Riding the Technology Wave

by David Bodamer, Contributing Editor; Civil Engineering Magazine, ASCE World Headquarters, 1801 Alexander Bell Drive, Reston, VA.,


Serial Information: Civil Engineering—ASCE, 1998, Vol. 68, Issue 6, Pg. 38-40


Document Type: Feature article

Abstract:

Computer hardware and software is getting faster, more powerful and more affordable. At the same time, the way in which engineers use the equipment is varying. Identifying costs and benefits is also still difficult, leaving no clear direction for how much to spend, what to buy and what to use. The last year has seen a huge drop in hardware prices, a movement to bring standards to GIS and CAD file formats and the pending release of Windows98. There has been no consensus among engineers on how to adjust to these developments. Overall, firms have stuck by their established IT strategies and not overreacted to the changes. But one thing is clear: it is important to at least know that change is occurring even if it doesn't have an immediate impact.

Subject Headings: Windows | Pricing | Information Technology (IT) | Geographic information systems | Equipment and machinery | Computing in civil engineering | Computer software

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