Project Lead: Brian Brashaw

Contact Information: 218-720-7248

Objectives

The objective of this project was to demonstrate the use of communities of practice through Web-based information technologies to share and transfer information related to inspection of historic wood structures. The project’s aim is to develop a community of practice for the historic inspection of wood structures and to provide direct assistance to owners (federal, state, county, private or non-profit) of historic wood structures enabling better inspections, maintenance and safety of these structures through the community of practice portal. Throughout the project’s duration the team conducted several inspections of historic structures in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan for use in their Web casts. In addition, they have conducted a Web-based seminar for building inspectors in the New Orleans area after hurricane Katrina.

Project Management

The project team members have extensive knowledge in the area of condition assessment of wood structures gained through the past decade spent researching this subject. Throughout the years the team members have organized and conducted numerous workshops and short courses. This project served as an extension of their ongoing activities and was meant to expand their ability to transfer knowledge using Web-based communication like Webinars and interactive Web portals. At the outset of the project, the project team reviewed various web-based technologies for use in their Web casts and drew on their previous experiences with these tools. The primary partner was the USDA Forest Products Laboratory with whom the project lead had regular bi-weekly contact. The project team also cooperated with the Northern Tier High Technology Corridor at Bemidji State University who is hosting the Web portal and the on-line meeting platform used at the start of the project.

Technology

After a review of the different options available to the project team, they opted for an interactive collaborative-based Web platform managed by the Northern Tier High Technology Corridor (www.ntht.org) and for Adobe Breeze for on-line meetings and Webinars. The collaborative suite includes instant messaging, team meetings, discussion forums, team calendar, task manager, and a virtual library, which allows for the uploading of documents, images, graphics, spreadsheets and more. Breeze allows for use of Microsoft PowerPoint for the PC to create multi-media content for the Web as well as communicate, collaborate, and teach over the Web in real-time through Web conferences and Web casts. Although the project team has participated in Webinars, they did not have a previous experience with conducting one.

Experience to Date

Throughout their project the team has gained a lot of experience with the use of Breeze as both a presenter tool and a meeting tool. Although teaching via a Webinar had its weaknesses it has proven to be a useful tool that the project members will continue to use to facilitate project planning, collaboration and interaction for many of their projects, not just the two funded in the Electronic Commons Program Project. They were also able to generate two fee-based inspections as the result of their Webinar on WAPAMA, a historic wooden schooner in the San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park.

The key to the project’s success was a project team that had extensive knowledge of the topic area and experience with conducting short courses. Also, Breeze proved to be an effective tool that was very user friendly for both, the moderator and the Web cast participants, which allowed the instructors to concentrate on the delivery of their course rather than the nuts and bolts of the technology. The biggest barrier encountered by the project team were the competing priorities experienced by some of the key members.

Advice to Others

“Don’t be afraid to step out and try web-based communication. You may not know exactly how to do it, but most all options are possible based on new technology and software development. Find good cooperators and let them help you with the technology component of the project. Go with your research or discipline strengths first, then reach out for the technology component.”