Industry events and organizations – Page 2 – Kathryn Woodcock, PhD CCPE ICAE PEng

Parksmania recognizes ride accessibility initiative

long-distance shot of Dr. Woodcock receiving award at Parksmania event

During the IAAPA Europe, Middle East and Africa Spring Forum at Gardaland Park in Peschiera del Garda, Italy, THRILL Lab Director Dr. Kathryn Woodcock was honoured with a Career Special Award for Professional Merit. This award recognized her leadership in the attractions industry project promoting expanded accessibility and risk-informed rider eligibility for rides.

Who makes attractions safe?

Nine women sit around table in hotel restaurant

There are many people involved in setting standards that make amusement rides and devices safe. The ASTM F24 standards are used in 19 countries, and counting. The committee has almost 900 members, and holds meetings three times annually. Meetings held in USA have almost 300 people participating in multiple concurrent sessions, literally poring over language used in standards to ensure that people following the standards will interpret the requirements as intended.

Sabbatical

Orlando cast iron maintenance hole cover

Orlando: the company town for themed entertainment.

I’m starting a sabbatical in Orlando, planning to learn, write, watch, and ride my way to progress on the rider eligibility / ride analysis challenge and tools for human factors applications in the attractions industry.

Detour to Hong Kong Disneyland Resort

Dr. Woodcock at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort

Meetings at the IAAPA Asian Attractions Expo allowed time for a visit to Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, including the terrific new attraction “Mystic Manor”.

CNE Eve

‘Twas the morning before CNE and all through the midway, … there were new rides arriving and still some spaces.

Wednesday, pre-CNE 2014

The show opens Friday morning. The threatening rain yesterday did not catch us, and today was windy but dry. There were still many rides on the midway that had not been completely put together and fenced in, giving us a good chance to look at the machinery from all angles. We also had a chance to watch inspections of some rides, including the Ring of Fire and the Crazy Mouse spinning coaster.

Tuesday, pre-CNE 2014

The CNE opens on Friday, with a blast of confetti at 10am. On the midway, there are many marked spaces for rides that have not yet arrived. We expect more to see tomorrow, and a magical transformation on Thursday. Today’s site visit gave students a look under the new Tivoli Remix.

Happy New Year

Every year, summer winds down and the CNE marks the imminent start of the new school year. Since 2002, the THRILL Lab has spent time during the CNE construction week observing and learning. Some years, we have one or more studies on the go, other times, we are collecting ideas for future studies or designs. We meet new people and reconnect with people we know who have been so generous sharing their expertise. Increasingly, the CNE construction week has been an extracurricular “course” in amusement design and technology. This year, 11 students will participate in parts of the week.

2014 May visit with Rob

KW and Rob at Universal Islands of Adventure

During a little post-exams strategic retreat this Spring, I had the chance to visit and catch a few mid-day rides at Universal Islands of Adventure with alumnus Rob Kipping. Rob is a 2013 TMU (formerly Ryerson) Computer Engineering grad (participant in THRILL Lab CNE field trip 2012) now working as a ride integration engineer, designing and developing industrial electronics used in major theme park attractions, both as a subcontractor for major theme parks and supplier of turnkey attractions for smaller parks. After a busy year based in Orlando, he’s headed for Asia for his next project.

Coming attractions: CNE 2014

The Lab and the Club are looking forward to putting on our hard hats, safety shoes and high-visibility vests and heading to the construction zone at Exhibition Place for the THRILL Lab’s annual experiential learning highlight behind the scenes at the Canadian National Exhibition. During the construction of the fair, students meet operators of the show, North American Midway Entertainment, the CNE, many widely respected consultants, and certified amusement device inspectors from the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA), a not-for-profit organization that regulates technology relevant to public safety, including amusement devices, throughout Ontario, and the Electrical Safety Authority, their electrical inspection and regulation counterparts.