TECHNICAL LITERATURE IN THE SERVICE OF THE DAILY PRACTICE OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

Abstract

At the beginning of the 19th century there was a rapid growth in the number of methods for the analysis of loadbearing structures as a consequence of the revolution in natural science and later in scientific technology. At the same time new materials appeared and unprecedented functional demands arose. The social esteem of engineering grew and Hungarian engineers belonged to the best of their profession in Europe. They were assisted in their work by pragmatically compiled technical literature (handbooks, charts and reference books). In the second half of the 20th century the theory and practice of engineering became more and more separated. The realisation of the body of knowledge captured in the excellent theoretical works was impeded by the poor technical standard of material production and construction. Access to information has been rendered difficult by the `revolution in the technology of finishing works´, which began approximately 30 years ago and is becoming ever more rapid in our days. The unified Europe demands engineers to possess up-to-date knowledge of their profession, which is only accessible in the form of impartial, high quality technical literature. The instructors of the Department of Building Construction co-operate with Verlag Dashöfer Szakkiadó Kft. (Verlag Dashöfer Specialised Publishers Ltd.) in the creation of the base of Hungarian technical literature of European standard.