Partnership, a UK firm of Architects arid Planning Consultants.
ARK-2 applies graphics techniques to design problems such as demographic analyses, visualization of the final product in 2-or 3D and also provides an information system.
The ยฃ80 000 hardware on which ARK-2 is to operate includes a PDP-15/76 with 32 k words of 18-bit memory, a 21 in interactive graphics display with light-pen and spark tablet, a LV 11 electrostatic combined printers plotter and an XY 311 three-pen plotter for generating working drawings of up to A0 size for use in the final architectural drawings.
Percy Thomas Partnership is to use the system to progress from initial concept to working drawings and specifications. The system can be used to produce perspective views and similar drawings which can be coloured for client presentation, as well as producing detailed technical drawings.
The interactive nature of the system is seen as a great help to establishing a dialogue between architects and the computer.
The system is seen by the firm as a very powerful tool which will increase throughput -particularly desirable on overseas projects.
The ARK-2 has been in use in the USA for several years but this is the first sale of the software in Europe. Eight systems have been sold around the world. The mark two version of the system was introduced to a major audience in the UK in 1972 at