Stream Simulation Design Electronic Learning System

During the last decade Stream Simulation has become a well established methodology as an ecological approach to providing Aquatic Organism Passage (AOP) at road stream crossing. USDA Forest Service San Dimas Technology and Development Center established a Stream Simulation Working Group to develop a stream simulation design methodology based on the state of the art analysis and practices which published its work in “Stream Simulation – An Ecological Approach to Providing Passage for Aquatic Organisms at Road-Stream Crossings 2008”. During the development of this publication a training curriculum was established and several courses have been presented each year. The demand for stream simulation design instruction has been limited by the availability of the subject matter experts.

The USDA Forest Service San Dimas Technology and Development Center has taken the training course and developed an electronic learning application (E-Learning) that instructs users in stream simulation design. The project is online or CD ROM based for ease of use. The application replicates the week long training course taught by subject matter experts from across the country, by using a media rich virtual environment where on-location video and photos, lectures, interviews with practitioners are used to emphasize all the practical aspects for the design and construction of AOP Road Stream Crossings.

The application provides a logical framework for learning for novice to advanced practitioners involved in AOP. Lectures, electronic documents, and real world exercises with knowledge checks provide the student a learning atmosphere where they can practice design with real data from actual AOP installations. The application is broken out into six training phases, 1) Initial Assessment, 2) Site Assessment, 3) Stream Simulation Design, 4) Final Design and Contract Preparation, 5) Construction, and 6) Maintenance and Monitoring. All exercises are linked with lectures and documents so students can move back and forth to review topic matter at any time.  The E-Learning application is currently in BETA testing and is planned for release in the Fall of 2011.