"One of the great advantages of the new system is that its data can be cross-referenced with information from other databases and websites," says Guy-Pierre Boucher, the School's webmaster. Professors' personal information is now linked to the School's telephone directory and the library's publications directory. And, once they've been revisited, departmental websites can also be synched with the system. For professors, this will mean only ever having to update one profile. Their data, once entered, can then be accessed not only through the research unit and research expertise directories, but also the websites of various departments, chairs, laboratories, and more. Since the process precludes the manual duplication of information across Polytechnique's vast range of web pages, errors and update time are also kept to a minimum.

Management of the system is simple and decentralized. "Previously, data were entered by the BRCDT (Office of Research/Centre for Technological Development) staff. Now professors can update their own information autonomously, or delegate others to update specific fields," says Jean Choquette, advisor to the Dean of Research and Innovation and one of the main instigators behind the project.

A further advantage is that the new system allows the content of researchers' personal files to be substantially enhanced. In addition to listing contact information and main research topics, the system now includes information on professors' functions within various research units and/or internal and external committees, and lists their publications and the names of the students under their supervision.

These improvements have resulted in a much more streamlined expertise directory. The School's professors and researchers now list their areas of expertise according to the subject codes used by the NSERC to categorize research and areas of application. Where the old system contained 1,400 personalized areas of expertise, the new one lists 450. There's no doubt that the new classification will be appreciated by journalists and businessmen seeking a particular area of expertise.

The new system benefited from the input of a number of professors. Martin Trépanier, Associate Professor with the Department of Mathematical and Industrial Engineering, helped draft the project's requirements. Ergonomic tests were carried out in conjunction with Lionel Bertrand, Full Professor with the Department of Engineering Physics; Yves Goussard, Full Professor with the Department of Electrical Engineering; Richard Hurteau, Full Professor and Director of the Department of Electrical Engineering; Robert Roy, Associate Professor with the Department of Computer Engineering; and Pierre Savard, Full Professor with the Department of Electrical Engineering.

The new Directory of Expertises can now be consulted on the research portal at: http://www.polymtl.ca/recherche/rc/index.php