These projects all related to the provision of a knowledge-based CD learning system and training modules for civil engineers, structural engineers and architectural students.
WIVISS
Wider Vocational Initiative in Structural Steelwork
A prototype knowledge-based CD learning system based on a sample of ESDEP, the authoritative set of educational material for structural steelwork. The system delivers structured courses and matches attributed material to the user's requirements.
The prototype of the WIVISS CD was developed by Epistemics in conjunction with WIVISS partners which includes institutes and universities across Europe.
WIVISS allows the user to take existing material in a variety of formats (media) and combine these separate elements into structured course documents. THe user can view the documents produced with a Web browser and mount such documents on a Web server for telematic delivery of your presentation. However, WIVISS has many extensions and enhancements over and above traditional Web browsers including:
- User modelling
- The user gets to see a different view of the document depending on his or her interests. Parts of the document that are of no interest to the user are automatically hidden away.
- Media dictionary
- A dictionary can be built for a single document or for a whole collection of documents. The dictionary is visualised as a navigation map that allows you to see the structure of all your documents and pick relevant material quickly and easily. This does away with wasted time spent 'surfing' the material.
- Interactive presentation
- The material can be presented to the user interactively, where more and more material is selectively revealed as the user clicks an icon or presses a key to progress. This mode of presentation is ideal for distance learning packages.
The initial version of WIVISS did not deliver the extensions when viewed within Web browsers. A second version, WIVISS II, delivered structured courses and matched attributed material to the user's requirements.
SSEDTA
Structural Steelwork Eurocodes - Development of a Transnational Approach
SSEDTA was a Leonardo Da Vinci funded project to prepare training modules for Civil and Structural Engineers on those design Eurocodes relating to structural steelwork. Material from these lectures was the basis of telematic documentation translated into French, Spanish, German and Hungarian.
SSEDTA was undertaken by Epistemics in partnership with the University of Sheffield (UK), the Steel Construction Institute (UK), the University of Liege (Bel), Centre Technique Industriel de la Construction Métallique (Fr), the Technical Chamber of Greece, the Technical University of Budapest (Hu), and the University of Oviedo (SP) for the European Union.
The project developed a series of training modules for civil and structural engineers on those design Eurocodes relating to structural steelwork. These were presented in a variety of formats to suit the needs of different sized enterprises in each country.
The material is attributed and delivered using an internet browser. The attribution is used to allow matching of material to user requirements.
ATR
Architectural Teaching Resource.
ATR was a Leonardo Da Vinci funded project to prepare training modules for Architectural students. Material from these lectures was the basis of telematic documentation translated into many European languages.
The Architectural Teaching Resource was developed by Epistemics during 1999 for the European Union.
The project was very similar to the WIVISS and SSEDTA projects, but extends the system to model architects at all levels.
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