ABSTRACT
The Department of Public Works (DPW) of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi is made up of four Divisions, namely: Service and Communications, Government Building Project Management, Finance and Technical Service. Specifications for the computer system were prepared by the general contractor responsible for construction of the new departmental headquarters building in Abu Dhabi, assisted by staff of the National Computer Centre. Specifications appear to have been based primarily on estimates of data-storage requirements rather than the uses or performance desired from the system. In August 1984, tenders were invited for the supply of computer hardware, software, training and service as per system specifications. The supplier has also made a number of commitments respecting warranty and service under the sales contract and for an extended period thereafter. Microcomputers have brought about a revolution in computerization. Computers are technically more complex than many other machines that we use in everyday life, such as automobiles, cameras, television sets, video recorders and photocopy machines.
