A Decision Model for a Sequential Testing Problem in civil Engineering

A sequential decision problem in civil engineering is formulatedas a dynamic programming model. A set of theorems lead to amore efficient formulation, permitting the solution routineto be programmed on a microcomputer. The solution is printedin table fonn, directly providing a decision rule usable bythe foreman in the field. The paper illustrates a point whichis becoming increasingly apparent: the power and availabilityof portable computer systems are making many decision problemsamenable to on-site analysis using models based upon rigoroustheory.