Abstract of project paper presented to the Senate of Universiti Putra Malaysia in fulfillment of the requirement for the degree

of Master of Innovation & Engineering Design.

ABSTRACT DESIGN OF AN AUTOMATED FOOD DISPENSING SYSTEM FOR GOATS' FEEDING BY MASJURI BIN MUSA @ OTHMAN NOVEMBER 2006 Chairman: Lt. Col. (R) Ahmad Tarmizi bin Mohamed Faculty: Engineering
"Auto feeder dispensing system" is a machine, which is designed to feed the breeds automatically. In this case, goats breed sector has been selected as an approach to implement this automated food dispensing system machine, due to meet high local demand of goat's products. Almost all the goat's breeders in this country, are still implementing the traditional method and not economical. The farmers or breeders are still feeding the goats by using an old technique, which is pouring the pallet (food) manually into each container, which is located at the side of the barn. Farmers could not measure the exactly amount of pallet needed for each goat if still implement this old technique. Due to this improper distribution of feeding system, it will cause the obvious food wastage and may effect badly to the monthly food operation cost. The method will also take longer time to fill in all the containers and it needs more than one person if involve with huge farm and huge amount of breeds.

The implementation of the auto feeder machine can avoid the food wastage because this system is designed to reliably and correctly feed each goat individually. This computerized feeding system has pre-setting of each goat's feed ration to include the exact amount of concentrates as required. The machine provides a comprehensive set of modules; control the feeding system automatically with the aim of optimizing cost of production of goat products. The automated food dispensing system is a modular design that provides a flexible and robust system able to meet the requirements of goats feeding activities.

Abstrak kertas kerja yang dikemukakan kepada Senat Universiti Putra Malaysia sebagai memenuhi keperluan untuk ijazah Master Inovasi & Rekabentuk Kejuruteraan ABSTRAK REKABENTUK MESIN SISTEM PENGAGIHAN MAKANAN SECARA OTOMATIK UNTUK PEMAKANAN TERNAKAN KAMBING Oleh MASJURI BIN MUSA @ OTHMAN NOVEMBER 2006 Pengerusi: Lt. Kol. (B) Ahmad Tarmizi bin Mohamed Fakulti: Kejuruteraan "Sistem pengagihan makanan otomatik", adalah merupakan sebuah mesin yang direkabentuk khas untuk mengagihkan makanan kepada binatang ternakan secara otomatik. Di dalam kes ini, sektor penternakan kambing telah dipilih memandangkan permintaan tempatan yang tinggi untuk produk ternakan ini. Hampir kesemua penternak kambing di negara ini, masih lagi mengamalkan kaedah penternakan secara tradisional dan tidak ekonomi. Para penternak masih lagi mengamalkan kaedah tradisional dalam proses pengagihan makanan kepada kambing ternakan dengan mencurahkan makanan secara manual ke dalam setiap bekas makanan ternakan yang terletak pada bahagian tepi setiap kandang. Para penternak tidak akan dapat menyukat dengan betul makanan yang diperlukan bagi setiap kambing sekiranya kaedah tradisional ini masih terus diaplikasikan. Akibat daripada sistem pengagihan makanan yang tidak sempurna ini, maka pembaziran makanan yang begitu ketara berlaku dan seterusnya memberi kesan buruk terhadap kos operasi makanan setiap bulan. Kaedah ini juga memerlukan masa yang lama dan

lebih daripada seorang pekerja diperlukan untuk mengagih makanan sekiranya melibatkan jumlah ternakan yang besar atau penternakan secara komersil.

Perlaksanaan mesin pengagihan makanan otomatik ini boleh mengelakkan pembaziran makanan kerana sistem ini telah direkabentuk untuk mengagihkan makanan kepada ternakan dengan betul. Sistem pengagihan makanan berkomputer ini mempunyai suatu sistem kawalan bagi catuan makanan setiap kambing, disesuaikan dengan jumlah sebenar makanan atau konsentrat yang diperlukan. Mesin ini menyediakan suatu set modul yang komprehensif, mengawal sistem pengagihan makanan secara otomatik dengan tujuan utama untuk mengoptimurnkan kos pengeluaran produk berasaskan karnbing. Mesin ini terdiri daripada sistem modul yang direkabentuk agar ianya fleksibel, bagi memenuhi keperluan harian di dalam aktiviti pengagihan makanan kambing.

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION

1.1 Introduction
"Automated food dispensing system" or also known as "Auto feeder" is a system, which is used to distribute foods and feed the breedings automatically by using controlled mechanical hardware as well as the application of the electronic programmable database. This system is suitable to implement for the huge capacity of any kind of breeding sector. In this project, goats breeding sector has been choosen as an approach to implement this automated food dispensing system due to the aggressive encouragement from our government to enhance the development of this sector, and in order to meet the local market demand of goat's product [I].

Goats as a species have a long history as domesticated animals used for human consumption. Today it is estimated that there are more than 460 million goats worldwide producing 4.5 million tons of milk and 1.2 million tons of meat annually [I]. Recent increases in the demand for goat meat from ethnic and health conscious groups has shifted some emphasis from fiber and milk production to meat production. It is estimated that there are only 8% of meat goats currently raised in our country, and most of these needs are imported from other countries such as Indonesia and Thailand to overcome the local demand. Generally, the meat goat industry is disorganized and not well defined [2]. Recent increases in immigration and the subsequent increase in ethnic populations that are familiar with and prefer goat meat, have created an optimistic

and enthusiastic atmosphere among current and potential goat producers. While interest and optimism have increased, a limited amount of formal work has occurred toward assessing the feasibility of raising goats within our country. This work represents a first known attempt at determining the feasibility of raising meat goats within Malaysia. Understanding that this is a first attempt at determining the feasibility of raising meat goats in Malaysia, producers or potential producers should be aware that production costs and marketing niches in Malaysia meat goat industry can and do differ among producers. Differences among producers can and will affect the feasibility of producing meat goats. Potential producers should use caution and careful analysis when deciding to enter the market.

Feed is, without doubt, the main cost incurred in goat production. By using feed supplements that enhance production, this will not only improve the health of the breeders, but also be able to offset costs and increase profits. Based from MARDI's data, almost 80% of the monthly operating cost comes from food [I]. Commonly, in the existing feeding strategy, the farmer will feed the goats by pouring the foods or required concentrates in the food containers and this may cause ununiformity in the amount of quantity given. In order to optimize these food quantities for each station in the barn, as well as to prevent from feed wastage, the idea of using the automated food dispensing system has been taken placed. The optimal approach is to feed the goats often with small individually adapted portions. This method allows the goats to properly digest their feed, promotes good growth and limits feed waste.

1.2 Background

The automated food dispensing system is one of the main systems, which can be applied to the goat's breeding sector with huge amount of breeds. It is designed to reliably and correctly feed each goat individually. This computerized feeding system has pre-setting of each goat's feed ration to include the exact amount of concentrates as required. The module provides a comprehensive set of control system, to control the feeding activity automatically with the aim of optimizing cost of production of goat products. The automated food dispensing system is a modular design that provides a flexible and robust system, able to meet the requirements of goats feeding activities.

However, the auto feeder dispensing system machine has not been applied yet aggressively in our country. Most of Western and European countries such as the United State of America, Denmark, Norway, United Kingdom as well as Australia and New Zealand, the implementation of these auto-feeders dispensing system have tremendously applied into their sheep farms, which involve thousands of breeds 131. Since there are huge amounts of breeds, as a result, most of the farms involved many workers to do all the related breeding process such as cleaning the barn as well as to feed the breeds. Besides that, one of the most problems facing in the breeding process is that, the distribution of the exact amount of nutrition food in a very effective and proper way. The improper distribution of food can caused a lot of feed wastage and directly it gives bad impact to the food operation cost. In order to prevent the feed wastage, a proper and an efficient system of feed distribution should be taken place where by, it will save the food distribution time without the involvement of too many workers.

As a result, to overcome these critical phenomena, most of the farmers or breeders have been shifted and focusing to other system, which is more efficient and involve more cost saving in daily food operation cost. Starting from this point onwards, the auto feeder dispensing system has been well known and has been used widely among the breeders in Western and Europe.

Companies who producing and do marketing for the auto feeder dispensing system is not only limited to the sheep or goat breeding. They also produce this system to other kind of breeders such as cows, horses, fishes as well as pets.

1.3 Problem Statement

Food is one of the most important factors in any kind of breeding activities. Food also contributed the most higest cost in the monthly operation cost compare to others such as health and medication cost as well as contegencies cost. Goats need to take care of from the quality of the food, the amount of food given, and those diseases, which are caused by the foods. Non-quality food can effect the breeds growth and health. Almost all the goat's farmers in this country, are still implementing the traditional breeding system and not economical. In other words, the "traditional system which is not competence". In this traditional system, the goats are let free during daytime to feed on leaves or grass and all will stay in the barn during nighttime. The feed areas include rubber farms, coconut oil farms, and fruits farms as well as around village areas. Due to the improper amount of food nutrition, therefore the qualities of the food given to the goats are very low. Besides having

leaves and grass as one of the main food, goats also will be given with other special nutrition food, which is the mixture of few ingredients, known as pallet. This quality nutrition food will be fed to the goats twice a day and it is a very costly item.

Goat's farmers in our country are still feeding the goats by using an old technique, which is pouring the pallet into each container, which is located at the side of the barn as shown in Figure 1.1 [3]. By using this old method, the farmers could not measure the exactly amount of pallet needed for each goat. They just simply poured the pallet or nutrition food into the containers to make sure it full. Due to this improper distribution of feeding system, it will cause the obvious food wastage and may effect badly to the food operation cost. The method will also take longer time to fill in all the containers and it needs more than one person if involve with huge farm and huge amount of breeds and indirectly will increase the overhead cost. This is the main reason why food operation cost is the highest cost in goats breeding sector in Malaysia.

Figure 1.1 ;Traditional method of food distribution [3]

S S

Q)

-is G
u

S % 0
M .-

a
cd
0

V Y Q)

3 S i! a
5

! i 3 3 z
.d

S S

Q)

E
Q)

2 3
C
0

'is
C

Q) 7

CHAPTER I1

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Introduction
Intensive commercial goat's farm sector is one of the main sectors in our country, which can gain a lot of profits and benefits. The demand for goat's products such as pasteurize milk as well as its meat among the consumers, lead to the increment of the goat's farms in Malaysia. Table 2.1 and Table 2.2 below [2], tells us about the demand of goat's products and its market price in RM. Table 2.3, shows us about the different of market price in Ringgit Malaysia (RM) per kg between local live goats and combine gene live goats. According to the Agricultural Department, presently, our country can only patch about 8% of the local demand on the goat's products especially on meat and pasteurize milk. The remain of 92% of the local demand, mostly are imported from other countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Thailand and Myanmar. Based on the Table 2.1, on the next page, which gain from the Agricultural department [2], the demand of imported goats slightly increased from 1996 to year 2000. This data show us that the need is already there and will be succeeded if manage properly and effectively.

Sheep Year
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

Goat

Meat

Weight (metric ton) 10,309 9,233 2,892 8,62 1 3,987

Value RM (000,000)

Weight (metric ton) 25,759 43,773 25,6 17 42,6 16 45,325

Value RM (000,000) 6.3 11.0 7.9 11.8 9.2

Weight (metric ton) 13,804 12,508 11,840 12,239 13,956

Value RM (000,000) 63.8 66.2 69.7 68.7 69.6

3.3
3.3 1.O 4.5 3.0

Table 2.1 ;The demand of goat's products and its market price in RM from year 1996 to 2000 [2]

Year Local Output Demand Percentage (%)

2002

2003

2004

2010 (forecast)

1.21 15.10 8.0 1

1.30 15.60 8.33

1.50 16.80 8.93

2.18 21.30 10.23

Table 2.2; The differences between market demand and local output of goat's products [2]

From the table above, the demand are always increased, roughly we can see the growth always maintained at the above 8%. The data from Table 2.3, shows the price of combine gene live goats, where the level is much better than the local goats (data from the Agricultural department for the analysis been done from year of 1998 to 2000).

Year Local
1998 1999 2000 6.00 6.00 6.00

Genetic Combination 1 Local Goat (RM pricekg live goat) Female Male Combine Gene
9.00 9.00 9.00

Local
10.00 14.00 14.00

Combine Gene
10.00 14.00 14.00

Table 2.3; The price (RM) of female and male genetic combination or local goat [2] In order to overcome this short demand, the government through other responsible and related agencies such as Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI), Lembaga Kemajuan Ternakan Negara

(MAJUTERNAK), as well as State Agricultural Development Corporation (SADC), has been put a lot of effort to encourage Malaysian to involve in this profitable sector. Government through MARA agency, has been introduced a program to encourage and attract unemployed graduates to dabble in this sector. Since our prime minister, Y.A.B. Dato' Seri Abdullah bin Hj. Ahrnad Badawi, has been reintroduced the idea of Green Book which stress on the importance of agriculture for the country, more and more local individual has shown their interest in the goats breed sector. This sector has bright hture and will be succeeded if focus seriously. Information from Fortune Magazine stated that one of the three industries in Malaysia, which definitely give a good prospect and gain a good income in 10 years times, is in the breeding sector. In order to design the automated food dispensing system, it is good to really understand the system of the goat's feeding itself. The information such as, what is the amount of food that needs to be taken everyday and how the distribution of the

food to the food containers, which are located at the barn, need to be done. All the information, later on will be used as a references to design an automated food dispensing system, which is more efficient to replace and improve the existing traditional method. With this automated system, hopefully it can contribute a valuable value to our breeding sectors and meet our local demand in goat's products.

Through the search which done by the Veterinary Department, the amount of food for each goat depend on its weight. Graph 2.1, shows us about the total amount of food given for each goat per day.

1000

'0
LL r

8
a

=
0

900 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 20 30 40 50 60

G a ' Weight (kg) ots

Graph 2.1 ;Total amount of food (g) given to each goat depend on the goat's weight (kg) [2] Besides the weight of the goat, the factor of goat's age is also play an important role in goats feeding. Table 2.4, tells us about the total amount of food given based from the goat's age [2].

6 and above

+I- 50 to 100 +I- 150 to 350 +I- 400 to 600 +I- 600 to 650

Table 2.4; The total amount of food given (g) based from the goat's age. [2] The information from Graph 2.1 and Table 2.4, shows us that, the relation between the goat's weight and age plays an important roles for the feeding amount. In this particular case, we assume that all breeders are 5 to 6 months in age with the weight is around 30kg for each goat. Therefore, the roughly amount of food given is about 500g for each goat daily [2]. Base from this information, we can determine the size of the food container of the automatic food dispensing system which going to design later. The size of the food container is also depending on the quantity of the goats in the barn to feed. If it involve with big quantity of goats, therefore the food container need to replace with other size to cater with the goat's quantity, which need to be fed.

2.2 Types of Auto feeder Dispensing System

There are two types of auto feeder dispensing system in the market, depend on their application, design or shape and how the breeds are feed, the food area location, as well as the size or capacity of the breeds. The types are: i) ii) Static auto feeder dispensing system. Self-moveable auto feeder dispensing system.

2.2.1 Static Auto feeder Dispensing System Static auto feeder dispensing system, normally applied to a small and medium scale of breeding. This equipment is not limited to feed indoor-kept breeds. The auto feeder system is equipped with lid and suitable seals to permit to be operated outside. The programmable software is implemented to control all the processes and activities done by the auto feeder system. There is an auto feeder system, which only allows one goat to eat at one time as shown in Figure 2.1 on the next page. This kind of auto feeder machine consists of two separate sections. One of the sections is called control panel system that controls the auto feeder automatically when feeding the goats. The control panel system will control the amount of the food, which need to be given for each goat. The other section is a place to feed the goats, which is also known as feeder section. Battery is used as a power supply to generate the power. Once, when the goat is at the feeder section, the control panel system will start to operate by allowing the feed to discharge from the main food container into the other container with a certain amount of food that has been set automatically. After the goat finish eating, the next goat will take place and this process is a repeatable process. The disadvantage of this auto feeder system is that only one goat can eat at one time. There is an auto feeder system using the gravity concept as shown in the Figure 2.2 [4]. The quantity of food can be set automatically and will discharge from the main food container, which is located on the top of the machine to the bottom food container through few chutes. The feeding period can also be set up automatically. For this design, the control panel section is located inside the main food container to prevent it from the weather conditions or to avoid from any outside

disturbances. This type of auto feeder system has simple design and the good thing about this design is that it can feed about 16 to 18 goats in one time. The disadvantage is that, goats have to share their food and possibility to quarrel to have the food can be happened. Besides that, the food quantity of each goat taken cannot be controlled and this may cause unbalance nutrition. Other static types of auto feeder system are shown in Figure 2.3, Figure 2.4 and Figure 2.5 in Appendix section [3], [5].

Control Panel Section

Feeder Section

Figure 2.1 ;Static Auto-feeder system [3]

Main Food Container

Bottom Food Container

Chutes

Figure 2.2; Static Auto feeder system (Gravity type) [4]

2.2.2 Self-moveable Auto feeder Dispensing System The other type of auto-feeder system is a self-moveable type. The application of the self-moveable auto feeder dispensing system is more suitable for huge capacity of breeding. This type of auto-feeder system handles group feeding from an overhead, monorail mounted wagon and distributes food from the main station to each barns as shown in Figure 2.6 and Figure 2.7 [ 5 ] . This method is much more effective, save a lot of time, and not involved many workers. However, the first time set-up cost will be much higher if compared to the static type due to the implementation of more advanced technology. The machine itself is a dedicated auto feeder machine where it is run by using patented feeding software. Every processes or activities done by the machine are controlled automatically. Parameters such as setting the feeding time (the auto feeder machine will start to move automatically to distribute the food when reach the time which has been set), amount or quantity of

feeding, or even the speed of the machine can be set up with control panel attached on the machine.

Top Monorail
/

Control Panel.

Figure 2.6; DeLaval feed wagon R135 (Rail type) [5]

Top Monorail Control Panel

Chutes

Figure 2.7; DeLaval feed wagon FCC380 (Rail type) [5]

Flow chart 2.1, on the next page, shows us roughly about the basic function of the auto feeder dispensing system machine.

Flow-chart 2.1 ;General Process Flow of the Function of the Auto Feeder Dispensing System Machine

.
v

7*
Auto-Feeder Machine will stop moving

Auto-Feeder Machine start to move

--------- The retflective sensor sense :he presence of

the reflective tape

The reflective sensor (at side panel) -- -- - - - - presence of thesense the reflective tape (at food containers)

+--------------------- out of the Pallet flows

main food container through the chutes

+
The valve of the feeder's system will close Level sensor is on

4 ------- of pallet has been

After certain quantity

--------- b
The Auto-Feeder Machine will move backwards to the starting point

poured into the food container, the actuator's sensor will give signal to the valve to close.

2.3 Design of the Auto feeder Dispensing system

First of all, the conceptual design need to be considered before proceed to the detail and final design. To have the conceptual design, all the information regarding to the auto feeder dispensing system will be collected. The information related to the goat's breeding sector such as the types of barn which is normally built in our country, methods used to feed the breeders as well as types of food given to the breeders are also need to be concerned. To have a clear picture of the real situations about the goat's breeding sector, a visit has been done to one of the well known place, which is called KAPRIMA, located at Lendu, Melaka.

2.4 Technical Drawings and Design Analysis

One of the design's software, which is called Solidworks, will be used to draw the technical drawings of the overall auto feeder dispensing system. The drawings will include the 3D drawings as well as the 2D drawings. On the other hand, the analysis of the structure of the auto feeder system will also be done. These will involve Finite Element Analysis (FEA), an analysis software which is called NASTRAN-PATRAN, where the purpose of using this software is to find out the Von Mises of the structure.

2.5 Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE)

Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) refers to computer software and hardware systems used in the analysis of engineering designs to validate functional

performance. Computer-Aided Design (CAD) is sometimes used interchangeably with CAE [6]. CAE systems can be separated into four main categories which are: i) Dynamic analysis. ii) Finite element analysis (FEA). iii) General purpose. iv) Others.

2.5.1 Dynamic Analysis

Dynamics analysis include the kinematics and kinetics of bodies, that is, the motion and the forces and moment that cause motion. Solid modeling packages, for example, will mate parts into an assembly, and that we can manipulate various parts to animate their relative motion. However, in the dynamics analysis package such as Working Model, or ADAMS, we can apply specified loads to the parts and the package will calculate their resultant motion using fundamental equations of physics and a variety of numerical methods. These packages simulate behavior based on physics, whereas CAD solid modeling packages illustrate motion. Since kinematics and kinetic based packages are based on the physics of the problem, they can analyze a number of behaviors including: i) ii) iii) iv) Positions, velocities as well as accelerations. Contacts and collisions. Joint forces, shaking forces. Relative motions.

2.5.2 Finite Element Analysis (FEA)

Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is a method that essentially divides a part into smaller discrete elements to analyze the functional performance of a part. Used in many engineering fields, the process begins with the creation of a geometric model using CAD software. Solid modeling packages can export files to FEA and some can communicate directly with FEA packages. The part is subdivided into a mesh of smaller finite elements connected at nodes. Loads are then virtually applied to the part. Using hndarnental equations from physics and engineering, an FEA package can analyze a number of behaviors including: i) ii) iii) iv)
v)

Stresses and strains throughout the part. Factor of safety. Buckling of parts in compression. Temperature gradients and resulting heat transfer. Fluids pressures and flows. Natural frequencies of vibration. Displacements of nodes.

vi) vii)

2.5.3 General Purposes

General purpose software refers to computer applications covering word processing, spreadsheets, mathematics, oral presentations, and project management such as MSWord, Excel, MathCAD, Powerpoint as well as MSProject where by all these software can help us to complete the daily tasks more efficient.

2.5.4 Others
Other computer-aided engineering application include: i) Quality function deployment
-

applications

that facilitate the

development of houses of quality such as QFDCapture. ii) Material selection - specialized software that aids in screening materials such as GRANTA design, which implements Ashby's methodology. iii) DFMA
-

applications that facilitate design for assembly andlor design

for manufacturer analyses such as the Boothroyd-Dewhurst package. iv) Systems simulation
-

such as MATLAB Simulink, which analyzes the

transient and steady state behavior of multicomponent electrical and mechanical systems. v) Variance analysis assemblies.
-

applications that compute tolerances stacks in

2.6 Materials Selection

This section will describe about the basic concept of how to do the materials selection. As we know that material has attributes: its density, strength, cost, resistance to corrosion, and so forth [6].A design demands a certain profile of these: a low density, a high strength as well as a modest cost. The problem is that of identifying the desired attribute profile and then comparing it with those of real engineering materials to find the best match.

2.6.1 The Selection Strategy

There are two main steps, which called screening and ranking, and supporting information, as shown in Flow chart 2.2.

2.6.1.1 Screening and Ranking

Unbiased selection requires that all materials are considered to be candidates until shown to be otherwise, using the steps detailed in the boxes of Flow chart 2.2
[17]. Firstly, screening, eliminates candidates which cannot do the job at all because

one or more of their attributes lies outside the limits imposed by the design. For example, the requirement that the component must function at 250c, imposes obvious limits on the attributes of maximum service temperature, which successful candidates must meet. We refer this as property limits.

All Materials

Screening: apply property

(Eliminate candidates which can't do the job)

Ranking: apply material indices

(Find candidates which can do the job well)

Subset of Materials

I
w

Supporting Information
(Handbooks, specialized software, expert systems, CD-ROMs, website)

I I

Prime Candidates

I I

Local Conditions
(Does the choice match local needs, expertise?)

Final Material Choice

Flow-chart 2.2; The strategy for material selection. The main steps are enclosed in bold boxes [17].

However, the property limits do not help with ordering the candidates that remain. To do this we need optimization criteria. They are found in the material indices, which measure how well a candidate, which has passed the limits, can do the job. Familiar examples of indices are the specific stiffness E I p and the specific

, strength of l p (E is the Young's modulus, o is the failure strength and p is the

density). The materials with the largest values of these indices are the best choice for a light, stiff tie-rod, or a light, strong tie-rod respectively [17]. On the other hand, to summarize this, we can say that the property limits isolate candidates which are capable of doing the job, whereas material indices identify those among them which can do the job well.

2.6.1.2 Supporting Information

The outcome of the screening step is a shortlist of candidates, which satisfl the quantifiable requirements of the design. To proceed further we seek a detailed profile of each, which is supporting information as shown in Flow chart 2.2. Supporting information differs greatly from the property data used for screening. Typically, it is descriptive, graphical or pictorial: as for example, the case study, which involved with uses of the material, details of its corrosion behavior in particular environments, information of availability and pricing, experience of its environmental impact. Such information is found in the handbooks, supplier's data sheets, CD-based data sources and the worldwide webs. Supporting information helps narrow the shortlist to a final choice, allowing a definitive match to be made between design requirements and material attributes.