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3 COMPUTER GRAPHICS TRAINING NAVAL FACILITIES ENGINEERING COMMAND (NAVFAC) Training for computer systems is approached from many directions. Initial training is normally in-class and hands-on. Application training is oriented to each discipline; other training includes system management, macro languages, standard operating procedures and data translation issues. Follow-on training may include additional in-class time. On-line tutorials and video tapes are also used. NAVFAC training attempts to provide computer training related to the use of computers applied to an application. Separate training is provided for teaching the application (i.e., cost estimating is taught as a separate course). NAVFAC trains in-house personnel and supports training efforts for all users including private A/Es using its systems. This training may be provided by private con- tractors, other Navy activities, or in-house NAVFAC personnel. "Hot-line" support is provided for all systems; information is fed back to improve user documentation, tutorials and classroom training. 11
U.S. POSTAL SERVICE (USPS) Office of Design and Construction Personnel are trained in the use of CAD systems by commercial training facilities. Training in the use of the specialized software is generally provided through the architect-engineer responsible for its development. User groups are formed for specialized applications, such as our current task forces for further CAD-based development of existing small and medium-sized standard plans, and for adding additional standard plans for other sizes of facilities. Office of Operations. Methods. Systems, and Quality Training is undertaken through the following activities: 1) AutoCAD basics is obtained through Autodesk approved training vendors, 2) An electronic bulletin board is available through a USPS support site, and 3) Plan to establish courses at the USPS management academy for advanced CAD training. GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION PUBLIC BUILDINGS SERVICE (GSA/PBS) PBS reports that training is provided by the vendors and by contractors. There are no formal user groups. The level of participation in outside groups is not known. PORT AUTHORITY OF NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY (PANYNJ) Currently, training on ComputerVision is handled in one of three ways: 12
1) Off-site by the vendor or consultants, 2) On-site by the vendor; or 3) Self-paced training, on-site, using vendor- supplied training materials. Training in AutoCAD is performed by consultants either on-site or off- site. Internal user groups for ComputerVision once existed and were disbanded. There are plans to reinstitute user groups for ComputerVision. The Port Authority is an active member of the National ComputerVision User Group and partici- pates in their annual meeting. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS (CoE) Within the Corps, Intergraph sites use Intergraph supplied training either on location or in Huntsville, Alabama. The offices often designate generalists and specialist personnel and train them accordingly. One-on- one (expert to novice) training is used in many cases to supplement the formal Intergraph training. The AutoCAD sites use various formal training insti- tutes, but not as extensively as the Intergraph offices. The AutoCAD sites depend more heavily on expert to novice assistance. Most offices report that training is an area of considerable cost and that proper pre-training prepara- tion contributes to the effectiveness of formal training. NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION (NASA) The Facilities Engineering Division of NASA reports that training is undertaken by outside contractors on- site or at a computer training center. While there are no internal user groups, CADD user groups exist at some NASA Centers. 13
OTHER AGENCIES The National Institute of Standards and Technology's Structures Division of the Center for Building Technology reports training is undertaken in Patran. In the Depart- ment of Veterans Affairs select personnel are trained by Intergraph at their training facility. Public Health Service reports that all training is provided through outside vendors. 14
