(April 1, 2016) — Fresno State engineering students and faculty will demonstrate the latest technologies in mechanical and geomatics engineering at 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 6, in the Engineering East building (rooms 101 and 224) on campus.
The Lyles College of Engineering at Fresno State purchased a Leica ScanStation P20 3D scanner and Tescan Vegas3 SB EasyProbe scanning electron microscope to expand its laboratory infrastructure and support advanced research in areas such as nanotechnology (used in smart phones, aerospace, auto industry, biomedical and energy storage devices) and 3D mapping.
“With strong University and philanthropic support, we are making strategic investments in expanding our laboratory infrastructure for teaching and research,” said Dr. Ram Nunna, dean of the Lyles College.
The Leica P20 allows geomatics engineers and land surveyors to scan and collect data at ultra-high speeds while measuring space, angles and distance. What took surveyors about an hour to scan just a few years ago will now take about two and a half minutes.
Fresno State’s live mascot, Victor E. Bulldog III, will join in on the demonstration and get a quick scan from the Leica P20 at 2 p.m. in Room 101.
“The new scanner collects large amounts of data at much higher rates than our previous scanner,” said Scott Peterson, a geomatics engineering professor. “It can be interfaced with smart phones, tablets, computers, as well as controlled from on-board controls. By utilizing this advanced technology before they enter the workforce, students are better prepared.”
A special interactive project called the Augmented Reality Sandbox will also be on hand for guests to create models by shaping sand. Made up of a shovel, sand and simulated rain, the sandbox utilizes virtual topography and water.
Beginning in the fall, students will receive training to operate the Tescan scanning electron microscope through a newly developed mechanical engineering course.
Attendees will get a close look at material samples placed under the 3D electron microscope while faculty discuss its use in advanced manufacturing and materials engineering.
“This advanced course will be the first of such state-of-the-art trainings in the Central Valley and at Fresno State,” said Dr. Maziar Ghazinejad, mechanical engineering assistant professor and graduate program coordinator. “It is anticipated that the addition of such modern courses in the program will attract the representatives of local industries and encourage them to support their engineers to receive the much-needed advanced trainings relevant to their technologies.”
The scanning electron microscope provides Lyles College students the opportunity to work alongside faculty on various research projects.
“Our students will gain highly desired research and analysis skills which will make them very successful in industry and advanced graduate studies,” Nunna said.
For more information, contact Rebecca Wass, Lyles College communications specialist, at 559.278.1685 or rwass@csufresno.edu.
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