6. Schematics and computer

The advent of computer graphics has given a new dimension to schematization. First of all, it revolutionized the way diagrams are created: macrosymbols, automatic plotting and so on. Secondly, it bridged the gap between business and scientific computing. Starting from a process diagram, the computer directly establishes a nomenclature of components. This nomenclature is then enriched with the characteristics (or attributes) of each component to form a database. From this database, the computer can perform all management tasks on demand, such as ordering, spare stock management and so on. Similarly, in the field of scientific computing, an isometric piping diagram can be used to feed geometric data directly into a stress calculation program. Another example: from a process control diagram, the computer transforms the designer's functional intentions expressed in the diagrams into logical...