Computer-aided design and development planning

Abstract

We shall define development here as the provision of servicing facilities for the whole or part of a site. The training which the student developer receives must therefore allow him to propose servicing solutions consistent with the technical, economic and social characteristics of the geographical area in which he has been called on to work. The developer must be trained to carry out prediction studies in town planning. The goal of such studies is multiple:

• predict, for a given programme, the effects on the town, or the sector under study, of the planned operation

• predict, for the same programme, the various development plans possible

• compare solutions obtained with different programmes.

In order to reach this goal the student — like the professional — must have at his disposal reliable tools which can be used at a stage in operation planning when detailed working data are not readily available. CAD systems defined as ‘organized and organizable sets of simple data processing aids’ can provide such tools.

In the development field two systems of this nature are at present in use: the CEDRE system and the VERDI system.

These two CAD systems allow for immediate integration of any changes in routing and for the study of any type of variant. They are at present being used for the initial training of development engineers and for the further training of professionals concerned.

The use of these two systems facilitates training both in the technical field concerned and in CAD.