Planning for Civil Engineering Applications of Information Technology

Abstract

Providers of civil engineering infrastructure face increasing pressure to apply information technology. Unfortunately, technology's rapid evolution renders it easy to acquire expensive equipment that quickly becomes obsolete. In response, this paper outlines a systems analysis planning approach that focuses on the long-term goals of engineering managers. Using the case study method, the strengths and weaknesses of a relatively new technology, the World Wide Web, are mapped to the goals of a key civil infrastructure user, a transit provider. Six strategic areas are identified where the Web can have a high impact on the delivery of transit services: attracting greater advertising revenue, improving the image of the service, improving services for existing patrons, attracting other market segments, educating customers, and facilitating electronic commerce. The value of this goal-oriented planning application is that uncommon but practical transit initiatives are identified, several of which would have been undiscovered had a more traditional technology-oriented approach been employed. The significance of this approach is that one makes better investments rather than simply better justifications for existing projects.