This guide is designed to help managers at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers construction field offices determine their needs for microcomputer support in their day-to-day operations, and select and procure appropriate systems. The information in this report supersedes that in the 1983 edition. The guide begins with an introductory tutorial on microcomputers intended to provide managers with the necessary information to make decisions about microcomputers, followed by a review of software packages and examples of their use. After a discussion of factors that influence the use of microcomputers in construction field offices, a step-by-step procedure is presented to assess the needs for automation at a specific office. Next, a method is described which will assist the field manager in determining the characteristics of an appropriately sized computer system to meet the needs of his/her field operation. Three general methods of procurement are described: competitive procurement using the Federal supply schedule, competitive procurement using performance specification, and sole-source procurement.

How to select and use microcomputers for on-site construction work. Table of Contents: What Computer Fits the Job?; Software Applications; Identifying Project Computer Needs; Putting It All to Work; Security Concerns for Field Computers; Protecting Your Computer from Harsh Field Conditions; Glossary. 100 illustrations.