Unit.  College/School/Department:

College of Technology and Computer Science

In Cooperation with (Optional):

Department of Construction Management

(Name of Cooperating Unit)

Name of Project Director:

Hussein Abaza

Campus Address:

331 Rawl building

Phone Number:

328-4140

E-Mail:

abazah@mail.ecu.edu

Total Funding Request:

$ 7428

Choose One:

¬ Distance Education Proposal

X

¬ On Campus Proposal

Project Title: 

Using High-Speed Nomadic Wireless Mesh Networks to Conduct Virtual Site Visits in Construction Management

Name of Unit Head:

Dean Ralph Rogers

Campus Address:

Science and Technology

Phone Number:

328-9603

A “Virtual Visit” is a site visit without an individual’s physical presence.  This proposal utilizes a High-Speed Wireless Mesh Network to conduct Virtual Site Visits to remote construction site and bring those job sites into construction management classrooms.  Virtual site visits allow large groups of students to observe, evaluate, and clarify actions and activities at remote construction sites without being there. When visiting construction sites will enhance subject matter, a small group of students will be equipped with audiovisual high speed wireless communication tools to visit a construction site and then communicate with the remainder of the students in class in real time.

The new Science and Tech. building labs are equipped with the state of the art global classrooms. This equipment will enhanced learning and develop technology communication sills for construction management students that will place them on the leading edge when they enter their profession.

The 540 construction management majors will benefit from these tools across the Construction Management curriculum. The initial construction management courses that will use and benefit from the virtual site visit equipment includes Construction and Civil Materials, Construction Techniques, Architectural Plans & Analysis, Mechanical and Electrical Construction, Construction Contracts and Specifications, Construction Project Safety Management, Soils and Foundations,  Managing Building Quality, Construction Supervision.

The New Science and Tech. Building at ECU is already equipped with movable audio-video and data communication equipment. The proposed wireless routers are required to provide the communication means between remote sites and the classrooms and laboratory facilities.

These routers are intended for new and innovative use and could not be obtained by the routine SCTR request.

(4 )1000S 2.4 GHz Indoor Mesh Router  $795 each ($3,180)

(2) 1000R 2.4 GHz Outdoor Mesh Router           $1995 each ($3,990)

(2)   Solar battery chargers for use with the Mesh Routers $129 each ($258)

The Center for Wireless and Mobile Computing at East Carolina University will serve as a collaborative partner with the Department of Construction Management, and has agreed to be  responsible for the specification, configuration, testing, and evaluation of the Mesh network solution used in conducting virtual Construction Management site visits.

The department of Construction Management will provide personnel to run the equipment, insurance, upgrade and maintenance. The college technology technicians have agreed to provide assistance as needed.

A pilot virtual site visit for the CMGT3100 students was conducted using the proposed technique. The response of the Construction Management teachers’ who reviewed this experiment was very positive. The students’ response and participation in this remote field visit were remarkable. Students will also complete a survey to evaluate the usefulness of the virtual site visit. This survey will be sent out at the end of the term for the undergraduate students. More peer review will also be conducted when implementing this technology.