Affiliation:
1. Iowa State University, Town Engineering Building, Ames, IA 50011-3232
Abstract
The performance of construction projects heavily depends on how well information is managed. In Iowa the management of this information means locating details and tracking changes in several printed volumes that define design details, material specifications, construction methods, and testing procedures. The details of the development of an electronic reference library (ERL) that provides a virtual library for construction design and management of state highway projects in Iowa are provided. ERL is a large document containing more than 25,000 hyperlinks and is updated and distributed twice a year. The details described include the development of the initial prototype, training of existing staff to maintain an electronic document, and issues related to the production of biannual updates. The major challenges for the development of an ERL include determination of the user interface, document selection, reproduction of accurate content, and maintenance of the electronic version.
Subject
Mechanical Engineering,Civil and Structural Engineering
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