3.
0 Chapter Three - Project Directory
Structure
CDOT has designed a standard Project Directory Structure for all engineering
project data and related files. This directory structure, along with a standard file
naming convention, outlined in chapter 4, has been created to enable efficient,
consistent management of all files within a CDOT project. This consistency will
aid in the referencing of engineering CADD files, help to facilitate the exchange
of data between specialty groups, and ensure consistent, reliable data retrieval
by all members of a project team.
3.1 Project Creation Utility
CDOT has developed a project creation utility that automates the creation of the
standard project directory structure. At the beginning of each project, the Project
Manager will run the Project Creation Utility executable to create the standard
directories. These directories will be the storage location for all information
pertaining to a given project. The tool will create the project directory folders and
sub-folders as well as creating and naming certain sheet and model files with the
Job Project Code. It is the responsibility of the Project Manager or project
engineer to run the Project Creation Utility when they receive the five digit Job
Project Code.
Caution: The IT department does not backup project files. It is the user's
responsibility to make sure projects get backed up.
Sample Project Creation Utility demonstration
3.2 Directory Structure
The CDOT Project Directory has been designed where the top level (project)
directory is used to designate the project code. Under this directory, the user will
find sub-directories and a file naming convention where all project information will
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CDOT CADD Manual - Chapters 3
be created and stored. The project directory structure is created using the CDOT
Project Creation Utility.
3.2.1 Project Directory
All CDOT projects should
follow the following directory Directory
structure to ensure the Desktop
accurate sharing of information \My Computer
between groups within the
\Local Disk (C:)
Department as well as outside
\Projects
consultants. Each project
includes a unique top level \14936
directory and a set of \14942
standardized sub-directories \Bridge
located under the Projects \Construction
root directory on the \Consultants
appropriate server or Project \Design
Manager's computer. \Calculations
\Correspondence
[Link] Group Sub-
\Drawings
Directories
\InRoads
Below the top-level \Photos
directory you will find
\Reports
subdirectories for each
CDOT specialty group. \Working
Under each specialty \Environmental_Landscape
group directory is a sub- \Hydraulics
directory structure unique \Materials_Geotechnical
to that specialty group. \Miscellaneous
The example shown to the \Planning
right shows these \Plot_Sets
specialty group sub- \ProjectPConfiguration
directories below the JPC
\Project_Manager
14942. In this example,
the sub-directory Design \ROW_Survey
has been opened to see \Specifications
the sub-folders where the \Traffic_ITS
Roadway Design group \Utilities
will store all their project
information.
3.2.2 Group Sub-Directory Structure
The following links can be used to review detailed tables showing the project
directories for each group and the file types that go into these directories.
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Directory Structure
Bridge Project Folder (\Bridge)
Construction Project Folder (\Construction)
Consultants Project Folder (\Consultants)
This project folder is an exact duplicate of all the CDOT group sub-
directories.
Roadway Design Project Folder (\Design)
Landscape_Environmental Project Folder (\Landscape_Environmental)
Hydraulics Project Folder (\Hydraulics)
Materials Geotechnical Project Folder (\Materials_Geotechnical)
Miscellaneous Project Folder (\Miscellaneous )
Planning Project Folder (\Planning)
Plot Sets Project Folder (\Plot_Sets)
Project Configuration Project Folder (\Project_Configuration)
Project Manager Project Folder (\Project_Manager)
ROW Survey Project Folder (\ROW_Survey)
Specifications Project Folder (\Specifications)
Traffic ITS Project Folder (\Traffic_ITS)
Utilities Project Folder (\Utilities)
3.3 Security and User Rights
The Project Manager or project engineer is required to assign access
permissions to every person on the design team and is also responsible for
maintaining the current access list.
See Concepts of sharing documents and network usage for additional detail.