Cyberinfrastructure –

Changing the Face of Science & Engineering

John D. Fernandez, Ph.D.Chair, Computing Sciences

Opportunities for Broadening Participation

Engineering Degrees• Twenty five years ago the U. S. , Japan and China

graduated a similar number of engineers ranging from 73,000 to 80,000, while Korean engineering graduates totaled just 28,000.

• By 2000:

• Chinese engineering graduates increased 161% to 207,500

• Japanese engineering graduates increased 42% to 103,200

• Korean engineering graduates increased 140% to 56,500

• U. S. engineering graduates declined 20% to 59,500

Source: National Science Foundation, Science and Engineering Indicators, 2004.

State of U.S. Higher Education

•55% of engineering degrees from American universities are going to foreign nationals.55%

45%

• U.S. ranks 8th in the availability of scientists and engineers. India ranks 3rd.

• US ranks 37th in quality of math an science education, behind nations such as Israel, Scotland and Korea.

Source: World Economic Forum

Rising Above the Gathering Storm

• “Because our economic, military, and cultural well-being depends on continued science and engineering leadership, the nation faces a compelling call to action” (p. 106).

Rising Above the Gathering Storm

• The U.S. cannot rely on a long-term strategy of importing its S&E workforce. Instead, it must cultivate the untapped resource of talented yet underrepresented groups within the country.

• Many who entered the S&E workforce in the 1960s and 70s (the baby boomers) are expected to retire in the next 20 years, and their children are not choosing careers in S&E in the same numbers as their parents.

Compelling Call to Action

• About one third of all jobs in the U.S. require a science or technology competency

• Science and engineering jobs are growing at 300% of the rate in other fields

• The national Hispanic rate of growth is 3.6% while Hispanics declaring CS as a major has only increased by 1.2%

Evangelize with the Truth

Myths• If you major in

computer science, you can’t find a job

• All the jobs are gone, or have moved to India

Truths• Computer Science is one

of the fastest growing job fields

• Simultaneously, enrollment is down because folks believe in the myth

• Results: For those who choose computing sciences, prospects look very good

P. Conrad, University of Delaware

Speaking the Truth• Computing Alliance of Hispanic Serving

Institutions (CA-HSI)– Florida International University– California State University Dominguez Hills– New Mexico State University– Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi– University of Houston, Downtown– University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez– University of Texas at El Paso

CA-HSI Project Goals

• To increase the number of Hispanic students who enter the computing workforce with advanced degrees

• To support the retention and advancement of Hispanic faculty in computing

• To develop and sustain competitive education and research programs at HSIs

CA-HSI Interventions• A course designed to attract majors and bolster

under-prepared students• Peer-facilitation in the gatekeeper courses to

provide an active learning experience and create leadership roles for undergraduates

• Undergraduate professional development and research experiences inside and outside the classroom

• Workshops to develop cohorts of graduate students and faculty

• On-line resources for students and faculty in support of CA-HSI goals

CA-HSI at TAMU-CC

• Alice programming environment for CS-0 course

• Peer-Led Team Learning for CS-0, CS-1 and CS-2

• Affinity Research Groups– Networking and Security– Computer-Human Interaction– Scientific and Parallel Computing– Software Engineering

Texas Coastal OceanTexas Coastal OceanObservation NetworkObservation Network

Texas Coastal OceanTexas Coastal OceanObservation NetworkObservation Network

• Started 1988Started 1988• Over 50 stationsOver 50 stations• Primary SponsorsPrimary Sponsors

– General Land OfficeGeneral Land Office– Water Devel. BoardWater Devel. Board– US Corps of EngineersUS Corps of Engineers– National Ocean ServiceNational Ocean Service

• Project StaffProject Staff– 2 PhD, 10 FTE staff2 PhD, 10 FTE staff– 50+ students employed 50+ students employed

since 1992since 1992

Gulf ofGulf ofMexicoMexico

TCOON OverviewTCOON Overview

• MeasurementsMeasurements– Precise Water LevelsPrecise Water Levels

– WindWind

– TemperatureTemperature

– Barometric PressureBarometric Pressure

• Follows NOAA/NOS Follows NOAA/NOS standardsstandards

• Real-time, online Real-time, online databasedatabase

TCOON Data ManagementTCOON Data Management

• Automated Acquisition, Automated Acquisition, Archive, Processing, Archive, Processing, RetrievalRetrieval

• 15-year Historical 15-year Historical DatabaseDatabase

• Most processing takes Most processing takes place via Internetplace via Internet

• Infrastructure for other Infrastructure for other observation systemsobservation systems

TCOON ResearchTCOON Research• Real-time Automated Data ProcessingReal-time Automated Data Processing• Telecommunications / Network ProtocolsTelecommunications / Network Protocols• Tidal Datum ProcessingTidal Datum Processing• Web-based Visualization and Manipulation of Web-based Visualization and Manipulation of

Coastal DataCoastal Data• Specialized sensor and data acquisition system Specialized sensor and data acquisition system

developmentdevelopment• Neural-Network-based forecasts from real-time Neural-Network-based forecasts from real-time

observationsobservations• Support for other research efforts (e.g., HRI)Support for other research efforts (e.g., HRI)

Data Collection SystemsData Collection Systems

• PC-104 based computerPC-104 based computer

• Linux operating systemLinux operating system

• Solid-state Flash memorySolid-state Flash memory

• 10 serial ports, 16 A/D 10 serial ports, 16 A/D channelschannels

• Low power consumptionLow power consumption

• Rugged for harsh Rugged for harsh environmentsenvironments

Remote ControlledRemote ControlledShallow Draft VehicleShallow Draft Vehicle

Shallow-Water Remote MonitoringShallow-Water Remote Monitoring

• Project Objective: Develop a system to perform water-quality sampling and analysis in shallow water (<3ft) regions

Shallow-Water Remote MonitoringShallow-Water Remote Monitoring

• Limitations of existing monitoring methods for shallow-water areas– Shallow-water bays and estuaries are complex

environments requiring dense sampling– Human-centered sampling methods often

disturb environment being tested

• Current approach:– Fixed position data collection (TCOON)– Man-controlled boat in areas with water 3 ft or deeper– Programmed robots/boats (many are submersible)

• ROV capabilities:– Reach hard to access areas e.g. soft bottom, contaminated, or

other hazardous situations• Collect data remotely, minimize disturbances to the test

area• Cover wide areas compared to fixed positions

– Easy to deploy

Why ROV?

ROV Prototypes

ROV Summary

• The programmatic control of the vessel has been achieved

• Chassis needs to be redesigned• Future

– Add vision capabilities (cameras)– Autonomous navigation capabilities– Internet based control and data presentation– Shift toward scientific sensor integration and

database connectivity

Corpus Christi’s WiFi Corpus Christi’s WiFi CyberinfrastructureCyberinfrastructure

City’s WiFi Vision

• The city of Corpus Christi’s wireless network is a strategic investment in the community that will allow residents, visitors and businesses an entry point to new markets and the benefits of the Internet and WiFi applications. The WiFi network will enable economic development, enhance governmental services, and reinforce educational opportunities.

City’s View of Benefits

• Enables Educational, Retail and Entertainment Organizations to engage in ever expanding conveniences and services

• Empowers private citizens to make better decisions based on more accurate information concerning City utilities and applications

• Enables greater access to a wide variety of Low-Cost communication applications

Physical mesh network• Originally 24 square

miles “live”• Enhancements to over

100 square miles

City Strategy - I• Government Network Service

• AMR, Mobile Applications, Automated Vehicle Location, Internet Phone

• Free Access to Community Portal

• E-Government, Education, Health Care, News, Shopping

• Value Added Services - Personal Productivity

City Strategy - II• E-Commerce Application Service Provider

• Low Cost Online Store Front

• Integrated Marketplace

• Network Expansion

• Digital Community Network Development and Management Service

• Metro Area Communities and Beyond

Uniqueness of TAMU-CC CI

• Only Metropolitan-Wide WiFi Network

• Coastal WiFi and Marine Sensor Integration Opportunities

• Development of mobile computing devices that take advantage of these capabilities

• Multi-spectral data integration opportunities

Called to Serve

John.Fernandez@tamucc.edu