Selected EPICS Teams
BUTLER UNIVERSITY
Spanish in Action (SIA)
Project Partner: Crispus Attucks Middle School/Indianapolis, Indiana
Description: In connection with Crispus Attucks Middle School, SIA is developing an environment where students can play games, take tests, and check their progress, while still enjoying a video-game atmosphere. The team's objective is to make learning fun and to provide teachers with an easy and customizable method of evaluating their students.
Delivered: The team has created a game, .QuickDrop. and is in the process of completing a class management system that includes management systems for users, words, and quizzes.
SAVI (Social Assets and Vulnerabilities Indicators)
Project Partner: The Polis Center/Indianapolis, Indiana
Description: The Polis Center Social Assets and Vulnerabilities Indicators (SAVI) project features a set of powerful tools allowing users to quickly navigate and see correlation in a large data pool compiled regarding the Indianapolis area. The initial goal for the Butler team is to create a "Google-like" search engine; that is, the goal of the team is to great an engine that can perform searches based on natural language. The end goal of this project is to create an intelligent search agent for the SAVI tools. The agent will use implicit data gained based on previous user searches and patterns, and it will allow users searching SAVI information to see related data and queries. In short, the goal is to create a new method of using SAVI that includes a nearly transparent agent to help direct user queries.
Butler Undergraduate Research Conference (URC)
Project Partner: Butler Undergraduate Research Conference
Facts: The Butler Undergraduate Research Conference (URC) in partnership with Eli Lilly and Company is an annual regional conference, which now routinely hosts over 500 students and faculty from approximately 45 area colleges and universities.
Description: The URC EPICS team is in the process of re-engineering and modernizing the existing URC management system. Some of the goals of the project include robustness, ease-of-use, maintainability and expandability of the system. After the gathering of requirement specifications, the team is building a prototype version. Additional features are planned.
Delivered: The team developed an in-house Web-based registration and database system to help manage the conference.
GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Community Housing Resource Center (CHRC)
Project Partner: Community Housing Resource Center
Description: The mission of the Community Housing Resource Center is to support balanced community revitalization through: housing stabilization, community networking, and technical and professional services, and education and information sharing. This project, the Home Accessibility Inspection Program, is sponsored by AT&T, and is a pilot project to develop the process and system to deliver a home inspection service to senior homeowners. If the pilot project is successful, the program will grow into a nationwide service offering. The CHRC is looking to the Georgia Tech EPICS program to play a critical role in delivering this project. Students will own specific deliverables in each phase of the project as well as participate in milestone reviews and project management.
Greenfield Hebrew Academy (GHA)
Project Partner: Greenfield Hebrew Academy (GHA) in Sandy Springs
Description: The objective of this project is to develop a scheduling tool for the Lower School (grades 1-5) at the Greenfield Hebrew Academy (GHA) in Sandy Springs. The scheduling program should permit the computer support person at the School to aid the Assistant Principal in preparing and modifying class schedules.
Hands On Atlanta
Project Partner: Hands On Atlanta
Description: Hands on Atlanta (HOA) needs to assess and streamline its knowledge and data management processes. The main goal of this project is to design a system of processes and standards that allows HOA to manage and share across the organization efficiently and effectively. In order to continue to grow, HOA strongly believes that effective knowledge management system and processes must be implemented in the near future. The scope of this project is focused in three areas: programmatic, external, and internal. Expected deliverables of the project: inventory of the current data sources in the three areas, current and to-be processes of information flow, and recommendations of best practices and tools. Hands On Atlanta also needs to assess and streamline its tools and materials procurement process for Hands On Atlanta Day. The goal for this initiative is to re-engineer and streamline the current process and build an procurement infrastructure that will support the growth of the organization. Hands On Atlanta Day is the nation's largest centrally organized single-day of service with 15,000 volunteers participating in over 200 service projects.
Lithonia High School
Project Partner: Lithonia High School
Description: Lithonia High School has been given the unique opportunity to implement a program that will increase students' reading ability levels, no matter where they fall on the reading continuum. Lithonia High School will ensure the success of all students by providing the key to success. Project goals include: scheduling the 2000 students with the initial screening and diagnosis using the Visagraph with minimal impact on instructional time; scheduling training of personnel to help administer the Visagraph and scheduling training of personnel and students on using the software; creating a method and schedule for each student to spend the required 20 minutes three times a week practice necessary to positively effect ability and improvement while under the constraints of a 4 X 4 block schedule that would have the least amount of loss of instructional time.
Bobby Dodd Institute
Project Partner: Bobby Dodd Institute
Description: Bobby Dodd Industries (BDI) is a non-profit vocational training organization that allows individuals with disabilities to obtain training and work experience while meeting the needs of BDI's various customers. Several businesses in the Atlanta area partner with BDI to train adults with disabilities. The mission of BDI is to empower individuals with disabilities to maximize their potential while securing their economic self-sufficiency, independence and integration into society. BDI consists of operations that range from shipping, receiving, and storage of raw material in a warehouse, to material assembly in a job shop. The latest EPICS project with this partner is to work on a computer recycling system's
UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME
St. Joseph River Project
Project Partner: The Cities of Elkhart, Mishawaka, and South Bend, Indiana.
Description: Began in Fall, 2000. This EPICS group works on the creation of a web-based data entry system for use by the cities of Elkhart, Mishawaka, and South Bend. Working closely with a representative from the Elkhart Public Water Works, the group is customizing an on-line database to serve as a mechanism for the storage and retrieval of measurements and readings used to monitor the changing water quality of the St. Joseph River as it flows through these three cities on its way to Lake Michigan.
Indiana LED Signal Adoption Study (ILEDSAS)
Project Partner: Indiana LED Signal Adoption Study (ILEDSAS)
Description: This EPICS group will evaluate the feasibility of replacing the current incandescent traffic signal lights with new high-brightness light emitting diode (LED) technology. Perform analysis of the significant energy/maintenance savings provided by the LED devices, and methods of financing the initial capital investment. The group will work with city leaders to assist them in the decision making process during the adoption of the LED devices, and perform outreach to other communities interested in this technology. The group will also track long-term energy/maintenance savings, and LED performance/reliability.
Camp Eberhard Project
Project Partner: YMCA Camp Eberhard, Michigan
Description: Began in Fall 1999. This group assists the YMCA staff to improve the quality of the facilities and environment of a rural, lake-front summer camp that is now serving year-around users. Currently project needs include: 1) Design and construction of an amphitheater; 2) design and construction of a gazebo; and 3) erosion control of Dave's Point, a sand peninsula in Cory Lake.
Delivered: Design and construction of a 100' elevated footbridge; written waterfront erosion control plan.
Potawatomi Project
Project Partner: Potawatomi Zoo, City of South Bend, Indiana.
Description: Began in Fall 2000. This group assists the zoo maintenance staff in planning, designing, and constructing needed utilities, animal housing, roads, parking, animal waste pollution control and pollution prevention, and site development. Its first project focuses on site planning, which includes production of utility and site maps, using both manually prepared drawing and computer-generated site maps. Some site description data exists and other data will require field surveys.
Small Community Mentoring Center Project (SCMC)
Project Partner: Small Community Mentoring Center Project (SCMC)
Description: The SCMC EPICS has the objective of assisting small nearby communities to more effectively supply water and treat wastewater. During each of the last three summers, teams of students visited the plants to assess the needs. Students were then teamed with plant operators to conduct full-scale plant studies to address a well-defined need.
Homelessness Prevention Network
Project Partner: The Hope Rescue Mission and the Life Treatment Center, South Bend, Indiana.
Description: Began in Spring 1998. This project involved creating a shared client database for use by the Hope Rescue Mission and the Life Treatment Center, and other local organizations that provide services to the homeless (and near-homeless) population. This database allowed these agencies better to serve their guests by allowing participating agencies to exchange information about their clients' histories and backgrounds. The group also participates in service projects (such as sack lunches and escorting children and their families to Silverhawks games) and carries out weekly readings and group discussions concerning homelessness taken from the open literature.
Logan Center
Project Partner: Logan Center Toys
Description: The team is adapting battery-operated toys with small switches for children with disabilities, ages 0 to 3. Some children lack the fine motor skills required to turn on small switches, and other children do not have the intellectual ability to understand switches. Therefore, the team will be altering the toys to be turned on and off, for instance, with a large plate that you can press easily. This will require hands-on work with the electrical wiring in the toys and soldering on the new press-plate, as well as some experimentation to determine the best way to turn on each toy. The toys that the team will modify will be loaned out by the Logan Center to children with disabilities. The team will also write clear, step-by-step instructions for parents to follow if they wish to adapt toys for their own children.
Habitat for Humanity
Project Partner: Habitat for Humanity Administration Database Project
Description: This team involves many projects including: database design and implementation for the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity; this database project will develop tools for the Habitat organization to track materials, donors, and other information related to the mission of Habitat. Another project focuses on a database project to develop tools for the Habitat organization to track materials, donors, and other information. Another group of EPICS students will work with the local Habitat for Humanity chapter to develop tools to measure, and ultimately improve the energy efficiency of the structures built by the local Habitat Chapter(s).
PENN STATE UNIVERSITY
The Central Intermediate Unit (CIU)
Project Partner: The Central Intermediate Unit (CIU) of State College, PA
Description: The Central Intermediate Unit (CIU) of State College, PA, is a nursery for kids aged three to five. Some of these kids have physical and mental disabilities that restrict them from participating in certain inside and outside play activities. The goal of the team is to devise ways for these children to physically realize independent mobility.
The Center for Sustainability
Project Partner: The Center for Sustainability
Description: The Center for Sustainability is a nonprofit organization dedicated to beauty, science, and education conducting research in sustainable living and environmental technologies. The 8.5-acre research and demonstration site at Penn State's University Park Campus highlights a mini-farm with projects demonstrating green design, alternative energy, and ecological graywater and wastewater remediation. The Center site also works with biointensive and winter gardening. The goal of the team is to transport water from the Solar Pond to the Constructed Wetlands and Solar Food Shed using the available solar power; to provide regulated hot air to the solar food dehydrator and structure interior, and to provide clean, hot and cold water for the interior sink.
AgrAbility
Project Partner: AgrAbility for Pennsylvanians
Description: First team began in Spring 2001. The team is developing tools that will create new opportunities for farmers with physical disabilities to continue farming
UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO, MAYAGUEZ CAMPUS
Project Partner: City of Aquadilla, Puerto Rico
Description: Student EPICS teams are addressing the needs of special communities in the western region of Puerto Rico, namely the conversion to expressway of the PR-2 from Añasco to Hormigueros. The team has made improvements to La Vía Street through special community La Vía in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. Over 500 students from engineering, business administration, social sciences and humanities, faculty members, government officials have benefited directly or indirectly from the EPICS initiative at UPRM during its 1st year of operation. Furthermore, close to 1,000 families from La Vía community will be impacted directly or indirectly from the recommendation given by the students once they finish their analysis and evaluation of the proposed project on their community. The active participation of the student's directives at the Movement for the Development of Mayagüez, particularly the students of the Institute of Transportation Engineers during 2002 has impacted Mayagüez and the western region in a positive manner based upon an injection of funds for highway reconstruction for 2003-2004 in the order of $95 millions, based on the findings of a feasibility study of converting PR-2 highway to expressway and other lane widening needs on critical sections of the highway network.
PURDUE UNIVERSITY
(Click above for a listing of the latest projects at Purdue)
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN, MADISON
Rehabilitation Medicine Projects
Project Partner: University of Wisconsin Department of Rehabilitation Medicine.
Description: Began in Fall 2000. The goal of the teams is expanded capabilities and control of the environment for patients with physical disabilities. The teams work on the development of engineering-based systems to assist in providing care for the patients served by Rehabilitation Medicine. Projects include an automated pill crusher, a device to assist in making patient records, and a system for maximizing ease of use of vital sign equipment.
Moo-v-ability Projects (movement assistance)
Project Partner: University of Wisconsin Department of Rehabilitation Medicine.
Description: Began in Fall 2000. The goal of the teams is expanded capabilities and control of the environment for patients with physical disabilities. Team activities include design and implementation of modifications for wheelchairs, design improvements for a hand-powered cycle, design of a sip-and-puff casting device for a fishing rod, and design of a sip-and-puff page turner.
Habitat for Humanity
Project Partner: Habitat for Humanity
Description: Habitat for Humanity is a national organization that designs and builds housing for low-income people. Student projects include house designs for sustainability and energy efficiency, using technologies such as tankless water heaters, whole house fans, Shallow Frost Protected Foundations, and solar water heating. Additionally, student projects include reference guides for construction techniques.
Information Systems Projects
Project Partner: EPICS clients and teams
Description: In EPICS Information Systems (IS), the teams focus on developing quality Web pages that integrate active server pages, databases, and other web-based tools to solve specific information technology needs for our non-profit clients. EPICS IS teams combine the talents from computer engineering, electrical engineering, technical communication, computer science, marketing, business, communication, political science, English, art, journalism, human ecology, and other majors. Students can be of any class (frosh through graduate), and can be from any major. Team make-up consists of skill sets from as many majors as possible in order to assure depth and breadth of experience. .Project teams. form to work on providing solutions for a specific client from the community. .Functional teams.- technology or service based- form as part of the EPICS infrastructure to provide solutions and/or tools that can be used by all project teams. For example, a functional team may develop a Web-based calendar, and then that calendar can be used by any of the project teams to meet client needs.
