De Cicco, S (2004) Design and development of an information management system for highway construction specifications. PhD thesis, University of Wisconsin - Madison, USA.
Abstract
This research looked at highway specification development and management at state highway departments, using the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) as a case study. The challenges facing WisDOT include independent development of related documents, data storage and retrieval, internal and external cross-referencing, tracking changes to the document, enforcement of referential integrity, and distribution of specifications and updates. The specification development process is currently performed using word processors at all state highway departments, including WisDOT. This study took a multifaceted approach to solving the data management issues associated with the specifications. The information management system (IMS) designed in this research uses XML technologies, including XML Schema, XSLT (Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformations) and CSS (Cascading Style Sheets), for the markup, validation, output and formatting of the data. Most of the data management and data retrieval needs are addressed by the relational database, Microsoft Access. By combining the strengths of XML and relational databases, a powerful data management system can be created. The prototype IMS was compared to the current specification management system in a series of simple tests relating to data and content validation, cross-referencing, and formatting and transforming. The tests showed that the prototype IMS can make the distribution and development of the specifications more efficient and accessible. The tests also showed that the prototype IMS can provide data integrity constraints not possible with the current system. The IMS designed in the current research is intended to be the link between where WisDOT is now with respect to specification management and where they could be. Due to its modular nature, the system could also be adapted for use in the management of other technical documents, both by WisDOT and by other organizations. A brief discussion of possibilities for future research is included.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | Russell, J S |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | highway; specifications; data management; information management; case study; validation |
| Index terms: | enforcement, data storage, data management, validation, design and development, relational database, data retrieval, transformation, documents, highway construction, management system, integrity, case study, prototype, specification |
| Subjects: | business, data collection methods, management, professional development, civil engineering, health safety and environment, data management, modelling and simulation, contractual condition, design process |
| Topics: | Health and Safety, Design Practice, Digital Applications, Engineering Principles, Contract Administration, Information Management, Business Strategy, Research Practice, Organizational Design |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCE |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here