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'Living Lab' at Arizona State U Provides Testing Ground for Border Homeland, Security Agencies

Arizona State University will be housing a new Fed/Civ Edge Innovation Center at its Mesa, AZ-based Polytechnic campus. Sponsored by General Dynamics C4 Systems, the new facility will feature an outdoor 'living laboratory' where government personnel and ASU faculty can test ideas for combating border and homeland security issues within a real-world environment.

"ASU's work with the Edge Innovation Network exemplifies the way industry and government partners rely on faculty and students at the College of Technology and Innovation to help solve tough technical and practical challenges," said Mitzi Montoya, vice provost and dean, College of Technology and Innovation, in a statement released today by the company.

The center's four-acre outdoor lab will enable Edge staff and researchers to test technologies, including broadband wireless communications and surveillance, which government agencies can use to secure U.S. borders. One project slated for the lab is investigating and assessing new technologies for integration into the network of towers that make up the U.S. Coast Guard's Rescue 21 system.

"The living lab will be part of the Collaboratory, CTI's platform for collaboration with external partners for research and education in areas that include sustainability, aerospace and defense, and conservation and renewable energy," said Anshuman Razdan, associate professor and project director.

The new Edge center will be located in ASU's College of Technology and Innovation. The research-focused facility will be staffed by engineers as well as faculty and students conducting research on issues related to border security, emergency management, renewable energy and sustainability.

About the Author

Kanoe Namahoe is online editor for 1105 Media's Education Group. She can be reached at [email protected].

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