Realising the campus vision

With work well underway on a number of building developments, the vision for the campus is coming closer to being realised.

The Centre for Interdisciplinary Research, the Geo-Tech Institute and the refurbishment of DUSA are currently under development and it would be difficult to miss the latest hole in the ground off Balfour Street, where the new building for Applied Computing will appear. A number of other initiatives will follow, including new buildings for residences, the Faculty of Education, teaching facilities, CEPMLP, IT Services, Nursing, Archives and an extension to the library.

These developments will have a positive impact on everything from the University’s ability to attract high-class staff, students and visitors, to the quality of the working environment on campus. New communal areas also form an essential part of the campus plan, promoting a pedestrian focus and creating a green 'oasis' close to the city centre.

David Yule has been appointed to the post of Acting Director of Estates and Buildings and is heading up efforts to minimise temporary disruptions while developments are taking place.

David said, "It is an exciting time to take over the reins at Estates and I look forward to seeing the realisation of our grand plans. However, we will need the co-operation of the whole University community during the coming months of disruption."

As well as communicating developments to all campus users, Estates have put a number of measures in place to minimise the affect of building work upon staff, visitors or students. One key measure is that every effort will be made to reduce noise from building work over the examinations period, to enable students to study for and sit exams without being affected by campus disruptions.

Congestion

Currently, one of the main disruptions on campus is traffic congestion. The building sites and the contractor's compounds are mainly located on former car parks and building operations also bring a large increase in traffic to campus, which means more traffic and fewer parking spaces.

To address this issue, Peter Copeland, former Director of Estates and Buildings, is acting as consultant on a project to implement a new University travel plan. He said, "As green travel is already a priority with Dundee City Council, we will be joining forces with them to examine ways of creating a new travel plan for staff and students. We will be looking at how car sharing, cycling and public transport may be viable options for some staff as an alternative to their car. The council is launching a city-wide initiative to find more sustainable travel plans for some of the city's major employers, including Scottish Enterprise Tayside, Dundee City Council and Ninewells Hospital, as well as the University."

Before the travel plan is created everyone will be consulted on their views, initially through online surveys and then through focus groups. It is hoped that this will provide information about the type of sustainable travel plan that will best suit the needs of all staff.

Peter added, "If you are new to the idea of green travel then you might not be aware that it has many benefits - you can save money, benefit your health, lower your stress levels, plus 'do your bit' for the environment. And all by leaving your car at home for just two or three days each week, or by using one of the many alternatives, such as public transport, more regularly."

2004 will see huge investments in local public transport. Initiatives include satellite tracking of buses to enable up to the minute timetable information, interactive travel plans that let you plan specific journeys and timetable information via the web and by text message. This 'personalisation', of timetable information is aimed at encouraging more people to use public transport and leave their cars at home.

The success of the mini bus service between the Tower Building, Ninewells and Gardyne Road campus has illustrated that a large number of staff and students are willing to use alternatives to the car. With the introduction of a University travel plan in 2004, it's hoped that this success can be built upon.

News about the development of the travel plan - and about the building work on campus - will be featured in future issues of Contact and will also be communicated via the web and Hermes.