The Use of CAD in Hong Kong
Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) systems are used to produce virtually all drawings related to construction in Hong Kong. CAD systems are used by Government Departments, client organisations, consultants, contractors and suppliers.
Most of these organisations have developed in-house standards to ensure data compatibility and uniform presentation of their drawings. These standards are usually developed to meet in-house requirements and do not take account of others' standards. This is an understandable approach as there are no common industry standards to follow. Some client organisations require those supplying drawings to provide them to the client's own standards. In many cases however such requirements are not specified.
Two main CAD systems are used in Hong Kong; they are AutoCAD and Microstation. Although data can be transferred between the systems, the small differences that exist in the many CAD standards being used mean that data transfers are very often not wholly successful. As a result, the benefits that would arise from a free flow of CAD data between parties involved in the whole life-cycle of a project are not realised.
The Use of CAD within Government
Most Hong Kong Government construction projects fall under the portfolio of those departments that come under the umbrella of the Works Bureau. These departments are:
Transport Department M, although not under the Works Bureau, is also involved in many Government construction projects.
Each of these departments runs a CAD system. There is a roughly equal split between those that use AutoCAD and those that use Microstation, which is indicated above by the letters A and M after the departments' names.
Each of the departments has developed its own CAD standards to suit its own needs. No one standard is better than another, they are just different. As a result, CAD data exchange between the departments is limited due to incompatibilities in the data.
The same incompatibilities of data and lack of a common, published set of CAD standards also prevent easy exchange of electronic drawings between the departments and their consultants, contractors and suppliers.
The Purpose of the CSWD Study
To overcome the differences in the departments' CAD standards, the Works Bureau has commissioned the 'CSWD Study'. CSWD stands for 'CAD Standard for Works Departments'.
The purpose of the CSWD Study is to align the Works Departments' CAD standards to produce a common set of standards that will be adopted by all the departments and to which their consultants, contractors and suppliers will be required to work. It is envisaged that the CSWD will become the "de-facto" CAD standard used in the Hong Kong construction industry.
The Objectives
The objectives of the CSWD Study are:
| (i) | To set CAD standards that will facilitate CAD data exchange amongst the participating departments and other data providers. This will include CAD data exchange, both ways, between AutoCAD and Microstation. |
| (ii) | To standardise and rationalise the use of drawing element representations, information types, drawing settings and resources files. |
| (iii) | To facilitate the management of CAD Data. |
| (iv) | To improve drawing production efficiency through the specification of tools that will ensure compliance with the standards. |
| (v) | To make administrative arrangements for updating the standards in (i) to (iv) above. |
The Study Deliverables
The output from the Study will be:
| (i) | A set of documented CAD standards for use in AutoCAD and Microstation. |
| (ii) | Standard template and resource files for use in AutoCAD and Microstation. |
| (iii) | A set of files to assist in mapping the exchange of data between AutoCAD and Microstation. |
| (iv) | A database of drawing symbols. |
| (v) | A specification against which a 'Standard Interface' program will be developed. The Standard Interface will assist users in ensuring that their CAD work is carried out in accordance with the CSWD. |
| (vi) | Recommendations for the structure and function of an Administration Committee that will oversee the future maintenance and upgrading of the CSWD. |
The Study Programme
The CSWD Study is being undertaken in five stages. They are:
| (i) | Stage 1 - Base-lining (understanding and documenting the standards in use in the departments) |
| (ii) | Stage 2 - Functional Requirements (defining what the CSWD should do) |
| (iii) | Stage 3 - The Preliminary CSWD |
| (iv) | Stage 4 - Consultation |
| (v) | Stage 5 - Finalisation |
The Study commenced in November 2000 and is scheduled to be complete by the end of 2001. Stages 1,2 and 3 have been completed and Stage 4 - Consultation is now underway.
The CSWD Consultant
The Consultant for the CSWD Study is Atkins China Ltd. supported by Intergraph Hong Kong Limited.