A Message from Dr. Ramón Vásquez-Espinosa, Dean of Engineering at UPRMA Message from Dr. Ramón Vásquez-Espinosa, Dean of Engineering at UPRM

ALERT: Awareness and Localization

of Explosives-Related Threats

ALERT: Awareness and Localization

of Explosives-Related Threats

Prof. Rafael Rodriguez-Solis

Prof. Miguel Vélez-Reyes

University of Puerto Rico

Mayaguez Campus

Prof. Rafael Rodriguez-Solis

Prof. Miguel Vélez-Reyes

University of Puerto Rico

Mayaguez Campus

Minority Partner Role in ALERTMinority Partner Role in ALERT

OutlineOutline

Role in research Role in Education Final Remarks

Role in research Role in Education Final Remarks

UPRM Role in ALERTUPRM Role in ALERT

Background: Building on 8 years of partnership within CenSSIS Research leadership within the CenSSIS

UPRM leads the multispectral discrimination subthrust in the center

Active participation in the education program

Pipeline for Hispanic students

Background: Building on 8 years of partnership within CenSSIS Research leadership within the CenSSIS

UPRM leads the multispectral discrimination subthrust in the center

Active participation in the education program

Pipeline for Hispanic students

Technical Leadership in ALERTTechnical Leadership in ALERT

Hyperspectral/Multispectral image processing and Pattern Recognition F2A – Active and Passive Spectroscopy and

Hyperspectral Detection F3D – Multimodal Pattern Recognition

Builds on UPRM’s expertise. Over 10 years of work in the area

70 peer reviewed publications 2 Book chapters Research sponsored by: NSF, DoD,

AFRL, NOAA, NASA, NGA

Hyperspectral/Multispectral image processing and Pattern Recognition F2A – Active and Passive Spectroscopy and

Hyperspectral Detection F3D – Multimodal Pattern Recognition

Builds on UPRM’s expertise. Over 10 years of work in the area

70 peer reviewed publications 2 Book chapters Research sponsored by: NSF, DoD,

AFRL, NOAA, NASA, NGA

OutlineOutline

Role in research Role in Education Final Remarks

Role in research Role in Education Final Remarks

UPRM Leadership Role in EngineeringUPRM Leadership Role in Engineering

Over 4300 students in Engineering Among largest undergraduate

engineering programs in the nation Largest Chemical Engineering

Program Other programs among the largest

in their fields

Close to 40% female enrollment Over 600 Engineering degrees

awarded Largest Producer of Hispanic Engineers

Over 4300 students in Engineering Among largest undergraduate

engineering programs in the nation Largest Chemical Engineering

Program Other programs among the largest

in their fields

Close to 40% female enrollment Over 600 Engineering degrees

awarded Largest Producer of Hispanic Engineers

UPRM ALERT Education ProgramUPRM ALERT Education Program

Building on existing CenSSIS infrastructure and agreements Distributed University Student Exchanges Distance learning Existing K-12 programs

School visits and workshops Pre-engineering summer camp

Proposed Activities Access to DHS related courses

developed at partner institutions Team teaching of hyperspectral

detection Use and development of course

modules DHS Fellows Program

Building on existing CenSSIS infrastructure and agreements Distributed University Student Exchanges Distance learning Existing K-12 programs

School visits and workshops Pre-engineering summer camp

Proposed Activities Access to DHS related courses

developed at partner institutions Team teaching of hyperspectral

detection Use and development of course

modules DHS Fellows Program

Supporting ALERT: HTTTLSupporting ALERT: HTTTL

High Tech Tools and Toys Laboratory (HTTTL) Used in intro to EE course Used to support courses in

Applied Electromagnetics and Signal Processing

Integrate ALERTDeveloped Modules

High Tech Tools and Toys Laboratory (HTTTL) Used in intro to EE course Used to support courses in

Applied Electromagnetics and Signal Processing

Integrate ALERTDeveloped Modules

Graduate EducationGraduate Education

Distributed University Availability of DHS

related courses via distance learning Distance learning

courses delivered via videotape, voice annotated PowerPoint and Internet.

Team Teaching of Hyperspectral Target Detection

DHS Fellows Program

Distributed University Availability of DHS

related courses via distance learning Distance learning

courses delivered via videotape, voice annotated PowerPoint and Internet.

Team Teaching of Hyperspectral Target Detection

DHS Fellows Program

K-12 OutreachK-12 Outreach

Summer Pre-College Engineering Camp

Visits to Middle Schools and High Schools

Summer Pre-College Engineering Camp

Visits to Middle Schools and High Schools

Contributing to the PipelineContributing to the Pipeline

At UPRM Over 30 UG Students Over 20 MS students 5 Ph.D. students 2 Post-doctoral fellows 3 REU students from CenSSIS

partners

To Partner Institutions Vanessa Ortiz, Ph.D. at RPI Eladio Rodríguez, Ph.D. at BU Heidi Sierra, Ph.D. at NEU Emmanuel Arzuaga, Ph.D. at NEU Diego Rivera, MS at NEU Mariela Torres, MS at BU 8 UPRM UG participating in REUs

At UPRM Over 30 UG Students Over 20 MS students 5 Ph.D. students 2 Post-doctoral fellows 3 REU students from CenSSIS

partners

To Partner Institutions Vanessa Ortiz, Ph.D. at RPI Eladio Rodríguez, Ph.D. at BU Heidi Sierra, Ph.D. at NEU Emmanuel Arzuaga, Ph.D. at NEU Diego Rivera, MS at NEU Mariela Torres, MS at BU 8 UPRM UG participating in REUs

Success within the CenSSIS program shows that UPRM will be a key contributor in attracting minority and female students to DHS related areas

Final RemarksFinal Remarks

UPRM is a fully integrated partner in the ALERT proposal Building on 8 years of partnership

Looking forward to ALERT

UPRM is a fully integrated partner in the ALERT proposal Building on 8 years of partnership

Looking forward to ALERT