An Introduction to Integrated Database Systems
Electronic technology in the construction industry today is entering a new era of advancement and sophistication. Management and implementation of the new technologies are becoming integral parts of company strategic plans. One emerging concept is the integration of systems and data structured in a manner compatible with the sharing of information both internally and externally. This philosophy is referred to as Integrated Database Systems.
An integrated database is a concept of organizing, storing, and managing all electronic data relating to a major activity or area of interest (a project, for example) in such a fashion that data is entered and stored once and then accessed and utilized by multiple users and applications. Primary benefits include reduced errors, elimination of duplicate effort and input, and shorter cycle times.
{^widget|(widget_displayname)WatermarkImage|(name)WatermarkImage|(image)%7e%2fCII%2fmedia%2fPublications%2f20_2Figure2.PNG%3fext%3d.png|(width)|(height)^}The research provides examples of approaches and ideology in the implementation of integrated database systems within our industry. The examples display some of the issues that are being faced in the selection of hardware and software platforms in a changing electronic environment. A pressing need is for standardization – to allow for the internal as well as external sharing of information.
Barriers to adoption still exist both internal and external to any given company. Internal barriers can be mitigated by creating a good strategic plan, selecting the appropriate technology, and having a firm commitment and support by managers. External barriers will need to be addressed by the industry over time and include: lack of common commodity codes, graphics, and other electronic standards. (RS20-2, p. 19)
