Automated Processing of Design Standards

Abstract

This paper describes the development of software for automated processing of design standards. The language‐compiler system developed is based on the decision table representation, which has been shown previously to be a systematic organizational model for processing design standards. The system provides a complete environment in which the entire process from creating a standard library to performing the design conformance checking is automated. Special features include an effective means of maintaining libraries of standards and an interactive environment for the input and editing of decision tables representing the provisions of a standard. The system can accommodate future changes in design specification, is flexible enough to include different governing codes, and can readily interface with current computer‐aided design programs. Consistency is automatically maintained between the provisions processed and design checking in the computer‐aided design program. The prototype software developed represents a practical and feasible approach to the automation of the design checking process.