Prime Minister Gordon Brown promised an additional 10,000 university places in England in 2009, for students wishing to study maths, science, technology and engineering. With student applications up by 50,000 on last year before the government’s recent announcement, finding the physical space within classrooms, laboratories and lecture theatres to accommodate the additional courses is likely to be a headache for many facilities managers.
Further education colleges face similar problems with student numbers increasing as young people make the decision to continue in education, largely due to the very limited employment opportunities in this recessionary period. Colleges however, may face potentially greater issues, with only 13 of the planned 180 rebuilding and renewal projects being given provisional approval due to lack of funding. With the current trend of increasing student numbers looking set to continue, there also is a strong possibility that the current mix of available space will be unable to fulfil the needs of the future.
Finding That Elusive Space The Mosaic Way
Mosaic (EU) Limited, trading under the name of Mosaic Space UK, was incorporated in the United Kingdom in 2007 specifically to address the problems of planning, optimisation, systems implementation and data analysis in education estates management. The UK launch of the company’s RUIS software (Room Utilisation Information System) in September 2009, provides facilities managers within educational establishments with a simple, yet highly effective method of analysing, planning and forecasting space utilisation.
Mosaic’s RUIS software provides room utilisation analysis and reporting, space planning tools, timetable usage spread analysis and learning environments modelling. The system can operate in a number of modes either as a stand-alone module, on an intranet or on the internet. Using data which can be imported from popular timetabling packages such as Syllabus Plus and CELCAT, the system can set room utilisation targets for room frequency (RFF), seat occupancy (SOF), utilisation, area per seat, maximum hours per week and maximum load per event. The software also supports multiple utilisation targets, allowing planning across a number of discrete areas to be targeted at the same time.
RUIS also incorporates a powerful filtering wizard, allowing space managers to filter data by campus, building, room type and room with other filtering options available for week range, days, start & end times, room size and event size. Comprehensive utilisation reports and charts provide an at-a-glance view of actual utilisation, required rooms and timetable usage profile to name but a few. Comparison reports can also be generated to view utilisation between multiple planning periods, compare one year or term with another and room audit results with timetable bookings.
Striking examples of effective space and utilisation planning using RUIS software includes one Australian University, where a planned 16 classroom extension was reduced to just 12 new rooms, following an evaluation using RUIS. The resultant saving, in the order of AUS$17,000,000 was split between the purchase of leading edge technology and equipment for the University and making some of the new space flexible in the way in which it could be used. This benefited both the University and local community, as the room could serve as a 300 seat lecture theatre and could be converted to a flat floor conference or event venue as required..
A second facility evaluating the need for additional classrooms found that not only did they already have enough space, they actually had space to spare which was then rented out to a local college, generating additional revenues for the University in question.
The trend for numbers of people in higher and further education looks set to continue to rise, based upon the current governments target of 50% of young people experiencing higher education. This, together with the realistic possibility of cuts in public spending in the coming years, means that Mosaic UK and the company’s RUIS software look likely to be in demand.
The Directors of Mosaic Space UK are available to discuss:
• How universities can reduce the need for additional building development through effective use of spatial planning and timetabling
• How universities can in fact generate revenues by renting out additional space which has become available through effective spatial planning
• How universities can create flexible-use facilities on campus to offer significant benefits to both the university, the local community, staff and students
• A case study where having used the services of Mosaic and their RUIS space utilisation analysis software, one university in Australia was able to secure savings of AUS $17,000,000, which could then be spent on cutting edge technology and equipment for learning.
For more information visit the RUIS webpage: http://www.mosaicsd.com/ruis.htm
Archive for ◊ June, 2011 ◊
For check cashing businesses there is great new technology to stop thieves in their tracks. There is a payroll check cashing system available that scans a person’s fingerprint to identify them and serve them quickly and confidently.
This way of protection eliminates fraud; it tracks check cashing history and improves business.
With the fingerprint scanning it detects repeat offenders no matter whose check they are trying to cash and it keeps them from cashing another stolen check.
It tracks customer history to determine who an offender was and to catch them in the act a second time. It includes a photo, contact information and their check cashing history. After the fingerprint scan the clerk can then view the history.
What are all the benefits to this technology?
- This helps businesses gain repeat business as their customers feel safe and secure using them for check cashing. Honest customers have no problem with the fingerprint scan and are happy to help and refer others.
- The speed of handling transactions is increased. There is less need to call banks or check IDS for verification.
- Profits are increased for check cashing businesses and with those profits usually come better rates and cheaper services.
- The need for manager involvement is decreased. Your checks are cashed with confidence and ease without final approval. The customers identity is checked within the system and any prior unusual activity will have been noted on the system.
- More ease of check cashing. The clerk runs the fingerprints and checks the system. They then will tell the customer if they are approved for cashing or declined.
How does it work?
1. The customer places their finger on the scanner.
2. The information and picture appear on the screen.
3. The check is run through the check reader to record check information.
4. The customers check cashing history appears on the screen along with the recommendation on accepting the check.
5. The clerk enters the check amount and fees are automatically calculated.
This is a great asset to the check cashing industry as this is not a form of ID that can be lost, stolen or faked. Businesses know who their customers are and can cash their checks with ease and assurance.
There is a fee table that a company can customize or clerks can override this during a transaction if needed.
Chains of stores can use this to share with all the rest of their locations. It stays private within the network. This data can also be shared nationwide. There is a secure database that shares bad check activity with all payroll check cashing system merchants.
Other merchants are notified if someone is attempting to cash another bad check or if they have outstanding items with any other check cashing merchant.
There is also notification when a customer is trying to cash unusually high amounts of checks within a short period of time to indicate possible fraud.
There are reports that are generated to provide merchants with the photo and other information related to that customer.
With this new technology, those that cash checks at these businesses can do so confidently and those that have had checks stolen in the past will know that if someone tries to cash their checks at one of the locations that have this software, that the thief will be stopped.
This is a great resource not only to check cashing businesses but to consumers as well. Cash responsibly.
The Ford Motor Co. Australia has intimated its willingness to support the forthcoming research project by the University of Melbourne to study efficient and practical hydrogen fuelled vehicle technologies.
According to Peter Batchelor, the Minister for Energy and Resources, “The important study today received a $1.2 million grant from the Victorian State Government, announced by the Minister for Energy and Resources.”
To further aid the research project, Ford Australia has promised to contribute engines and resources. The support will coincide with the State Government’s grant to attain engine and vehicle development. The project is also aimed at analyzing hydrogen generation and storage technology. “Ford Australia is proud to extend our relationship with the University of Melbourne through this important project,” said Tom Gorman, the Ford Australia president.
Ford Australia and the Victorian State Government joined the university so as to form the Advanced Centre for Automotive Research Technology (ACART). The purpose of the centre is to boost auto development in Australia. ACART will soon build a new engine dynamometer facility, a diesel test cell, and a top-notch environmental wind tunnel that would be available for use by the automotive development community.
“Globally, Ford Motor Company is a leader in the development of alternative fuel vehicles and technologies. The Escape Hybrid, our range of E85-capable flexi-fuel vehicles, and the recent showcasing of the world’s first drivable fuel cell hybrid electric vehicle with plug-in capability are all examples of our broader global efforts,” added Gorman. “The University of Melbourne project is the first to research hydrogen engine alternatives using an Australian sourced engine, and will be an important complement to these initiatives,” he continued.
The first stage of the university’s study is the development and testing of a hydrogen-fuelled turbo-charged Ford 6-cylinder engine that has been designed using the advanced combustion technology (HAJI – Hydrogen Assisted Jet Ignition). The goal behind the study is to demonstrate the characteristics and benefits of hydrogen assisted internal combustion. The intensive study will build on many years of hydrogen combustion research at the renowned university.
“This project will use cutting-edge research into low or zero emissions technology,” said Dr. Michael Brear, a senior lecturer at the University of Melbourne. “It will also tackle the important energy issues of hydrogen generation from renewable energy and its high density storage requirements.”
The research is set to start in July this year. It will be bolstered by the automaker’s vision to address global climate change and reduce foreign oil reliance by using alternative fuels and technologies.
Alternative fuels, also called non-conventional fuels, include any substance or material that can be used as a fuel other than fossils and the conventional petroleum, propane, coal, and natural gas. The term usually means a renewable energy source.
Alternative fuels also cover hydrogen fuel cells and internal combustion engines, hybrid engines, liquefied petroleum gas, biofuels, advanced transmissions, and clean diesel engines. Now, the automaker will be focusing on building refined clean engines and discovering environment-friendly fuels to help clean the air. It will not be concentrating on auto parts like power antennas but on the totality its product lines.