Newsletter october 2008
Launch of new version
The new verson of WISE-RTD will be launched in the final conference of SPI-Water at the 30th of October 2008 in Brussels. The conference will focus on sustainablity in the availablity of results from (mainly European) research projects. Another issue will be the developments of WISE-RTD and the linking of existing knowledge systems. Look at the conference site (link) for more information about this conference.
New graphical lay-out focussed on user expectations
Our experiences with users have consistently addressed the effort needed to get acquanted with the system. Therefore, we have asked for external advice of a professional communicaton expert. In response to their proposal, the lay-out of WISE-RTD has been strongly adapted to user expectations when entering a new system. At any moment, the user should know where he or she is and what the next steps can be. We are convinced that the improvement is significant and are anxtious to receive your reaction.
More than 2200 high quality items loaded
In the SPI-Water project, a large number of interesting and relevant reports, guidances and experiences have been found, selected and uploaded in WISE-RTD. Many of these results come from older projects and get a revival of interest through WISE-RTD. You can get an impression yourself by browsing through the “available items”
Uploading of information continues
By means of the automatic input support tool upload of information is made an easy job of just a few minutes, while the selection of key words for high quality responses in WISE-RTD is maintained. At the moment, the WISE-RTD team is working on automatic connections with other knowledge systems. A working prototype has been accomplished of linking to the Dutch national Water Framework Directive Database. The upload of data is in progress. Another link to the EUGRIS knowledge base is under development and is expected to be working by the end of October.
Adaptive Water Management supported
After a year of development and working on integration, with people from the Newater project WISE-RTD has been adapted to receive and present guiding information on Adaptive Water Management. The results of Newater will be uploaded and available in WISE-RTD. Water Managers and other users will be able to find information that support their work in the direction of adaptiveness meaning flexibility with respect to unforeseen human and natural (climate) changes.
Sustainable organisation for WISE-RTD
WISE-RTD already exists for about 5 year and has received support from two projects supported from the European Commission (Harmoni-CA and SPI-Water). The partners behind the system have decided to join in an international organisation. This organisation offers support to projects and will set up a management plan for sustainable support of WISE-RTD. Of course, the major (European) funding partners will be able to steer the development and a scientific board will maintain the high quality of the system. At the final conference os SPI-Water, you will hear more about this organisation.
