Founded originally in 1824, the RNLI now saves on average more than 1000 lives a year, as a result of more than 6000 launchings from a fleet of more than 300 lifeboats.

It is not surprising that the modern RNLI uses the latest in computer hardware and software to help them achieve and maintain their impressive record. Computers pervade all aspects of the RNLI today, but no more so than in the design and maintenance of the lifeboats.

New lifeboats are designed in the RNLI engineering office and pose some unique problems. The boats must be small enough to get close to casualties, strong enough to go to sea in the worst weather, well equipped with navigation, communications and survival gear, stable enough to make capsize unlikely and self-righting in case they should be capsized! Like all boats, their design has to be a compromise.

To help in these design and maintenance tasks the RNLI has installed a number of AutoCAD and GTXRaster CAD seats at their Poole, Dorset, UK Headquarters. Replacing an older Unix-based system, the RNLI has worked closely with Adris, the Southampton-based computer applications and CAD specialist supplier, to specify and install a comprehensive hardware and software system which looks after all aspects of its design and maintenance work.

Most of the all-weather boats have an operational life of 20 years. It is perhaps not surprising that during this lifetime a large amount of paper drawings (approximately 40 000) have accumulated. This reflects the individual changes and modifications that occur to each 'class', including the latest classes of lifeboat, the 'Trent' and 'Severn', both introduced in 1993.

These drawings are being scanned onto the RNLI system using a Calcomp wide-format scanner, and when combined with the TIFF files generated by the previous (CDDS5/Formtek) system provide the bulk of the raster files that the RNLI has to keep updated.

The RNLI has found that using the comprehensive raster editing facilities of the GTXRaster CAD product it is not normally necessary for them to convert their raster drawing files into vector. They are able to maintain and update their scanned drawings very efficiently in raster using the unique Intelligent Object Picking (IOP) capabilities of GTXRaster CAD, which enables them to handle raster entities as if they were vector/CAD entities.

RNLI's current configuration consists of a network of 10 AutoCAD seats, nine of which are running GTXRaster CAD, mainly used for intelligent raster editing work, as well as one seat of GTXRaster CAD PLUS, for when automatic raster-to-vector conversion is required.

As David Wilson, RNLI's CAD Manager, commented, "GTXRaster CAD provides a very comprehensive and user-friendly environment for RNLI to maintain, edit and update our electronic drawing files, whether they have been scanned in or are part of our electronic legacy archive from the previous system." He added, "When compared with our previous manual methods of update, using GTXRaster CAD has made it possible for us to keep our drawings up to date and correct in a much more efficient and cost-effective way."

As with many organisations, especially those with a running cost of more than £88 million (R968 million) per year, the RNLI is constantly seeking to upgrade its computer systems to take advantage of the latest technology and achieve even more cost savings and efficiency. RNLI has implemented SAP, and with the help of Adris's expertise to develop an interface between SAP and their design and drawing maintenance systems, the GTX software will continue to provide essential tools for the maintenance of the RNLI electronic drawing archive.

The RNLI is justifiably proud of the fact that its lifeboats are manned by highly trained volunteer crews, and every penny required to maintain the lifeboat service is raised from voluntary contributions and legacies. Its determination to provide a modern, world leading marine rescue service is as great now as it was 176 years ago when it was founded. The 134 000 lives saved in that period are an appropriate testament to the success of their service.

GTX is represented locally by Imaging Innovations, tel: (011) 285 0075, www.imaginginnovations.co.za