Technology for the Formulation and Expression of Specifications - Volume I: Final Report
Joe Harris, Johan Melin, R. L. Tavis, Richard Newport Wright · Illinois Digital Environment for Access to Learning and Scholarship (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) · 1975
ii user's manual and a reference manual for the computer software developed as a part of the technology.The reference manual does contain a more elaborate description of the algorithms.It must be emphasized early, however, that none of the concepts or algorithms require a computer to be understood or used.The computer software was developed to aid in the application of the technology to large specifications, for which the mass of data and repetitive processes would become a burden.Many benefits can be realized ~y the proper understanding and application of the concepts without usinQ, let alone understanding, the computer programs.This report draws on the combined efforts of many researchers and authors.The applicability of decision tables for the representation of provisions of design specifications was pointed out by Fenves in 1966 (6).The AISC Specification (7) and the ACT Building Code (8) have both been presented in a decision table form (1,9).The study for the lHSC introduced the concept of a network to connect the decision tables which was another major step, as foreseen by \. 'Jright, Boyer,.Subsequent work by Nyman, Fenves, and Wright led to investigations of restrucurinq a specification and to computer aids for the organization of the information content of a specification (11,2,3).Research and development on the topic are continuing at several institutions, and the prospects for better methods to produce good specifications are promising.