Project Log

Introduction

We met together as a team on an almost daily basis, and met with our supervisor, Dr. Paul Strachan at least once a week.

A critical appraisal (or 'crit') took place every week, where two of the four groups presented the progress and status of their projects to a collected audience of colleagues, tutors, lecturers and others.

There was also a programme of field trips during this part of the course. The visits usually took place mid-week and were of great interest to many of us. Details of these visits have been included in this project log.

Go direct to Week No.:

Week 1 (24/I/2000 - 30/I/2000)

We all met and proposed certain groups, each with an area of interest. The groups were accepted and supervisors/tutors were assigned to each. Our group's initial interest was in sustainable energy issues. We considered a range of options. it was at this stage that we became aware of Glasgow City Council's desire to incorporate some degree of sustainability into a proposed development plan in Oatlands. Other project proposals were being considered at this time, including an energy audit and reduction plan for a large metal rolling factory.

25 January 2000
We met with Dr Paul Strachan, our tutor, when we discussed a number of options for our project work.
It was agreed to hold weekly meetings with Dr Strachan to monitor progress. These would be held routinely on Wednesday mornings at 9.00am commencing on 2nd February.

In addition agreed that on every Monday morning, we would schedule each weeks tasks and check our own progress.

Week 2 (31/I/2000 - 6/II/2000)

Tuesday 1st February 2000
Dr Strachan arranged for a first contact meeting with Mr A (Sandy) Gillon at Glasgow City Council (GCC) offices at 231 George Street, Glasgow.
Mr Gillon introduced his colleague, Mr Gil Morgan and explained that they were both employed within "Development and Regeneration Services" and were currently involved in the preparation of a Development proposal for a 'brownfield'site at Oatlands on the Southern bank of the River Clyde.

They introduced a short Design Brief which they had prepared which helped to provide our Group with an excellent start to our Project.

Outline Design Brief:

Development of this Brief will involve consideration of the following:
ENVIRONMENT: reources, land and energy to be used efficiently;waste is minimised, re-used or recycled; pollution is limited; bio-diversity is valued and protected.
ECONOMY: access to work; good quality housing and fuel at reasonable cost; teleworking.
INCLUSIVE SOCIETY: promotion of safe, clean and pleasant environment; opportunities for culture, leisure and recreation.
In addition to the above, we would like to consider the feasibility of integrating 'teleworking' within the development.
It should be noted that whilst all ideas and concepts should be considered, it is imperative that the final brief is achievable within a commercial project. Incorporation of the proposed 'sustainability brief' within the development guidelines must not price building out of the reach of the normal man in the street.
Proposals for the use of sustainable technology should be backed up, where possible, with initial calculations demonstrating the effectiveness and efficiency of its incorporation.

Friday 4th February 2000
Each of the four Groups into which the class had been divided, had to participate in our first set of 'Crits'. This involved a formal presentation of our Group, the participants and their qualifications, background experience, etc. and our ideas, what we were undertaking to do and our plans for the following weeks.
'Crits' were to be held each Friday, with 2 Groups presenting on alternate weeks.

Week 3 (7/II/2000 - 13/II/2000)

Tuesday 8th February 2000
At 14.00 hrs we met with officials from Glasgow City Council (Mr Gil Morgan) and further discussed the Oatlands development plans. We gave an undertaking to submit a brief by the 7th of March on potential aspects of sustainability that could be incorporated into the development.

Wednesday 9th February 2000
At 9.00am we had a routine meeting with Dr Strachan who attempted to have us remain focussed.

Our programme of field trips also started this week, and the first trip was to the Roche chemical plant in Dalry. This factory produces large volumes of an assortment of vitamins. The factory also produces it's own electricity, heat and steam, through CHP/Cogeneration. This is what we went to visit. The visit was very interesting, and owing to the size of the installation, we managed to get right in and see most of the equipment.

Thursday 10th February 2000
We arranged to meet Mr Morgan at 10.30am at GCC, 20 Trongate and were introduced to Mr Simon Watson, a Geotechnical Engineer with the Geotechnical Department of GCC, Development and Regeneration Services to seek information about the area and it's services.
At this point we informed them that we had noted a reference to a colliery on an old map. Not much was known about it, but they promised to investigate.

Mr Watson showed us several official reports concerning the Oatlands and wider Gorbals districts. These included a previous development brief from 1997/1998, a range of Ordnance Survey maps of the area covering various stages in its development from the 19th Century to the present day, records of coal mining in the district, and investigative borehole records from previous investigations.

Friday 11th February 2000
At 10.00 am Tom visited the Resources and Information Library operated and maintained by Greater Glasgow Health Board and identified a number of useful publications on healthcare policy and provision in the City of Glasgow and surrounding districts.
These provided useful background information and identified the health services provision and facilities currently available in the Gorbals area.

At 2.00pm, We had routine 'Crits' with presentations from the "Wave Energy" and "Fuel Cells/Biomass" Group.

It was stressed in the conclusion that we must display cohesion in our Groups. In assessing some of the subjects, we were advised that it is often helpful to be a 'devil's advocate'. We must also be discernable and think of 'new' ideas and be able to specify our sources of information.

Week 4 (14/II/2000 - 20/II/2000)

Monday 14th February 2000
Rob stayed in Edinburgh today and took the opportunity to arrange visits to Scottish Homes and Sustrans.
At SUSTRANS, he was shown lots of interesting maps, etc. of Glasgow but no real energy related information. Grace Nicol whom he met had had meetings with GCC regarding funding.

At Scottish Homes, he met Claire Ironside the local officer looking at Craigmillar. She promised to investigate further for us and obtain information on the soial and energy aspects of Scottish Homes work. The good news was that this particular lady had just finished working on the Millennium Project in Edinburgh (Slateford Green) which her colleague, Brenda Dickson was working on as her Ph.D. This development is being prepared to incoporate low-energy housing, no cars, etc., etc..

Tuesday 15th February 2000
At 8.30 am, Tom called on Simon Watson and borrowed a copy of "Hydro-geology of Scotland" to elicit some knowledge of geology and the incidence of aquafers.

At 10.30, Tom attended a meeting with Mr A Malcolm, Senior Depute Director at GCC, Land Services Division to discuss the subject of Sustainability in relation to the Transport Policies of the UK Government, the Scottish Executive and the Glasgow City Council in particular. Mr Malcolm was extremely helpful in terms of his time and patience and provided a range of loan documents for our Group to study.

Wednesday 16th February 2000
As part of our field trip programme we visited the "Lighthouse" in Glasgow city centre. The building has an viewpoint level on the top floor, which gives impressive views of Glasgow city centre.

ESRU have previously done work with the lighthouse as part of their contribution to the 1999 City of Architecture. This viewing gallery is heated and lit by renewable resources. The Southern external facade incorporates PV-panels, and there are some small ducted wind turbines on the edge of the roof with firther pv panels mounted on their outlet baffles.

Thursday 17th February 2000
We made e-mail contact with 'Buildings at Risk' Officer at The Scottish Civic Trust. We informed her that as part of our Project, we had some interest in a part of the old Gorbals/Oatlands area and in particular the former Public Baths and Wash house which still remains in the area. We asked whether this building was on their 'Buildings at Risk' Register and if there were any plans for its refurbishment, or whether she knew of its history or was it destined for demolition?

Friday 18th February 2000
At 11.00 am our Group had a meeting with Maureen Mulvey of the Energy Management Section of the GCC, Housing DEpartment. Prior to attending this meeting, we had e-mailed an advance list of the top[ics which we wished to discuss, as follows:

Information on existing CHP/District Heating schemes in Glasgow such as a schedule, capacities, number of homes served, etc..
Information or statistics on standard/average, fuel/energy consumption patterns for typical apartments/flats/house types.
The sort of energy strategies and policies adopted for new-build/refurbishment housing projects.
The success rate in implementation of such policies.
The roles and responsibilities of an energy management section in a Local Authority such as GCC.
The level of Interaction which they have with Housing Associations/Scottish Homes/Developers, etc..
Their involvement with Architects and Design Teams.
Background information on the problem of 'Fuel Poverty' and its solution.

Week 5 (21/II/2000 - 27/II/2000)

Monday 21st February 2000
At 11.00 am we had a Group meeting to formulate our progress and continued focus.

At 2.30pm we had a meeting arranged with Mr T McCartney of the Crown Street Regeneration Project at his offices in Legal House adjacent to the Citizen's Theatre. He was extremely interesting in his observations regarding the work with which he is involved and the variety of groups whom he meets with from full design teams, to local community groups of tenants and owner/occupiers.

Wednesday 23rd February 2000
Visit to th BRE Scottish laboratories in East Kilbride where we were shown the Solar energy Test Cells which form part of a European-wide research programme, and the variety of uses to which they are adapted.

Thursday 24th February 2000
Our Group attended a Conference in Edinburgh at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC). This was entitled "Regeneration Revival" and was hosted by the RICS in Scotland and Scottish Enterprise.

The Speakers at the Conference were in the main, of great interest as the agenda for the day was exactly what we needed to provide us with wide overview on the whole subject of sustainability.

Friday 25th February 2000
At 10.00 am Tom called on Tom McCartney to investigate numbers and types of dwelling built or under construction in tghe Crown Street Project. He undertook to ask his Quantity Surveyors to abstract suitable data and to arrange for them to n meet with our Group.

From 10.45am, Tom visited several Consulting Engineers in an effort to obtain sight of some elusive publications, but was unsuccessful.

He then visited the Mitchell Library, Old Glasgow Room and City Archives Section, seeking photographs and/or drawings of Oatlands and the former Public Baths and Wash house. Some measure of success, but this involved an inordinate period of time resulting in his missing that Friday's 'Crits' session.

At 2.00pm the 'Crits' session involved presentations by the 'Wave Energy' and 'Green Box' Groups. After this session, it was stressed to everyone that the presentations and skills had to be improved and a cohesive common style adopted by each Group.

Week 6 (28/II/2000 - 5/III/2000)

Monday 28th February 2000
At 3.00pm a meeting was arranged with Mr David Hogg of Turner and Townsend, Chartered Surveyors, 53 Bothwell Street. He provided us with a selection of Schedules of Dwelling Types relating to several of the Crown Street redevelopment phases with a selection of drawings which helped to clarify the Tables and Charts.

Wednesday 30th February 2000
This week's visit was to Longannet Power Station in Fife, owned by Scottish Power. This is a coal fired plant which is located next to a coal mine. This is a large station, with a power output of about 2.4GW (4x600MW) on full-load. The tour was excellent, and included an insight and explanation into the workings of the control room.

Week 7 (6/III/2000 - 12/III/2000)

We managed to submit our initial brief to Lori McElroy, who was going to use it in the submission to the council. We also met with her to discuss various aspects of our initial studies.

We went through some analysis as a group, and made some observations about the findings of the previous few weeks. we decided to focus on the energy issues in the development, and in particular the impact that the infrastructure has on them.

In continuing our visits to various energy installations, this week we visited the landfill site at Greenoakhill. The methane gas, that landfills naturally generate, is harvested and directed to two large Gas engines, each of 1MW. The site has just been granted a contract under the SRO to produce electricity for the Grid.

Week 8 (13/III/2000 - 19/III/2000)

Wednesday 15th March 2000
In our routine meeting with Dr Strachan, we gave him a detailed progress report and described how we wish to further and finish the project. We also discussed the possibility of developing the model of sustainability and evaluating the various influencing factors by measurements using quantitative computer methods.

Friday 17th March 2000
At today's crit we presented some of our feelings, and our intended way forward. this was warmly welcomed, and the presentation went very well.

Week 9 (20/III/2000 - 26/III/2000)

Wednesday 22nd March 2000
At out team meeting we discussed the progress and the finer points of our web site; and the problems we were experiencing when communicating with each other by e-mail and sending pictures and other documents such as pdf files between the PC's and Rob's Apple-Mac.

The work this week mostly consisted of us trying to obtain information and data on some of our proposed infrastructure systems. This was quite difficult, as they are not very many people out there who deal in these systems.
The website was beginning to look someway coherent. We still need to put in large volumes of data, however, the structure was begininning to take shape.

In a daring move this week, we donned our protection and ventured to Hunterston Nuclear Power Station, owned and run by British Energy. The majority of us were first-timers at this nuclear-thing, so it had the potential to be a good learning experience. Alas, much of the station is off-limits, and the outside public are mainly kept in distant viewing galleries. Also, the people who brought us around the plant seemed to have little technical knowledge. The tour seemed to be suitable for, and directed towards, primary school children.

Week 10 (27/III/2000 - 2/IV/2000)

Thursday 30th March 2000
We made contact with Shetland Isands Council via e-mail requesting information and data regarding their Waste-to-Energy plant and District Heating distribution network, in and around Lerwick.

We received a reply from Mr Jim Grant of SIC informing us of their web site at http://www.shetland.gov.uk and that we could find details under the Environmental and Transport Department, waste. For more detail on the District Heating we were invited to contact Mr Neville Martin at Lerwick.

This week we managed to obtain some of our key information for the proposals. From this information, we were able to finalise our calculations and make some good deductions.
This week was the last of the crits, and the final part in our progress reports. The final part of our field visit programme took place this week to Hagshaw Hill Windfarm. This farm is a collection of 29 wind turbines of 600MW each. This project was built in two sections, following two different contracts awarded to Scottish Power under the SRO. This was an informative visit, and most people were interested to get an insight into this renewable resource with a great future.

Week 11 (3/IV/2000 - 9/IV/2000)

Thursday 6th April 2000
Tom eventually managed to contact Mr Martin at SIC by telephone and had a lengthy discussion with him, when he described the DH scheme, its development, capacity, success and future expansion plans.
Mr Martin also sent us some leaflets and other printed matter describing the DH scheme, the Waste-to-Energy incineration plant and some of the other energy sources which they hope to interconnect with in due course.

This week was mostly devoted to piecing together all the various bits, and trying to form a coherent storyline and argument for our case. Although not quite finished, the website was at an advanced stage, with all the layouts and flows nicely together.

Why are there only 24 hours in one day?

Week 12 (10/IV/2000 - 16/IV/2000)

Thursday 13th April 2000
Final Presentation