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telecollaboration. This work aims to help project participants as well as the scientific community to locate and
disseminate project information rapidly in order to facilitate technology transfer. In addition participants will
be alerted to relevant new scientific developments outside of the Phase Separation Project in order to improve
research for developing new technology.
As large multidisciplinary scientific research projects involving research scientists, government agencies and
industrial partners proliferate, tools to improve the efficiency of information flow within collaborative scientific
projects and to enhance government and university technology transfer efforts must be constructed. The
information technology component of the Phase Separation Project can serve as a pilot for the development of
an effective information communication/tracking system.
Deliverables
The web server will develop an information communication/tracking tool to facilitate rapid site-to-site
collaboration in finding, creating, and communicating research results among project participants:
Information Communication Mechanism:
To facilitate collaboration among the Phase Separation Project participants, this project will create an
database/archive which collects, indexes, abstracts and updates project information generated by researchers,
such as the content of scientific presentations, preprints, program codes, experimental data, visualization,
modeling and simulation results. Participants will contribute directly original research to the database through
web-based forms. Another feature of the database/archive will be an automated SDI (Selective Dissemination
of Information) current awareness mechanism via e-mail based upon personalized research profiles submitted
by all project participants. In addition, a site-based search engine will enable the database/archive to function
as a collective repository for informal information (personal correspondence, notes), formal information
(presentations, preprints), program codes, and data produced by researchers in the project. An electronic
whiteboard will be incorporated into the Communication/Tracking tool for drawing, writing and
videoconferencing applications to approximate face-to-face interactions among users.
Information Flow Tracking Mechanism:
The web server will be constructed to support a distributed, open system framework to share research
information, as well as modeling, simulation, and visualization applications running on various platforms. To
monitor the flow of information among project participants, unobtrusive tracking mechanisms will be utilized
to measure how the users acquire, organize, maintain and retrieve project-related information throughout the
life of the Phase Separation Project. Usage tracking of such features as database contributions, SDI current
awareness, database/archive search engine , and whiteboard teleconferencing will show how a user was
directed to scientific information generated by the project and to document what was selected as relevant
information.
Timeline
October 15, 1996 Modify existing ALCOM/NIST Phase Separation Web site to include searching and SDI
current awareness services.
April 15, 1997 Implement tracking and monitoring usage mechanism.
October 15, 1997 Provide preliminary assessment of tracking and monitoring usage mechanism.
May 30, 1998 Lay out recommended information flow to improve data exchange and technology transfer
efficiency in collaborative scientific research projects.
Acknowledgements: