King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is being built in Saudi Arabia as an international, graduate-level research university dedicated to inspiring a new age of scientific achievement in the Kingdom that will also benefit the region and the world.
Reps from KAUST have provided us with some interesting information about the use of interactive maps to help introduce students to the campus prior to opening. From the team… " Generally used by Freshmen who are too proud to ask for directions from upperclassmen, KASUT has recently taken the concept of the campus map to an exiting new level. The new Saudi Arabian university will not officially open its doors until September 2009, so as a key recruitment tactic it chose to develop a unique interactive map to create a virtual sense of place where no corresponding physical space yet exists! "
Recently launched, the interactive maps offer students, faculty, research partners and community members the opportunity to explore the university via an immersive and cutting edge digital map, highlighting everything from residential flats, lab and research facilities, sustainability features, community services, recreational facilities, flyover video and more. Users can fly around teh campus and check out the state of the art Safaa Harbor Sports Club, complete with 20 lane bowling alley, rock climbing, sauna, squash court and much more.
KAUST’s map mashup is an exciting application that combines Adobe Flash, Google Maps, custom overlays and English and Arabic text . Additionally, KAUST uses the map to share its commitment to creating a sustainable campus and community by highlighting the six sustainability focus areas (site planning, water conversation, etc.) and segments features by category: University, Residential Districts and Community Services. Viewers can select on which category to focus and also select to view the region from satellite.
Take a tour for yourself and see this exciting learning environment for yourself… you’ll soon be looking for an entry application I’m sure!
Use the interactive web mapping application to fly over the expansive campus.
Clicking on points of interest icons brings up pages of information as well as detailsed drawings, images and 3D renderings
http://www.kaust.edu.sa/news/default.aspx
About KAUST
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is being built in Saudi Arabia as an international, graduate-level research university dedicated to inspiring a new age of scientific achievement in the Kingdom, the region and around the globe.
As an independent, merit-based institution, KAUST will employ many of the best practices from leading research universities and enable top researchers from around the globe and across all cultures to work together to solve challenging scientific and technological issues. The KAUST global research and education network will support diverse talents, both on its campus and at other premier universities and research institutions, through collaborative research agreements, grants, and student scholarship programs.
KAUST will be merit-based, open to men and women from all cultures around the world, and governed by an independent, self-perpetuating Board of Trustees. The core campus, located on more than 36 million square meters on the Red Sea at Thuwal, is set to open in September 2009.
The University will offer degrees in the following disciplines:
Applied Mathematics and Computational Science (AMCS)
Bioscience (B)
Chemical and Biological Engineering (CBE)
Chemical Science (ChemS)
Computer Science (CS)
Earth Science and Engineering (ErSE)
Electrical Engineering (EE)
Environmental Science and Engineering (EnSE)
Marine Science and Engineering (MarSE)
Materials Science and Engineering (MSE)
Mechanical Engineering (ME)
KAUST offers two prestigious scholarships to support highly talented students from Saudi Arabia and around the world – the KAUST Discovery Scholarship and the KAUST Scholar Award.
