Applications of IT in Civil

Engineering
Information Concepts

An awareness and understanding of a set

of information and ways that information
can be made useful to support a specific
task or reach a decision
Knowledge
A collection of facts organized in
such a way that they have
Information additional value beyond the
value of the facts themselves.

Data Raw facts

An Hierarchical Model of
Intelligence

Wisdom

Knowledge
+ Vision
Information
+ Experience
Data + Context
 Data versus Information

Data Information
raw facts or observations informative value
meaningless time dependent
time independent human efficient
machine efficient specific
general purpose based on previous
knowledge

Different types of information can be derived from

the same source of data .
 Data versus Information
Data: raw facts.
Information: organized collection of facts
Knowledge: an awareness and
understanding of a set of information
and ways that information can be made
useful to support a specific task or reach
a decision.
 Attributes of Information
Quality
What characteristics would make information products
valuable and useful to you?
examine the characteristics or attributes of information
quality.
Information that is outdated, inaccurate, or hard to
understand would not be very meaningful, useful, or
valuable to you or other end users.
People want information of high quality, that is,
information products whose characteristics, attributes,
or qualities help make it valuable to them. It is useful to
think of information as having the three dimensions of
time, content, and form.
Attributes of Information
Quality
Attributes of Information
Quality
 A System

A system is a group of interrelated

components working together toward a
common goal by accepting inputs and
producing outputs in an organized information
process.
 The System Concept
System:
... a group of elements or parts that are
integrated through the common purpose of
achieving some objective.

}
input
processing - environment
output - other systems
feedback
control

OBrien p 21
 Components of System

Input involves capturing and assembling elements that

enter the system to be processed. For example, raw
materials, energy, data, and human effort must be
secured and organized for processing.
Processing involves transformation processes that
convert input into output. Examples are a
manufacturing process, the human breathing process,
or mathematical calculations.
Output involves transferring elements that have been
produced by a transformation process to their ultimate
destination. For example, finished products, human
services, and management information must be
transmitted to their human users.
The importance of Information Systems

An information system is a set of people , procedures

and resources that:
collect
transform
disseminates
information in an organization.

Information is used for better management

Companies cannot operate any more without

automated information systems

OBrien p 7-8
 Concept of an Information System

An information system (IS) can be any organized

combination of people, hardware, software,
communications networks, and data resources that
collects, transforms, and disseminates information
in an organization.
Concept of an Information System

People

Data

Software

Hardware

Networks
 What Is a Computer-Based
Information System?
Computer based systems use hardware, software,
telecommunications networks, computer-based data
management techniques, and other forms of IT to
transform data resources into a variety of information
products. These products provide information for decision
making by managers.

Hardware
Software
Database
Network
Procedures
People
 An End User Perspective

Anyone who uses an information system or the

information it produces is an end user.
Organizations need people who can use networked
computer workstations to enhance their own personal
productivity and the productivity of their workgroups,
process teams, departments, and organizations. For
example, you should be able to use the Internet and
electronic mail to communicate more effectively,
spreadsheet packages to more effectively analyze
decision situations, database management packages
to provide better reports on organizational
performance, and specialized business software to
support your specific work activities.
 An Enterprise Perspective

Today's internetworked information systems

play a vital role in the business success of an
enterprise. For example, the Internet, and
Internet-like internal networks or intranets, and
external interorganizational networks called
extranets can provide the information
infrastructure a business needs for efficient
operations, effective management, and
competitive advantage.
 Enterprise Perspective
Worldwide information Society
Knowledge workers
Information create
use
dissiminate
Use information technology to manage people,
finances, material, energy,
 A Global Society Perspective

We are living in a global information society,

with a global economy that is increasingly
dependent on the creation, management, and
distribution of information resources over
interconnected global networks. So
information is a basic resource in today's
society.
 The Internetworked Enterprise

There is one major change in information technology

on whose importance, business executives,
academicians, and technologists all agree. It is the
explosive growth of the Internet and related
technologies and applications, and their impact on
business, society, and information technology.

The Internet and Internetlike networks inside the

enterprise (intranets), between an enterprise and its
trading partners (extranets), and other networks, have
become the primary information technology
infrastructure that supports the business operations of
many organizations.
 The Internetworked Enterprise

Enterprise collaboration systems involve the use of

groupware tools to support communication,
coordination, and collaboration among the members of
networked teams and workgroups. An internetworked
enterprise may use the Internet, intranets, extranets,
and other networks to implement such systems. For
example, employees and external consultants may
form a virtual team that uses electronic mail,
videoconferencing, electronic discussion groups and
multimedia web pages of work in progress information
to collaborate on business projects.
The Internetwork- enterprises

The Internet

Intranets
Extranets
Enterprise

Intranets Intranets

Client Supplier

Intranets
Electronic Commerce
Other Organizations