TRICS® goes live on the web
In December 2007, the TRICS® system was launched live on the internet, to run alongside the Windows version of the software for a six-month period. The web system has now been running for four months, and has attracted great interest from members of the TRICS® Community.
Advantages of the web system include more frequent database updates, quick corrections to identified bugs and system issues, and the ability to integrate a wide variety of web software into the system, such as the introduction of Google Maps (see feature below). However, we do realise that web connection is not always available (or may sometimes run slowly), so we are currently developing a download facility which will allow TRICS® to run on a local PC without access to the internet. This will be available from June 2008, when the Windows version of the software will no longer be supported, allowing a smooth transition to the web version for all system users. The download facility will prompt users to check for updates to the web version on a regular basis, ensuring that any downloaded versions of the software are kept up-to-date as TRICS® continues to develop.

Major programme of system development planned for 2008/09
TRICS® is committed to a major programme of system development this year, with members of the TRICS® Community to have their say in the usual way through our annual user questionnaire. Our annual consultation will take place later in the Spring, when we shall ask for feedback in terms of the system’s data and its operating features, plus ideas for future research projects.
One specific development that can be announced is that TRICS® shall soon incorporate Google Maps, as part of the development of a new accessibility feature in the system. Google Maps is a significant upgrade to the existing Multimap feature, and allows us to provide further information within the database with regards to distances from new individual sites to local amenities. Over time, this enhancement to the data will allow us to incorporate accessibility levels as an option within our data filtering procedures.

2008 TRICS® User Meeting dates confirmed
We are pleased to announce the dates of the 2008 TRICS® User Meetings, which will this year take place in London and Edinburgh.
The London event will take place at the Museum in Docklands, on Wednesday 11th June. This will be followed by the Edinburgh event at The Hub, an historic building which is one of the venues of the Edinburgh Festival, on Wednesday 18th June.
The 2007 TRICS® User Meetings in London and Manchester were the most popular yet, with 160 delegates attending from across the UKand Ireland. The 2008 event promises to be at least as popular, with significant growth in the TRICS® Community over the past year. The annual meetings are an ideal opportunity to exchange ideas on the future of TRICS®, and have consistently been extremely helpful in shaping the direction of the system. Ideal for new and experienced users of TRICS®, attendance is free for the first delegate from each office and is highly recommended. All members of the TRICS Community are now being sent booking forms.

Large multi-modal survey programme underway in London
2008 sees a record number of multi-modal surveys being undertaken across the UK and Ireland, but in particular in London, where 30 surveys are to take place, a greater number than any of our competitors.
London is an important location for TRICS®, and this year we shall be reflecting this by undertaking surveys covering a wide range of land use types, in various locations across the capital. There are currently approaching 300 surveys available in the database within London, with another 1,700 within the South East. The last few years has seen an increase in the number of London Boroughs and consultancies within the capital joining the TRICS® Community, and our commitment to an increase in surveys undertaken within the London area is a reflection of this.
Landmarks recently surveyed by TRICS® include HMS Belfast, The London Eye, and London's IMAX Cinema. A number of other high-profile developments are also being programmed for 2008. London members of the TRICS® Community are encouraged to attend the 2008 User Meeting (details above), where we welcome their input on the future of the system in the capital. Last year’s event drew over 100 people to the Churchill Museum, and we will be expecting a similar level of demand this year.

Sponsored pages on TRICS® website – promote your organisation
A number of organisations have now taken the opportunity to have their own sponsored page on the TRICS® website at www.trics.org . Following the release of the web-based TRICS® system in December, the website has become the focal point of all TRICS® activity, with visits to the site having increased significantly. This is an ideal opportunity to get the message of your organisation across to a wide and ever-growing audience.
All you need to do is complete a form on-line via the TRICS® website, and your organisation will be sent an invoice for an annual sponsored page subscription. For as little as £500 per year, you can market your organisation through TRICS® and update your information as often as you like.