Progress

Progress to date on this project includes:

MILESTONE 1: 
Project Initiation Activities & Definition of Brief - ACHIEVED

Project task 1 development activities were completed in November 2001, through project formulation, 1^st PAG Meeting, discussion of initial proposals for scope of output (prepared for Meeting by TRADA Technology) and of information retrieval activities e.g. from Australian Timber Education Package. Development of fully defined brief for Teaching Package; project publicity, including journal announcements and Web-posting.

Milestone 2:
Ratified Package Content of Software Specification - ACHIEVED

Project task 2 actions – Review of Information; User Needs Brief; Software Specification – were completed in March 2002 through:

• Collating additional information resources.
• Reviewing other current TRADA I.T.
• Identifying teaching needs and student response: FIRST TRIAL WORKSHOP held at Imperial College on the 21/02/02.
• Writing text based software specification.
• First format PAG review through first workshop at Imperial College and circulating report.
• TRADA Information Centre consultation.

Milestone 3:
Alpha Software and Dedicated Project Web Functioning - ACHIEVED.

Project task 3 – Alpha Software Development – was completed in March 2002 through:

• Developing text, screen layouts and HTML for dedicated project web.
• Introducing sequential implementation discipline to software specification.
• Circulating skeletal Alpha version, demonstrating visual formats, navigation, and overall structure.
• Writing-in selected technical content, compiling onto test CD’s.
• Holding university-based "Tutors plus Students" workshop testing sessions.
• Completing testing of dedicated project web.
• Second format PAG – demonstrations and further feedback : scheduled on the 1^st May 2002 at Napier University.
• TRADA Information Centre consultation.

Milestone 4:
First Stage Beta Development - ACHIEVED.

Project task 4 – Beta 1.0 Draft CD development – was completed in July 2002 through:

• Bring online dedicated project web
• Work up more technical content (ongoing task)
• Produce Draft 1 edition CD - Beta 1.0 version
• Circulate to PAG
• Generate feedback via circulation among PAG members
• Write Report 4 (MS04) letter-style report
• TRADA Information Centre consultation

Milestone 6:
60% software completion - ACHIEVED.

The milestone schedule was revised and approved by PO and DTI in January 2003. Original Project Task 5 was merged into a new Task 6.

Milestone 6 was completed in March 2003 through::

• Reach 60% software completion
• Improve technical content and collect feedback of PAG members
• Review the dissemination strategy
• Issue Beta 1.1 software on CD or any other agreed medium
• PAG meeting

Milestone 7:
Software completion and dissemination - ACHIEVED.

At the 2003 "Time for Timber" event, approximately 120 copies of the Bete 3.0 Release Version of the "Timber Design Knowledge" resource were issued to all participants, with emphasis on encouraging its use amongst universities and colleges. This interim release was made possible by generous support, additional to that at initial project planning stages, by the "Wood for Good" campaign.
Dissemination activities will continue in 2004 to fulfil the final dissemination plan. "Wood for Good" supported sessions will take place at selected universities to present and explain "Timber Design Knowledge" resource.
It is important to recognise the significant and active inputs received from several universities throughout the UK; leading Consulting Engineering and Architectural practices, the Professional Institution, and the "Wood for Good" Campaign. Without these, the achievements would have been considerably less. The Project Advisory Group's contributions were outstandingly positive, and these were always followed up by fulfilment of agreed actions between meetings.