JISC

Overview

The project addresses a key area of institutional concern, that of effective planning for and use of future learning spaces. We will develop a Web-based interactive campus visualisation modelling platform openly accessible to all stakeholders associated with the University’s planning and design process to effect participation and collaboration. A major benefit is the ability to visualize scenarios being considered, aiding the communication with senior management and informing the decision making process. The e-modelling platform will also enable the University of Sheffield (UoS) to acquire and preserve over time its own organizational memory and knowledge in effective planning and uses of future learning spaces.

Aims and objectives

• To develop a Web-based online visualisation modelling platform to facilitate collaboration and participation across a wide range of stakeholders engaged in the planning and design of learning spaces in higher education;
• To identify mechanisms by which the learning and knowledge acquired during such planning initiatives is captured and archived for future reference;
• To become an integral element of the communication process for large projects undertaken by the institution; and
• To share the software outputs, the lessons learned and the experiences gained from the project with the JISC community.

Project methodology

• Use the latest Web-based open standards to create accurate 3D contextual datasets of the UoS campus and estate spaces (both exteriors and interiors);
• Make the contextual datasets accessible to a wide spectrum of UoS and external users through a Web-based 3D interactive visualisation modelling platform;
• Conduct proactive end-user engagement and evaluation exercises feeding into cycles of datasets, user interface and platform development; and
• Collect and analyse user-generated content and records of stakeholder/user experience and feedback to assess the effectiveness of the Sheffield Campus Modelling Platform in facilitating participative and collaborative planning and design of future learning spaces.

Anticipated outputs and outcomes

• The weCAMP framework (the software output);
• The shefCAMP platform (software plus data and knowledge banks);
• Evaluation of the project results in accordance with JISC guidelines;
• A set of briefing and training materials deposited in our institutional repository (e.g., the MOLE Knowledgebase);
• A special report on the potential of shefCAMP on interlinking/interacting Learning and Teaching Strategy with Estates Strategy;
• A multiple case-study report detailing our experience of developing and applying the shefCAMP platform to the University of Sheffield context; and
• A full assessment of the economic and wider costs and benefits of shefCAMP.

Technology / Standards used

• weCAMP and shefCAMP system development: Java Platform (SE 6), The Apache HTTP Server (2.2.8), PERL (5.10.0), FastCGI (2.4.0)
• Map Bank: Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG1.1 W3C), ILOG JViews Maps (8.1), ESRI ArcView (9.3), OS Land-Line and SuperPlan Datasets
• 3D Model Bank: VRML/X3D (VRML 97/ ISO/IEC FDIS 19775-1.2:2008), LiDAR Datasets (The GeoInformation Group, Cities Revealed), MicroStation V8 XM, Bentley systems Inc.)
• Estates Space Metadata Bank: HTML Form (W3C), an XML-based metadata schema for describing existing building spaces (to be identified or developed in-house)
• Image Bank: JPEG-2000, MPEG-4
• Knowledge Bank: Web-based wiki or blog software

Lead Institution

• University of Sheffield

Project partners

• Dana Raydan, Associate, RMJM, 5 Westbrook Centre Cambridge CB4 1YG
• Maggie Barlow, Associate Director, DEGW, The Exchange, 142 St Vincent St, Glasgow G2 5LA.
• Nick J Beecroft, Director, HLM Architects, 2^nd Floor, The Ruskin Building, Tudor Square, Sheffield S1 2LA.

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