Evaluation of work over Halloween and Last Week.

Over Halloween, i designed three prototypes of potential ideas for what could be built in the Fort George site, i also began to fill out my write up, from the datapool. On my return to school last week, i wasnt pleased with the three prototypes i had completed, i decided that they wern't complete a all and i have spent a lot more time this week, improving them, and catching up. I also wrote about each prototype and described how each has met the criterion set in the Final Coursework Brief. I am now tryin to get my blog up to date.

How I intend managing my time to get this Coursework completed by Christmas.

Over the next 4 weeks i plan on managing my time, in order to complete this coursework, by, doing the work i am set, when it is set, not leaving it until the last minute and doing a half hearted attempt. I am goin to update my blog regularly and relevantly. And I am also going to continue spending as many of my free periods on ICT as possible whcih currently stands at around 10 of my 17 free periods.

Prototype Design No 3

Tourist Information Board and Museum.

With Derry’s tourism levels on the increase, we must begin to offer more for those visiting. Combining a tourist information board and a museum in the city is an excellent idea I believe, as the two really compliment each other. The tourist information board would provide detailed information on current activities and attractions, such as the City Sight-Seeing Bus, the town hall – The Guildhall, and the nightlife. The tourist information board would also run excursions to the surroundings areas around Derry, such as, the Giant’s Causeway and some of the towns of Donegal, e.g. Buncrana. The Museum then would offer an insight into the history of Derry/Londonderry. From the time of its settlement to the present. That is, from when St. Columba founded the settlement, to the Seige of Derry, to the famine, and most recently through the ‘Troubles’. Evidently, this prototype promotes local culture more than any of the prototypes. Employment would be provided for the local area through this. It would also increase the tourism levels, furthermore, due to the facilities and information made available to other tourists. The prototype is also economically stable, with charges for the visit to the museum put in place, however the use of the tourist information board would be free of charge. A tram link would also be put into use here.

Prototype Design No 2

Drive Thru’ Cinema

This is another leisure activity for the city. Derry has the second youngest population in Ireland, after Galway that is, and currently there is very little for people to do. This allows people, both drivers and pedestrians alike to go to watch a film in peace, without the disturbances of a regular cinema and its constraints. People can have a good time in the comfort of their own car. This proposal would be economically stable, due to entry fees, and concessionary income. The Drive Thru’ Cinema I believe would be very popular, and would attract visitors from a vast area, for the simple fact that, it is the only Drive Thru’ cinema in Northern Ireland. The whole concept is a very American idea, but with our city become more urbanised, an idea like this really enhances people’s opinion of our city. Local culture would be promoted through advertisements for local businesses. There is also a tram link here, to introduce a 21st century transportation link, into the city centre, for those pedestrians availing of the service. The prototype is also environmentally friendly. There is a pedestrian area, therefore, it is not only for cars, and a park and ride facility would be available from the city centre, so as to reduce congestion and queues in and around the area. In the pedestrian area, there is patio heaters, and lights are situated throughout the site. All of which are solar powered, they store light energy from during the day and begin to emit this energy at night. There is also an environmentally friendly atmosphere around the site due to the trees and plants scattered throughout.

Prototype Design No 1

Football Stadium for Derry City Football Club

I believe strongly that a new stadium is essential in Derry City our football team is to grow in anyway prosperous in the future. At the minute, the Derry City Football Club Stadium is situated in the Brandywell. This is a small residential area. The stadium is too small, and cannot accommodate the increasing fans. Another major problem regarding the current stadium is that there is no parking available, only the streets surrounding the stadium. Therefore congestion is a big issue. In this prototype, there is parking facilities available, due to the size of this 14 acre site, Therefore congestion would not be a problem anymore. The proposal is also economically stable, generating income from a number of sources. Firstly from ticket charges, from concessionary charges within the stadium, i.e. bar, shop, merchandise. Income could also be generated from the car parking mentioned above, people will have no problem paying for the parking due to it’s convenience. Income is also generated for the city as a whole due to the tourism attracted, from matches, with people travelling from far and wide, especially, for example, for UEFA matches. The stadium would also provide employment for local people. Another requirement of this proposal is that the prototype should promote local culture, which it obviously does do, due to the nature of it. It promotes the city’s local football team and the city in general. There is also a 21st century transportation link at the site with the introduction of a new light railway system, i.e. the tram. The prototype is also environmentally friendly, with solar panels attached to the roof of the stadium, in order to power the flood lights and other electronic devices. The tram link also encourages environmental friendliness by reducing the congestion in and around the Fort George site.

Report - 3-D Transport Model

How i made my Google SketchUp 3-D tram. Firstly i decided to use Google SketchUp because it is a free application for 3-D modelling and can be simply downloaded from the Google web page. I also decided to use Google SketchUp becasue it is very user-friendly. It is basic, yet offers a large variety of tools. It is ideal for begineers, just starting 3-D modelling.
I began my 3-D tram, firstly by simply drawing a rectangle.

I then used the Push/Pull tool to make the image 3-D, making it now a cuboid. As shown below.









I then selected the front, bottom line, and moved in so as to have an inclined edge.

I drew an arc at the front then, using the "Arc" tool. First i had to select two points, this would be the linear line. Then i had to select another point that the arc would go through. I then pulled this arc upward so the it was the same height as the tram. I then wanted this 3-D arc to be transparent, i.e. a window. So i selected the Paint Bucket option and it opened the materials window, where i chose "Translucent" and the the Blue translucent fill effect.

I also smoothed the edges the whole object. I selected each line, using the pointer and holdin down shift. I then selected "Window" and "Soften Edges".

Another tool i used in Google SketchUp was the "Get Models" tools, whereby, you can access a library full of objects, which can be downloaded directly into your image, i downloaded the door of my tram, the people and the seats into my model. It is known as the 3-D Warehouse.

Composite Image