Advanced construction technology system: acts

The Advanced Construction Technology System (ACTS) is a computerized data base for the classification, documentation, storage, and retrieval of information about emerging construction technologies. ACTS consists of a custom Microsoft (MS) Windows application, classification, and keyword files and a data base of emerging technologies. It currently includes technologies that relate to civil, architectural, electrical, instrumentation, mechanical, and piping systems. Technologies have been classified according to the CSI Masterformat, indexed using a predetermined set of keywords, and described according to a standard format that determines the type, amount, and organization of information about each technology. The ACTS project was supported by the Construction Industry Institute and the Construction Productivity Advancement Research program (CPAR) of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Ultimately, it is anticipated that ACTS will be established as an ongoing information service to the U.S. construction industry that will help contractors, designers, and owners identify and use emerging technologies to improve construction efficiency and effectiveness. ACTS has been developed in Actor, an object-oriented general-purpose language for MS Windows 3.x and is available from the first writer on request.