There is a required project, which will come to the forefront after Fall break.
The project will have a computing-for-sustainability component at its core.
The computing aspect of the project may involve
- software
- that is adapted from another source,
- implemented from an algorithmic description in a paper, or
- original, as in a mobile application;
- hardware, probably adaptations to an existing robot, device, or component;
- theoretical analysis of some kind, to include statistical analysis of data;
- application and evaluation of existing packages and apps; or
- some combination of these (e.g., programming a robot).
The sustainability domains in which the project can focus are many, presumably situated somewhere in natural, built, and social applications.
The first half of the semester is intended to introduce you to a variety of computational paradigms and sustainability domains. In selecting your project, however, scan ahead to computing paradigms that are addressed later in the semester (e.g., robotics), because these too are viable areas for projects.
The final deliverable for your project will be a recording of a presentation that we will be optionally available for others to view in the final days of class.
Projects are teams-of-three by default, but I will consider proposals otherwise.
Sample Projects
- Modify or construct from scratch an NetLogo model for some sustainability application
- to evaluate the likely effects on traffic of variable placed parking hubs and public transit;
- to evaluate the likely effectiveness of a reserve and corridor design based on animal movement
- Apply a machine learning algorithm to novel data sets and evaluate the predictive rules that result,
- using some real sustainability related data set;
- using simulated data from a NetLogo model
- Theoretical analysis of growth rates in ecological footprint, CO2, trash, or energy
- Design/create a mobile application or game in a sustainability domain
A project specification will be due at the end of the first week on team work. The project specification should open with a straightforward description of the project, followed by a (1) reasonable elaboration of the computing methods and concepts used, (2) the sustainability area addressed, if not obvious from the description. (3) Address any evaluation (testing) that is planned, (4) give a brief discussion of why the team thinks that the project is important to society/environment and/or educationally to team members, and (5) conclude with a tentative plan for how you will distribute workload across the three team members. This specification is subject to input by the instructor, which will be provided no later than the next business day.