H. facilities, resources and other equipment



Download 14.09 Kb.
Date31.07.2017
Size14.09 Kb.
#25840
H. FACILITIES, RESOURCES AND OTHER EQUIPMENT

The Geophysical Institute was established by an Act of Congress in 1946 and enjoys an international reputation for studies of the earth and its physical environment. It is one of the few research institutes of the United States where scientists study a wide spectrum of geophysical processes ranging from the center of the earth to the center of the sun and beyond.

At the GI, the diversity of our research focus is reflected by our disciplinary-based, functional groupings of faculty and research staff. These divisions are: space physics and aeronomy, atmospheric sciences, snow, ice, and permafrost, seismology, volcanology, and tectonics and sedimentation. Along with an ubiquitous, cross-discipline remote sensing group, these research divisions reflect the range and diversity of the active scientific research projects which reach from the center of the sun to the center of the earth and beyond. Our approximately 60 faculty and 80 graduate students and associated undergraduates carry out research projects at high latitudes relating to our location within the Arctic. Together with the support services at the Geophysical Institute, these research activities have a budget of about $30M annually.

A large part of the success of the GI is attributable to the support staff and their expert services. These include a research library, machine and electronic shops, computer resource center, digital design center, geodata center, map office, operations, business, human resource, proposal and public information offices. The Geophysical Institute Business Offices assists PIs with grant administration, proposal preparation, and travel coordination in accordance with federal regulations. An Operations Office assists PIs with permitting for field research sites and use of Institute vehicles.

The GI has several large facilities. The largest is a satellite ground station and associated processing and archiving center called theAlaska Satellite Facility which is funded by various federal, local, and private entities. Radar images produced here enable the all-weather study of sea ice, earthquakes, volcanoes, and regularly provide hazard-management products for agencies such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Ice Center. Through the International Observatory of the North, optical images of the Arctic from NASA and NOAA satellites are received and processed to support remote sensing research and data services to the state. ThePoker Flat Research Range, the only university-owned rocket range in the world, is a NASA-supported launch site for suborbital space flight. TheAlaska Earthquake Information Center operates a regional network of over 300 seismometers and reports more than 50 earthquakes a day occurring within the state. TheAlaska Volcano Observatory maintains a continual watch for eruptions and ash clouds. Together with the United States Geological Survey, warnings are issued to pilots for avoidance of aviation hazards (http://www.gi.alaska.edu/admin/director/bg.html).
Computer:

Our Linux computer network, consisting of three servers and four rack-mounted dual-processor Linux PCs and substantial of disk storage, plus desktop workstations, is available for GPS data analysis and modeling. This computer allows us to efficiently analyze and combine large data sets. For modeling work that requires even more computer power, we can request access to the Alaska Region Supercomputer Center (ARSC):

The Arctic Region Supercomputing Center serves the computational needs of theUniversity of Alaska and the Department of Defense as a DoD Supercomputing Resource Center (DSRC) within the DoD's High Performance Computing Modernization     Program (HPCMP). The center has been serving the computational needs of the academic and DoD community since 1993.ARSC computational systems and resources include a wide range of high performance computing, storage and visualization technology. ARSC is poised to meetnorthern challenges with global solutions.


Specialists at ARSC provide expertise in massively parallel supercomputing, parallel vector supercomputing, code optimization, storage, networking and visualization. ARSC’s relationship with the University of Alaska facilitates collaborative research opportunities for academic and government scientists. These areas of research include ice, ocean and atmospheric coupled modeling; regional climate modeling; global climate change; permafrost, hydrology and arctic engineering; magnetospheric, ionospheric and upper atmospheric physics; volcanology and geology; petroleum and mineral engineering; genomics and proteomics; and arctic biology. ARSC actively participates in a joint-faculty program supporting University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) researchers in several departments across campus. ARSC staff provide on-site training and support UAF classes throughout the year (http://www.arsc.edu/about/about.html)

Office:

Office space is provided for all University of Alaska project personnel with adequate space and room for future growth and visiting scientists.


Outreach:

The Geophysical Institute Public Information and Educational Outreach Office assists researchers with sharing their research with a broader audience. Their services include:



  • Scheduling and promoting numerous events open to the public including lectures, workshops, open houses, symposiums, and seminars;

  • Scheduling scientific speakers for public lectures, for service organizations, for classroom presentations, and for related activities on a local, statewide, national, and international level;

  • Coordinating on-location news and media interviews for the institute and institute scientists. The office prepares news releases, arranges briefings and press conferences, with GI administration and faculty, and prepares background material for media consumption. (http://www.gi.alaska.edu/infooffice/index.html).


Other:

Camping and survival gear are available for use as needed.


Shops:

The Geophysical Institute is home to its own Machine Shop and Electronic Shop, which assist researchers with custom built and designed equipment as needed:


The Electronic Shop is involved in engineering, designing, constructing, calibrating, testing, and repairing a wide range of scientific and technical instruments. A team of shop personnel maintains and repairs computers, computer terminals, data acquisition systems, and RF communications equipment. Technicians are available for installation, operation, and repair of a wide variety of electronic field equipment as required by scientific projects. Shop employees are experienced in installing and operating remote telemetered systems in Arctic environments

(http://www.gi.alaska.edu/services/electricshop/index.html).



The Geophysical Institute’s Machine Shop is the most extensive research and development machine shop facility in the state of Alaska. It provides complete research and design services from consultation and concept development to fabrication of the finished project by combining innovative engineering and design with precision craftsmanship in machining and fabrication. The shop is well equipped with precision machine tools which have been fitted with high resolution digital read-out systems; highly sophisticated computer driven three- and four-axis milling machines provide the ability to quickly and accurately design and fabricate complex machine parts. Other capabilities include: MIG, TIG, and stick welding, silver soldering, brazing, heat treating, aluminum anodizing, tumble finishing, carpentry, and cabinet making (http://www.gi.alaska.edu/services/machineshop/index.html).
MAJOR EQUIPMENT:

Download 14.09 Kb.

Share with your friends:




The database is protected by copyright ©ua.originaldll.com 2024
send message

    Main page