The functional specifications of the Pavement Integrated Data Base System (PIDBS) of the New York State Thruway Authority are described. The PIDBS serves as the primary mechanism of linking all applications in the domain of pavement management. Its structure follows a top-down design that encompasses all functions within the pavement management process. The design of the data base uses the entity-relationship data modelling technique, in which data elements are viewed in the form of entities having defined keys and attributes and relationships among these entities. Each data element is defined and documented in a data dictionary. The data base has been implemented using the ORACLE relational data base management system. Applications include interactive interfaces with dedicated screens, forms, and menus for report generation and programmatic interfaces with automatic data conversion for analysis purposes. A prototype version of the PIDBS has been tested and further expanded to serve as a working model of the system. Important aspects of the development effort, tools used, and system applications are discussed. Establishment of functional specifications, which clearly define the structure and capabilities of the system, is an important requirement for a successful data base design.
Samenvatting