science world traffic

The group has summarized all the problems we have observed with the situation, and put them in point forms along with its corresponding proposed solution. These points will also be utilized with the recommendation report and the poster presentation.

Problem: Civil vehicles entering into the main courtyard

Solution: No Entrance signs, emergency vehicles only signs

Problem: Cyclists Congestion in main courtyard where pedestrian traffic is high

Solution: Cyclists must dismount if they do not take cyclist route, (Enforced by Cyclists Dismount Signs)

Problem: Bicycles and pedestrian paths are incoherent.

Solution: Post sign to distinguish different paths

Problem: Bicycles passing through parking lot.

Solution: No entry sign into parking lot for bicycles.

Problem: Trucks must cross pedestrian and cyclist walkways to get to the loading bay

Solution: Post Yield to Truck signs

Problem: Vehicles can drive onto the seawall from a laneway adjacent to Science World property

Solution: Place ballards to physically prevent vehicle traffic from entering the seawall, as well as place a Do Not Enter Sign.

Problem: No designated entrance for trucks onto Science World property

Solution: The second entrance to the north parking lot is now a designated truck entrance for southbound traffic (Yield sign for oncoming traffic). The entrance for the south parking lot is also a truck entrance for northbound traffic.

Problem: Northern-most entrance with ambiguous signs, easy for drivers to oversee

Solution: Add “parking here” sign indicating time restrictions

Problem: Need to make truck (bus) designated entrance clear

Solution: Add “no entrance” and “trucks (bus) only” signs, also “yield” signs for traffic going through the parking lot

Problem: Vehicles would have to drive around the block if they can’t find a spot the first time through

Solution: Implement two-way traffic in the parking lot, add proper lines and signs (“yield to truck” and “no idling signs”)

Problem: After exiting the parking lot at the south end, vehicles tend to illegally make a left turn for convience

Solution: Add “no left turn here” sign right at the exit

Problem: Inconsistent signage

Solution: Make sure signage for both are identical

Problem: Idling cars/buses

Solution: No parking except for buses, 10 minutes only. immediate drop-off only for other vehicles

Problem: Need to have room for vehicles to turn around when looking for a spot

Solution: Add a small round-about at the south end, add “no-idling” signs  and “yield” signs for incoming traffic

The group has been working on schedule (posted on last post), and will finish the draft for the recommendation   report this weekend. It will be revised by the group early next week and submitted to the client when a meeting is arranged. The poster will be finished sometime early next week.

There has been many outcomes and lesson learned up to this point of the project. Including learning about managing a project from simply obtaining an objective from the client and work from there. Including the planning, designing and practical implementation stages. We learned about looking at the systems around us and how they intertwine with each other as well. We also observed first-hand how civil engineering activities can influence the communities and its citizens.

Next week the group will present the report to the client as well as arrange a meeting. A poster presentation will be presented to the class explaining our project and progress.

A final blog post will be posted April 5th celebrating the completion of our project and our results.

We have completed our basic design concept after eight weeks of solid planning and meetings.

We are going to briefly discuss the latest plan and deadline we set for the completion of the project.

This is the annotated map of the latest projected plan.

The main implementations are the following:

– Changing the parking lot into two-way traffic

– Adding signs to redirect cyclists away from the parking lot

– Allowing public vehicles to stop at bus drop off zone

Expected completion dates for our poster and report:

– Week of March 4-10: rough draft of signage and plan

– Week of March 11-17: revise and complete signage plan

– Week of March 18-24: rough draft for report, get report done by March 22, copies will be send to Jeremy and Nesbit for advice

– Week of 25: finalize presentation based on report

Our progress has exceeded our expect ion, we are ahead of schedule and on pace to finish by the week of March 24.

At this point the project is well underway. After meeting our correspondents at Science World on February 1^st to gain a better understanding of the scope of the project, much progress has been made. Last Thursday, a team meeting was held to discuss the best possible course of action to deal with the traffic problems Science World has faced after renovations. After realizing how large of an area we were dealing with, we decided to divide our team into two smaller groups of three.

Herman, Jordan, and Janlie were assigned with coming up with solutions to the issues involving the north side of Science World. Major issues in this area included proper signage for bike paths and the Sea Wall as well as blocking unwanted vehicle traffic from travelling down the Sea Wall.

Baitao, Brian, and Daniel will be dealing with the South Side and loading bay. Tasks here include coming up with an efficient way to get large trucks from the parking lot to the loading bay without jeopardizing the safety of cyclists and pedestrians on the bike path.

Both groups will come up with individual solutions for the parking lot and share these ideas after the reading break. The best way to utilize the drop off zone seems to be an area of concern for Science World and the City of Vancouver. In addition, prevalent exterior signage is needed along Quebec Street to ensure truck drivers know which entrance they are suppose to use.

Here is a map of the major areas of interest around Science World.

At this point there are four major milestones left in this project.

1-     The 2 smaller groups collaborate and come up with solutions to the problems in their respective areas as well as a solution to the parking lot.

2-     The two groups join together, presenting the ideas, and deciding which way is best to handle the parking lot issues

3-     We draft a report of our findings and solutions  to the client (Science World)

4-     Create a poster of our completed CBEL project and present it on March 25^th in the Design Studio

We will post our progress again in two weeks after reading break.

Vancouver Science World, or known as the Telus World of Science, states their mission statement on their website as such:

“Science World British Columbia is a not-for-profit organization that engages British Columbians in science and inspires future science and technology leadership throughout our province.” #

Most Vancouverites know Science World through it’s crazy exhibitions in the past or through a field trip opportunity. This means that the organization is doing just what their mission statement indicates, “engages British Columbians in science and inspire”.

Science World was created back in 1977, as the Junior League of Greater Vancouver and the Vancouver Social Planning Department joined forces to create a place to “engages British Columbians in science and inspire”. Now, more than 35 years later, the non-profitable organization known as Science World still exists and more influential than ever.  Renovation of the Science World began in late 2009 and early 2010. New galleries was created, the lobby was expanded, as well an outdoor exhibition space now known as the Ken Spencer Science Park. Now the question is, what to do with the traffic flow and parking space outside of the centre, now that everything is newly renovated and changed?

We find out what our client expect from this group in this project through an arranged meeting, set on Friday, February 1st, 2013.

[Information taken from http://www.scienceworld.ca]

The following areas will be  carefully reviewed and a revision plan will be delivered to our client.

Currently, the delivery trucks need to cross the bike path to get to the loading bay. Signs are needed to warn cyclists for possible incoming traffic.

There is no exit onto Quebec St. because the parking lot only allows one-way traffic, we will consider the feasibility of changing it into two-way driveway to allow more flexibility.

Signs are needed to deter cyclists from entering the parking lot and redirect them to the designated bike path.

Loading information signs need to be updated to provide the correct directions to the loading bay.

The signs at the bus drop off zone need to be consistent and updated.

Consideration of allowing private cars/vans to drop off visitors.

The internal road should only provide direct access point for emergency vehicles, such as fire engines and ambulance. Signs will added to prevent public vehicles from entering that area.

We will post our progress in two weeks.

Photo Source: Daniel Song Feb 2013

Hi there,

Welcome to Science World Traffic CEBL Project blog. This blog will track our biweekly progress with the project.

Our group consists of six members from the civil engineering department. Roles has been decided among the members. Hermanpreet and Janlie will be responsible for contacting the project client, Mila Cotic from Science World. Jordan and Brian will be the secretaries of the group and will be responsible for taking track of documents, note-taking during group meetings and coordination between group members. Baitao will be responsible for contacting the mentor and instructor, and keeping them informed about the group’s progress. Daniel will be the group photographer and chief editor of our project blog.

The group will be responsible for reviewing and making recommendations for the current exterior signage plan and traffic flow on lease and non-lease land surrounding Science World. The group will also create easy to understand signage, and coordinate its placement while ensuring signage installed will conform to Science World and City of Vancouver standards.

This blog will be updated every two week.

Source: sfu.ca 24 Jan 2013

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