The additional cost for each firm to hook onto the system would be limited to a few hundred dollars. The OSSC is scheduled to be ready in 2001. A pilot implementation phase was carried out to test the project concept, the process flows and the key technologies. The pilot has just been successfully completed and I understand that visitors to this trade fair will be able to witness a demonstration of the OSSC in action. Another important development aimed at helping the construction industry gear up for IT and the Internet is the production of a set of National IT Standards to facilitate information exchange.
Information produced by the industry usually appears as graphics or text within drawings.
The information is exchanged among the various players working together to offer products and services to their common clients. But as these players come from different firms and disciplines, there are differences in the way they structure their electronic information. Having a set of IT standards will pave the way for more effective sharing of electronic information among the firms and construction authorities involved in any particular project. These are the Standards for the Classification of Construction Cost Information, and CAD Standards for Layering and Symbols. I am pleased to note that both these standards will be ready by December this year.