XN000022-1973-10-25 — Page 2

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Thursday, October 25, 1973

PVD PLANNING WIDER USE OF COMPUTERS

A detailed study is being made into ways of computerising the

operations of certain sections of the Public Works Department.

"While the department already makes use of computer processes,

particularly for engineering calculations, there is considerable opportunity

to expand the use of computers over a wide range of activities in order to

speed up the handling of the increasing volume of paper work, to improve

methods of technological calculation and to increase overall efficiency,"

a spokesman said today.

The study, which is being conducted by a team of consultants from

Lowe Bingham Company, began in mid-June this year and is expected to be

completed by February.

This work comprises the first stage of a two-part programme and

is concerned mainly with preliminary investigations and identification of

potential areas for computerisation over the next five years.

This will be followed by a second stage, which will involve the

implementation of certain high priority projects, the spokesman said. It

will also include the detailed study of problems of staffing and costing

and will make recommendations on the department's future developments and

requirements.

"The consultants have already investigated and identified a number

of potential projects which could benefit from computerisation. Detailed

recommendations and a description of their findings will shortly be submitted

to the department for consideration," he said.

/Of the