Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Testing trajectory Westerschelde Tunnel
Defining the product characteristics
The basis for a test is the determining of the characteristics to be measured.
These details are set in the schedule of requirements and its elaboration - the
functional designs.The characteristic to be measured must be translated into
objectifiable terms.
In a verification process it is common to record all the (sub)systems to be
tested, together with characteristics to be measured, into a so-called verifi-
cation matrix. Although it merely seems to suffice with a summary of func-
tional requirements to which the system must comply, in practice it appears
that this is inadequate. From the general briefs - the tunnel must be dry,
it must be light, have air available and be safe for the road user - the clear
functional formulation of what those (abstract) requirements exactly (actu-
ally) mean, calls for a sound architectural approach and knowledge of the
tunnel to be built in its environment. Furthermore, there is a multitude of
laws and regulations applicable. All in all this led to a difficult transforma-
tion of requirements from functional to technical, in which an unintentional
mix of these two types of requirements came about. Due to this, it appeared
that particularly specific requirements sometimes made the functionally set
requirements unrealisable.
Verifics
Due to the mix of various types of requirements and the extent of the system
at the Westerschelde Tunnel, the set up of a manageable verification matrix
had become impracticable, a solution was sought in the use of a software
package (Verifics) which was developed from the methodology of 'Product
Knowledge Management (PKM)'.
PKM is a theoretical framework which is the basis from which the data of the
project, product and process can effectively be managed, recorded and
opened up in an easily accessible manner. PKM assumes the principle, that
designing is a multi-disciplinary activity and that there are 11 different methods
of consideration which are important within the design process. In addition,
the framework takes the entire lifecycle of an object into consideration in
which six phases are differentiated (as required, as proposed, as designed,
as built, as maintained and as demolished).
Verifics is a software application in which the theoretical PKM framework
is operationalised whereby specific applications are possible. Verifics was
applied within the WesterscheldeTunnel project for the managing of tests and
the verification of the manner in which the schedule of requirements was
interpreted by the contractor. By means of hyperlinks (web technology), the
package is capable of causing a relationship between all the different require-
ments set, and makes the complicated structure of the design accessible at all
levels, whereby it also permits all possible cross sections of the design.
Powerful instrument
For the designers of the PKM framework and Verifics, the application within
the WesterscheldeTunnel was an immediate test to see if the package which
was developed from the theory, would be suitable for application onto a
conventionally set schedule of requirements.
It appeared that with this instrument, it was possible to link up and to relate
the requirements which were formulated from different models with each
other; the relations between functional requirements, technical require-
ments and the design could be made instantly visible.This made it possible,
per requirement, to indicate with which type of test the compliance or not
with this requirement could be shown. By directly including the reference to
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