Speaker: Dr. Ashraf Ghaly | Engineering | Union College
Humans rely on their senses in dealing with the environment around them. Most, if not all, of the products humans use on a daily basis respond to one or more of humans’ senses. The sensors the human body can use communicate a sense of taste, hearing, sight, smell, or touch. Engineers mimic nature in their designs and create products that essentially appeal to human senses. Engineering an environment that responds to various phenomena in the same way a human body reacts would be a great feat in engineering design. Such an environment would have the effect of reducing the hazards that Planet Earth presently faces due to out of control consumption and resource depletion. A closely monitored environment through a network of well-designed sensors can make efficient use of available commodities and decrease the effects of natural disasters. Humans have been successful in implementing such strategies on a small scale where, for example, an air condition system make the interior of a building a pleasant place to be even when the outside temperature is extreme. This same effect is almost impossible to reproduce for huge structures, such as bridges for example, serving in the open environment. Sensor technology can help in monitoring the “health” of structures to predict potential problems before they occur. Sensors have penetrated almost every aspect of human life. They can be found in small hand-held devices such as cell phones, motion activated lights inside buildings, and in exterior applications such as e-z pass lanes. These sensors can play a greater role in measuring and recording data. Such data can be instantaneously analyzed by computers provided with algorithms capable of aiding humans in making on-the-spot decisions. The past decade has witnessed sensor technology creeping into many small-scale devices. Based on present indications, the next few years promise to be the era of the proliferation of sensors in large-scale applications. A course addressing the above theme was developed and taught at Union College. Students were fascinated by the possibilities sensors afford to control and monitor interior and exterior environments in pursuit of a smarter planet. The course was well received as indicated by the strong engagement students showed during class discussions throughout the term.