Automated/Instrumentated Open Channel Hydraulics Lab

该项目的重点是处理明渠水流现象的水力学领域。最近的自然灾害，如密西西比盆地洪水，表明我们的社会需要更多地认识自然力量和明渠水流原则，以规划和发展更好的最佳基础设施。该项目将水力学的物理实验室实验和数据采集技术与工程计算相结合，以促进计算机的图形/图片和动画功能，以创建综合的多视觉演示。作为大学土木工程技术和环境研究项目的一部分，实验室设置类似于现代过程的“控制室”，有多个显示器，为学生小组提供互动学习的能力。学生收到不同视角的数据、相关方程、实验动力学、视觉模拟，以及所研究现象的真实照片/视频。系统集成需要利用开放渠道测试水槽结构、计算机硬件和软件、光盘和软件(媒体)制作过程来开发连贯的故事情节和交互演示实验，以便学生在线理解。作为该项目的一部分，学生们将接触到该地区所经历的与环境有关的河道水流问题。项目成果适合向K-12中学公立学校的学生示范，以激发他们对科学技术的兴趣。

The focus of the project is on that area of hydraulics dealing with phenomena of open channel flow. Recent natural disaster, such as the Mississippi basin flooding, demonstrate that a greater awareness of the forces of nature and the principles of open channel flow are needed in our society to plan and develop better optimum infrastructures. This project integrates physical laboratory experimentation in hydraulics and data acquisition techniques with engineering calculations to facilitate the graphical/pictorial and animation power of the computer to create an integrated multivisual presentation. The laboratory setting, part of the Civil Engineering Technology and Environmental Studies program at the colleges, is analogous to a modern day process "control room" with multiple displays providing student groups with the capability for interactive learning. Students receive different perspectives of data, relevant equation, experimental dynamics, visual enimation, and actual real-world photos/videos of the phenomena under study. System integration requires the utilization of an open channel testing flume structure; computer hardware and software; optical discs; and software (media) production processes to develop a coherent story-line and interactive presentation of the experiment for on- line student understanding. As part of this project, students are being exposed to problems of environmentally related channel flow as experienced in the area. Project outcomes are suitable for demonstrations to K-12 secondary public school students, to motivate interest in science and technology.