OSU research projects selected for interdisciplinary grants

Monday, August 5, 2013

Seven faculty-led research projects that involve creative collaboration and support Oklahoma State University's land-grant mission have been approved for a total of $250,000 in funding through OSU's Interdisciplinary Creative Planning Grant Program.

“The projects funded in this third year of grants are visionary as well as practical in their integration of at least two academic disciplines and from two or more OSU colleges or academic units,” said Pamela Fry, interim provost and senior vice president in the Division of Academic Affairs. “We congratulate the winners and thank them for their commitment to OSU’s land-grant mission of teaching, research and outreach.”

By the end of August 2014, the researchers will submit reports summarizing their activities and outcomes, a description of how they serve the land-grant mission, and progress in identifying sustainable external funding sources.

The following are the seven projects that received 2013 Interdisciplinary Grant Awards for the year ahead:

3-D Indoor Digitization System for Emergency Response and Management

PI:  Weihua Sheng, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, CEAT

Co-PI:  Tingguang Ma, Department of Fire Protection and Safety Technology, CEAT

Co-PI: Hongbo Yu, Department of Geography, CAS

Abstract: In this project, the PIs will work together to develop a 3D digitization system to map large buildings and label critical components for emergency response and management purpose. The resulting map will be BIM (Building Information Modeling) compatible and can assist Incident Command System (ICS) to better plan, organize, monitor and control emergency operations, therefore increasing the safety of emergency responders and operational effectiveness.  It can also be used for life-safety analysis, risk assessment, fire safety evaluation, fire investigation and modeling, as well as smoke control system design. This one-year project will lay the foundation for the PIs to build a cross-disciplinary research and education program in an area of critical importance to the OSU land grant mission.

Regenerative Medicine at OSU

PI:  Lin Liu, Physiological Sciences, CVHS

Co-PI:  Kenneth Miller, Anatomy and Cell Biology, CHS

Co-PI:  William Picking, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, CAS

 Abstract: Regenerative Medicine offers the great promise to cure human and animal diseases. It is an exciting and emerging research field that requires efforts from scientists from multi-disciplines including human and veterinary medicine, biology, and engineering and material sciences. The objectives of the Program are to enhance collaborations in regenerative medicine research across campus, attract additional faculty into this research area, and eventually establish a self-sustained center of research excellence through extramural funding. The goals will be accomplished by 5 approaches: (1) Bring everyone together through regular meetings, (2) Perform national program survey, (3) Recruit external consultants, (4) Promote proposal submissions in regenerative medicine through pilot projects, and (5) Market the program by developing a program website. Creation of the interdisciplinary program in regenerative medicine will provide a bridge for investigators across different disciplines and serves a focus point for research collaborations and educational and training opportunities to students.

Discover Architecture

PI: Suzanne Bilbeisi, Architecture, CEAT

Co-PI: Steven O’Hara, Architectural Engineering, CEAT

Co-PI: Mohammed Bilbeisi, Architecture, CEAT

Co-PI: Heather Yates, Construction Management Technology, CEAT

Co-PI: Nick Nelson, Landscape Architecture, CASNR 

Abstract: The “Discover Architecture” workshop is a week-long career orientation summer program for high school students. The faculty of this program would like to explore the possibility of expanding the academic content of the workshop to include the allied disciplines of landscape architecture and construction management. We believe this will provide a more complete exploration of the various professions involved in the building arts, and help us achieve a broader freshman recruitment for the university. The Discover Architecture program upholds the land grant mission of OSU, through outreach to the high school community. The workshop will create a unique interdisciplinary educational opportunity utilizing the framework of the building arts, and make it available to the next generation of college students from across the state and nation.

Grain Handling and Storage Safety and Rescue Research and Education

PI:  Carol Jones, Biosystems and Ag Engineering, CASNR

Co-PI:  Ed Kirtley, Fire Services Training, CEAT

Co-PI: Steve Edwards, Applied Health, COE

Co-PI: Brian Adam, Ag Economics, CASNR

Co-PI: Jason Louthan, Fire Services Training, CEAT

Abstract: Grain industry accidents have risen 92 percent since 2002 in the USA.  Many times firefighters responding to these accidents become victims. Examples in Oklahoma include the recent death of one firefighter and severe injuries to four more.  This project will establish a team to plan, conduct, and extend research and training to protect firefighters, workers, and first responders working and responding to the environment of the grain storage and handling industry. The outcomes will be proposals ready for a FEMA grant opportunity in the fall of 2014, baseline force data for equipment design and comparison, economic information about the costs of grain industry accidents, information about the physiological and psychological impact of working in the severe conditions of bulk grain, and foundational training material to extend the above knowledge to firefighters and the grain industry. 

OSU Center for Natural History Collections

PI:  Karen McBee, Department of Zoology, CAS

Co-PI:  Mark Fishbein, Department of Botany, CAS

Co-PI:  Jeffrey Byrnes, Geology, CAS

Co-PI:  David Peters, Special Collections & University Archives, Library

Co-PI:  Astri Wayadande, Entomology & Plant Pathology, CASNR

Co-PI:  Julie Thomas, Teaching & Curriculum Leadership, COE

Abstract: Our goal is to develop a collaborative center, the OSU Center for Natural History Collections (CNHC), consisting of members from the colleges of Arts & Sciences, Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Education, and Edmon Low Library to: 1) assess current holdings and conditions of OSU’s natural history collections, 2) build comprehensive protocols for conservation and appropriate use of specimens, 3) develop a strategy to improve data management and access through a shared web site, 4) establish coordinated outreach programs for K-12 education, and, 5) enhance efforts in obtaining external funding for collections. 

Future Flexible and Secure Communication Paradigm for Public Safety

PI: Qi Cheng, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, CEAT

Co-PI: Eric Chan-Tin, Department of Computer Science, CAS

Co-PI: Michael Wieder, Fire Protection Publications, CEAT

Co-PI: Nancy Trench, Fire Protection Publications, CEAT

Abstract: The existing licensed spectrum allocation approach for public safety communication is regarded as old fashioned and inefficient due to 1) the non-uniformity in the occupancy duty cycles across the allocated channels and 2) lack of interoperability in large-scale incidents. The need for reconfigurable communication solutions for emergency scenarios in order to ensure reliability, coverage, robustness, and security has motivated us to explore new approaches, technologies, and policies for public safety communication. In this research program, we propose an infrastructure-free, cost-effective and secure cognitive radio network solution to address the unique challenges and requirements in emergency service operations. Research priorities include 1) achieving maximum spectrum availability awareness with minimum sensing resources; 2) efficient spectrum sharing to accommodate various types of data and various transmission needs; 3) solving emerging security challenges on a cognitive radio network; 4) engaging end users and policy makers in this program. This program aligns with NSF highlighted research areas.

Smart Hygiene Compliance Monitoring for Safe Food Handling and Professing

PI:  Ning Wang, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, CASNR

Co-PI:  Weihua Sheng, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, CEAT

Co-PI: Tim Bowser, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, CASNR 

Abstract: Motivation and monitoring of food handling and processing employees to comply with required hygiene practices is a large part of the equation in reducing health associated infections (HAIs). In the U.S., improper food handler practices contributed to approximately 97 percent of foodborne illnesses during food-handling and processing at food processing facilities. The ultimate goal of this proposal will be to establish an interdisciplinary research group to develop innovative, systematic approaches based on networked monitoring devices and data management tools to leverage the expertise in food safety employee training and understand the complex interaction of factors that motivate employees on hygiene compliance behaviors. The developed system will integrate the low cost, state of art technologies, including Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), 3D cameras, image processing, wireless communication networks, and data analysis, to provide the food industry a management tool to improve hygiene compliance.