demonstrate how future drafting and record drawing can be performed on displays at cathoderay-tube terminals. It is cited as an example of a specialized computer assisted, map-based record system. The advent of this new technology is a result of recent developments in computer hardware, computer systems, and digital graphic systems and has led to many new proposals for joint-use systems that have a common, fundamental map base. These are described in terms of their impact on land-ownership records. The efforts of the American Public Works Association to develop standards for this field are reviewed and the aims and purposes are discribed.