On-Line Educational Shake Table Experiments
Publication: Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice
Volume 131, Issue 1
Abstract
Internet technologies are employed to allow real-time video monitoring, control, and execution of bench-top shake table experiments. Structural models of relevance to education in dynamics and earthquake engineering can be tested remotely over the Internet at any time. The underlying elements of experiment tele-observation and tele-operation/control are incorporated in a newly developed Web site. Tools for graphical display and analysis of recorded model response are included. Related education evaluation and assessment materials are prepared and made available on-line. The Web site currently provides an experimental component in courses such as earthquake engineering and structural dynamics. Based on a developed education assessment framework and the compiled student feedback, the Web site is found to be useful and effective. From this feedback, most students rated their experience as equivalent to the usual hands-on laboratory experiment. Similar applications in other areas of science and engineering will bring valuable experimentation content directly into the classroom, with efficient use of time and resources and the convenience of anywhere/anytime access.
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Acknowledgements
The Webshaker Pilot Project was made possible with the financial funding of the National Science Foundation (NSF Grant No. EEC-0088130, CRCD Program) and the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research (PEER) Center (Award No. EEC-9701568). The authors wish to acknowledge all those who cooperated in the realization and maintenance of the Webshaker setup and Web site, specifically: Mr. Chester Chan and Dr. Eric Stauffer, who made seminal contributions toward development of the initial setup, including the Web-server and video interface framework; Ms. Catherine Pagni, who skillfully contributed to the education evaluation effort; Mr. Hy Tran and Mr. Minh Phan, who maintained and further developed the site; and Mr. Alberto Sanchez, who assisted with constructing the SDOF model.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice
Volume 131 • Issue 1 • January 2005
Pages: 41 - 49
Copyright
© 2005 ASCE.
History
Received: Aug 18, 2003
Accepted: May 4, 2004
Published online: Jan 1, 2005
Published in print: Jan 2005
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