Research Activities

1. Technical Entrepreneurship

2. Information Engineering and Management (IEM)

IEM is an interdisciplinary area that encompasses business, engineering, and computer science. Research problems in this area are heavily tied to industry problems related to the application of information technologies to solve business problems in technical industries. Research in the area of IEM is often tied to the following issues

  • Complex systems involving corporate actions and decisions.
  • Information technology security
  • Integration of data and telecommunications
  • Software/hardware requirements analysis
  • Technology architectures
  • Technology adoption practices
  • Data management
  • Engineering education

Projects

  • Southern Company, “ Technical Limitation of the DSL and Cable Broadband Communication Channels,” 12/15/04 to 9/15/05.
  • IEM Graduate program development, Spring 2000 – present.
  • Comparison performance of two signaling protocols – H.323 and SIP under different Quality of Service scenarios for a Voice over IP network – P roject encompassed research into the two competing signaling protocols for VoIP, viz. H.323 and Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), on the basis of subjective and objective measures of voice quality. Parag Joshi Parag (MSEE 2003), Vikas Sahdev (MSEE 2003), and Bhupal De (MSEE 2003).
  • Wireless Security in a HIPAA Environment, Spring 2005.
  • Trading Packet Lossfor Quality in Voice over Packet Networks- Johnny Goode, Dale Callahan, Gregg Vaughn
    Matlab Simulation Files
  • Internet Controlled Robotics Protocols – Jitendra Gaikwad – Thesis
  • 802.11 Location Tracking- Using 802.11 networks to provide location services in building. Work is in conjuntion with Awarix. Pallavi Shah and Surendranathbabu Yalavarthy – Project

Papers generated

  • J. Goode, D. Callahan, and G. Vaughn, ” Using Erlang’s Loss Formula in Packet Switched Network Design,” IEEE Transactions on Networking, under review.
  • Dale W. Callahan and Robert M. Pedigo, “Development of an Information Engineering and Management Program,” IEEE Transactions on Education, Volume: 46 Issue: 1, February 2003 Page(s): 111 -114.
  • De, B.S.; Joshi, P.P.; Sahdev, V.; Callahan, D., “End-to-end voice over IP testing and the effect of QoS on signaling,” System Theory, 2003. Proceedings of the 35th Southeastern Symposium on , 2003 Page(s): 142 -147.
  • Bob Pedigo and Dale W. Callahan, “Information Engineering: Educating IT Professionals by Addressing Industry’s Needs,” IEEE Software, Volume: 19 Issue: 5, Sept.-Oct. 2002 Page(s): 57 –62.
  • Daniel C. Thomas and Dale W. Callahan, “Information Technology Adoption in Agricultural Operations: A Progression Path,” Journal of Extension, December 2002, Volume 40 No.6.
  • De, B.S.; Joshi, P.P.; Sahdev, V.; Callahan, D., “End-to-end voice over IP testing and the effect of QoS on signaling,” System Theory, 2003. Proceedings of the 35th Southeastern Symposium on, 2003 Page(s): 142 -147.
  • Ashwin Philar and Dale Callahan, “Testing the Telephony Routing over Internet Protocol on Softswitches,” Proceedings of the Thirty-Fourth Southeastern Symposium on System Theory 2002, March 18-19, 2002, pp. 123-127.
  • Chris Peck and Dale Callahan, “A Proposal for Measuring Software Productivity in a Working Environment,” Proceedings of the Thirty-Fourth Southeastern Symposium on System Theory 2002, March 18-19, 2002, pp. 339-343.
  • Daryl Noe and Dale Callahan, “Traffic Estimation Methodologies to Determine Wireless Site Profitability,” Proceedings of the Thirty-Fourth Southeastern Symposium on System Theory 2002, March 18-19, 2002, pp. 455-457.
  • John Dahle and Dale Callahan, “Methodology for the Development of an Electronic Medical Record : A Combination of Xtreme Programming and the Rational Unified Process,” Proceedings of the Thirty-Fourth Southeastern Symposium on System Theory 2002, March 18-19, 2002, pp. 406-411.
  • Don Appleby and Dale Callahan, “A Framework for Developing Design Specifications for Complex Heterogeneous Information Systems,” Proceedings of the Thirty-Fourth Southeastern Symposium on System Theory 2002, March 18-19, 2002, pp. 11-14.
  • Wes Conwell and Dale Callahan, “Analysis on Implementation of Pen Tablet Technology to Improve Electric Utility Railcar Maintenance Processes,” IEEE Semiannual Vehicular Technology Conference, May 2002.

3. Data management for the inspection of structural systems

Structural systems are buildings, bridges, roadways, etc. Development and maintenance of these systems are expensive and man-power intensive. Ongoing maintenance often requires periodic inspections – often requiring a crew to do visual inspections. Inspections are expensive, and in the case of transportation systems, often disrupt the flow of traffic while at the same time placing worker in danger.

This area of research involves bringing advanced communication technologies to assist in the inspection of these structures. The field is interdisciplinary between planners, civil engineers, and mechanical engineers.

Collaborators

  • Percy Wang, Southern Research Institute
  • Patra Siswobusono (Civil and Environmental Engineering)
  • Prithwish Biswas (Civil and Environmental Engineering)
  • Roopashri Lokanath (Electrical and Computer Engineering)
  • Shen-En Chen (Civil and Environmental Engineering)
  • Steven Jones (Civil and Environmental Engineering)
  • Alabama Department of Transportation
  • University of Alabama Department of Civil Engineering
  • Amol Malpekar (Electrical and Computer Engineering) – Project Report

Papers generated

  • P. Siswobusono, S.E. Chen, S. Jones, D. Callahan, T. Grimes and N. Delatte, “Dynamic Load Rating of a LT20 Bridge” Experimental Techniques, to appear in November 2004.
  • S.E. Chen, D. Callahan, S. Jones, L. Zheng, P. Biswas, P. Siswobusono, “Design of a Remote Monitoring Technique of Bridge Integrity Using Wireless Drive-by Network,” Structural Materials VI, an NDT Conference, American Society for Nondestructive Testing, Sept 14-17, 2004, Buffalo, New York.
  • P. Siswobusono, S.E., Chen, L. Zheng (student), B. El Yamak, S.L. Jones and D. Callahan, “Dynamic Load rating of Rural Bridges,” proceedings, 22nd International Modal Analysis Conference, Sponsored by SEM, Jan 26-29, Dearborn, MI, 2004.
  • S.E. Chen, L. Zheng, T. Grimes, S. Jones, S. Jones and D. Callahan, “Modal validation and load rating of highway bridges using ambient traffic loads – Preliminary results”, Southeastern Local Roads Conference, Ashville, NC, 2003.
  • Robert Raygan and Dale Callahan, “Wireless Remote Sensor Data Acquisition and Management using Linux OS, MURS and 802.11b,” IEEE Semiannual Vehicular Technology Conference, May 2002.
  • Optical Position Tracking

Research grants and contracts

Wireless Drive By Network 2002-2005
Developed a methodology to capture bridge vibrations using a unique wireless drive by network (WDBN). The system allows bridge inspectors to get a snapshot of bridge health by simply driving over the bridge and capturing the frequency response. The work on this project was funded by the following.

  • Alabama DOT, Implementation pilot study of the wireless drive-by network (WDBN) sensing technology for highway bridge integrity monitoring.
  • Alabama DOT, County-Wide Deployment of Remote Monitoring of LT20 Bridge Integrity.

4. Biomedical Equipment Evaluation

Many types of biomedical equipment used in the diagnosis and treating of patients is bought and sold strictly on subjective data. While much is done to assure that medicines and types of procedures are standardized – little is done to develop standards around basic medical equipment such as stethoscopes, blood pressure cups and even equipment such as respirators.

This area of research is interdisciplinary and working with the School of Health Related Professions (SHRP) the purpose is to develop objective methods to quality medical equipment.

Projects

Stethoscope Transmission Characteristics

Stethoscopes come in a variety of prices and styles. However there is no set of standard measures of stethoscope quality. Working with SHRP we designed a testing apparatus and performed the most comprehensive study of the transmission characteristics of stethoscopes was conducted – testing over 90 different scopes. This work has been published in three abstracts. Three journal publications from this work are pending.

Publications

  • Don Fluckinger, “How to Choose the Best Stethoscope,” Respiratory Care Manager, June 2006.
  • D. Callahan, J. Waugh, G. A, Mathew, W. Granger, “Stethoscopes – What are we hearing?,”Biomedical Instrumentation & Technology (BI&T), Under review..
  • Jonathan B. Waugh, Dale W. Callahan, Wesley M. Granger, George A. Mathew, “A Comparison of Thirty-Eight Stethoscopes.,”Respiratory Care, November 2005, Vol. 50, No 11, page 1471.
  • Jonathan B. Waugh, Dale W. Callahan, Wesley M. Granger, George A. Mathew, “A Comparison of Stethoscope Bell Versus Diaphragm Chest Pieces.,” Respiratory Care, November 2005, Vol. 50, No 11, page 1471.
  • Waugh JB, Callahan DW, Mathew GA, Granger WM. Stethoscope Transmission Characteristics Using a Pure Tone Sweep versus Pink Noise Input.  Chest 2004; 126(4): 881S.
  • Waugh JB, Callahan DW, Granger WM, Mathew, GA. A Comparison of Eight Cardiology Stethoscopes. Respiratory Care 2004; 49(11): 1436.
  • Waugh JB, Callahan DW, Mathew, GA, Granger WM. A Stethoscope Comparison of Bell vs. Diaphragm Output.  Respiratory Care 2004; 49(11): 1436.


5. Other Projects

  • Early warning systems for Tornadoes, Anindita Dasgupta  (MSEE 2002)Publications:
    Development of improved tornado tracking device
    Dasgupta, A.; Callahan, D.W. System Theory, 2002. Proceedings of the Thirty-Fourth Southeastern Symposium on , 2002 Page(s): 363 -365