Select a calendar:
Filter August Events by Event Type:
SUNMONTUEWEDTHUFRISAT
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Events for August
-
Discover Engineering
Wed, Aug 01, 2007 @ 09:00 AM - 04:00 PM
Viterbi School of Engineering Student Affairs
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
An intensive introduction to the various Engineering disciplines for high school students.
Audiences: High School Students
Contact: Larry Lim
-
Discover Engineering
Thu, Aug 02, 2007 @ 09:00 AM - 04:00 PM
Viterbi School of Engineering Student Affairs
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
An intensive introduction to the various Engineering disciplines for high school students.
Audiences: High School Students
Contact: Larry Lim
-
Discover Engineering
Fri, Aug 03, 2007 @ 09:00 AM - 04:00 PM
Viterbi School of Engineering Student Affairs
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
An intensive introduction to the various Engineering disciplines for high school students.
Audiences: High School Students
Contact: Larry Lim
-
Advanced Uses of Information Technology ( IT ) in Construction Management and Engineering: ....
Wed, Aug 08, 2007 @ 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker:Dr. Burcin Becerik,
Project Manager, Camp Dresser & McKee;
Faculty, Southern California Institute of ArchitectureAdvanced Uses of Information Technology (IT) in Construction Management and Engineering:
A Multi Disciplinary Research AgendaAbstractThe lecture focuses on past, present and future research topics including online collaboration, project management and building information management and the conflation of design, procurement, construction simulation and delivery through advance use of IT.
The global construction potential is estimated to be 4.5 trillion dollars and the opportunity for growth of the construction management and engineering profession -both nationally & globally- is vast. The demand is growing for more complex, faster pace and efficient construction projects. Nevertheless, our industry is highly fragmented and still wasteful. IT and quality processes can advance productivity gains, transfer of higher quality engineering & construction information, collaboration, and coordination of numerous parties. The presentation explores how design and construction information can be captured early in the process and be carried and used throughout from concept to implementation and facility management. The presentation brings the notion of *Project Lifecycle Management* and addresses how scheduling, estimating and environmental analysis tools can be linked to the building information models and how these models become single sources for construction documentation and management. Possibilities of construction simulation and planning, evaluation of design alternatives, construction documentation, monitoring, controlling and management of large-scale and complex construction projects are explained and illustrated from 2D to nD. The challenge is about achieving an integrated practice through improved information visualization and management from concept to implementation.
Potential research questions that the presentation addresses include: What are the implications of an IT concentration on construction management and highly specialized engineering and management services? How can knowledge be captured, shared and re-used in the construction industry and what are the benefits in terms of design, analysis, documentation, procurement, delivery and facility management efficiencies? How can we achieve one integrated information repository (decision dashboard) for control and management? Is there any need for re-engineering our construction processes to meet the changing construction environment, team structures, delivery methods and increased complexity? How can we create benchmarks and key performance indicators for performance measurement and evaluation? How should current standard agreements for engineering and construction services be modified to further define the role of IT in construction? What is the impact of advanced information technology and methodology on risk mitigation and management and what are the legal implications.
Finally, the presentation is a back drop for a discussion of the importance and immediate relevance of advanced uses of IT in engineering and construction and their applicability to the existing problems of supply chain inefficiencies and green construction practices and market demand for ever more productivity gains and project efficiencies.Location: Kaprielian Hall (KAP) - 203
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Evangeline Reyes
-
Multidiciplinary Research and Educational Activities: Mathematics, HPC, Structural .....
Wed, Aug 15, 2007 @ 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. Duc Nguyen, Director, Institute for Multidiciplinary Parallel-Vector
Computation Institute and Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering,
Old Dominion UniversityMultidisciplinary Research and Educational Activities:
Mathematics, HPC, Structural, Acoustics, CFD, and Biology ApplicationsAbstract:Part 1: The NASA Grants in the past 20+ years (80 % RESEARCH + 20 % EDUCATION)Fundamental and numerical intensive equations arising from Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), Structural Analysis, Design Sensitivity Analysis (DSA), Optimal Design, Control-Structure Interaction (CSI), Aerospace/Automobile Design, Mathematics, Operation Research, Ocean Modeling, Ground Water Flow,Electro-magnetics, Aero-acoustic, Heat Transfer etc... are identified.Effective numerical algorithms to solve such (large-scale) numerical intensive equations have recently been developed. The developed algorithms take full advantages of parallel and/or vector capabilities provided by high-performance computers, such as the SUN-10000 (64 processors), SGI-2000 (16 processors),the IBM-SP2 ... Effective parallel computation by using cluster of inexpensive Desktop/Laptop Personal Computers (under Windows, or Linux environments)are also presented.Based upon the developed parallel-vector algorithms (for solving systems of linear/nonlinear, symmetric/unsymmetric, positive or negative definite, eigenvalue equations, linear/nonlinear constrained/unconstrained optimization, design sensitivity analysis, 2nd order P.D.E.), several major (numerical intensive) subroutines have been coded and tested in a vector and/or parallel computer environments [1993 NASA Langley Research Center TECH BRIEF Award].Large-scale NASA engineering problems, such as stress analysis of the Solid Rocket Booster (SRB), High Speed Civil Transport (HSCT) aircraft, NASA LaRC CSI model etc... have been solved to evaluate the numerical performance of the developed algorithms. The SRB problem, for example, requires fast solution for 58,000 simultaneous equations. Using the developed subroutine PVSOLVE[1989 Giga-Flops Award, Cray Research Inc.],solution for the SRB problem was obtained in less than 5 seconds (wall-clock time, Cray-YMP computer).The most recent development of highly efficient "Mixed Direct Iterative Domain Decomposition Parallel-Sparse Solvers" to solve a 25 million degree-of-freedoms (or equations) Finite Element Acoustic model, with "complex numbers", by using hundreds of parallel processors
will be presented.Part 2: The NSF Grant (80 % EDUCATION + 20 % RESEARCH)Finally, discussion will be focused on the needs and benefits by using the Interactive, User-Friendly, Visualized Stiffness Matrix Method (SMM) Module, including students' self-assessment learning module in conjunction with the required (Junior Level) Structures I and the elective (Senior Level)Structures II courses (developed under FLASH computer environment) available on ODU (Old Dominion University) web site.
Location: Kaprielian Hall (KAP) - 203
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Evangeline Reyes
-
Studies & Development Effort of a Low Vision Goggle: Recent Progress
Wed, Aug 22, 2007 @ 03:00 PM - 04:00 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
U. Efron , O. Bogillo and O.Levy,
Dept. of Electro-Optical Engineering
Ben-Gurion UniversityB. Apter, I. David, N. Thirer and I. Zedaka
Dept. of Electrical Engineering
Holon Institute of Technology Abstract: A mobile, Head-Mounted Low Vision Aid is critically needed for the vision impaired. We will report on a research effort of a Low Vision Goggle (LVG) based on a unique Image Transceiver Device (ITD), combining both functions of imaging and display in a single chip. The LVG's function is to capture the ambient scene, generate an enhanced imagery of the Region of Interest (ROI) and project the enhanced imagery onto the healthy part of the retina. An incorporated Eye Tracker is used in order to determine the ROI as well as in directing the Imagery to the preferred region of the patient's retina (PRL). Another important function of the LVG is in providing a direct, See-through capability. The unique ITD device allows a compact design of the Low Vision Goggle (LVG) with its present design based on a CMOS- LCOS micro-display.
The device design effort includes the CMOS chip as well as the FPGA system controller. In addition to the ITD Chip development, the research effort also covers the optical design of the LVG as well as the development of a low vision model and studies of image enhancement algorithms for the visually impaired. A brief description of these studies will be presented. Hosts: Prof. Alexander Sawchuk and Prof. Keith Jenkins
Location: B18 Lab
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Talyia Veal
-
Status of Photonics Polymer for Fiber-to-the-Display
Fri, Aug 24, 2007 @ 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
SPEAKER: Prof. Yasuhiro Koike, JST ERATO-SORST Koike Photonics Polymer Project, Keio UniversityABSTRACT: The concept of FTTH (Fiber-to-the-Home) has become more and more popular worldwide, and the network speed requirement for end users has crossed the 100 Mbps mark. Furthermore, with the DVI system commercially available, the data rate between high-definition displays and tuners is already at 2.5Gbps. Under these circumstances, to move towards broadband society, we at Keio University have proposed the concept of "Fiber-to-the-Display", where the optical fiber is directly connected to large and high-quality flat-panel display, keeping gigabit data rate even at homes. The biggest challenge in IT will be how to install gigabit optical fibers to local area networks at homes, offices, and buildings. However, the silica optical fibers used in the backbone of the networks have diameter less than one tenth of a hair. Therefore, installation of the silica optical fibers has not been realized, as it requires enormous amounts of cost due to the many connections, junctions, and handling of fibers. As the optical fiber which satisfies above issues, we are pursuing the research and development of high-speed plastic optical fiber (POF) that is Graded Index POF (GI POF). The GI POF has a large core that enables easy handlings and connections as the existing metal cables, but can achieve the high-speed data transmission comparable to that of silica optical fibers. The POF is so flexible that it can easily be installed even in existing buildings, which brings about various options to the construction planning. The concept of "Fiber-to-the-Display" is based on following photonics polymers. We have proposed novel photonics polymers; Graded-Index Plastic Optical Fiber (GI POF) that achieved more than 10 Gbps data transmission, Highly Scattered Optical Transmission (HSOT) Polymer for LCD backlight of which brightness is almost twice as that of conventional "transparent" backlight, and Zero-Birefringence Optical Polymer. As the birefringence disturbs polarized waves, it is an undesirable phenomenon for high performance optical devices that handle polarized light. We have noted this phenomenon and proposed the Zero-Birefringence Optical Polymers. As GI POF network is directly connected to the high-definition display of homes and offices, the real time face to face communication with clear motion picture can be realized. We demonstrated the multipoint digital video conferencing over the gigabit GI POF network for medical consultation and a business conference and confirmed the level of its quality. When elderly people get sick late at night, it would be a great relief if they could consult doctors online with such real-time clear motion picture in large sized display without hitting keyboard. The photonics polymer will realize the concept of "Fiber-to-the-Display".BIO: Yasuhiro Koike was born in 1954 in Tokyo. He received the B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degree from Keio University. In 1983, he joined the faculty of Keio University as an Instructor. From 1988 to 1991, Dr. Koike was an Assistant Professor. He was a Research Staff at AT&T Bell Laboratories from 1989 to 1990. He became an Associate Professor at Keio University in 1992 and in 1997 he became a Full Professor. Since 2004, he has served as the Director of Keio Leading-edge Laboratory of Science and Technology.
He has been invited to lecture at international conferences numerous times and has issued more than 100 Treatises and Articles. Of particular note, he has succeeded in developing the first prototype of GI POF and achieved a giga bps order transmission speed which even exceeds that of silica optical fibers. For over 20 years Dr. Koike has conducted, with keen insight, a unique study based on his investigation into the fundamental principles of optical polymer properties. His research work has resulted in many national and international awards and prizes.Host: Professor Alan Willner, willner@usc.eduLocation: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 539
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Mayumi Thrasher
-
Introduction to BME 533 (Seminar in Biomedical Engineering)
Mon, Aug 27, 2007 @ 12:30 PM - 01:50 PM
Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Michael Khoo, PhD, Professor & Chair of Biomedical Engineering, USC:
"Overview of Biomedical Engineering at USC"
Bartlett Mel, PhD, Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering, USC:
"PhD Laboratory Rotations"
Location: Olin Hall of Engineering (OHE) - 132
Audiences: students registered in BME 533
Contact: Mischalgrace Diasanta
-
Stochastic Data Assimilation with Application to Multi-Phase Flow and....
Fri, Aug 31, 2007 @ 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Stochastic Data Assimilation with Application to Multi-Phase
Flow and Health Monitoring ProblemsPh.D. Defense by:
George Saad, CE Ph.D. CandidateDepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California 90089
gsaad@usc.eduModel-based predictions are critically dependent on assumptions and hypotheses that are not based on first principles and that cannot necessarily be justified based on known prevalent physics. Constitutive models, for instance, fall under this category. While these predictive tools are typically calibrated using observational data, little is usually done with the scatter in the thus-calibrated model parameters. In this study, this scatter is used to characterize the parameters as stochastic processes and a procedure is developed to carry out model validation for ascertaining the confidence in the predictions from the model. Most parameters in model-based predictive tools are heterogeneous in nature and have a large range of variability. Thus the study aims at improving these predictive tools by using the Polynomial Chaos methodology to capture this heterogeneity and provide a more realistic description of the system's behavior. Consequently, a data assimilation technique based on forecasting the error statistics using the Polynomial Chaos methodology is developed. The proposed method allows the propagation of a stochastic representation of the unknown variables using Polynomial Chaos instead of propagating an ensemble of model states forward in time as is suggested within the framework of the Ensemble Kalman Filter (EnKF). This overcomes some of the drawbacks of the EnKF. Using the proposed method, the update preserves all the statistics of the posterior unlike the EnKF which maintains the first two moments only. At any instant in time, the probability density function of the model state or parameters can be easily obtained by simulating the Polynomial Chaos basis. Furthermore it allows representation of non-Gaussian measurement and parameter uncertainties in a simpler, less taxing way without the necessity of managing a large ensemble. The proposed method is used for realistic nonlinear models, and its efficiency is first demonstrated for reservoir characterization using automatic history matching and then for tracking the fluid front dynamics to maximize the waterflooding sweeping efficiency by controlling the injection rates. The developed methodology is also used for system identification of civil structures with strong nonlinear behavior.
Location: Kaprielian Hall (KAP) - rielian Hall 209
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Evangeline Reyes
-
Honors Colloquium: The Sense of Smell -- A Window Into the Brain and Memory
Fri, Aug 31, 2007 @ 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
Viterbi School of Engineering Student Affairs
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Lecture offered by Dr. Gilles Laurent, Professor of Biology and Computation and Neural Systems at the California Institute of Technology.
Location: Olin Hall of Engineering (OHE) - 122
Audiences: Honors Program Students and all Faculty and Staff are invited to attend
Contact: Erika Chua
