Perspective from a 4th Year ERC

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Perspective from a 4th Year ERC
David McLaughlin, Director Engineering Research
Center for Collaborative Adaptive Sensing of the
Atmosphere (CASA) University of Massachusetts NSF
Annual ERC Meeting Washington DC 12/1/06
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CASA observe, understand, predict, respond to
extreme high impact weather.
CASA Revolutionize our ability to observe,
understand, predict and respond to weather
hazards by creating DCAS networks that  sample
the atmosphere when and where end-user needs are
greatest.
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Academic Partners 2006
Radar design Microwave engineering Networking Real
-time systems Numerical prediction Emergency
management Radar meteorology Quantitative
inversion Climate studies Social impact Antenna
design Hydrology Human Factors Design 3/2
Education Decision Science
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Barrier 1 Multidisciplinary Collaboration
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Sample atmosphere when, where end-user need is
greatest
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Directorship team challenges starting out,
9/2003

• Management Challenges
• Build administrative staff
• Create install management systems operational
  agreements and policies, budgets, purchasing,
  project review, communications, data bases
• Space, renovations, equipment
• Leadership Challenges
• Develop a strategic plan for achieving the vision
• Sell the vision strategic plan to participants
• Forge an Executive Committee to run the center
• Get CASA functioning at the systems level
• How to develop a systems perspective in students?

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End-to-End, System-Level Test-bed
Oklahoma severe storms
Major System-Level Goal Design, fabricate,
deploy a user-driven radar network capable of
chasing tornadoes down streets

• Integration
• research thrusts
• end-user needs
• campuses, partners
• education, outreach

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Student Led Test Bed
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Some things weve learned by Year 4

• Leadership realists and optimistic believers in
  the vision cheerleaders communicators
• Form Essential partnerships. Recruit a diverse
  team, including smart nerdy people.
• Stick to your guns. Focus in pursuit of your
  centers hedgehog concept
• Goals, test-beds, deliverables, timelines,
  milestones, and sunset dates drive collaboration
  focus people on the system-level goals and the
  integrated RD plan.
• Industry approaches, softened a bit, are needed
  for building fielding complex systems (eg.
  matrix organization, Gantt chart, design reviews)
• Some attrition is inevitable.
• Let the students run with it!