Elizabeth City State University Undergrade Research Eperience
Update of the CERSER TeraScan Cateloguing System TeraScan Image Processing Scripts
Mentor: Mr. Jeffery Wood, ECSU
Abstract
The Center of Excellence in Remote Sensing Education and Research (CERSER) on the campus of Elizabeth City State University is currently tasked with the responsibility of receiving remotely sensed data from orbiting National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Polar Operational Environmental Satellites (POES) and the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES). This data is collected by SeaSpace TeraScan systems installed in the CERSER labs in Dixon-Patterson Hall.
In 2005, the processing system underwent a major update due to a migration to a new operating system. A minor update was needed at this time to deal with a second operating system migration and display of the processed images on the CERSER web site. Since then, a second transfer to a new server was made in 2013. The cataloguing system went down at this time and was not repaired due to technical issues with the TeraScan system. The 2014 team corrected issues within the current server directory system and updated the data script to process images from the GOES-13 satellite received by the TeraScan system. Software and languages utilized for this task included ImageMagick, PHP, HTML, Dreamweaver, phpMyAdmin, and MySQL.
Along with this operating system update, a major script development was needed on the TeraScan processing equipment due to an upgrade in hardware. The ground station upgrades included a 3.7m X/L band, a 3.6m C band, and a 5.0m L band dishes, along with accompanying computing hardware. This new script processes both infrared and visible light images received from the GOES-13 satellite into the Tagged Image File (TIFF) FormatKeywords- GOES, TeraScan, ImageMagick, Macintosh OSX, MySQL, PHP, Remote Sensing
http://nia.ecsu.edu/ur/1314/teams/mmt/index.html
Documentation of Seaspace Ground Station Systems at Elizabeth City State University
Research Experience for Undergraduates at Elizabeth City State University in Elizabeth City, North Carolina Center for Remote Sensing of Ice Sheets in Ocean, Marine, and Polar Science 2012
Mentor: Mr. J'amie Powell, ECSU
Abstract
On February 7, 2012 a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) and Seaspace Corporation. The memorandum lead to the proposed installation of three direct-broadcast satellite receiving ground stations and a training site at ECSU. The receiving stations included a 3.6m X/L band system, a 3.7m C band system, and a 5.0m L band system. The MOU defined that once the installation of the various systems completed, ECSU would in turn provide an east-coast training and data center for Seaspace products. The purpose of this project was to document the installation requirements and internal processes at ECSU for the ground stations, as well as; generate a report of training site physical requirements. Aspects of the MOU including ECSU policy requirements, location engineering findings, location installation requirements, ground station capabilities, and training center needs are addressed.
http://nia.ecsu.edu/ur/1213/teams/seaspace/index.html
Programming the Cloud: From Zero to Hundred for Non-Programmers
Indiana University - Research Experience for Undergraduates
Mentor: Dr. Gregor van Laskewski
Summer 2013
Abstract
This project will be demonstrating that it is possible to use and program a cloud within seven weeks, even though the student has no prior research and programming experience. The student will be faced with identifying what a cloud is as an abstract concept. The student will be exposed to an absolute minimum level in programming needed to program the cloud. Small programming exercises and lessons will be given to not only learn abstractly about the cloud, but will allow the student to experience using the cloud in a production setting. We will demonstrate that the student at the end of this period will be capable of using hundreds of virtual machines and controlling them from a program.
NASA Langley Research Center Student Volunteer Research Summer Experience
Summer 2015
Mentor: Dr. Gamaliel "Dan" Cherry, NASA Langley
Abstract
My name is Derek Morris Jr. I am a student at Elizabeth City State University, in Elizabeth City, NC. This upcoming year I will be a senior majoring in Computer Science minor in Mathematics. This summer I was a student volunteer at National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA Langley) in the Studio Production. In this internship, I had the opportunity to work with Dr. Gamaliel “Dan” Cherry Glenn, Sweat, and Katrina Young. The projects I took part in were equipment’s and schematic, and YOUth Day. There was also training in the workshop Rockets to Race Cars.
One of my projects was to install equipment racks in a new building. The purpose of the racks was to keep the electronic equipment from overheating. The equipment track was meant for a new tri-caster system purchased by Dr. Cherry. The tri-caster is designed to put any background you want when you in a video conference as long as you have a green wall behind you. The tri-caster serves as a recorder and video switching unit.
The next step was to run cabling through the floors. Before the cables were run, the length of the room had to be measured in order to assure that slack would be available. The cable was run through the floor because it was much cleaner and would not pose a tripping hazard.
The next part of the project I worked on was the talk back system. The talk back system is used as a communication link between the control room and the announcer. This allows them to communicate with each other to work out sound issues and the view of the cameras. The system was inoperative when we began. We found that one of the wires had a low signal. It was repaired by removing a portion of the wire reducing the distance that the signal had to travel.
After the completion of the talk back, I then started to work on the schematic for studio B. This schematic was a wiring design for the room showing connections between the equipment. For example: The tri-caster is going into the computer and out a monitor.
The next project was YOUth Day. This is a day that NASA employees bring their youth to the base and spend a day touring and getting an opportunity to participate in activities’ on the base with other youth. Part of the project was to get word out through the Langley Research Center (LaRC) advertisements. This is a place to put out information about what is happening, when and where. This was how we gave out information to let the staff and students know how to volunteer their time with tour hosts, information booths, and as greeters/hosts. YOUth Day is a way to inform the youth about NASA. They then pass on what they have learned to others during the school year.
I also had the opportunity to work with some preparation in Rockets to Race. Rockets to Race helps the understanding of the art of science with racing, through taking part in in exercises to help students to pick up a better comprehension of the powers of flight and movement, and figure out how these powers lift planes into the air, and hold racecars tight to the track at astonishing velocities. This was all being done by working with NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson.
An activity that was done in training was Drag Race to Mars Engineering Design Challenge. The purpose of this challenge is to design a capsule to land on Mars, just as NASA engineers have. As the capsule rushes through the atmosphere, it is speeding towards the surface, headed for a crash landing. Students need to use the drag of the atmosphere to slow the capsule down. Using the materials described, they design an apparatus that will create enough drag to allow the capsule to have a soft landing on the surface.
This internship has shown that there your major can be used in a lot of different ways. NASA has proven to me that you will have to be a well-rounded person to work there. This internship will give all majors a better understanding about what they want to do with their future.