Proposal

Name:

Engineering Undergraduate Research Collaboration Stations

FiscalYear:

2015

Audience:

Engineering and Computer Science, College of

Submitter:

Meeroff, Dan

Budget Manager:

Asseff, Lynn G.

Project Manager:

Courtade, Sue T.

Proposal Approvers

Dept. Chair:

Yong, Yan

Local IT:

N/A

Dean:

Ilyas, Mohammad

Facilities:

N/A

OIT:

Bagdonas, Joseph A.

Proposal Funding

Year 1:

$ 18,783.07

Year 2:

$ 0.00

Year 3:

$ 0.00

Total:

$ 18,783.07

Proposal Funding versus Average

Questionnaire

Narrative
The Department of Civil, Environmental & Geomatics Engineering (CEGE) proposes to enhance its capability to provide engineering students with collaboration space using technology instead of building a new classroom. Our students had three 24 hour access collaboration spaces in the IS building in the past, but the space was reallocated to the Human Resources Department in spring 2015, so our senior design students were temporarily relocated to the Wimberly Library, which we now share with various entities. In the current situation, opportunities for our student design teams to collaborate are limited because the workspace is shared and is in high demand, so students can be asked to leave when another group has reserved the space for classes, events, seminars, etc. In October, our students were invited to a forum with the Department Chair to discuss ways to improve the learning environment, and the number one student request was for more collaboration stations where student design teams can work together on projects, share desktops, create designs, record their presentations and play them back for feedback, work on computer model simulations in a small team environment, and provide a quiet secure study space. After hearing this, the Department leadership contacted Joanne Julia, Jody Bagdonas, and their team to help come up with ideas for a solution. They recommended a Newline Interactive TruTouch X7 SmartBoard with airmedia presentation gateway that will allow student teams to share their desktops remotely without wires simply through a WIFI connection. They will be able to interact without limitation by sharing voice, video, data, and even manipulating shared documents, simulations, drafting files, and presentations. The system, which also has a touch screen, can handle up to 4 different inputs, which is perfect for our capstone design teams that are comprised of 4-5 students each. This system will be housed in EG231, which is configured like a conference room, and the companion collaboration station will be housed in the LY451 Library Seflin Room, which is where the design classes are held during normal hours. The urgency for this type of equipment is high because in the Spring 2016 semester, the Department is expecting the largest design class ever, which will likely exceed the number of seats in the Library Seflin Room. Therefore, this technology will also allow us to teach the course interactively and in real time with students who are not able to be physically present in the room with the instructors.

This Tech Fee proposal addresses the major issues identified by the students in the Department Chair’s Forum as follows:

  • Quiet study space. Previous instruction lab, AutoCAD lab, and study rooms in IS building that were used to practice presentations and do team collaboration work were reassigned to Human Resources, thus students are deprived of dedicated quiet study space. This Tech Fee proposal would create a dedicated virtual collaboration studio environment to begin to address this need. 

  • 24-hour dedicated access to collaboration space. Since the move from IS building to the Library Seflin Room, engineering students no longer have 24-hour unrestricted access to team collaboration space. The recording equipment in the Seflin Room is only available during library hours and when no other classes or entities are using the space. This Tech Fee proposal would permit independent recording and presentation practice using a technology that is more accessible and has built-in recording equipment. It also provides a virtual environment that can be accessed without interruption, particularly since the Library Seflin Room and AutoCAD lab are both high demand spaces that are routinely overbooked.

  • Priority for space use is not student-centered. Students and faculty are permitted to schedule the Seflin Room and AutoCAD lab, but the unique capabilities of those spaces mean that they are in high demand from competing users. This often removes those spaces from being used as a small team conference room or study space.  This Tech Fee grant uses technology to create a dedicated student-centered virtual collaboration studio that complements the library’s capabilities and provides priority to student with more ways to collaborate on projects and assignments within the confines of the current space limitations.

Through this funded proposal, the Department will be able to provide technology that enhances the student learning experience and directly aligns with FAU’s Strategic Plan to carry out its mission and benefit students. Goal 1 Boldness: This proposal will help to develop a uniquely competitive student body with capabilities to collaborate in effective multidisciplinary teams. Goal 2 Synergy: This proposal will help to connect students with faculty using technology and not relying on face-to-face collaboration only. Some students are based in Jupiter campus, so this will allow for more opportunities for close collaboration. It will also provide more ways for engineering students and library staff to have access to more collaboration tools. Goal 4 Quality: This proposal will allow students to have access to the latest collaboration technologies and help FAU to remain a resilient, lean organization that can expand learning opportunities without building more physical space to accommodate student needs. Goal 5 Brand: This proposal will enhance FAU engineering’s national reputation for excellence, particularly in graduates’ improved ability to work in small teams and present their work using the latest technologies.

Facilities

?EG231 will require minor electrical upgrades and installation of new equipment.

Install duplex receptacle behind TV on North & South Wall
o Receptacle shall be fed from existing local circuit
? Install JB on South wall at 18” w/ 1” conduit to JB at 72” continue conduit to cable tray in hallway
o Conduit shall be bonded to cable tray
o Conduit shall have pull string installed
? Install JB on North wall at 72” w/ 1” to cable tray in hallway
o Conduit shall be bonded to cable tray
o Conduit shall have pull string installed
Materials………………$483.00
Labor……………$1,125.00

24 hours Standard Hourly Rate - Inside Plant Cable Technician $1,024.08
1120 LF 219567-X AMP CMP Category 6 UTP Cable (600 Mhz), TIA/EIA -568B Enhanced $459.20
20 1375055-X AMP SL Series 110connect Category 6 Modular Jacks, T568A/T568B $129.40
6 1116412-1 AMP Blanks Inserts $1.74
4 2111011-X AMP Flush faceplate, 4 port $7.00
10 1933xxx-4 AMP Patch Cord, Category 6 4-pair UTP, 4 ft. w/RJ45 $80.70
10 1933xxx-6 AMP Patch Cord, Category 6 4-pair UTP, 6 ft. w/RJ45 $87.70
40 LF 1" EMT Flex $73.60
2 SG EMT Box $12.38
4 1" EMT Connector $12.80
1 Support Bar $17.13
Total Price $1,905.73

The quotes are attached in the supporting documentation.

Hardware Requirements

Newline SmartBoard with AirMedia Crestron?

C2G HDMI 35 Ft Plenum
35ft pro series hdmi® cable - plenum cmp-rated
1 $145.31
Crestron AM-100
AirMedia presentation gateway
1 $869.57
Crestron CBL-HD-12
Crestron Certified HDMI Interface Cable, 12 FT
1 $43.75
Crestron CBL-HD-6
Crestron Certified HDMI Interface Cable, 6 FT
2 $62.50
Crestron CBL-VGA-AUD-12
Crestron Certified Computer VGA Interface Cable w/Audio, 12 ft
1 $35.29
Crestron HD-MD4X1-4K-E
4x1 4K HDMI Switcher
1 $411.76
Crestron HD-SCALER-VGA-E
High definition video scaler, VGA in/HDMI out
1 $352.94
Extron AV Edge 100
Edge Mount Enclosure for AV Connectivity, Data, and Power
1 $243.75
Extron USB PowerPlate 200 AC AAP
One US AC, Double-space, Black
1 $156.25
Gyration Airmouse elite combo
Air Mouse Elite Combo with Low Profile Keyboard
1 $136.13
Newline Interactive TruTouch 550/650 Wall Mount
TruTouch Wall Mount
1 $192.50
Newline Interactive TruTouch X7 unified collaboration system
70" TruTouch X7 Collaboration System
1 $10,811.25
AV equipment and related components Total: $13,461.00
231 CGE Room Total: $13,461.00

Library Seflin Room Companion Collaboration Station

Collaboration Station, uses Crestron AirMedia (Single Display, Airmedia Unit Provided by OIT)
QTY, Manufacturer, Model, Description, Unit Cost, Extended Cost
1, Samsung, ED55D, 55" Commercial-grade flat panel display, $1,155.57
1 ,APC,C2, AV C Type 2 Outlet Wall Mount Power Filter, $94.13
1, Crestron, AM-100, Mobile Presentation Gateway (Provided by OIT), -$
1, Chief, MFCUB, Medium Flat Panel Mobile AV Cart, $479.05
1, Chief, PAC710, Height-Adjustable Accessory Shelf, $72.81
1, Cables2Go, 40304, HDMI Cable, $6.78
Equipment Total, $1,808.34



Software Requirements
No additional software requirements. All software requirements are included in equipment/installation estimates.
Personnel Costs
No personnel costs required
Other Costs
none anticipated
Timeline
As soon as funding becomes available, we anticipate completing the installation during spring 2016 semester if possible, as per electrical contractor and vendor contractor requirements.
Sustainability
College of Engineering and Computer Science Technical Services Group and OIT will maintain the equipment. OIT staff are familiar with the collaboration station unit design and similar units are available at FAU to make it easy for technical support purposes. Initial training to senior design faculty will allow faculty to create a tutorial for training students on the use of the technology.
Resource Matching
The EG231 space is provided by the Department for the NewLine SmartBoard system.
Implementing Organization
Department of Civil, Environmental & Geomatics Engineering will implement the project with the assistance of OIT (Jody Bagdonas and his team), TSG (Mahesh Neelakanta and his team).

Proposal Budget

Fiscal Year 1 Fiscal Year 2 Fiscal Year 3 Total
Hardware One-Time $ 15,269.34 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 15,269.34
Hardware Recurring $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00
Software One-time $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00
Software Recurring $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00
Personnel One-time $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00
Personnel Recurring $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00
Other One-time $ 3,513.73 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 3,513.73
Other Recurring $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00
Totals $ 18,783.07 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 18,783.07

Supporting Documentation

Filename Size Description
Bldg 36 Rm 231B E-Classroom.pdf 52,611b EG231 Electrical Services Quote
COE - Library Collab Station Costs.pdf 235,432b LY451 Collaboration Station Quote
FAU Room 231 CEGE Quote.pdf 250,590b NewLine SmartBoard Quote
Jade Quote 47645-FAU Boca Building 36 Room 231B Collaboration Station.pdf 156,944b IT quote for EG231