Options for E-waste Plastic

The New Zealand Government has issued reports of two studies it commissioned on how to dealing with plastic which contains Brominated flame retardant (BFR) chemicals. These plastics have been commonly used in computers and other electronic devices. The chemicals are banned under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). The result is e-waste which is difficult to dispose of. Available are:

1. Managing waste that may contain brominated flame retardants,
2. Brominated flame retardant research: A pilot study of e-waste plastic sorting in New Zealand (AS140193), Geoff Latimer, NVIRON Australia Pty Ltd, for NZ Ministry for the Environment, September 2013. The study found most CRT TVs in NZ were manufactured in Asia after 1990 without POP-BDEs. A small number of older units from Europe may contain the chemical. Photocopiers and printers are likely to be POP-BDE free. There was limited evidence on POP-BDEs in CRT computer monitors, so the authors recommended monitors should be assumed to contain them. But LCD computer monitors are unlikely to contain the chemical.
   
3. Brominated Flame Retardant Research: A cost-benefit analysis of sorting options for e-waste plastics, ACIL Allen Consulting Pty Ltd, for NZ Ministry for the Environment, October 2013. The report compared visual inspection of items versus use of a handheld "XRF scanner" which uses X-rays to detect the chemicals.  The report concludes that the scanners can't sufficient distinguish between POP-BDE and the more benign chemicals used to replace them, resulting in a large number of false positives. The report concludes XRF is more expensive and does not give any better identification result.

Effective feedback for research students

East, Bitchener, and Basturkmen (2012) start the report of their survey of what feedback research students get and want from supervisors, with the assertion that "... at the heart of supervision is pedagogy". This is a contested point, but one I agree with: supervision of research is a form of education and many of the same techniques which can improve coursework can be applied to supervision. They argue that the larger number of students and the diversity of international students calls for more greater priority for research into the supervision process.

The study by East, Bitchener, and Basturkmen (2012) is of research students in six New Zealand universities and so should be broadly applicable to Australia. They emphasize the long term nature of postgraduate research supervision, in comparison to coursework degrees made up of self-contained semester courses. However, by charactering courses as "mono-directional" (lecture-focused) and "didactic" (teacher-led), in contrast to the more open and equal research supervision, they may be overstating the case. Current pedagogical practice at the postgraduate level (at least the practice I was taught and teach by) has largely dispensed with conventional lectures and encourages students to learn in teams from each other, with the tutor as a "guide on the side".

The relationship between supervisor and student is central to research degree programs, but East, Bitchener, and Basturkmen (2012) may also be overstating this case. Other research has shown prospective employers want graduates with teamwork skills and there is value to students in working in teams. So the emphasis on the individual student/supervisor relationship may be unhealthy and unproductive.

The students in the survey by East, Bitchener, and Basturkmen (2012) indicated that the usual method of feedback written followed by a face-to-face meeting. Students with a English linguistic background supported this approach, for proving help with structure of their written work. Students with English as a second language wanted more detailed feedback on their use of language, but were worried about the interpretation of the feedback. While not stated in the paper, I assume that the language of instruction in the universities surveyed is English, although Maori is also an official language in New Zealand.

A summary of students suggestions for supervisors, in reverse order of priority were:

1. Give written and oral feedback with a view to feed forward
2. Make positive and constructive comments alongside critique
3. Understand the project
4. Give suggestions but do not be too directive

These appear in line with conventional wisdom from pedagogy.

As with other surveys of research students, this suffers from a very small sample size. Also, as with other authors, East, Bitchener, and Basturkmen (2012) do not question the logic of expanding university research programs to accommodate more students. I suggest it would benefit the students and the community more to direct these students to coursework programs, not research. It makes little sense to have students undertake programs they are not suited to, especially when there are few jobs for such researchers on graduation.

Reference

East, Martin; Bitchener, John; and Basturkmen, Helen, What constitutes effective feedback to
postgraduate research students? The students’ perspective, Journal of University Teaching & Learning
Practice, 9(2), 2012.
Available at: http://ro.uow.edu.au/jutlp/vol9/iss2/7/

Cloud Computing Code of Practice

The Institute of IT Professionals NZ has issued a "New Zealand Cloud Computing Code of Practice" (June 2012). This is a voluntary code and is mostly about disclosure to the client of the cloud provider's service delivery standards.

Table of contents

1. Introduction
   1. Core Principles of the Code
   2. Aims of the Code
2. Defining Cloud
   1. What is Cloud computing?
3. Application
   1. Who does this Code of Practice apply to?
4. Approach
   1. Cloud Code of Practice to relate to Provider’s Products or Services
   2. Compliance with the Code of Practice
   3. Fees
   4. Withdrawal from this Code of Practice
5. Code of Practice Disclosure
   1. Disclosure
   2. Corporate Identity
   3. Ownership of Data
   4. Security
   5. Data Location
   6. Data Access and Use
   7. Back up and maintenance
   8. Geographic Diversity
   9. SLA and Support
   10. Data Breach Notification
   11. Data Transportability
   12. Business Continuity
   13. Data Formats
   14. Ownership of Application
6. Customer Engagement
   
7. Assessment
   
8. Recognition of Compliance to this code
   
9. Maintenance of this code
   

• Schedules:

1. Fair trading compliance policy
2. Cloud Security Alliance STAR Registry Information
3. Security Standards List

...

Introduction

The purpose of the New Zealand Cloud Computing Code of Practice (“The Code”) is to enable professional cloud service providers to benchmark and demonstrate their practices, processes and ethics via a recognised third party to build trust with prospective customers. This can be achieved by service providers or suppliers meeting the requirements of The Code, and receiving recognition via use of a distinguished mark and entry into a register of cloud providers compliant with this Code of Practice.

The Code assists end users by allowing them to make informed decisions based on the disclosure of practices of the service provider enabling end users to be confident with the service provider’s ability to meet end users requirements.

The Code also builds trust within the Cloud Service Industry by providing a trusted format which both suppliers and customers can depend on. The Code recognises the valuable financial support that the following organisations have made in order to have the Code of Practice developed, along with the participation of over 250 individuals from both around New Zealand and off-shore. ...

From: New Zealand Cloud Computing Code of Practice, Institute of IT Professionals NZ, June 2012

The code is issued under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 New Zealand license.

NZ Ultra-Fast Broadband in Schools

The New Zealand Ministry of Education has issued a Request for Proposal for a "Network for Learning: Ultra-Fast Broadband in Schools" (9 May 2012). Registered companies can download "Document 2: Network Requirements" (GETS Reference 36203), which has a comprehensive description of the proposed system, including Domain Name Service, Remote Access to School LANs, Peering, Software Update Distribution, Caching, SMTP, Security, Managed Firewall, Managed Content Filtering, Proxy Services, Identity and Access Management.

While emphasizing the benefits for learning to students at individual schools, this national approach will also allow NZ to lower overall costs and it will also allow students and teachers to move between schools and also learn and teach online, away from a school campus.

Offshore Support Vessel For Australian Navy

The Minister for Defence, Stephen Smith announced the purchase of the 6,500 tonne Offshore Support Vessel (OSV) MSV Skandi Bergen for $130m. Alongside the HMAS Choules , recently purchased second hand from the Royal Navy, this helps fills the gap in amphibious military transport until the first of two new Canberra class Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) ships arrive from Spain. Australia got a good deal with both Skandi Bergen and Choules, due to the downturn in the global economy.

Skandi Bergen is sister ship to the Australian Customs Service's ACV Ocean Protector and will be transferred to Customs when the new purpose built amphibious transport ships are delivered in about three years time. The offshore support vessels are built for supporting oil rigs in harsh polar waters, and so will be useful for patrolling Australia's southern ocean, but are not designed for amphibious warfare. They have a helicopter pad, but this mounted high above the bridge and cannot be used for moving heavy cargo or vehicles, just personnel. But the ships have a useful cargo deck and crane for transshipping supplies.

Media reports indicate that the Minister for Defence rejected the option of purchasing an Australian made military transport, from Incat Tasmania or Austral WA, on advice from the Navy that these were not suitable for extended periods at sea. This is a curious decision as the purpose of a transport ship is not to spend extended periods at sea, but to get cargo from one point on shore to another as quickly as possible. This is a contentious issue in the US military, with the Army acquiring its own ships as a result. The US Army and Navy have both used high speed ships from Australian suppliers, including the Fortitude class Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV) from Austral.

RFP for e-Learning Courses for Professionals

The New Zealand Ministry of Health has issued a Request for Proposal for Supply of Customised Online Learning Courses. The detailed 34 page Request For Proposals document (RFP CCOL 0910350, 15 July 2011) is available to registered companies and provides a useful overview of what to ask for with e-leaning course development. In this case the courses are for ten to twenty thousand professionals spread across New Zealand. The Ministry is looking for a supplier with experience in creating digital learning assets and whole online courses. Course content development plans will be prepared before the instructional designer begins work. The Learning Management System (LMS) to be used is not specified. Educating professionals is both helped, and made more complicated, by the requirements of professional bodes.

Austral Trimaran option for Australian Navy

According to Defence Technology International, one solution to the Australian military's lack of transport ships is a 102 meter trimaran sitting unused in Western Australia ("Good Deal", Bradley Perrett, DTI, April 2011). The ship was built by Austral, with a hull design similar to that of the US Navy's Freedom-class Littoral combat ships (which are made by Austral in the USA). The ship could be quickly modified to carry out a similar logistical function to the Fortitude class Joint High Speed Vessels (JHSV) which Austral is also making for the US military.

The ship could also use interchangeable mission modules, as envisaged for the Fortitude class ships. The modules are shipping container sized and can be loaded on the ship for different tasks. There have been problems with the mission module concept, both in production delays and inflexibility. A simpler approach could be taken by the Australian military, with existing truck, container and trailer mounted equipment, simply driven onto the ship and used when needed. Some of this could be equipment used already by the Army, Navy and Air Force on land. Other equipment could be commercial off the shelf. Containerised equipment designed for mining companies and shipping container sized data centres would be particularly suitable.

Amphibious Ship for Earthquake Relief

The Royal New Zealand Navy reported that multi-role vessel (MRV) HMNZS Canterbury was alongside in Lyttelton when an earthquake struck on 22 February 2011. The ship was able to immediately begin relief operations.

Unfortunately Media reports indicate that the Australian Defence Force (ADF) has no comparable ships available to assist, with all in for repair.

This would be an ideal use for Australian designed high speed multi hull vessels. The US Maritime Administration (MARAD) used the Australian designed high speed catamaran “Huakai” to deliver aid to Haiti. The US military are acquiring up to ten similar Fortitude class Joint High Speed Vessels (JHSV) designed by West Australian based company Austal. Unfortunately the Australian Government has no plans to acquire any of these ships for the Australian Defence Force.

Australian Military Sealift and Amphibious Options

Yesterday I wrote "Options for Amphibious Operations by Australian Defence Force", in response to media reports that the Australian Defence Force (ADF) will have limited capabilities for amphibious operations for the foreseeable future. Today I noticed that the Australian Strategic Policy Institute released "Back to the future: Australia’s interim sealift and amphibious capability" (16 February 2011) by Andrew Davies, which comes to much the same conclusions. The Australian military will need to consider interim vessels for transporting the Army , most likely based on commercial vehicle ferries. This is not quite as some cartoonists have portrayed it, with troops on a Sydney passenger ferry. There is now considerable experience in how to adapt vessels for military use, with options for heliports and weapons. The RAAF has used adapted civilian airliners as military aircraft for decades and the practice is now becoming common for navies.

The obvious option option, not raised in the media yesterday, would be the use of Austrlaian built high speed multi hull vessels. The USA is acquiring up to ten Fortitude class Joint High Speed Vessels (JHSV) designed by West Australian based company Austal. These ships lack the ability to operate heavy landing craft to deliver tanks to a beach. However, they can operate helicopters and could be adapted to operate smaller landing craft. Ships of this type from Austral and Tasmanian builder Incat are available second hand. Use of such ships would have the political benefit of supporting Australian ship builders, who would be able to quickly carry out any needed modifications for militarisation on the ships they designed and built. This work could be done in months, rather than the years needed for a new build.

While there has much been said about automation of US warships to reduce crews required, this work as gone ahead much faster and much more effectively with civilian ferries. During the Sydney Olympics I had a tour of an Incat ferry and talked to the CEO Robert Clifford. It was a little unnerving when he left me on the bridge alone for a few minutes. The ship was tied up at the wharf, but even so there were an array of computer display panels monitoring the ships functions in front of me (as a former HQADF staff member I guess I could be trusted with this). The ship went to sea a few days later for a demonstration for US military, who were so impressed they ordered several (the Austrlaian military were less impressed, preferring to buy rusty US made ships).

Andrew Davies full report is available as a 423 kbyte PDF download.

For any meaningfully-sized operation overseas, the bulk of ADF personnel and materiel would necessarily be moved by sea. Airlift remains the fastest way to move small numbers of troops or small volumes of equipment, but only movement by sea allows for large quantities to be moved efficiently. The government should soon be faced with some choices about the interim provision of sealift and/or amphibious capability for the RAN. This paper examines the options.

From: Back to the future: Australia’s interim sealift and amphibious capability, Andrew Davies, Australian Strategic Policy Institute, 16 February 2011

Options for Amphibious Operations by Australian Defence Force

Media reports indicate that the Australian Defence Force (ADF) will have limited capabilities for amphibious operations for the foreseeable future. The Landing Platform Amphibious ship HMAS Manoora (L 52) will be retired during 2011. Sister ship HMAS Kanimbla (L 51) requires repair until mid 2012, but may be retired early. Landing Ship Heavy (LSH) HMAS Tobruk (L 50) is in for longer repairs than anticipated.

Kanimbla was to be replaced in 2014, by the Canberra class amphibious warfare ship HMAS Canberra. But Canberra may not be delivered on schedule. Also the Canberra class ships are much larger and so less able to do some of the tasks undertaken by the smaller ships.

One option under consideration by the Australian government is to acquire the UK's landing ship dock RFA Largs Bay (L3006), which is being retired due to UK defence budget cuts. Largs Bay is larger (and more capable) than Kanimbla and would complement the Canberra class ships.

Another option being considered is sharing New Zealand's HMNZS Canterbury multi-role vessel (MRV). Canterbury is smaller than Kaninbla and less capable of providing for heavy amphibious operations, but is more suited to low intensity operations (and much cheaper to operate). The closest comparable Australian ship is the southern ocean patrol vessel ACV Ocean Protector.

One option not raised in the media so far would be the use of Austrlaian built high speed multi hull vessels.

The USA is acquiring up to ten Fortitude class Joint High Speed Vessels (JHSV) designed by West Australian based company Austal. The RAN has previously operated a similar (but smaller) ship HMAS Jervis Bay (AKR 45) to support operations in East Timor. These ships lack the ability to operate heavy landing craft to deliver tanks to a beach. However, they can operate helicopters and could be adapted to operate smaller landing craft. They also can deliver tanks and heavy equipment to a port with no shore infrastructure required. This was demonstrated when the US Maritime Administration (MARAD) used the Australian designed high speed catamaran “Huakai” to deliver aid to Haiti. Use of such ships would allow a level of commonality in operations with the USA and would also have th political benefit of supporting Australian ship builders.

Learning, Location and Lucre

In "Degrees, Distance, and Dollars" Marina Krakovsky provides a down to earth analysis of experience with distance education for universities (Originally published in Communications of the ACM September 2010, then eLearn Magazine, 7 September 2010). Some of the points made: elite universities are not using online courses to admit more students; some lower ranking ones might use online to reduce costs. As well as the university, Krakovsky sees the online students being different, with those with jobs (particularly the military) and family commitments which preclude conventional education and this may help women get qualifications for management. Online courses are priced the same or higher than face-to-face courses, with students attracted by convenience and lower travel and living on campus costs (with a course costing US$14,000 a year). Also more individual attention from online tutors might be a factor. Ease of course entry is suggested as a factor, with students willing to pay more for entry without having to worry about prior qualifications willing to pay more. High fees also help retain students, which in turn helps with course accreditation. For the future Krakovsky suggests specialization suits online courses, with only a few students needed from a wide catchment needed to make a viable program.

The one major flaw in Krakovsky's analysis is that it does not address education outside the USA. It is as if there are no courses or universities, online or bricks and mortar, outside the USA. Online courses open up the possibility of US students studying at overseas universities. It also raises the possibility of overseas based staff of US universities teaching US students online. Already I have had a North American student (admittedly from Canada, not USA, in my Green ICT course). Australia and New Zealand have high quality universities, compatible education standards to the USA and a similar cultural outlook and good English skills. Australia and New Zealand also has sophisticated use of online education, being the origin of the Moodle Learning Management System and the Mahara e-Portfolio system. Perhaps the one thing stopping Australian universities addressing the US market is that they are busy with Chinese and Indian students.

India has shown how it could provide first basic telephone call centre services and then increasingly sophisticated accounting, software and engineering services online. It would seem a small step to providing courses for students around the world to English speaking students.

Networked Learning Communities for the National Curriculum

The New Zealand Ministry of Education has issued a request for tenders for "An evaluation of the effectiveness of Network Learning Communities to Schools". The NZ is several years ahead of Australia in introducing a national curriculum and is evaluating the process of local consultation used. This is something the Australian Government might do well to emulate. This could make use of online processes concurrently with adding e-Literacy to the National Curriculum.

The Ministry of Education invites proposals for an evaluation of regionally based Network Learning Communities (NLCs) designed to support schools in their implementation of the New Zealand Curriculum (NZC).

The NZC, published in November 2007, sets the general direction for learning in English medium schools in New Zealand. Within the framework of the NZC schools are given flexibility to meet their students' needs through the development of a locally designed school curriculum. This involves an ongoing process of review and implementation in collaboration with teachers, students and local communities.

Implementation of the NZC requires a fundamental shift in curriculum planning for most schools, with principles, values and key competencies influencing how learning programmes were to be re-designed to support student learning. In recognition of this change, schools were encouraged and supported to engage with the NZC and begin the process of implementing their school curriculum over 2008 and 2009. The expectation was that by February 2010 all schools would be giving effect to the NZC.

The Ministry of Education provided a range of support to assist schools in the process of engaging with and implementing the NZC. One element of support included the use of NLCs, where groups of school and curriculum leaders were facilitated to explore innovation and share practice within a supportive professional environment.

In 2008 the Ministry of Education provided funding for the setting up of a national network of NLCs, that is, a number of small clusters of school and curriculum leaders from a local district, in each region of the country. The aims of the NLCs were to:

• to provide initial support for school leaders in coming to understand the school-level changes needed as a result of the NZC, and
• to offer a network of support for schools as they went about implementing these changes.

Schools were invited to register an interest to participate. Each learning community has been led by an NLC 'sector leader' and supported by an advisor from the regional School Support Services (SSS). In 2009 there were about 150 NLCs nationally and the number has increased to 195 in 2010.

Statement of Requirement

The evaluation will determine to what extent a school leader's participation in an NLC has impacted on the curriculum design and review process in their school, both during 2009 and into 2010. In particular it will investigate:

• to what extent participation in an NLC has increased a school leader's understanding of the NZC;
• how and in what ways the NLC has supported the school in designing their local curriculum;
• how involvement of the leader in an NLC may have influenced the way teaching and learning has changed in the school: and
• how and in what ways the NLC professional development model may have contributed to cluster success, both in terms of the curriculum work and also more broadly.

The Ministry has developed an intervention logic for the NLC professional development model which may assist proposers shape their evaluation plan. Please email tracey.scott@minedu.govt.nz if you would like a copy of this logic. An outline of the 2010 structure and process for NLCs is available at the following link:

http://nzcurriculum.tki.org.nz/Curriculum-resources/Support-for-schools

Other materials that might inform this evaluation - SSS Milestone reports, wiki posts, Action Plans from individual NLC's, materials shared online etc- will be provided to the successful proposer by the Ministry.

It is expected that this evaluation will include, but not be limited to:

• gathering evidence about their 2009- 2010 NLCs from each of the regional providers (School Support Services), and appointed leaders of the NLCs (sector leaders) in each region, (perhaps by a survey or questionnaire), and
• evaluating some 2009- 2010 NLCs nation-wide (perhaps by interview or focus group) with a minimum of ten to be investigated. These NLCs should represent a variety of cross-sector groupings and settings. School visits may also be required, to investigate the impact of NLC involvement in particular schools. The NLC section of the evaluation will be limited to three selected regions, to keep the work manageable and within budget.

An overall report is required that outlines the background of NLCs, summarises the findings from the case studies, and makes informed recommendations to the Ministry. It is also intended that the experience of each of the ten NLCs studied in-depth will be written up as a case study (to be shared on-line with teachers and school leaders).

The Ministry of Education requires that this work be completed within a relatively short time frame of approximately four to five months. It expects the findings to inform decisions about the possible shape of the NLC model for future support. ...

From: "An evaluation of the effectiveness of Network Learning Communities to Schools", RFP, New Zealand Ministry of Education, 2010

Shipping Container Prison

New Zealand Department of Corrections is building prison cells from modified shipping containers. A photograph of the first unit made from a 40 foot standard container has been released. The artist's impression shows a complex made up of several containers with a covered walkway added in front of the containers.

Ironically, in 2007 Amnesty International Australia constructed a transportable replica of a Guantánamo Bay cell, as part of a campaign to have the detention center shut down. This was about the size of a ten foot shipping container module.

New Zealand Rural Broadband Initiative

The New Zealand Ministry of Economic Development has issued an Expression of Interest for a Rural Broadband Initiative. (Reference: 29498). This appears a more modest project than the Australian Government's National Broadband Network. It concentrates on broadband for rural communities and schools.

Companies can download a an Expression of Interest document (MS-Word format 368kb) and a Schools List (Excel spreadsheet 284kb).

The Rural Broadband Initiative (RBI) will use a two-stage process, involving an Expression of Interest (EOI) followed by a Request for Proposals (RFP) stage.

2. A two-stage approach is being used to enable the Government to gather more information so that it can make more informed decisions (e.g. about prioritising regions, minimum open access requirements, service specifications, what is likely to be possible within existing budget etc) when finalising the RFP.

3. Following the assessment of EOIs, an RFP will be released detailing the Government’s requirements.

The RFP will specify:

a. The regions for which bids are being sought in the first year of the RBI (noting that national bids will also be considered).
b. The intended scope of the proposed initiative.
c. The minimum service level requirements.
d. The minimum level of open access required.
e. Standards and interconnection requirements.
f. The criteria upon which bids will be assessed.

NZ Draft Electronic Recordkeeping Standard

Archives New Zealand is proposing to adopt a suite of standards from International Council of Archives for government Electronic Recordkeeping, with a NZ adapt ion document. There is a 17 page (480 Kbytes PDF) exposure draft available for feedback. The ICA standards should work okay for Australia and NZ as they were originally prepared for the Australasian Digital Recordkeeping Initiative. One problem with the Archives NZ exposure draft is that it is poorly formatted PDF with a large "DRAFT" watermark image which slows down loading of the document. A well formatted web page in HTML would have been preferable.

Contents
Chief Archivist’s Overview 4
Issue Statement 4
Adoption Statement 4
1. Introduction 6
1.1 Context: ICA-Req and ERKSS 6
1.2 Purpose 6
1.3 Scope 7
1.4 Advice and Guidance 8
2. Mandate and Responsibilities 8
2.1 Application 8
2.2 Interpretation of Functional Requirements 9
2.3 The Treaty of Waitangi 9
3. Benefits of Using this Standard 10
3.1 Benefits of Good Recordkeeping 10
4 Key Terms 12
Appendix A – Relationship with Archives New Zealand Mandatory Standards
14

From: Digital Recordkeeping System Standard, Exposure Draft, April 2010

End to End Secure Quadruple Play Communications Solution

The NZ Ministry of Economic Development has given notice it is intending to issue a Request for Proposal for the "Provision of End to End Secure Quadruple Play Communications Solution (Voice, Video, Data Mobile with security)". The wording of the announcement is worryingly loose and sounds like it was cobbled together from some vendor brochures. As an example a single service is "likely to encompass ... probably security perimeter ... possibility of datacentre consolidation... Probably VoIP telephony ...". The ministry is also asking for: single number for staff, a one user – one device voice model, mobile device deployment and management for secure mobile communications, GPS integrated mobile devices with mobile mapping and locating, Data Centre acceleration (whatever that is):

"The Ministry of Economic Development is giving advance notice to suppliers of its intention to release a Request for Proposal for the Provision of End to End Secure Quadruple Play Communications Solution (Voice, Video, Data Mobile with security).

The scope of this procurement is to select a single contracted service provider to work in partnership with the Ministry for the provision of Network Services. The Ministry expects to have a prime vendor arrangement with the Vendor taking responsibility for all aspects of the requested service.

Such a single service is likely to encompass the following areas:

· End to End fixed and mobile communications inclusive of data, video, fixed voice, mobile voice, internet and probably security perimeter

· The possibility of datacentre consolidation

· End-to-end monitoring via defined back to back commercial interfaces with the Ministry’s infrastructure suppliers

· Probably VoIP telephony both internally, call centre and externally prepared for the next level of innovation

· Specific fibre solutions for disk mirroring and/or replication to support DR

· Innovation consisting of, but not limited to :

o Single number for staff
o A one user – one device voice model
o Mobile device deployment and management for secure mobile communications
o GPS integrated mobile devices – mobile mapping and locating
o Data Centre acceleration
o WAN acceleration
o CTI for the call centres
o Authentication
o Security

Call and Data routing utilises the most appropriate least cost path (eg on-net, off-net, internet – via wifi, cellular etc) and this is transparent in service delivery and commercial arrangements..."

From: Provision of End to End Secure Quadruple Play Communications Solution (Voice, Video, Data Mobile with security), NZ Ministry of Economic Development, GETS Reference: 27573, 9 October 2009

New Zealand Sahana Disaster Management System Cluster

Tim McNamara has called a meeting to form a New Zealand non-profit group to work with others around the world on the Sahana free open source disaster management system. The meeting is in Wellington, New Zealand, 30 July 2009:

Sahana Free and Open Source Disaster Management System | New Zealand Cluster

Have a Play

http://demo.sahana.lk/cvs/

Get Involved

http://tinyurl.com/nz-sahana-cluster

Turn Up

5:30pm, 30 July 2009, Level 6, Willis Street, Wellington, New Zealand

(RSVP via http://tinyurl.com/nz-sahana-cluster)

What is this anyway?

The New Zealand Sahana Cluster is being formed to bring together technology experts, translators, emergency managers, researchers to bring forward widespread adoption of Sahana in New Zealand.

Sahana is Sinhalese for 'Relief' and signifies the history of the project from its development to reconnect families displaced due to the Boxing Day Tsunami. The New Zealand Cluster seeks to have the same positive impact for Kiwi communities.

Some deployments:

• Asian Tsunami in Sri Lanka (2005)
• Kashmir Earthquake in Pakistan (2005)
• Landslide disaster in Philippines (2005)
• Sarvodaya and Terre des Hommes, Sri Lankan NGOs (2005-)
• Yogjakarta Earthquake, Indonesia (2006)
• Earthquake in Peru (2007)
• Cyclone Sidr in Bangladesh (2007)
• Coastal Storm Plan in New York City (2007-)
• Ica Earthquake, Peru (2007)
• Chendu-Sitzuan Earthquake, China (2008)
• National Disaster Management Center &
• Ministry of Resettlement & Disaster Relief Services, Sri Lanka (2009)

International Sponsors:

Measuring the effectiveness of e-Learning

The NZ Ministry of Education has issued a Request for Proposal for a ICT PD Cluster Programme Research Review Project". This is to review the ICTPD School Clusters Programme, which aims to provide e-learning for school teachers. The RFT asks some questions relevant to any e-learning program:

4.2 Establish and document the value of the ICT PD programme

Identify and provide evidence of the value of the ICT PD programme in terms of:-

• Increasing the capability of teachers to effectively use ICTs in their practice; through a cluster model;

• Effectiveness of the cluster model;

• Impact on outcomes for students;

• Strengthening professional learning communities (CoP);

• Impact on whole school development.

4.3 Establish and document the best practice findings from the programme

• What are the key features of the current programme model that are best practice and could be retained in any future model?

4.4 Research and document international approaches to ICT PD

• How does the NZ approach to ICT PD compare internationally?

4.5 What is the future scope of the ICT PD initiative?

• What are the key strategic ICT PD objectives for New Zealand?

• What are the key requirements of the sector for ICT PD support (recognising that schools have a range of experience and e-capability)?

• What is the relationship between different ICT PD initiatives in developing the e-learning capability pathways of schools?

4.6 How could future programme provision better support the needs of the sector?

• How could future programmes address the changing needs and differing contexts of New Zealand schools?

• How can the relationship between ICT PD initiatives be strengthened to provide e-learning capability development pathways for schools?

4.7 Development of Recommendations

Recommendations will include:-

• Requirements for ICT PD in NZ schooling sector over the next five years;

• Revised implementation model/s for a National e-learning PD programme;

• Level of funding required for continued e-learning capability building in the NZ schooling sector;

• Interim solutions required in the transition period to a new model. ...

From: ICT PD Cluster Programme Research Review ProjectRequest for Proposal, NZ Ministry of Education, 27 November 2008

Business travel reduction projects for Carbon Neutral Public Service

The New Zealand Ministry for the Environment has issued a Request for Proposal for "Business travel reduction projects for Carbon Neutral Public Service and Govt3 Agencies". There are two document for the RFP: Travel management framework,
Business travel reduction projects for CNPS and Govt3 Agencies.

A target in the New Zealand Energy Efficiency and Conservation strategy (NZEECS) requires Government departments to prepare workplace travel plans that reduce business travel. Reducing kilometres travelled for business travel will also lead to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

The Ministry for the Environment (MFE) coordinates the Carbon Neutral Public Service (CNPS) and Govt³ programmes. These programmes are working together to assist government organisations to reduce their carbon footprint and take actions to become more sustainable.

MFE has developed a package of projects to accelerate improvements in government organisation transport sustainability and reduce kilometres, CO₂ emissions, and costs. To implement this package, the Ministry for the Environment (MFE) seeks a contractor to:

• undertake travel audits of central government organisations with high air travel

• prepare guidelines outlining practical methods for achieving reductions in business travel, and

• provide expert travel planning advice to selected central government organisations

Background

The NZEECS has set a target for public service departments to have a workplace travel plan in place, and achieve a 15 per cent reduction in kilometres travelled, by the end of 2010.

The CNPS programme aim is for the six lead public service departments¹ to be retrospectively carbon neutral by 2012. The other 28 core public service departments² will be on the path towards carbon neutrality by 2012.

The carbon neutrality process has three parts:

Measure – agencies will firstly measure their greenhouse gas emissions

Reduce – agencies will implement emission reduction activities

Offset – any unavoidable emissions will be offset through New Zealand based offset projects.

There are currently 57 Govt³ members (which include the 34 core public service departments). The Govt³ programme provides tools and guidance to assist government organisations to take practical action to become more sustainable across a range of different areas, including transport, buildings, waste, office consumables and equipment, and procurement. The delivery of the Govt³ programme helps achieve carbon emissions reductions under the CNPS programme.

In 2007, as part of the transport Govt³ programme, fleet audits were undertaken of 21 government departments with fleets larger than 50. As a result, the sustainability and fuel efficiency of government agency vehicle fleets have been improving as their fleets are reviewed and replaced.

The transport Govt³ programme is now focusing on travel planning. The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA), in partnership with MFE, have developed a travel planning process that Govt³ organisations follow to fulfil the requirements of the CNPS and Govt³ programmes, whilst helping to achieve the NZEECS target.

MFE have run six training workshops on the travel planning process aiming to build capacity of government organisation representatives to prepare travel plans. All Govt³ organisations have also been provided with templates, tools, case studies and guidance. See http://www.landtransport.govt.nz/sustainable-transport/travel-behaviour-change/workplace-travel-plans/index.html for an example of some of this material.

Each government organisations travel, and therefore transport footprint, is different depending on its respective role and operational requirements. Business travel is typically split between the use of fleet vehicles (leased and owned), rental cars, taxis and air travel. While some government organisations have large fleets, air travel comprises the largest proportion of business travel.

This request for proposal focuses on reducing government agency business travel (air travel in particular), and is to assist individual organisations to prepare their travel plans by providing targeted assistance on specific tasks as part of the wider workplace travel planning process.

Workplace travel planning

Workplace travel plans take a holistic approach to organisational travel to develop a package of initiatives to improve travel choices, and reduce travel and its associated environmental impacts. Travel planning follows a five step process (see Figure 1) and covers both commuting and business travel. For the purposes of these projects, the key focus is on reducing business travel (It does not include the employee commute). ...

Agencies are at various stages in the travel planning process, but many have not yet commenced their travel plans. Some government organisations have implemented sustainable transport initiatives outside the travel planning process, such as installing video conferencing equipment.

Scope

There are three projects in this request for proposal. You are welcome to submit a proposal for all three projects or for one or two of the projects. MFE reserves the right to select one or more consultants for the projects to ensure best value for money and outcomes:

Project 1 – Travel audit of selected government departments with high air travel

Project 2 – Guidelines for business travel reductions

Project 3 – Expert travel planning advice for selected government departments

These projects will link into, and build on, the wider travel planning programme to:

• provide targeted expert advice to organisations with the highest travel footprint

• help accelerate progress of organisations towards the travel planning target and CO₂ emission reduction

• fill gaps in the current travel planning resources

• build capacity within organisations on how to manage business travel

• meet the goals of both the Govt³ and CNPS programmes.

The key outcome of this work is to reduce government organisations kilometres travelled and CO₂ emissions. This will also likely lead to a reduction in government travel costs, improvements in the supply chain and make available guidance to the private sector.

Project 1 – Travel audits of selected agencies with high air travel

A travel audit is part of step two of the travel planning process: data collection (see Figure 1). A travel audit is a stocktake of:

• the extent and reasons for an organisation’s business travel, and

• the effectiveness of organisational travel policies, procedures, and procurement practices from a sustainability point of view.

The quality and objectives of an organisation’s travel policies, procedures, and travel related decision making are a key factor determining the efficiency and extent of business travel, particularly air travel. Therefore, focusing on how to improve these policies and procedures has the potential to deliver considerable kilometre, carbon and cost reductions.

An in depth travel audit would contribute valuable information and analysis to the data collection stage, and provide a sound base to develop a workplace travel plan. By involving a consultant with specialist skills and experience in travel management³ and sustainable travel (including travel reduction), the outcomes of the travel planning process will be improved.

Project 2 – Guidelines document on reducing business travel

The Govt³ travel planning programme has largely drawn on the resources developed by Land Transport New Zealand (LTNZ) (now New Zealand Transport Agency). These resources have a strong focus on commuting. There is a gap in the travel planning toolkit in terms of practical guidance on how to reduce business travel.

The CNPS and Govt³ programmes focus on business travel, and the NZEECS has set an ambitious target for reducing business travel, so MFE is seeking to take the lead in this area. The guidelines would be relevant to all government organisations (and other sectors) and would provide practical advice and guidance to government organisations with their travel plan development.

These guidelines would be owned by the Ministry for the Environment.

While there are a number of international resources that provide good reference material on business travel reduction, guidance tailored to the New Zealand situation is needed because of our unique travel profile (i.e. higher air travel, geography, distances between cities), and also to consolidate the most relevant and useful information into one document.

The document should be a ‘how to guide’ so should contain less description and more practical advice, tools, and techniques. The document should be concise and easy to read.

Project 3 – Expert travel planning advice to selected government organisations

The time and cost of travel audits for medium sized government organisations is not cost effective given the relative size of their transport emissions. However, all government organisations are required to prepare travel plans and work towards the NZEECS target. Therefore MFE wishes to fund up to 10 hours expert travel planning advice to eight organisations, to assist them to progress their travel planning.

The aim is to give government organisations a kick start by providing expert advice that can be used to inform the travel planning process, as opposed to completing it for them.

The selected government organisations will have the option to choose the best use of this time for their organisation within certain parameters.

Selected organisations would be required to formally commit to the travel planning process.

1 The lead six agencies include the Ministry for the Environment, Inland Revenue Department, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Economic Development, Treasury and the Department of Conservation.

2 For a list of the 34 public service departments, see http://www.ssc.govt.nz/display/document.asp?docid=6802&pageno=1#P4_7

3 Travel management is the practice of approaching corporate travel strategically. Managed travel programmes balance employee needs with corporate goals, maximize the value of every travel dollar, ensure cost tracking and control, facilitate travel policy adherence, create savings through negotiated discounts, and mitigate risk by centralising all employee travel information. ...

From: Request for Proposals For Business travel reduction projects for Carbon Neutral Public Service and Govt3 Agencies, New Zealand Ministry for the Environment , 5 November 2008

New Zealand Government tender includes energy efficiency of computers

A recent New Zealand Department of Labour request for quotation for "Supply of desktop and infrastructure hardware" asks for environmental accreditation information, including energy efficiency, but does not specify any particular standard and does not make it mandatory. This contrasts with one Australian Government tender request which has detailed mandatory requirements for energy efficiency and two others which ask for details, but do not require it.

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From: DoL Hardware RFQ, DoL Hardware RFQ v1.2 08092008 FINAL.doc, "Supply of desktop and infrastructure hardware" , GETS Reference: 23231, Request for Quote, New Zealand Department of Labour