Subteams
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Systems Engineering Team This team, led by Dr. Gregory Harris and Dr. Greg Purdy, is exploring the use of sensors to track continuous improvement projects across the poultry and forestry industries.
Sensors are being used to detect potential equipment issues before failures occur—a strategy known as predictive maintenance. This approach helps prevent unnecessary shutdowns in forestry and poultry operations, protecting production and supporting the livelihoods of rural Alabamians. To make the collected data more actionable, a system is being developed that leverages the Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) standard, making the information easier to process, understand, and apply.
Cyber Security Team This team, led by Jonathan Sherk and Tucker Simpson from the McCrary Institute, is dedicated to addressing the cybersecurity risks that come with introducing new technologies to the forestry and poultry industries in rural Alabama.
The cyber team is assessing operational technology in forestry, poultry, and rural water industries to identify cybersecurity risks, understand attack surfaces, and build resilience. By reviewing past, present, and emerging technologies, they aim to prevent future incidents while building trust through open-source intelligence, vulnerability assessments, policy support, training, and guidance.
Upcycling Team This team, led by Dr. Brendan Higgins, is developing profitable and sustainable solutions for poultry wastewater and dissolved air flotation (DAF).
New uses for poultry wastewater and DAF are being developed to improve soil nutrition and reduce odor, expanding potential applications. Biosensors are also in development to detect odors, pathogens, and biomarkers, alongside efforts to train students in creating innovative solutions for rural communities.
Social Science Team This team, led by Dr. Mykel Taylor and Dr. Kelli Russell, is dedicated to supporting rural Alabama by conducting in-person qualitative interviews across the forestry industry as well as creating 2 different survey instruments.
In-person qualitative interviews with sawmill owners, managers, and procurement personnel have been conducted to document challenges in Alabama’s rural forestry industry. A farm poll launched in spring 2025 gathered insights on farmers' outlooks and is planned to continue every two years. Similarly, a rural poll launched in fall 2024 aims to track workforce issues, community belonging, and residents’ intentions to stay, with biennial updates expected. In the summer 2024, Dr. Russell and Dr. Taylor conducted eleven focus groups for the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama (EDPA) with a range of agricultural stakeholders to explore economic development opportunities, discuss challenges, and share replicable examples from other states.
Forestry Team This team, led by Dr. Jo Daniel, is focused on educating the workforce by creating hands-on technology and studying the environmental impacts of machines and equipment used in the poultry and forestry industries.
To support this, customized John Deere forest operation simulators have been acquired to train operators in the safe and efficient use of harvesters, forwarders, wheeled feller bunchers, and skidders, while also introducing others to forestry career paths. In addition, emissions from forestry machinery and the transportation of harvested trees are being studied, along with emissions linked to the transport of live poultry.
Poultry Team One focus of the poultry team is to develop integrated data dashboard to support decision-making across the poultry industry.
The data-drive decision dashboard Faculty (Dr. William Dozier and Dr. Amit Morey) and students will apply the data-driven decision dashboard for automatic data collection of processes and operations for a Southeast Alabama poultry hatchery with the goal of improving yield optimization, compliance auditing, and downtime analysis.