THE DEVELOPMENT OF
A BRANZ COMPUTERISED
BUILDING TECHNOLOGY
INFORMATION RESOURCE
R.S. hhitney & A.H. Dec,hapunya
Reprinted from the conference paper presented at:
AUBEA/A QSI T E 85: computers in building education
and practice. May 15th and 16th 1985. Victoria
University of Wellington, New Zealand.
BUILDING RESEARCH ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND
rn
THE DEVELOPMENT OF A BRANZ COMPUTERISED
BUILDING TECHNOLOGY INFORMATION RESOURCE
R.S. Whitney
Conference Paper 9
A.H. Dechapunya
Reference
The Development of a BRANZ
Computerised Building Technology lnformation Resource. Building Research
Whitney, R.S.,
Dechapunya, A.H.,
1985.
Association of New Zealand, Conference Paper 9. Judgeford.
Keywords
From Construction Industry Thesaurus - BRANZ edition:
Building Research Association of New Zealand; Computers; Construction;
lnformation retrieval; Marketing; Technology.
CONTENTS
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
THE BRANZ INFORMATION COMPUTING SYSTEM
DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY
POTENTIAL INFORMATION RESOURCES
Bibliographic Databases
Non-bibliographic Databases
Application Software Packages
Commercial Packages
.
Expert Systems
CONCLUSIONS
REFERENCES
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
APPENDIX: P.P.S.N.
Charges
FIGURE I: The BRANZ Building Database
'
T H E DEVELOPMENT O F A B R A N Z COMPUTEHISED B U I L D I N G
TECHNOLOGY INFORMATION R E S O U R C E
R.S.
A.H.
Whitney ( A s s i s t a n t D i r e c t o r )
Dechapunya (Systems Manager)
B u i l d i n g R e s e a r c h A s s o c i a t i o n o f New Z e a l a n d
ARSTRACT
The use o f computers t o cope w i t h t h e e v e r - i n c r e a s i n g
demand f o r r a p i d l y - a c c e s s i b l e i n f o r m a t i o n w i t h i n t h e
b u i l d i n g i n d u s t r y i s i n c r e a s i n g s t e a d i l y . BRANZ has,
t h e r e f o r e , purchased a computing system t o enable i t
t o disseminate i t s information resource t o the ind u s t r y . P r o v i s i o n w i l l b e made f o r o u t s i d e a c c e s s v i a
t h e P u b l i c P a c k e t S w i t c h i n g Network (PPSN).
A t present the Association i s preparing,
access,
full
b i b l i0graphi.c information
m a t e r i a l k e p t i n i t s 1i b r a r y .
for on-line
on p r i n t e d
U l t i m a t e l y , b u i l d i n g i n d u s t r y users should be a b l e t o
g a i n access t o a broad range o f i n f o r m a t i o n , software
and knowledge bases, d e v e l o p e d i n response t o i n d u s t r y
needs
and
aimed
at
facilitating
operational
p r o c e d u r e s , d e s i g n e t c . The c o s t o f p r o v i d i n g t h i s
s e r v i c e w i l l need t o be r e c o v e r e d f r o m ' u s e r s .
I
INTRODUCTION
T h e B u i l d i n g R e s e a r c h A s s o c i a t i o n o f New Z e a l a n d
(BRANZ) s e e s t h e i d e n t i f i c a t i o n a n d s a t i s f a c t i o n o f
t h e t e c h n o l o g i c a l i n f o r m a t i o n needs o f t h e b u i l d i n g
i n d u s t r y as i t s major role.
C u r r e n t l y BRANZ i n f o r m a t i o n
many w a y s i n c l u d i n g :
-
-
-
i s
made
available
in
BRANZ
pub1i c a t i o n s
such
as
Information
B u l l e t i n s , T e c h n i c a l Recommendations, A p p r a i s a l
Certificates,
Research Reports' and T e c h n i c a l
Papers.
Papers presented a t
i n journals.
Industry
access
collection.
News
releases
magazines.
conferences
to
and
the
and p u b l i s h e d
RRANZ
articles
for
Library
industry
-
The A s s o c i a t i o n ' s n e w s l e t t e r ,
-
Staff
presentations
to
the
industry,
for
e x a m p l e ,on T h e r m a l I n s u l a t i o n a n d NZ 3 6 0 4 Code
o f p r a c t i c e f o r 1i g h t t i m b e r frame b u i l d i n g s
n o t r e q u i r i n g s p e c i f ic d e s i g n .
-
RUILD.
T h r o u g h t h e BRANZ n a t i o n w i d e a d v i s o r y s e r v i c e ,
based i n t h e f o u r main centres o f Auckland,
W e l l i n g t o n , C h r i s t c h u r c h and Dunedin.
'
Tape/sl i d e
presentations,
for
s e a l a n t s and s u b f l o o r v e n t i l a t i o n .
example
on
I n p u t t o codes and s t a n d a r d s .
Through t h e A s s o c i a t i o n ' s c o n t a c t s w i t h t h e i n d u s t r y ,
i t i s a p p a r e n t t h a t i n ' New Z e a l a n d , j u s t a s o v e r s e a s
( W r i g h t , 1984), c o m p u t e r s h a v e a n i n t e g r a l p a r t t o
p l a y i n m a k i n g t h e above and o t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n r e a d i l y
a c c e s s i b l e t o t h e i n d u s t r y . The a u t h o r s see t h e volume
and c o m p l e x i t y of i n f o r m a t i on i n c r e a s i n g , and compute r s b e c o m i n g w i d e l y u s e d t h r o u g h o u t t h e i n d u s t r y . As a
r e s u l t , i n f o r m a t i o n w i l l h a v e t o b e p r e s e n t e d i n a way
i n w h i c h i t i s e a s i l y and r a p i d l y accessed and used
v i a computers. F a i l u r e t o u t i 1i s e these developments
w o u l d s e r i o u s l y j e o p a r d i s e t h e a b i l i t y o f BRANZ t o
f u l f i l i t s role.
There
i s
an
immediate
need
to
computerise
the
A s s o c i a t i o n ' s L i b r a r y , and t h e o p p o r t u n i t y has been
t a k e n t o p u r c h a s e computer hardware and i n f o r m a t i o n
r e t r i e v a l s o f t w a r e w i t h s u f f i c i e n t power t o e n a b l e t h e
d e v e l o p m e n t o f an i n f o r m a t i o n r e s o u r c e g r e a t e r t h a n
j u s t the l i b r a r y holdings.
T h i s p r e s e n t a t i o n d e s c r i b e s t h e proposed BRANZ system,
r e v i e w s t h e t y p e o f i n f o r m a t i o n t o be c o m p u t e r i sed,
and provides a basis f o r discussion o f the future
devel'opnent o f t h i s i n f o r m a t i o n resource.
THE B R A N Z INFORMATION COMPUTING SYSTEM
T h e BRAFJZ i n f o r m a t i o n c o m p u t e r w i l l b e b a s e d o n a
D i g i t a l V A X 111750 r u n n i n g VMS v e r s i o n 4 o p e r a t i n g
s y s t e m , w i t h 4 Mb o f m e m o r y . O n - l i n e s t o r a g e w i l l b e a
4 5 4 Mb f i x e d W i n c h e s t e r d i s c d r i v e , w i t h t a p e d r i v e
f o r m e d i a t r a n s f e r and m a i n t e n a n c e .
C A I R S (Computer A s s i s t e d I n f o r m a t i o n R e t r i e v a l System)
t e x t i n f o r m a t i o n management s o f t w a r e h a s been p u r c h a s e d . T h i s was o r i g i n a l l y d e v e l o p e d b y t h e F o o d R e s e a r c h
A s s o c i a t i o n (FRA) i n L e a t h e r l i e a d , B r i t a i n , d u r i n g t h e
m i d 1 9 7 0 ' s t o p r o v i d e an i n f o r m a t i o n s e r v i c e f o r i t s
s t a f f a n d 7 0 0 member c o m p a n i e s f o r w h i c h t h e r e was n o
a d e q u a t e a l t e r n a t i v e . .FRA who now r u n C A I R S o n a V A X
1 1 1 7 5 0 , h a v e s i n c e d e v e l o p e d i t on a c o m m e r c i a l b a s i s
a n d m a r k e t e d i t w o r l d - w i d e t o o v e r 85 s i t e s , 1 5 o f
w h i c h a r e i n A u s t r a l i a . The C A I R S i n s t a l l a t i o n a t
BRANZ w i l l
be t h e f i r s t
i n New Z e a l a n d ;
it
i s
a v a i l a b l e i n a v a r i e t y o f v e r s i o n s and r u n s on a r a n g e
o f m a c h i n e s f r o m A p r i c o t a n d I B M PCs, t o V A X 1 1 1 7 8 0
and P R I M E 850.
The A s s o c i a t i o n has purchased t h e V A X 111750 and
CAIRS
to
enable
computerisation
of
i t s
1i b r a r y
catalogue,
and
to
a1 1 ow
1 ib r a r y
users
on-line
r e t r i e v a l o f bib1iographic information. It i s planned
t o r e t r o s p e c t i v e l y e n t e r a c q u i s i t i o n s made s i n c e 1 9 7 4 ,
and t o p r o v i d e general access t o t h e system f o r
o u t s i d e users v i a t h e P u b l i c Packet S w i t c h i n g Network
(PPSN) i n 1 9 8 6 .
To t h i s e n d , a l i n k w i t h t h e P P S N a t a s p e e d o f 9 6 0 0
b a u d w i l l be s e t up. I t i s a n t i c i p a t e d t h a t , a f t e r
a1 1 o w i n g c a p a c i t y f o r c o m m u n i c a t i o n w i t h B R A N Z r e g i o n a l o f f i c e s and o u t w a r d c a l l s, s u f f i c i e n t c a p a c i t y
w o u l d be a v a i l a b l e on t h e P P S N l i n k and t h e V A X f o r up
t o a b o u t 1 0 c o n c u r r e n t o u t s i d e u s e r s . T h i s w i l l make
u p t o 20,000 t e r m i n a l h o u r s l y e a r a v a i l a b l e t o t h e
i n d u s t r y w i t h i n normal working hours.
O u t s i d e u s e r s w i 11 r e q u i r e d a t a t e r m i n a l e q u i p m e n t
s u c h a s a VDU, P C o r t e l e p r i n t e r c a p a b l e o f c o n n e c t i n g
t o t h e PPSN. P r e f e r a b l y t h e e q u i p m e n t w i l l b e a b l e t o
e m u l a t e a VT 5 2 o r VT 1 0 0 t e r m i n a l t o a l l o w f u l l
s c r e e n f a c i l i t i e s t o be used, o t h e r w i s e t h e system
w i l l o p e r a t e i n a t e l e p r i n t e r mode. T e l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n
c h a r g e s f o r t h e PPSN a r e g i v e n i n A p p e n d i x 1. C h a r g i n g
d e t a i l s f o r access t o t h e
BRANZ s y s t e m h a v e n o t y e t
been f i n a l i s e d .
T h e p r o v i s i o n o f t h i s c o m p u t e r i s e d d a t a b a s e w i l l make
a c c e s s t o t h e l i b r a r y ' s r e s o u r c e s e a s i e r and more
e f f i c i e n t . There w i l l be g r e a t e r access t o s u b j e c t s
v i a keywords and more i n f o r m a t i o n w i l l be a v a i l a b l e
about i t e m s - f o r instance, i t w i l l be p o s s i b l e t o
d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r an i t e m i s on o r d e r o r on l o a n .
O u t s i d e users w i l l have access ( e i t h e r d i r e c t l y o r
through the Association's regional o f f i c e s ) t o the
l i b r a r y ' s c a t a l o g u e , and w i l l t h u s be a b l e t o d e t e r I t w i l l be
m i n e immediately what i s a v a i l a b l e .
p o s s i b l e f o r u s e r s t o o r d e r m a t e r i a l o r communicate
w i t h t h e A s s o c i a t i o n ' s s t a f f by e l e c t r o n i c m a i l v i a
t h e i r own t e r m i n a l s .
The
computerised
database
makes
possible
the
presentation o f a greater range o f information i n
printed
and
other 'forms.
The
present
1 ib r a r y
a c c e s s i o n s l i s t , S e l e c t e d B u i l d i n y R e f e r e n c e s , may b e
replaced by s p e c i f i c
1i s t s m a t c h i n g t h e i n t e r e s t
profile of
individual
users.
Printouts
from t h e
1 i b r a r y and o t h e r databases c o u l d be produced f o r
u s e r s who d o n o t h a v e c o n v e n i e n t o n - l i n e a c c e s s t o t h e
database.
A c c e s s t o t h e BRANZ d a t a b a s e s h o u l d n o t b e l i m i t e d t o
r e g u l a r u s e r s who c a n j u s t i f y
on-line
access o r
subscriptions
to
printed
products.
Many
public
libraries,
particularly
those
with
Science
and
(SATIS)
centres,
Techno1 ogy
Information
Service
a l r e a d y r e f e r e n q u i r i e s t o t h e BRANZ l i b r a r y . I t w o u l d
b e l o g i c a l f o r t h e s e l i b r a r i e s t o u s e t h e BRANZ
d a t a b a s e o n b e h a l f o f t h e i r e n q u i r e r s , who may b e
smaller manufacturers,
b u i l d e r s and a r c h i t e c t s ,
as
w e l l as d o - i t - y o u r s e l f e r s . L a r g e r pub1 i c 1i b r a r i e s a r e
e s t a b l i s h i n y PPSN connections f o r access t o overseas
d a t a b a s e s ; t h e y w o u l d b e a b l e t o a c c e s s t h e BRANZ
i n f o r m a t i o n s y s t e m o n - l i n e . O t h e r p u b l i c l i b r a r i e s may
b e a b l e t o h a v e , f o r i n s t a n c e , a BRANZ l i b r a r y d a t a base
on
microfiche
available
for
searching
for
m a t e r i a l w h i c h m i g h t be r e q u e s t e d t h r o u g h t h e i n t e r 1i b r a r y l o a n system.
DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY
T h e A s s o c i a t i o n ' s o n l y c o m m i t n l e n t s o far h a s b e e n t o
c o m p u t e r i s e i t s l i b r a r y a n d make a c c e s s a v a i l a b l e t o
t h e b u i l d i n g i n d u s t r y v i a t h e P P S N . T h e p a p e r w i l l now
c o n s i d e r how a n d i f t h e i n f o r m a t i o n r e s o u r c e s h o u l d b e
f u r t h e r d e v e l o p e d o v e r t h e n e x t few y e a r s .
I n order t o consider the various types o f information
resources
that
could
be
made
available,
it
i s
n e c e s s a r y t o l o o k f i r s t a t how t h e y w o u l d f i t i n t o a n
information-dissemination
strategy.
Patterson
and
Farrant
(1984), i n t h e i r study i n t o t h e use o f
i n f o r m a t i o n i n d e c i s i o n - m a k i n g w i t h i n t h e New Z e a l a n d
b u i l d i n g i n d u s t r y , made s e v e r a l p e r t i n e n t p o i n t s .
T h e y n o t e d t h a t an i m p o r t a n t component o f an i n f o r m a t i o n system i s i t s completeness: g r e a t e r b e n e f i t s a r e
a v a i l a b l e i f ,an i n f o r m a t i o n r e s o u r c e i s p a r t o f a
c o - o r d i n a t e d and i n t e r - r e l a t e d p a c k a g e o f i n f o r m a t i o n
systems. They i d e n t i f i e d t w o p o s s i b l e s t r a t e g i e s f o r
BRANZ: e i t h e r t o confine i n f o r m a t i o n dissemination
m a i n l y t o BRANZ-generated i n f o r m a t i o n , o r t o p r o v i d e a
w i d e range o f i n f o r m a t i o n g e n e r a t e d by a v a r i e t y o f
agencies and groups across t h e b u i l d i n g i n d u s t r y .
O b v i o u s l y t h e l a t t e r c o u r s e o f a c t i o n r e q u i r e s more
t i m e a n d r e s o u r c e s , w h i c h l e a d s t o a n o t h e r p o i n t made
b y P a t t e r s o n and F a r r a n t : t h e a d d i t i o n a l t i m e most
d e c i s i o n - m a k e r s spend on o b t a i n i n g i n f o r m a t i on means
that
the
true
costs
of
decision-making
are
not
recognised. It follows that there i s potential f o r
recovering t h e costs o f p r o v i d i n g a wider range o f
i n f o r m a t i o n . I f t h e A s s o c i a t i o n i s t o p r o v i d e an
e x t e n s i v e and c o - o r d i n a t e d s e r v i c e o f t h i s s o r t t h e
additional resource required
w i l l need t o be f u n d e d
by i t s users.
P a t t e r s o n and F a r r a n t
formation searches:
identified
t h r e e phases i n i n -
when
is
an
'awareness'
phase,
"The
first
information
about
possible
sources
i s
being
sought. T h i s l e a d s t o t h e ' a c q u i s i t i o n ' phase
when t h e i n f o r m a t i o n r e l e v a n t t o t h e p r o b l e m i s
c o l l e c t e d , p e r u s e d a n d u t i l i s e d . F i n a l l y , many
s e a r c h e s e n d u p i n a ' c o n f i r m a t i o n ' p h a s e when
earlier
i n f o r m a t i o n i s checked,
expanded,
or
II
c o n f ir m e d .
Patterson
and
Farrant
found
that
BRANZ-generated
i n f o r m a t i o n i s more g e n e r a l l y used i n t h e ' c o n f i r m a tion'
stage.
This
leads
to
the
possibility
of
i n c l u d i n g other areas o f 'confirmation'
information
such as codes, d e s i g n manual s, model s p e c i f i c a t i o n s
and t e c h n i c a l
recommendations,
i n the information
r e s o u r c e . P a t t e r s o n and F a r r a n t i d e n t i f i e d t h i s phase
a s l e a d i n g t o w i d e r s e a r c h e s and p r o v i d i n g an e v i d e n t
r o l e f o r BRANZ.
I n a d d i t i o n , t h e i n c r e a s e d a v a i l a b i l i t y o f l i b r a r y and
o t h e r information t o outside users could well lead t o
an i n c r e a s e d use o f t h e A s s o c i a t i o n ' s i n f o r m a t i o n
r e s o u r c e f o r ' a c q u i s i t i o n ' searches which, t y p i c a l l y ,
a t t h e moment a r e r e s t r i c t e d t o m a n u f a c t u r e r s ' i n f o r mation. 'Awareness' i n f o r m a t i o n i s g e n e r a l l y o b t a i n e d
f r o m c o l l e a g u e s o r s u p e r i o r s , so e x t e n s i o n i n t o t h i s
by a i m i n g m a r k e t i n g o f t h e
a r e a would be i n d i r e c t
information a t these 'gatekeepers' i n organisations.
-
I t i s n e c e s s a r y t h a t t h e u s e o f t h e BRANZ i n f o r m a t i o n
c o m p u t e r s h o u l d b e c o s t - e f f e c t i v e , n o t o n l y when compared w i t h non-computer a s s i s t e d i n f o r m a t i o n , b u t a l s o
when
compared
with
other
computer
options.
For
example, c o n s i d e r a t i o n s h o u l d be g i v e n t o w h e t h e r i t
i s more a p p r o p r i a t e t h a t any p a r t i c u l a r s o f t w a r e o r
i n f o r m a t i o n s e r v i c e s h o u l d be p r o v i d e d on t h e VAX, o r
t h r o u g h a 1 t e r n a t i v e r e s o u r c e s s u c h a s o f f i c e PCs,
video-text,
o r o t h e r New Z e a l a n d o r o v e r s e a s d a t a b a s e s . L o n g e r t e r m we c a n a l s o c o n s i d e r t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f integrating the resource w i t h industry-based
by down-loading f i l e s , o r
PCs and m i n i c o m p u t e r s
p a r t s o f t h e l i b r a r y d a t a - b a s e . The m o r e p o t e n t i a l
t h a t i s seen f o r i n t e g r a t e d c o m p u t e r i s e d i n f o r m a t i o n
systems,
t h e more i m p o r t a n t , i t i s t o c a r e f u l l y
c o n s i d e r c o m p a t i b i l i t y o f h a r d w a r e and s o f t w a r e .
-
-
The emergence o f e x p e r t systems c o u l d have a s t r o n g
i m p a c t on p r o g r e s s t o w a r d s a n i n t e g r a t e d i n f o r m a t i o n
r e s o u r c e ( J o n e s 1984 and P o l l i t t 1 9 8 4 ) . Two s t a g e s o f
d e v e l o p m e n t c a n o c c u r . The f i r s t c o u l d s e e a n e x p e r t
s y s t e m as a f r o n t end t o t h e B R A N Z i n f o r m a t i o n computer,
allowing
subscribers
to
use
using natural
l a n g u a g e i n s t r u c t i o n s and g u i d i n g t h e m t o t ' h e i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t t h e y need. The s e c o n d c o u l d s e e a n e x p e r t '
system c o n t r o l l i n g t h e whole session o f access t o t h e
B R A N Z i n f o r m a t i o n r e s o u r c e , m a k i n g i t s own d e c i s i o n s
a b o u t w h i c h p a r t o f t h e r e s o u r c e s h o u l d be accessed
if
necessary,
accessing
non-BRANZ
and
even,
i n f o r m a t i o n v i a t h e PPSN.
-
POTENTIAL INFORMATION R E S O U R C E S
B i b l i o g r a p h i c Databases
T h e BRAFIZ 1 i b r a r y d a t a b a s e w i l l n o t y i v e a c o m p l e t e l y
c o m p r e h e n s i v e c o v e r a g e o f b u i l d i n g 1 it e r a t u r e . S i n c e
1979 t h e BRANZ
library
has
been making
use o f
computerised databases overseas through database hosts
s u c h a s DIALOG. A p r o b l e m i n p r o v i d i n g e f f e c t i v e
s e a r c h i n g f o r b u i l d i n g and c o n s t r u c t i o n l i t e r a t u r e has
been t h e absence o f an e a s i l y - a c c e s s i b l e database
d e a l i n g w i t h t h i s s u b j e c t a r e a . S e a r c h e s c o u l d h e made
i n COMPENDEX, t h e e n g i n e e r i n g l i t e r a t u r e d a t a b a s e , o r
NTIS, t h e d a t a b a s e o f US government r e p o r t s , b u t , i n
general , searches i n b u i l d i n g t e c h n o l o g y have been
h a m p e r e d by t h e need t o s e a r c h a number o f d a t a b a s e s
deal i n g w i t h d i f f e r e n t aspects o f a p a r t i c u l a r query.
R e c e n t l y some o v e r s e a s d a t a b a s e s d e a l i n g s p e c i f i c a l l y
w i t h b u i l d i n g t e c h n o l o g y h a v e hecome a v a i l a b l e . The
P e r g . a m o n I n f o l i n e d a t a b a s e h o s t i n t h e UK i s m o u n t i n g
two databases o f p a r t i c u l a r i n t e r e s t :
PICA
- a database of c o n s t r u c t i o n and
architecture
literature
produced
by
the
UK
P r o p e r t y S e r v i c e s Agency,
containing material
s i n c e 1974, i n c r e a s i n g a t 5000 i t e m s p e r y e a r .
-
ISBEIIEX
deal i n g w i t h mechanical and e l e c t r i c a l
s e r v i c e s i n b u i l d i n g s , produced by t h e B u i l d i n g
S e r v i c e s Research and
Information Association
(RSRIA). I t c o n t a i n s m a t e r i a l f r o m 1979 and i s
u p d a t e d by 5000 r e c o r d s a n n u a l l y .
A number o f o t h e r databases a r e b e i n g produced by
r e s e a r c h e s t a b l i s h m e n t s i n t h e b u i l d i n g and c o n s t r u c t ion field.
These i n c l u d e t h e Scandinavian database
R Y G G D O K , a n d t h e German d a t a b a s e RSWB p r o d u c e d b y
I n f o r m a t i o n s v e r b u n d z e n t r u m RAU14 u n d B A U ( I R B ) a v a i l a b l e t h r o u g h t h e EUROMETIDIANE database h o s t . IRB i s
a1 s o
co-ordinating
an
international
database
of
b u i l d i n g t e c h n o l o g y i n f o r m a t i o n , ICONDA, which w i l l be
a v a i l a b l e i n 1 9 8 6 . C l o s e r t o home, t h e A u s t r a l i a n
Department o f Housing and C o n s t r u c t i o n ' s E x p e r i m e n t a l
B u i l d i n g S t a t i o n i s computerising i t s 1i b r g r y , t h u s
c r e a t i n g a database o f Australian-oriented b u i l d i n g
i n f o r m a t i o n which c o u l d p o s s i b l y be searched on-1 i n e
by NZ users.
W i t h i n New Z e a l a n d , t h e New Z e a l a n d B i b 1 i o g r a p h i c
N e t w o r k ( N Z R N ) . i s b e i n g e s t a b l i s h r ~ dand o t h e r b i b 1 i o g r a p h i c d a t a b a s e s a r e a1 s o a v a i l a b l e . H i s s i n k ( 1 9 8 5 )
d e s c r i b e d t h e r a n y e o f d a t a b a s e s a v a i l a b l e i n New
Z e a l a n d , a n d how t h e y c o u l d b e i n t e r c o n n e c t e d .
I t i s i n t e n d e d t o make i n c r e a s i n g u s e o f t h e s e d a t a b a s e s t o a u g m e n t B R A N Z ' s own r e s o u r c e s a n d t o e x p l o r e
t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f d i r e c t l y t r a n s f e r r i n g searches t o
o v e r s e a s d a t a , b a s e s when i n s u f f i c i e n t i n f o r m a t i o n h a s
b e e n f o u n d i n a s e a r c h o f t h e l o c a l o n e s . I n some
c a s e s we c o u l d a u t o m a t i c a l l y s e a r c h u p d a t e s t o t h e s e
databases f o r m a t e r i a l matching a s p e c i f i c i n f o r m a t i o n
p r o f i l e ; a s e r v i c e known a s S e l e c t i v e D i s s e m i n a t i o n o f
I n f o r m a t i o n ( S D I ) . M a c h i n e - r e a d a b l e t a p e s o f t h e BRANZ
1 ib r a r y d a t a b a s e c o u l d b e made a v a i 1 a b l e o n o v e r s e a s
d a t a b a s e h o s t s - f o r i n s t a n c e , CSIRONET i n A u s t r a l i a p o s s i b l y on an exchange b a s i s .
N o n - b i b l i o g r a p h i c Databases
W i t h i n BRANZ t h e r e a r e a l r e a d y s e v e r a l d a t a b a s e s a n d
p o t e n t i a l databases w h i c h c o u l d be c o m p u t e r i s e d and
made p u b l i c l y a v a i l a b l e i n p a r t o r i n f u l l ( F i g u r e 1).
T h e D i r e c t o r y o f B u i l d i n g - R e l a t e d R e s e a r c h i n New
Z e a l a n d h a s r e c e n t l y b e e n p u b l i s h e d (RRANZ 1 9 8 4 ) . I t
identifies
22
sponsor
organi sations,
40
research
o r g a n i s a t i o n s and 210 r e s e a r c h p r o j e c t s . Each p r o j e c t
has a s e t o f keywords ( a v e r a g e 4 t o 5 ) and i s l i s t e d
u n d e r e a c h keyword.
The r e s u l t i s a w e i g h t y 300 page
document w h i c h i s e x p e n s i v e t o produce, d i s t r i b u t e and
u p d a t e . C o m p u t e r i s a t i o n w i l l a1 l o w b o t h e a s i e r a c c e s s
and more e f f i c i e n t u p d a t i n g o f t h i s d i r e c t o r y .
T h e BRANZ s l i d e c o l l e c t i o n , w h i c h n u m b e r s a b o u t 6 0 0 0 ,
i s b e i n g c a t a l o g u e d a t p r e s e n t . Many o f t h e s e s l i d e s
w o u l d b e s u i t a b l e f o r r e p r o d u c t i o n a n d c o u l d b e made
pub1 i c l y a v a i l a b l e . C o m p u t e r i s a t i o n w i 11 a l l o w on-1 i n e
access t o t h e c a t a l o g u e . It i s l i k e l y , however, t h a t
t h i s s e r v i c e w i l l o n l y be o f l i m i t e d i n t e r e s t u n t i l
t e c h n o l o g y advances t o t h e s t a g e where f u l l images can
be economically
stored,
accessed,
t r a n s m i t t e d and
displayed.
The A s s o c i a t i o n has a need f o r a database o f i n f o r m a t i o n from over a thousand f i r e t e s t s conducted at.
BRANZ. W h i l e m u c h i s c o n f i d e n t i a l , i t may b e p o s s i b l e
t o a r r a n g e a c c e s s t o some o f t h i s a s a l l o w e d b y t h e
t e s t s p o n s o r s . A1 t e r n a t e l y B R A N Z may m o u n t , o n b e h a l f
o f SANZ, d a t a f r o m NZSMP9 F i r e p r o p e r t i e s o f b u i l d i n g
m a t e r i a l s and e l e m e n t s o f s t r u c t u r e .
M o r e u n c e r t a i n a t t h i s s t a g e a r e ways i n w h i c h t h e
g e n e r a l p o o l o f e x p e r i e n c e a v a i l a b l e a m o n g s t BRANZ
s t a f f c o u l d be accessed.
Perhaps t h e most coherent
expression o f t h i s experience i s the Advisory Services
e n q u i r i e s f i l e s . C o m p u t e r i s a t i o n o f t h e s e has o b v i o u s
p o t e n t i a l f o r a more e f f i c i e n t A d v i s o r y S e r v i c e w i t h ,
i n t h e longer term, a wider a v a i l a b i l i t y .
Some o f B R A N Z ' s p u b l i c a t i o n s e r i e s , i n p a r t i c u l a r
Building
Information
Bulletins
and
Appraisal
C e r t i f i c a t e s c o u l d be h e l d o n - l i n e i n f u l l t e x t . I t
would be p o s s i b l e t o search these u s i n g a keywordt y p e approach. S i m i l a r l y , indexes t o product informat i o n c o u l d a1 s o b e c o m p u t e r i sed.
O u t s i d e BRANZ t h e r e a r e d a t a b a s e s i n New Z e a l a n d w h i c h
are of potential interest t o the Building Industry.
The
Department
of
Statistics
database
INFOS
has
a l r e a d y b e e n made a v a i l a b l e t o o u t s i d e u s e r s . The F i r e
S e r v i c e and Meteor01 o g i c a l O f f i c e a r e p o t e n t i a l i n f o r mation sources longer term.
L e s l i e and Trethowen
( 1 9 7 7 ) have produced m e t e o r o l o g i c a l f i l e s c o n t a i n i n g
sequential hourly c l imatic records over f i v e years f o r
A u c k l a n d , We1 1 i n g t o n , C h r i s t c h u r c h a n d I n v e r c a r g i l l
T h i s d a t a has been used e x t e n s i v e l y f o r t h e r m a l a n a l y ses o f
buildings,
particularly
for
passive solar
heating studies.
.
I n t e r e s t need n o t be c o n f i n e d t o i n f o r m a t i o n g e n e r a t e d
i n
New
Zealand.
The
computerised
database
being
establ ished
by
the
Architectural
and
Engineering
Performance I n f o r m a t i o n C e n t r e (AEPIC) a t t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f Maryland (Loss
1984),
i s designed t o
receive
information
on
incidents
involving
the
performance o f
projects.
This
i s of
potential
i n t e r e s t b o t h as a s o u r c e o f i n f o r m a t i o n and a model
f o r a s i m i l a r d a t a b a s e i n New Z e a l a n d .
A p p l i c a t i o n S o f t w a r e Packages
I t i s becoming necessary t o c o n s i d e r computer s o f t w a r e
a s an i m p o r t a n t mechanism f o r t h e a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e
A s s o c i a t i o n ' s r e s e a r c h f o r t h e i n d u s t r y . A l r e a d y BRANZ
has
produced
several
pub1 i c a t i o n s
amenable
to
c o n v e r s i o n t o s o f t w a r e p a c k a g e s . An e x a m p l e o f t h i s i s
t h e T e c h n i c a l R e c o m m e n d a t i o n : ' 1 i n t e l s a n d beams s u p porting
1i g h t
timber
frame
constructions'
(BRANZ
1 9 8 3 ) . LINBEAM - a s o f t w a r e v e r s i o n o f t h i s h a s b e e n
p r e p a r e d ( s e e n o t e p.13). Packages such as t h i s c o u l d
produce o u t p u t which c o u l d be used i n s u p p o r t o f a
permit application.
Other
s o f t w a r e packages which
c o u l d b e c o n s i d e r e d , p r o v i d e d t h e r e was a demand f r o m
t h e i n d u s t r y , would i n c l u d e a glass thickness s e l e c t o r
( a s o f t w a r e v e r s i o n o f a f o r t h c o m i n g B u l l e t i n ) , and a
t h e r m a l d e s i g n package based on a r e v i s e d v e r s i o n o f
the
ALF
Design
Manual
(Bassett
1980).
Software
v e r s i o n s o f d e s i g n codes c o u l d a l s o be produced.
W i t h t h e s e packages c a r e f u l c o n s i d e r a t i o n should be
g i v e n t o t h e economic and o t h e r a d v a n t a g e s o f m a i n t a i n i n g them on t h e V A X , as opposed t o m a r k e t i n g
v e r s i o n s w h i c h c o u l d b e r u n o n PCs o r m i c r o - c o m p u t e r s .
C o m n l e r c i a1 P a c k a g e s
G i v e n t h a t t h e BRANZ c o m p u t e r b e c o m e s t h e f o c u s o f a
t o t a l b u i l d i n g industry information resource, conside r a t i o n c o u l d be g i v e n t o making a v a i l a b l e packages
o n s u c h s u b j e c t s as. e n g i n e e r i n g
design, building
e n e r g y a n a l y s i s , s t a t i s t i c a l a n a l y s i s e t c . The c o s t o f
such packages m i g h t n o t be j u s t i f i e d f o r i n d i v i d u a l
u s e r s , o r f o r BRANZ i n t e r n a l use, b u t c o u l d be a
worthwhile co-operative investment f o r t h e b u i l d i n g
i n d u s t r y as a whole.
E x p e r t Systems
One
particular
area
worth
focussing
on
i s
the
a p p l i c a t i o n o f e x p e r t systems. They o f f e r a g r e a t
potential for information transfer 'to the building
i n d u s t r y i n a s i m p l e b u t u s e f u l f o r m ( G e r o a n d Coyne,
1984; Lansdown, 1982; and W r i g h t , 1 9 8 4 ) .
U n t i l r e c e n t l y computers have been used t o s o l v e
m a i n l y numerical problems. I n t h e r e a l world, n o t a l l
p r o b l e m s can be p u t i n t o e q u a t i o n s , a l o t o f problems
a r e m o r e e a s i l y s o l v e d b y a p p l y i n g k n o w l e d g e , much o f
w h i c h i s d e r i v e d f r o m r e a l - 1 if e e x p e r i e n c e s g a i n e d
through working i n those f i e l d s .
8
An
e x p e r t system8 has been d e f i n e d ( f o r example,
G e v a r t e r , 1982) as a s o f t w a r e system w h i c h a t t e m p t s t o
r e p r e s e n t t h e k n o w l e d g e o f a human e x p e r t i n a
s p e c i f i c domain and t o s i m u l a t e t h e d e d u c t i v e and
reasoning processes o f . t h e expert using t h e stored
k n o w l e d g e . An e x p e r t s y s t e m g e n e r a l l y c o n s i s t s o f t w o
parts:
1.
The ' k n o w l e d g e b a s e 8 w h i c h r e p r e s e n t s t h e f a c t s
and r u l e s a b o u t t h e p r o b l e m domain.
2.
The ' i n f e r e n c e e n g i n e ' w h i c h i s a t a s k w h i c h
i n t e r r o g a t e s t h e k n o w l e d g e b a s e and makes l o g i c a l
d e d u c t i o n s based on i t and a l s o on i n f o r m a t i o n
gathered from a user.
B R A N Z h a s now s t a r t e d a f e a s i b i l i t y s t u d y o f t h e
a p p l i c a t i o n o f e x p e r t systems f o r i t s e l f and f o r t h e
b u i l d i n g i n d u s t r y . I n i t i a l l y , two t e c h n i q u e s w i l l be
considered:
-
Diagnostic
Text animation ( o r C l a s s i f i c a t i o n )
D i a g n o s t i c methods c o u l d be used, f o r example, t o
diagnose
problems
in
buildings.
Sachdeva
(1985)
describes
a
diagnostic
system
for
architectural
m o i s t u r e p r o b l e m s (DAMP) ( s e e n o t e , p a g e 13). T h e D A M P
e x p e r t s y s t e m h a s b e e n d e v e l o p e d u s i n g L I S P a n d PASCAL
languages, t h e knowledge base has been c r e a t e d w i t h
t h e a s s i s t a n c e , o f A s s o c i a t i o n r e s e a r c h e r s and f i e l d
s t a f f . I t i s p l a n n e d t o i m p l e m e n t t h i s DAMP e x p e r t
s y s t e m on t h e R R A N Z c o m p u t e r so t h a t i t s f e a s i b i l i t y
f o r use by t h e b u i l d i n g i n d u s t r y can be e v a l u a t e d .
T e x t a n i m a t i o n ( N a y l o r , 1 9 8 4 ) i s a new t e c h n i q u e o f
e x p e r t system a p p l i c a t i o n . I t s aim i s t o p r e s e n t t e x t s
such as complex r e y u l a t i o n s , t a x codes, b u i l d i n g codes
e t c . i n a way t h a t t h e y c a n b e e a s i l y a c c e s s e d a n d
used. B u i l d i n g codes such as NZS 3604 f o r l i g h t t i m b e r
frame b u i l d i n g s , and N Z S 1900 C h a p t e r 5 F i r e - r e s i s t i n g
c o n s t r u c t i o n and means o f e g r e s s , a r e t h e s u b j e c t o f a
substantial
proportion
of
queries
to
the
BRANZ
A d v i s o r y S e r v i c e . P r e s e n t a t i o n o f b u i l d i n g codes on
t h e BRANZ computer u s i n g t e x t a n i m a t i o n t e c h n i q u e s
c o u l d ,be a v a l u a b l e s e r v i c e . T h i s t a s k c o u l d be
simp1 i f i e d i f c o d e w r i t e r s recognised t h i s p o s s i b i l i t y
by p r e p a r i n g d e c i s i o n a l g o r i t h m s d u r i n g code preparation.
CONCLUSIONS
BRANZ i s i n i t i a t i n g t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f a c o m p u t e r i s e d
It i s
resource of b u i l d i n g technology information.
envisaged t h a t t h i s r e s o u r c e w i l l be w i d e l y a c c e s s i b l e
t o a l l sectors o f the industry.
A V A X 11/750 computer and C A I R S i n f o r m a t i o n r e t r i e v a l
s o f t w a r e have been purchased, and a h i g h speed l i n k t o
t h e PPSN i s b e i n g arranged. Immediate p l a n s a r e t o
computerise
bib1iographic
records
of
the
1i b r a r y
h o l d i n g s back t o 1974. T h i s w i l l a l l o w u s e r s d i r e c t
a c c e s s t o t h e l i b r a r y c a t a l o g u e , and w i l l f a c i l i t a t e
keyword searching f o r information. It w i l l also allow
t h e l i b r a r y t o introduce a g r e a t e r range o f services
such as i n d i v i d u a l c u r r e n t awareness p r o f i l e s .
B R A N Z s h o u l d a i m t o d e v e l o p i t s r e s o u r c e t o become
p a r t o f a c o - o r d i n a t e d and i n t e r - r e l a t e d b u i l d i n g
i n f o r m a t i o n r e s o u r c e funded by u s e r s o f t h e i n f o r m a tion. I f the t r u e costs o f information searching are
i s o l a t e d and r e c o g n i s e d by t h e i n d u s t r y , t h e r e i s
p o t e n t i a l f o r r e c o v e r i n g t h e c o s t o f s u c h an i n f o r a i a t i o n resource.
A co-ordinated information resource should take i n t o
a c c o u n t ways i n w h i c h i n d u s t r y u s e s i n f o r m a t i o n , and
t h e a v a i l a b i l i t y o f o t h e r r e s o u r c e s , r a n g i n g f r o m PCs
i n i n d i v i d u a l o f f i c e s t o l a r g e overseas databases.
I
I
1
A l i s t of
extensive:
-
-
potential
information
resources
A wide range o f b i b l i o g r a p h i c
Zeal and and o v e r s e a s .
databases
i s
quite
i n New
Non-bib1 i o g r a p h i c databases, r a n g i n g from D i r e c t o r y
o f B u i l d i n g - R e l a t e d R e s e a r c h i n New Z e a l a n d , t o
n u m e r i c a l i n f o r m a t i o n such as m e t e o r o l o g i c a l data;
t h e D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t i s t i c s d a t a b a s e INFOS; a n d
overseas databases. such as AEPIC.
BRANZ-devel oped s o f t w a r e p a c k a g e s .
Commercial packages.
D i a g n o s t i c and t e x t a n i m a t i o n - b a s e d e x p e r t systems.
T h i s l a s t a r e a i s one o f t h e most e x c i t i n g and powerf u l areas o f p o t e n t i a l development f o r t h e i n f o r m a t i o n
resource.
REFERENCES
-
BASSETT, M. ( 1 9 8 0 ) A l f d e s i g n m a n u a l
A i d t o Thermal
design o f b u i l d i n g s , B u i l d i n g Research A s s o c i a t i o n o f
New Z e a l a n d . T e c h n i c a l . P a p e r P .28, J u d g e f o r d .
BRANZ ( 1 9 8 3 ) L i n t e l s a n d beams s u p p o r t i n g l i g h t t i m b e r
frame c o n s t r u c t i o n s , B u i l d i n g Research A s s o c i a t i o n o f
New Z e a l a n d , T e c h n i c a l R e c o m m e n d a t i o n 2 , J u d g e f o r d .
BRANZ ( 1 9 8 4 ) D i r e c t o r y o f b u i l d i n g - r e l a t e d r e s e a r c h
p r o j e c t s i n New Z e a l a n d . B u i l d i n g R e s e a r c h A s s o c i a t i o n
o f New Z e a l a n d , J u d g e f o r d .
GEHO, J o h n S . 8 COYNE, R i c h a r d ( 1 9 8 4 ) T h e p l a c e o f
e x p e r t s y s t e m s i n a r c h i t e c t u r e , f r o m CAD 8 4 , B u t t e r wo,rths, G u i l d f o r d . p.529-546.
G E V A R T E R , W i l l i a m B . ( 1 9 8 2 ) An o v e r v i e w o f e x p e r t
systems,
National
Technical
Information
Service,
R e p o r t No. N B S I R 8 2 - 2 5 0 5 S p r i n g f i e l d , V A .
H I S S I N K , M.D.
( 1 9 8 5 ) L o c a l d a t a b a s e s i n New Z e a l a n d ,
Building
Research
Association
of
New
Zeal and,
Conference Paper 8, J u d g e f o r d .
JONES, K e v i n P . ( 1 9 8 4 ) T h e e f f e c t s o f e x p e r t a n d
allied
systems
on
information
handling:
some
s c e n a r i o s , A s l i b Proceedings, 3 6 ( 5 ) : 313-217.
LANSDOWN, J o h n ( 1 9 8 2 ) E x p e r t S y s t e m s : T h e i r i m p a c t o n
t h e construction industry, Report t o R I B A Conference
Fund.
L E S L I E , S.F.,
8 TRETHOWEN, H . A . ( 1 9 7 7 ) A c o m p u t e r f i l e
o f New Z e a l a n d c l i m a t e , New Z e a l a n d E n e r g y R e s e a r c h
a n d D e v e l o p m e n t C o m m i t t e e . R e p o r t No. 2 1 , A u c k l a n d .
LOSS,
John
(1984)
Architecture
engineering
and
c o n s t r u c t i o n : p e r f o r m a n c e , The A r c h i t e c t u r a 1 E n g i n e e r i n g Performance I n f o r m a t i o n Centre (AEPIC). Maryland.
NAYLOR, C . ( 1 9 8 4 ) T e x t a n i m a t i o n : s e t t o f o l l o w i n t h e
f o o t s t e p s o f word p r o c e s s i n g , Computer T a l k 1 8 J u n e
1984.
NZSMP9 F i r e p r o p e r t i e s o f
building materials
elements o f s t r u c t u r e . Standards Association o f
Z e a l a n d . We1 1 i n g t o n .
and
New
NZS 1900. C h a p t e r 5 F i r e - r e s i s t i n g c o n s t r u c t i o n and
m e a n s o f e q r e s s . S t a n d a r d s A s s o c i a t i o n o f New Z e a l a n d .
We1 1 in g t o n .
-
N Z S 3604 Code o f p r a c t i c e f o r l i g h t t i m b e r f r a m e
b u i l d i n g s not requiring . s p e c i f i c design.
Standards
A s s o c i a t i o n o f New Z e a l a n d . W e l l i n y t o n .
PATTERSON. C.J. & FARRANT. H.H.
(1984)
~bbreviated report
of
information
dissemination
strategies,
Building
Research A s s o c i a t i o n
of
New
Z e a l a n d , M i s c e l l a n e o u s , P u b 1 i c a t i o n MP2. J u d g e f o r d .
POLLITT, A.S.
( 1 9 8 4 ) A ' f r o n t - e n d ' s y s t e m : an e x p e r t
system
as
an
on-1 i n e
search
intermediary,
As1 ib
Proceedings, 36(5):229-234.
-
SACHDEVA, P. ( 1 9 8 5 ) DAMP
a d i a g n o s t i c system f o r
a r c h i t e c t u r a l m o i s t u r e damage p r o b l e m s . T h e A u s t r a l i a n
Computer J o u r n a l , l 7 ( l ) :27-32.
WRIGHT,
R i c h a r d N. ( 1 9 8 4 ) C o m p u t e r s i n b u i l d i n g : a
s t r a t e g y f o r b u i l d i n g r e s e a r c h , B u i l d i n g Research and
P r a c t i c e 12(1):14-20.
NOTE
T h e p a c k a g e s LINBEAM a n d D A M P w i l l b e d e m o n s t r a t e d i n
Workshop 3 b y T e r r y Meal and Pramod Sachdeva.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
T h e a u t h o r s w o u l d l i k e t o t h a n k t h e f o l l o w i n g BRANZ
p e r s o n n e l f o r t h e i r a s s i s t a n c e - E.T. K e e n e , D r . H.L.
B a b e r , Ms. M.D.
H i s s i n k ( n o w o f D S I R ) , A.G.
S m i t h and
T.P.
N e a l , a l s o M e s s r s . M.A. C o l l i n s a n d J.W. H a r r i s o n
o f t h e BRANZ B o a r d .
BRANZ w o u l d a l s o l i k e t o a c k n o w l e d g e t h e a s s i s t a n c e o f
P . S a c h d e v a , M. H a m i l t o n a n d D r . G. W r i g h t o f t h e
Computer S c i e n c e Department, V i c t o r i a U n i v e r s i t y o f
W e l l i n g t o n , who h a v e d e v e l o p e d t h e DAMP s y s t e m .
APPENDIX:
PUBLIC PACKET S W I T C H I N G N E T W O R K C H A R G E S
An o u t s i d e u s e r w i l l b e a b l e t o u s e B R A N Z V A X 1 1 1 7 5 0
c o m p u t e r b y c o n n e c t i n g d a t a t e r m i n a l e q u i p m e n t (VDU,
t e l e p r i n t e r , P C d e p e n d i n g on i t s l e v e l o f u s a g e e t c . . )
t o t h e PPSN. There a r e two b a s i c methods f o r t h e
c o n n e c t i o n , D a t e l which uses e x i s t i n g phones o r a
d e d i c a t e d l i n k t o t h e PPSN.
For a Datel connection,
t h e PPSN c o s t s i n v o l v e d a r e :
M o n t h l y r e n t a l o f Modem a t 3 0 0 b a u d
M o n t h l y r e n t a l o f Modem a t 1 2 0 0 b a u d
Hourly charge f o r a c t i v e connection
Monthly charge f o r user i d e n t i t y
Data t r a n s f e r c h a r g e p e r 64000 c h a r a c t e r s
$20.
$25
$ 2.40
$ 4.0
8 1.0
.,
F o r a d e d i c a t e d c o n n e c t i o n t o t h e PPSN,
involved are:
the costs
M o n t h l y r e n t a l o f Modem a t 3 0 0 b a u d
M o n t h l y r e n t a l o f Modem a t 1 2 0 0 b a u d
Hourly charge f o r a c t i v e connection
D a t a t r a n s f e r c h a r g e p e r 64000 c h a r a c t e r s
$160.
$210.
$ 0.60
$
1 .O
O u t s i d e users can apply t o t h e Post O f f i c e t o connect
t h e i r e q u i p m e n t b y e i t h e r mode d e p e n d i n g o n t h e i r
r e q u i r e m e n t s . The t a b l e b e l o w c o m p a r e s m o n t h l y P P S N
c o s t s o f t h e t w o modes r u n n i n g a t 300 b a u d :
Hours o f usageslday
1
2
3
4
a
Date1
8 74
$125
$175
$225
$427
Dedicated
$173
$185
$198
$210
$261
Notes:
Excluding data t r a n s f e r
days p e r month.
Deduct $20 from
a c o u s t i c coup1 e r .
Datel
cost
i f
and
assuming 21
using
your
own
Figure 1 The BRANZ Building Data Base
Industry
Enquiries
Technical
Advisers
Research
Staff
Library
Staff
Library Data Base
NZBN
(additional references,
including bibliographies)
(New Zealand
Bibliographic Network/
hasted by the National
L ibraty)
Directory of Research
Directory of Other Sources
of Information
Overseas Data Bases
(accessed via OASIS)
Fire Test Data
I
lndex to BRANZ Publications
(some full-text items/
includes BRA N Z appraisal
certificates, notes of
amendments, and 'BUILD?
DIALOG
(USA)
PERGAMON INFO-LINE
I
I
I
I
Product Index
(to building trade
literatud
Answers to Frequent
Enquiries
National Building Code
(will incorporate model
by-lad
Adapted from Hisink 1985
BUILDING RESEARCH ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND INC.
HEAD OFFICE AND LIBRARY, MOONSHINE ROAD, JUDGEFORD.
The Building Research Association of New Zealand i s
an industry-backed, independent research and testing
organisation set up to acquire, apply and distribute
knowledge about building which will benefit the
industry and through i t t h e community a t large.
Postal Address: BRANZ. Private Bag. Porirua