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Project profiles - round 2
The projects funded in Round 2 cover a range of regional and national initiatives. Many of the projects have a specific focus on small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs).
Visual Applications and Diagnostics Online
The Visual Applications and Diagnostics Online (VADO) initiative is based on combining the visual support of Internet related video technologies with online data communications. Maintenance, equipment monitoring and application support are areas where companies can incorporate VADO technologies into their products and services.
The project includes a comprehensive range of initiatives to help SMEs and larger companies to understand the technical aspects of incorporating Internet based video and data communication technologies into their products, services and corporate operations.
VADO technologies can be used in remote machine support where technical experts are located away from the machinery, warehouse inventory monitoring in conjunction with bar-code and automated storage systems, and to showcase products and equipment whilst participating in international exhibitions.
For information on the VADO project, contact Mr Choon Kait Ng at the Industrial Research Institute Swinburne (IRIS), email ckng@swin.edu.au. The IRIS web site is at www.swin.edu.au/iris where you can find out about their full range of activities.
Australian Earth Data On-Line
The Australian Earth Data On-Line (AEDOL) project developed a prototype system to be a web-based, one-stop shop for all Australian earth and environmental data (such as remotely sensed data, topographic data, geoscience data and land-use data) and associated value-added products, including thematic maps. AEDOL will permit the harmonisation of data from different sources and will deliver data and information products tailored to specific end-user needs.
Data products available as part of the prototype are a variety of remotely sensed images of general interest to WWW user, and tailored image data product for ACT Emergency Services to provided detailed information about bushfire fuel loadings for the Australian Capital Territory. Both products integrate and harmonise data from a number of existing data sources and suppliers, which is the essence of the AEDOL system.
Pharmaceutical Electronic Commerce and Communication
The Pharmaceutical Electronic Commerce and Communication (PeCC) project is introducing electronic commerce into the pharmaceutical supply chain. Initially the project worked with six wholesalers who supply to hospitals and the 700 manufacturers that they purchase from.
The project demonstrated the significant benefits that supply chain management (SCM) improvements could have in the hospital sector and has been expanded from its pharmaceutical base to take a much wider view of the healthcare supply chain.
PeCC has succeeded in highlighting the need for improved SCM and the possible solutions that are available. It has achieved agreement among pharmaceutical wholesalers about the use of EAN numbering by them and their large supplier network, and about introducing a common Internet-based platform for electronic commerce. Guidelines for barcoding in the Australian healthcare industry have also been drawn up, and a number of pilot projects are now up and running.
Electronic Commerce for Small Exporters
This project conducted a feasibility study to determine the barriers faced by SME exporters in using electronic commerce as the means of achieving effective administration of their export activities. This involved a program to identify the issues and needs of SMEs, the establishment of a limited feasibility trial using Internet web export electronic commerce, and the preparation of a business plan for the implementation of an extended demonstration project.
The first part of the project focused on a group of SMEs exporters in the Ballarat and Geelong areas of Victoria, to determine the specific issues that related to their businesses in the administration of their export activities as well as investigating their current electronic commerce capability and attitudes.
An activity that arose from this project was the facilitation of e-commerce techniques and processes that would enhance the passage of messages, documents and work-in-progress tracking between client/exporter and Freight Forwarder as the study showed that this was highly relevant to the SME exporters.
The Centre for Electronic Commerce and Communication is the project manager for this project. Information about this project is available on the CECC Internet site, www.cecc.com.au
EdOnline
The EdOnline project seeks to establish industry standards for online publishing and copyright monitoring and protection to ensure that both Australian universities and Australian authors and publishers are able to benefit from online technologies. In particular, the standards this project seeks to develop concern the mark-up and presentation of educational materials in electronic format, so that any production house can provide material to a recognized format, and any user of the online delivery system will be able to locate and use these tools.
The pilot project will produce an online 'book pack' for a second year university course. Students will be able to access their reading material directly online or will be able to request hard copy of any or all of the material. For more information on this project contact Rhonda Black, email rblack@kbdnet.net.au , who is managing the project on behalf of the Australian Publishers Association.
Screen Commerce Australia
One of the challenges that faces the Australian film and television sectors is keeping track of the many people involved in the production of films and programs. With 30 different groups of professionals involved in the production process, each with their own Guild or Union, this can be difficult.
The project will develop new business data management systems integrated with Internet and intranet technologies to deliver membership services, public information, commercial transactions, industry business-to-business networking, government and agency liaison, and national and international marketing and audience development in an online environment.
By providing these groups with a common set of systems many of the difficulties facing the industry in managing their membership base will be eliminated.
For more information contact the project manager Garry Brennan, email brennang@fto.gov.au.
Australian Information Security Demonstration Site
A demonstration and awareness site on IT&T security to act as an e-commerce site for the members of the Australian IT&T Security Forum, and as a technology demonstrator and awareness raiser for Australian corporations and governments on the issue of Information Security.
The success of the Australian IT&T security industry will largely depend on the willingness and capacity of its member organisations to collaborate in the deployment of complete solutions to information security problems.
The IT&T Security Forum web site is at www.ittsecurity.aeema.asn.au and the members database can be searched by capability.
Continuing Online Professional Education
This project aims to deliver continuing professional education (CPE) to chartered accountants by using on-line technologies. On-line delivery has the potential to deliver significant improvements in competitiveness by enabling access to CPE material anytime and anywhere, eliminating the need for physical infrastructure and instructors.
The trial will develop and deliver accounting modules via the Internet as a more flexible and cost effective way to meet the educational need s of accountants. The challenge is to present material on-line that is engaging, easy to understand and which achieves a learning outcome.
More information is available from the project manager, Dr John Eklund, email johne@accessonline.com.au
Tasmanian Design and Development Company Retail Web Site
There are about 160 artists, designers, artisans and crafts people who make products for sale via the Tasmanian Design and Development Company (TDDC). The project will build a web presence to showcase their work and allow online purchasing giving these artists access to the fastest growing retail sector in the world - online sales.
The TDDC will promote the initiative to commercial buyers throughout Australia. The success of the project will lead other sectors of the craft industry to establish similar ventures.
For more information contact the project manager, email info@roarthree.com.au