2000-2005 Comprehensive Plan - Goal 2

Provide an innovative and productive environment to nurture a new generation of scholars and 21st century scholarship for the economic and social welfare of Alabama, the nation and the world.

Objective 1. Develop a university transportation institute.:

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    Within 5 years the College of Engineering will develop a nationally and internationally recognized university transportation institute supported by the federal, state and commercial interests. Transportation has been selected as one of the peaks of excellence at Auburn University. In particular, the Peak will focus its effort on commercial vehicles and highway systems to support transportation.

    The reasons for this focus are:
    The US commercial highway transportation systems is a very successful system but appears to have reached capacity. Commercial vehicles define the design limits on modern highways; improvements must be made in both commercial vehicles and highway infrastructure to allow continued economic growth and development.; The transportation equity act for the 21st century provides $3.3 billion for research and development to solve these problems. The institute is unique in targeting the system described above. This gives Auburn University a unique opportunity to gain funding and perform research that will yield the desired national and international reputation.

    Auburn's strengths include:

    • Strong emphasis on new technologies needed to improve commercial vehicles.
    • Significant activities in the areas of highway design, materials and testing by the Highway Research Center and the National Center for Asphalt Technology.
    • Significant background in the modeling of complex systems.
  • Related Institutional Goal(s):
  • Target Completion Date(s):

    Phase I, Fall 2004; Phase II, Fall 2009

  • Expected Result(s) by Plan Year:

    2003-2004

    • Hire a center director and 2 new faculty
    • Continue to develop infrastructure through critical acquisition and fabrication of test equipment in the areas of highway construction, hybrid vehicle propulsion, vehicle dynamics, autonomous vehicles, simulation/modeling software, vehicle electronics, and noise measurements.
    • Provide support for 20 graduate research assistants
    • Obtain $1,000,000 in research funding
    • Develop 12 major proposals
    • Involve at least 25 faculty members in Peak research
    • Publish more than 40 articles.
  • Individual(s) Responsible:

    Associate Dean for Research and Director for Transportation.

  • Assessment Procedure and Administration:

    The Associate Dean for Research and the Director for Transportation (to be hired in 2004) will closely monitor progress and report to the Dean of Engineering on a regular basis

  • Planned Usage for Assessment Results:

    Assessment findings will be continually used to adjust for changing conditions. Reform will be undertaken as required.

  • Budget requirements for fiscal year(2004-2005):
    Amount Type Description Source
    US$159,084 Continuing funds   Existing Division 1
    US$75,000 Continuing funds   Existing Division 1
    Total = US$234,084
  • Budget requirements for fiscal year(2005-2006):
    • US$159,084 continuing funds $159,084 continuing money. Existing Div. 1
    • US$75,000 one-time funds $75,000 one-time money. Existing Div. 1
    • Total= US$234,084

Objective 2. Becoming a leader in the science and engineering of food safety.:

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    Within five years, Auburn University will become a nationally recognized leader in science and engineering required to rapidly identify, pinpoint and characterize problems that arise in the food supply chain. This will be accomplished through the integration of sensors and information technology systems. This research effort has been selected as one of Auburn University's Peaks of Excellence.

    The reasons for this focus are:

    • As many as 33 million Americans become ill each year due to foodborne pathogens.
    • Of these, 325,000 people will be hospitalized, and 5,200 people will die as a result of their exposure to illness-causing contaminants.
    • Foodborne illness costs businesses and individuals more than $6.9 billion in direct medical expenses and lost productivity each year.

    Auburn University's strengths include:

    • A core group of 17 researchers from five Auburn University colleges and eight academic departments.
    • Direct support of more than 45 undergraduate and graduate students.
    • Associations throughout the university that, when needed, could number as many as 50 faculty and staff, 70 undergraduate students, 50 graduate students and 10 postdoctoral researchers from 12 academic departments in eight university colleges.
    • New, existing and renewed external funding totaling more than $4.2 million annually.
    • Existing contact with more than 100 companies, including food processors and packagers; supermarkets; transportation; storage; RFID manufacturers; chip manufacturers; system integrators; medical instrumentation; and feed producers.
    • Industrial relations program that includes more than 20 new industrial contacts each year and technology preview/conference presented to industry representatives every 12 to 18 months.
    • Active technology-transfer efforts that include at least five patent applications/disclosures annually, and several commercially licensable technologies currently available
    • Notable associations with three national laboratories (Sandia, PNL and ORNL) and two government agencies (USDA and CDC).
    • Diversity funding of $290,000 from the Sloan Foundation.
  • Related Institutional Goal(s):
  • Target Completion Date(s):

    Phase I, Fall 2004; Phase II, Fall 2009

  • Expected Result(s) by Plan Year:

    2003-2004

    • Increase faculty involved to 30 (from currently 17).
    • Secure $2.5 million in new research.
    • Fund 30 graduate students.
    • Publish findings in at least 30 publications.
  • Individual(s) Responsible:

    Bryan Chin, Director of Detection and Food Safety and Associate Dean for Research.

  • Assessment Procedure and Administration:

    Director of Peak of Excellence in Detection and Food Safety and the Associate Dean for Research will closely monitor progress and report to the Dean and the Engineering Alumni Research Committee on a regular basis.

  • Planned Usage for Assessment Results:

    Assessment findings will be continually used to adjust to changing situation and refocus efforts as needed.

  • Budget requirements for fiscal year(2004-2005):
    Amount Type Description Source
    US$169,890 Continuing funds   Existing Division 1
    US$50,000 Continuing funds   Existing Division 1
    Total = US$219,890
  • Budget requirements for fiscal year(2005-2006):
    • US $169,890 Continuing Funds Existing Division 1
    • US 50,000 One-time Existing
    • Total = US $219,890 per year.

Objective 3. Nationally Recognized Leader in the Development of Information Technology:

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    Within 5 years, Auburn University College of Engineering will become a nationally recognized research leader in the development of information technologies, supported by Federal, State and Commercial interests.

    The reasons for this focus are: The continued expansion of information technology into the human experience. A particular effort of the program will be in the area of wireless technology, as the resulting mobility afforded by wireless technology will dramatically expand the applications of information technology into our daily lives.

    Auburn's strengths lie in a nationally recognized research expertise in microelectronics, electronics packaging and electronics manufacturing. Combined with strong capability in software engineering, intelligent and interactive systems, wireless technology, networks, databases and systems software, Auburn is posed to be a leader in Information Technology.

    Faculty in Computer Science and Software Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Industrial and Systems Engineering collaborate through four research Centers that form the core of the Information Technology Peak. These Centers are:

    1. NSF Center for Advanced Vehicle Electronics (CAVE)
    2. Alabama Microelectronics Science and Technology Center (AMSTC)
    3. Center for Innovations in Mobile, Pervasive, and Agile Computing (IMPACT)
    4. Wireless Engineering Research and Education Center (WEREC)

    The Information Technology Peak will work to:

    1. Strengthen the individual Centers
    2. Identify synergies between Centers and opportunities for joint proposals
    3. Develop additional focus areas (potential new Centers) within the Information Technology field
    4. Engage additional faculty with expertise in Information Technology to participate in collaborative, group proposals and projects

    Within five years, Auburn University will become a nationally recognized leader in the science and engineering required to rapidly identify, pinpoint, characterize and address research opportunities in the field of information technology.

  • Related Institutional Goal(s):
  • Target Completion Date(s):

    Phase I, Fall 2004; Phase II, Fall 2009

  • Expected Result(s) by Plan Year:

    2003-2004

    1. Secure two or more multi-Center research contracts
    2. Secure $3.0 million in new research contracts
    3. Publish thirty five major journal articles
  • Individual(s) Responsible:

    Wayne Johnson, Director, Information Technology Peak

  • Assessment Procedure and Administration:

    The Director, Information Technology Peak will closely monitor progress and report to the Dean on a regular basis

  • Planned Usage for Assessment Results:

    Assessment findings will be continually used to adjust to changing situations and refocus effort as needed.

  • Budget requirements for fiscal year(2004-2005):
    Amount Type Description Source
    US$182,026 Continuing funds   Existing Division 1
    US$75,000 Continuing funds   Existing Division 1
    Total = US$257,026
  • Budget requirements for fiscal year(2005-2006):
    • $182,026 continuing money. Existing Division 1
    • $75,000 one-time funds. Existing Division 1.
    • Total = US $257,026 per year.

Objective 4. Nationally Recognized Leader in Wireless Engineering:

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    Within the past several years, wireless engineering has emerged as a major area within Electrical and Computer Engineering. This field now embraces global wireless networks linking a wide variety of hand-held and other communicating devices, such as cellular telephones with Internet and email capability, personal digital assistants, notebook and desktop computers, global positioning systems, medical monitors, and more. As these devices proliferate, the problems associated with their design and integration into coherent networks continue to escalate and result in many new engineering challenges.

    Unfortunately, RF communications became a dormant area at most engineering schools in the early 1970s, and there now exists a critical shortage of RF/wireless circuit, system, and network designers at such companies as Nokia, Verizon Wireless, Nortel Networks, Ericsson, Cingular Wireless, Agilent Technologies, AT&T Wireless Services, Agere, Motorola, IBM, Raytheon, Harris and so on. The shortage of individuals who can address the issues of wireless design is expected to only get worse over the next two decades.

    In order to help address the needs of industry, the Wireless Engineering Research and Education Center (WEREC) was established based on the recent gift of Sam Ginn. The goal of WEREC is to develop a comprehensive program of education and research in Wireless Engineering at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. WEREC will support develop a broad nationally recognized program in Wireless Engineering including in Wireless Hardware, Wireless Software, and Network Integration. The Center will support the activities of faculty associates from a wide range of disciplines (e. g. ECE, CSSE, ME, IE, PS, MATH, BUS) and provide a focal point for Auburn University's wireless activities. The interdisciplinary activities of the center should enhance the ability of the faculty to attract research funding and provide an unmatched educational experience at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

    Undergraduate Education: Wireless Engineering is being added as a formal degree in the undergraduate curriculum in the ECE and CSSE Departments. WEREC laboratory facilities will provide instrumentation to support the laboratory portion of this new option. These facilities will also be used in support of senior design projects in wireless engineering.

    Graduate Education and Research: Many courses related to wireless engineering already exist at the graduate level. WEREC will help coordinate the existing offerings and assist with the development of new graduate courses. Support will be provided for graduate research through student fellowships and matching funds for faculty research grants. Center laboratory facilities will provide state-of-the-art research instrumentation to support the experimental work of faculty associated with the center. These significant new laboratory facilities will help faculty produce highly competitive research proposals and provide graduate students with invaluable experience with industrial quality instrumentation. In addition, the advanced characterization capability of the laboratories should help attract new faculty. We expect highly synergistic relationships to exist between WEREC activities and the Transportation, Information Technology and Food Safety Peaks of Excellence. Institute for Reconfigurable Smart Components (IRSC).

    Extension: There is a significant need for wireless education away from university campuses. It is expected that many of the graduate wireless engineering courses can be offered through the off-campus video program. We also expect to develop Short Courses that can be offered on and off campus. Over time, we expect WEREC to develop a significant WWW presence as well as a set of web-based instructional materials.

    Industrial Advisory Board: An industrial advisory board will be established to help guide the educational and research activities of the Center.

  • Related Institutional Goal(s):
  • Target Completion Date(s):

    Ongoing

  • Expected Result(s) by Plan Year:

    2003-2004 Goals

    • Complete Wireless Brochure
    • Continue development plan for scope and activities of WEREC
    • Continue expansion of WEREC activities
    • Continue Wireless Engineering Distinguished Lecturer Series
    • Continue to acquire equipment to support research and education activities
    • Expand comprehensive center activities
    • Initiate Wireless Engineering Scholarship Program
    • Hire one or more additional faculty to support wireless program
    • Submit Wireless Development Proposal(s)
    • Explore faculty and employee exchanges with industrial supporters
    • Explore co-op/internship program for undergraduate and graduate students
    • Expand local, national and international visibility and awareness of WEREC
    • Develop and begin to implement plan for Industrial Affiliates Program
  • Individual(s) Responsible:

    WEREC Director

  • Assessment Procedure and Administration:

    The Director, ECE and CSSE Department Heads, Dean of Engineering and Industrial Advisory Board will all monitor progress of the center.

  • Planned Usage for Assessment Results:

    Assessment findings will be used continually to adjust the plans and activities of the center.

  • Budget requirements for fiscal year(2004-2005):

    No budget information available.

  • Budget requirements for fiscal year(2005-2006):

    Achievement of this objective will be funded by the earnings generated from a $20,000,000 endowment established specifically for this purpose and from gifts from private sources.