HARDWARE Specifications

Network:

ATEC building’s network is based on structural cabling and is in accordance with today’s world standards is designed based on BICSI and the cables are CAT6 FSTP so that the speed of data transmission is 1000 mbps, the coating is foil strings to cover and protect the cables from noise and speed decrease.

The network’s switches are CISCO models 3750 and 2960 which are among the best models produced in CISCO System in the U.S. This company is perhaps one of the most credible switch manufacturers in the world. The network design is such which addition to independence communication of each department, every story’s switch is connected to a central switch and this approach helps reduce network traffic.

With the help of internet communication, ATEC’s branches elsewhere can also connect to the main office’s network.

 Internet:

On the roof of the building a 30-meter pole is erected and implementing a transmitter it connects a 704 kbps bandwidth to a router and a LINUX server disperses the internet with different credits and amounts among the employees of the office. The connection between branches and the main offices is also via this internet line.

 Servers:

In ATEC there are a sum of 7 physical servers equipped with the best hardware and a sum of 9 virtual servers.

The OS of a sum of 15 servers is Windows Server 2008 and one server is LINUX based. In order to launch the virtual servers, Hyper-V in windows was used.

Implementing virtualization has helped ATEC to reduce costs and the ease to back-up and restore data. This system also reduces the amount of disturbance from one service onto another on the OS of these servers.

 BACK-UP System:

Since all data is stored electronically in ATEC the guarantee to store and keep this data is crucial (data such as designs, reports, plans and etc.) such data are vital and sensitive. All data which exist on servers is automatically transferred on a back up server every midnight. At the beginning of each month all this data is copied onto an external hard disk and is stored some place out side of the office.

 Computers:

In ATEC’s main building there are about 180 computers which are all equipped with up to date hardware and is used by different departments in the office. The hardware and the software on these computers are periodically upgraded and updated.

 Emergency Power System:

For each floor at ATEC Central, there’s a UPS device and if there’s a power failure the UPS system provides the power needed for systems until after 2 minutes when the central diesel power generator kicks in and until the power comes back on this generator provide the power needed for the office. The above mentioned generator is equipped with a LAN connection and is managed through the same technology.

 Central Telephone Lines:

ATEC is equipped with a central telephone system (TDA600) manufactured by Panasonic Company. This system has the capability to be hooked up to 32 normal land lines, one PRI land line (30 telephone numbers), 160 internal analog numbers and 32 internal digital numbers. By providing a card these capacities can be increased. Also, this system is equipped with an automatic secretary card, which connects the callers to their designated numbers via an automatic answering system. The caller can be connected to the preferred number by dialing in the internal number or the numbers which are announced by the automatic answering machine.

 Printing Devices:

ATEC is equipped with suitable printing devices which can take care of all the firm’s printing and copying needs. These devices are both Inkjet and Laserjet.

Documentation, Office Automation and Information Management Systems:

With regards to the importance and the sensitivity of the data produced in the project based offices and the necessity of speed in transferring and circulation of this data such as plans and other documents among different departments, ATEC has employed new network technologies in order to automate the documentation system in a very coherent and seamless manner which can also be accessed from outside of the office via the ATEC’s central office internet connection:

-          A communication base in order to transmit the data within the office called the office’s INTRANET which utilizes Sharepoint 2007 from Microsoft Company. This system consists of technologies for communication (e-mail, etc.) and also includes all necessary databases of the firm.

-          The implementation of Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 in order to use e-mail for all internal and external communications

-          To archive and circulate all documents and information and also all documentation of the projects ARSHIVAN is utilized, a web-based archiving program. This software is comprised of three different parts: Correspondence management, document flow management and electronically document management system. They all can be accessed side-by-side via a web interface. All these utilities are designed to be used in order to implement information management and documentation. Other documentation such as blueprints, photos, reports and statistics are also stored with the above mentioned software. This software has acted as the main trend of storing data for over 10 years in the office by almost all employees.

-          Enterprise project management is also utilized by Microsoft project web access. Project managers in the office have been trained to use MS Project. It is decided that in near future all of the office’s design projects will be managed under this system. In this system each project has an independent website in the firm’s intranet and all related data to the project such as: time charts, project management charts, official information, financial and etc. will be stored in that website and different access methods will be utilized for different employees. These websites would be updated by the project’s team, project manager and the project management’s team continuously. This possibility is clear in the firm’s documentation approaches. Since all data related to a project such as technical inspections from different phases of the design (architecture, urban planning, structure or utility design), management units (design manager, project manager, department managers and senior managers), project control department, financial department and other units of the organization is stored in one central place this data can be accessed with ease and speed. The project’s condition and level of progress can be estimated in minutes and up to dated reports can be written almost instantly.

 Identification Database of Projects:

In order to provide the necessary information under project identification cards based on design services surrendered to the client and also to use the experience gathered in previous project in projects at hand, a database is designed which includes all projects’ data such as infrastructure metrics, materials used in the project, capacities of systems and equipments, construction methods, estimations and costs, problems and experiences and etc.

Also respective software was designed in order to access and make reports of the above mentioned data for the ease of use.

-          The day’s report cards launch and programming under a web based approach which acts as the base for calculation of employee’s day-off’s, the amount of work done in the day and also the salary and also the out of office missions, description and nature of the work and the percentages of time spent on each part are also registered. These forms are then approved by the respective manager of each employee and automatically the financial reports of these forms are transferred to offices financial department. This information is then added to the information from the entrance-exit card system and is used to calculate the final fee paid to an employee based on a person-hour base.

-          Exhaustive software by HAMKARAN Company is used in order to calculate all financial, salary and wages by the financial department.

-          Programming and launching of storage software in order to make requests via computer based systems and the approval of the respective manager and to issue the permissions needed. This system has the capability to make reports of the storage goods, the amount of usage in different time intervals and etc.

 ·         All above mentioned systems can be accessed via internet from outside of the office.