Projects 1998

Title: Tropical Center for Earth and Space Studies
ECE Investigators: Prof. Rafael Fernández-Seín (Project director), Dr. Miguel Vélez-Reyes, Dr. Ramon Vásquez, Dr. Shawn Hunt, Dr. Domingo Rodriguez, Dr. Hamed Parsiani, Dr. Luis Jiménez, Dr. K. Venkatesan
Funding: $6.5 Million (NASA University Research Centers Program)$2 Million (UPRM)
Period: July 1995 to June 2000
Description: The Tropical Center for Space and Earth Studies (TCESS) conducts research in the following areas: Space Information, Earth Systems Studies, Advanced Automated Image Analysis (AAIA) for Remotely Sensed Data, and Sensor Materials and Electronics for Space Applications.

 

Title: CISE
ECE Investigators: Ramon Vasquez, Nestor Rodriguez, Domingo Rodriguez, Hamed Parsiani, Jose Borges, Shawn Hunt, Jaime Seguel, Thomas Noack
Funding: $840,101 (NSF); $1,292,365 (Adm. Central)
Period: Sept 94-Sept 99
Description: Development of a Research Environment in Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez.

Title: Puerto Rico SMES Project Phase I - Evaluation Study
ECE Investigators: Dr. Agustín Irizarry Rivera
Funding: $579,188 (FOMENTO)
Period: February 1998-November 1998
Description: A study to determine the energy requirements (size) of an energy storage unit that will support Puerto Rico's electrical system with rapid response spinning reserve to prevent under frequency load shedding (blackouts) during generation deficiency conditions.

 

Title: Fingerprint Verification System
ECE Investigators: Dr. José L. Cruz, Dr. Ramón Vásquez, Dr. Luis O. Jiménez
Funding: $250K (Biometrics Imagineering)
Period: 1997-1998
Description: This project involves the hardware and software development for a vectorial-based fingerprint verification system.

 

Title: Optical Interconnect Architectures
ECE Investigators: Dr. José L. Cruz
Funding: $112.5K (NSF Sub-Contract Georgia Tech PRC)
Period: 1997-1999
Description: This project involves the modeling and development of parallel processing algorithms running on optically interconnected systems.

 

Title: Parameter Estimation for Ill-Conditioned Systems with Application to Electric Drives and Power Systems
ECE Investigators: Dr. Miguel Vélez
Funding: $500K (NSF-Presidential Career Award for Scientists and Engineers.) $177K (UPR)
Period: 1997-2002
Description: Development of Algorithms for Linear and Nonlinear Retrieval Problems in Atmospheric Remote Sensing using Regularization Methods.

 

Title: Optoelectronic Multicomputer Networks Modeling and K-12 Teacher Training and Enhancement: A Career Development Plan
ECE Investigators: Dr. José L. Cruz
Funding: $259,504 (+ $149,904 UPR Matching Funds)
Period: July 1, 1997 to June 30, 2000
Description: The research component involves the development of an Applications Driven Optical Interconnect Modeling Framework for massively parallel processing systems. The educational component involves K-12 outreach activities.

 

Title: Unsupervised Classification System for Hyperspectral Data Analysis
ECE Investigators: Dr. Luis O. Jiménez, Dr. Miguel Vélez, Dr. Shawn Hunt
Funding: $330K (DEPSCoR) $157K (UPR)
Period: 1997-2000

 

Title: Clustering and Subset Selection Research for Hyperspectral Data Analysis
ECE Investigators: Dr. Luis O. Jiménez, Dr. Miguel Vélez
Funding: $314K (ARMY Corp of Engineers Topographic Engineering Center) $157K (UPR)
Period: 1997-2000

 

Title: Development of Intelligent System for Debug Process
ECE Investigators: Dr. Javier Arroyo
Funding: $47K (INTEL)
Period: 1998
Description: Application of database and intranet technologies to the development of an intelligent system for controlling a manufacturing process. The system uses a statistical approach for knowledge derivation and propagation. A database keeps record of process data and system parameters.

 

Title: Predicting Seizures Prior to Onset from Depth EEG in Patients with Mesial Temporal Epilepsy Using Wavelet Neural Networks
ECE Investigators: Dr. Javier Echauz
Funding: $40K (Epilepsy Foundation of America)
Period: 1998-1999
Description: The prediction of epileptic seizures remains a high risk research area with the potential to significantly improve the quality of life of millions of people suffering from the disorder around the world. The ultimate goal for the engineering arm of the research team is to build a device which may predict seizures sufficiently in advance of clinical onset to allow warning of patients, families, and hospital staff, and automatically deter seizure via drug infusion and electrical stimulation. This grant will allow the investigators to (1) obtain pilot data on detection, localization, and prediction of electrographic seizures recorded digitally from intracranial depth electrodes implanted in patients with mesial (middle) temporal epileptic foci admitted to the Emory University Epilepsy Unit; (2) establish Emory/GeorgiaTech/UPRM collaboration and data; (3) compile a high-quality data archive; (4) implement custom software for wavelet neural network predictors; (5) determine synergistic, premonitory features of seizure; (6) secure additional start-up funding including a Emory University Research Center seed grant; (7) submit research grant proposals to Whitaker Foundation ($210K requested) and NIH; (8) prepare a patent application on methods for seizure detection and prediction; and (9) prepare two manuscripts for journal publication describing our current findings.

 

Title: Near-Commercialization Venture for Solar-Assisted Air Conditioning Systems in Puerto Rico
ECE Investigators: Dr. Jorge E. González, PI, Dr. Gerson Beauchamp, Co-PI
Funding: $188K (US-DOE)
Period: 1998-1999
Description: The project is to advance the solar-assisted air conditioning technology so as to obtain a commercial product that can be marketed in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. The system under consideration is a lithium-bromide based, single-effect absortion chiller driven by an array of flat plate solar collectors through a storage tank. Dr. Beauchamp is in charge of the instrumentation and controls of the system. The goal is to develop a control strategy to optimize the use of the available solar energy so that the system operates at its best level of performance.

 

Title: Mesospheric Measurements Project
ECE Investigators: Dr. Mario Ierkic, Prof. Héctor Monroy
Funding: $190K (US-DOD)
Period: 1996-1999
Description: The Mesospheric Measurements Radar Laboratory is framed in a formal agreement between the Arecibo Observatory (AO) and UPR/Mayaguez. NSF and the AO supported the proyect since 1990 up to 1996. The proyect is currently sponsored by DEPSCoR DOD, since 1997 up to 1999. The radar equipment was provided by the AO, and the physical facilities by UPR/Mayaguez.

 

Title: Development of METrics-on-Research Information Collection andAnalysis System (METRICAS)
ECE Investigators: Dr. Javier Arroyo
Funding: $20K (UPR-Central Administration)
Period: 1998-1999
Description: Development of a web-based database system for collection and analysis of system-wide performance metrics of researchers of UPR system.

 

Title: Portability of User Interfaces Across Very Different Platforms
ECE Investigators: Dr. Manuel A. Pérez-Quiñones
Funding: $5K, Seed Grant, CID
Period: 1998-1999
Description: New computers with smaller form factor are created every year to satisfy the demand of mobile computing users. User interfaces developed for these computers must be developed from scratch, as this new computing paradigm does not share the hardware devices that desktop computing has enjoyed for years. This project is studying the feasibility to have a single user interface specification be used for multiple platforms, including mobile computers. This should ease the cost of development for the these new platforms. The project will begin to develop the infrastructure of a research program in mobile computing focusing on the portability of user interface designs across very different platforms, such as workstations and PDAs. We will define a software abstraction layer for user interface specification, called Abstract Interface Layer (AIT). This layer will be based on usability and human dialogue principles instead of being based on hardware and interaction techniques as it is traditionally done. Proposals Submitted:

 

Title: Dialogue-Context in Graphical User Interfaces: Representation, Portability and Uses
ECE Investigators: Dr. Manuel A. Pérez-Quiñones
Funding: $ NSF Career Program
Period: 1999-2004
Description: The goal for this project is to further develop the Human-Computer Interaction research and education at the University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez Campus (UPRM), and to foster the development of a software industry in Puerto Rico for the creation of K-12 educational software. The proposed research will create algorithms, tools, and methodologies to capture and use dialogue-context in graphical user interfaces, and to allow for portability of this context across desktop and PDAs. This research will be applied to the development of K-12 educational software for schools in Puerto Rico. The research plan includes: definition of a taxonomy of factors that affect dialogue-context; design and implementation of algorithms to track dialogue-context in a graphical user interface; and design and evaluation of new interaction methods that use dialogue-context.

 

Title: Collaborative Dialogue between Humans and Autonomous Robots
ECE Investigators: Dr. Manuel A. Pérez-Quiñones and Dr. Raúl E. Torres
Funding: $510K Requested DEPSCor
Period: March 1, 1999 - 2001
Description: This project will develop robotics applications where mobile robots will be able to communicate with humans for the execution of actions.

Title: Diagnosis of human health by automated iridiology
ECE Investigators: Dr. Raúl E. Torres
Funding: $510K Requested DEPSCor
Period: Under Development
Description: Image processing techniques will be used in the diagnosis of the healthof human using the iridiagnosis science.

 

Title: Development of a Center for Tropical Atmospheric Sciences in Puerto Rico
ECE Investigators: Dr. M. Ierkic
Funding: $49,074.00 NASA EPSCoR
Period: Renewed for the period 1998-2000
Description: Radar studies of dynamics and turbulence in the lower atmosphere atPuerto Rico. The study relies primarily on the VHF and UHF radars at the Arecibo Observatory to document atmospheric gravity waves,Inertial-gravity waves, waves launched by thunderstorms, coupling among the regions of the atmosphere.

 

Title: CEDAR. An intense solar minimum study of the mid-latitude ionosphere
ECE Investigators: Dr. M. Ierkic
Funding: $10K NASA EPSCoR
Period: 1998
Description: Observe ionospheric field aligned irregularities generated by various plasma instabilities. Background ionospheric conditions are monitored with the Incoherent Scattering Radar, and auxiliary systems around Puerto Rico.