[comp.ai] RFI - CAD Systems that can scan existing documents

jeg@ptsfa.UUCP (John Girard) (05/04/87)

RFI - CAD
 
This is a request for information from the *academic* sector.
There are several other people working on the commerical sector
offerings.
 
Our company has a significant number of hand-drawn diagrams 
depicting sites and equipment.  We would like to get these 
documents into electronic media *and* simultaneously develop an 
automated inventory.  The documents are fairly consistent and 
contain a limited number of symbols, although sometimes the 
symbols may be touching.  The length of lines connecting the 
symbols and the types of lines is important.
 
The known alternatives are:
 
    Manual data base entry and manual CAD composition
 
    Video scan of documents followed by "touch up" and manual 
    data base entry
 
    Highly automated scan of documents with automatic touch up, 
    automatic object identification, and automatic data base 
    entry - manual monitoring and minor manual adjustments.
 
Obviously the 3rd alternative is the best.  Is anyone working on 
this type of problem?
 
Please contact  LALEH FARR
                PACIFIC BELL
                2600 CAMINO RAMON
                ROOM 2S500T
                SAN RAMON, CALIF.
                U.S.A.  94583
                415-823-7277