The VISualization of Terrestrial and Aquatic Systems (VISTAS) team, an NSF/BIO/ABI-funded collaboration among environmental-, computer-, and social-scientists, has integrated new technologies and CS research into terrain visualization software for environmental scientists. The system allows scientists to overlay 2D data onto 3D elevation maps to emphasize landscape topography and to better understand how topography affects the ecology of the land. VISTAS also provides animations over time, fly-throughs, and some analytics.

The goal of this project is to enable small businesses and others to manufacture small batches of complex devices at low cost. Our approach is to develop an agile manufacturing exchange (ME) in which suppliers of raw materials, assemblers, transportation companies, banks, etc., participate through standardized protocols to fulfill manufacturing orders.

The goal of this research project is to develop a scalable cyber-physical system (CPS) framework for seamless integration of physical and computational systems for bridge lifecycle monitoring. Bridge monitoring includes many different components, such as computer-aided design (CAD) system, bridge management system (BMS), structural health monitoring (SHM) system, and various analysis tools. In current practice, these components are isolated from each other and sharing of information across systems is very limited. Information sharing and system integration

Modern cyber-physical systems are monitored and controlled by multi-core platforms, and thermal management of multi-core chips is critical as overheated cores thereon will suffer from exponentially decaying lifetime and unacceptable performance degradation. To meet the timing and system lifetime reliability requirements under dynamic workloads and operating environment, we need a real-time thermal management (RTM) scheme that predicts run-time temperature and actuates effective thermal control without compromising task deadlines.

Recent progress in battery technology has made it possible to use batteries to power various physical platforms, such as ground/air/water vehicles. These platforms require hundreds/thousands of battery cells to meet their power and energy needs. Of these, automobiles, locomotives, and unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) face the most stringent environmental challenges. In particular, and of special importance to the automotive industry, is the transition from conventional powertrains to (plug-in) hybrid and electric vehicles, all of which are subject to environmental and operational variations.

Buildings are complex systems with profound impact on human health, productivity, comfort, and energy consumption. Smart building technology promises to improve many aspects of building operation by applying sensor data toward more informed and precise building operation. Smart buildings are one important dimension of enabling sustainable Smart Cities. One of the challenges in smart buildings is the selection, placement, and installation of multiple sensors in the building. This can be both an expensive and time consuming process.

This Smart and Connected Communities research project focuses on developing an innovative solution for enabling emergency communications during disaster recovery. An aerial base station can substitute for a damaged cell tower and provide cellular connectivity among the first responders and citizens who were impacted by a natural or manmade disaster until the damaged cell tower is restored. The project will lead to fundamental understanding of the science and engineering aspects of the design and deployment of aerial base stations.