Civil and Environmental Engineering

Situation management has traditionally been based on iterative planning activities that call for a high level of coordination between multiple stakeholders: first responders, citizens, volunteers, subject matter experts, scientists, technicians and managers with different yet important responsibilities. In a crisis event existing systems and communications infrastructures may not provide necessary information in a timely fashion due to  damage, incompatible media, geographically limited coverage, fragmented technology or social and policy issues. The effective coordination of multiple response units/resources is stymied by incompatible communication technologies and social/policy incongruences. Crisis events are characterized by initial and ongoing uncertainty with regard to scale, location, direction and magnitude. More and better information sharing and cooperation is needed. The Intelligent Deployable Augmented Wireless Gateway (iDAWG) technology creates direct communication networks between remote coordinators, local response teams,  volunteers and others on location by using or replacing existing communication or network infrastructures. Remotely sensed information and communications can be shared in real time via iDAWG-enabled devices that can be configured on the fly using edgeware (a new class of software developed for the wireless grid) applications. Existing web, cellular and radio communications network devices are bridged to build dynamically scalable heterogeneous wireless grids. Technical, social, governance and policy issues are addressed to facilitate this paradigm change in emergency response.

The Wireless Grid Internet of Things (WiGIT) and its Wireless Grid architecture and Edgeware have been developed under the auspices of the National Science Foundation Partnerships for Innovation (PFI) grant #0227879 for WiGiT (Wireless Grid Innovation Testbed). Syracuse University (SU) and Virginia Tech (VT) created the first national WiGiT distributed experimental testbed in 2009. Working software prototypes were first demonstrated at Syracuse University in 2003, and field tested since 2005. Hardware implementations have been lab tested iteratively over the years, with initial field testing in 2008/9 and a new series of field trials begun once again in 2011/2012.  In August 2012 an enhanced iDAWG (intelligent Deployable Augmented Wireless Gateway) was demonstrated, with additional evaluations scheduled for 2013. Field tests of WiGiT specifications, applications, services, and devices are ongoing in cooperation with WiGiT partner firms, schools, public agencies, healthcare institutions, universities, and emergency managers.  All are welcome to join WiGIT, at no cost, and no obligation. 

Workplace as Service/Mobile Clouds and BYOD 

The project was supported by the National Science Foundation Partnership for Innovation (NSF/PFI) program, NSF # 0917973. The WiGIT v0.3 Open Specifications presented below have been developed in cooperation with Enterprise Cloud Leadership Council (ECLC) of TM Forum. The ECLC ‘Workplace as a Service’ Whitepaper TR194, January 2013; and TR192, October 2012, ‘Workplace as a Service Requirements.’  These are accessible at www.tmforum.com.  First, we explain the purpose for WiGiT open specifications.  The relationship between WiGIT v0.3 open specifications and Enterprise Cloud Leadership Council Workplace as a Service is illustrated in Figure 1. Then we review functional requirements, and components.  Use Cases, such as for Workplace as a Service which are also elaborated on in separate documents. In addition use cases such as WeJay, iDAWG (intelligent Deployable Augmented Wireless Gateway), NEERS (Networked Edgeware for Energy Resource Sharing) and Emergency Communications are included.

Demonstrations of WiGIT v0.3 in the TM Forum Workplace as a Service/Mobile Clouds/Data Center of Future context took place initially at TM Management World Europe, Nice, France, and May 13-16, 2013; and at additional academic and professional events thereafter.

The modern university functions as a knowledge watershed for civilization. A faculty of informatics trains students to create, distribute, mediate, deploy, interpret, translate, and utilize the products of information and communication technology for the greater good of the society it serves. Quantifiable research must be able to factor in the cost of a comfortable and secure society, a verdant and sustainable ecology, and a resilient environment for communities and business to thrive. CSR brings qualifiable research in sustainability science to the task of coordinating emerging big data platforms, offices, and skills.