FUTUrE - College Of Engineering & Computer Science · Emerging Horizons is published annually by the College of Engineering ... him for management responsibilities. Today, Jackson

EmErging Horizonsthe College of Engineering and Computer Science Newsletter

c a l i f o r n i a s t a t e u n i v e r s i t y , s a c r a m e n t o

F A L L 0 9

C o L L e g e o F e n g i n e e r i n g A n d C o m p u t e r s C i e n C e

w w w . e C s . C s u s . e d uLeadership begins here.

FUTURE of Engineering

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see pg. 8

A recent career fair at Sacramento State

brought representatives from more than 71 companies to our campus. Most of them

were here because they were looking to hire graduates from the College of Engineering and Computer Science.

Those companies know, as we do, that the best way to reinvigorate a troubled economy is by producing a talented and innovative workforce. The College of Engineering and Computer Science is helping us rise to meet that challenge with outstanding academic programs and faculty members who possess a profound understanding of our communities’ needs.

Students learn in programs that are on the cutting edge of technology and education, with state-of-the-art facilities, valuable hands-on experience and coursework that nurtures problem-solving skills. As such, I expect companies to keep booking space at our career fairs in the upcoming years.

We are working to ensure that there are students to fill those crucial jobs, but we also ask you to help us get young people excited about engineering and computer science. The success of our economy, and our communities, depends on it.

Sincerely,

Alexander Gonzalez President

message from the presidentCollege of

Engineering and Computer Science

Office of the DeanEmir José Macari, Ph.D., Dean

John Oldenburg, Ph.D., Associate Dean(916) 278-6366

DepartmentsBiomedical engineering

Warren Smith, Ph.D., [email protected]

Civil engineering Ramzi Mahmood, Ph.D., Chair

[email protected] Computer engineering

Suresh Vadhva, Ph.D., [email protected] science

Du Zhang, Ph.D., [email protected]

Construction management Mikael Anderson, Coordinator

[email protected] electrical & electronic engineering

Suresh Vadhva, PhD, [email protected]

mechanical engineering Sue Holl, PhD, [email protected]

prOgramsCareer Development

Cici Mattiuzzi, Coordinator [email protected]

Cooperative educationJulie Collier, Coordinator

[email protected] engineering program

Madeleine Fish, [email protected]

sac state/UC Davis mesa Center, K-12 program

Jean Crowder, Director [email protected]

Emerging Horizons is published annually by the College of Engineering & Computer Science for alumni, faculty, donors and other friends of the College.

Denise AndersonCoordinating and managing editor

Cynda Dart Associate managing editor

JT Longwriter & Copy editor

Scott Ollingdesigner, public Affairs

Samuel G. Parsonsphotographer - Cover shot

Academic technology & Creative services

Please send your address changes, comments or class notes to:

Sacramento State College of Engineering and

Computer Science6000 J Street, RVR 2014

Sacramento, CA 95819-6023or contact us via

email at: [email protected] at: www.ecs.csus.edu

It is no secret that these are tough times for both the

private and public sectors. Through it all, however, Sacramento State’s College

of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS) continues to shine both through its excellent faculty and students and through one of the best alumni networks anywhere. We seek always to add value to the degree of every Sac State alumnus and alumna. ECS pride makes that happen. It is an honest and well-deserved pride, rooted in solid connections and contributions

to the Sacramento Region and to a history of supplying the region’s engineers and computer scientists. As always, my thanks to ECS’s faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends for their hard work and support of the University’s mission.

Joseph F. Sheley Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

message from the provost

s a c r a m e n t o s t a t e | w w w . e c s . c s u s . e d u2

Dear Friends and colleagues, the picture of our Engineering Expo and Robotics Com-

petition on the front of this issue says it all: We are much more than a place to earn a degree. We are a community of faculty, staff, students

and alumni dedicated to improving the world in very real ways.

The students and alumni who put on and participate in the annual Engineering Expo are bringing to life exciting new ideas, while learning valuable new skills – and they are having a great time in the process. But the action does not end there. Our college’s reach extends far into the region.

I have been at Sacramento State for three years, and virtually every day I am amazed by the significant ways our professors, students and staff interact with local companies and government agen-cies. We bring the best research and most innovative minds to the people who need that information.

This is true of the Society of Automotive Engineering Club mem-bers who build and race Formula SAE and the Mini-Baja cars each year; the Computer Science students who participate in the ACM International Collegiate Programming contest and write algorith-mic solutions to complex problems; the Mechanical Engineering students who work with local wind turbine manufacturers to come up with a better spinner; the Transportation Engineering students who analyze the safety of Neighborhood Electric Vehicles used on city of Lincoln streets.

They are learning what it is like to face real problems and find real solutions in the real world.

Our big-picture focus is not an accident. We have designed a cul-ture that encourages research, and our senior projects incorporate the business aspect alongside the technology of engineering. We strive to make positive impacts on both our region’s communities and the entire state of California.

As a result, our graduates leave with the ability to think and execute at the top levels of today’s engineering solution-providers. They also leave with a love for the practice and application of engineer-ing and computer science creativity. And they leave with our best wishes and an invitation to come back any time to share their expe-riences and knowledge with the next generation of leaders.

Especially in today’s troubled economy, we take very seriously our responsibility to graduate engineers and computer scientists who keep us hopeful of a better tomorrow. As you read through this issue, I hope you will find new inspiration to stay connected with our college.

Emir Jose Macari Dean, College of Engineering and Computer Science

message from dean macari

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For PMC-Sierra Product Marketing Manager Brandon Jackson, family is the ultimate moti-

vation. He was 7 years old when he watched his sister get her JD from Harvard Law School, and he vowed that he, too, would go to college.

When high school graduation came, however, the path was not so clear. He already was a father and was not sure exactly what he wanted to do with his life. He worked full time while taking a full load of GE and remedial classes at Sacramento State and saw his son as often as possible. The result? Academic probation.

Jackson describes the moment that turned his life around: “I will never forget the day; it was a cold winter morning during that dreadful semester that changed my life. While eating breakfast in the dining commons about a week prior to finals, I conversed with a young black male who eventually became one of my best friends. It was in the midst of this conversation that he gave me some insight into a career that I’d never before deemed possible. He was studying computer science. To say the least, this was a revelation to me.

“Black folks are doing that type of stuff?” I asked. He replied with a firm ‘yes.’ He then mentioned that he was a member of a prominent national society comprised of black engineers working toward the recruitment and retention of other black engineers. I was intrigued.”

That revelation, combined with an encouraging math professor and an introduction to the Minority Engi-neering Program (MEP), led to an educational experience that felt like a supportive family. Jackson was moti-vated; his studies had a purpose. He participated in a work-study program that allowed him to earn money during

breaks and focus on studying during the school year. He also earned a prestigious Intel scholarship and tapped into all the resources available. He made a 2.35 grade-point average jump over the span of one semester, and by fall of 2000 was on the Dean’s List. He also became an integral part of campus life, arriving at 7 a.m. and staying until late at night. He was president of the Sac State chapter of Tau Beta Pi’s national engineering honor society, a leader in the National Society of Black Engineers and an avid Hornets hoops fan. He also gave back by tutoring one of the Hornets football players who went on to play for the San Francisco 49ers.

Although the slow start set him back a year, Jack-son saw that extra time was for the best when he graduated in Spring 2005 as the first recipient of the President’s Award. He was immediately hired by Agilent Technologies in a fast-track Graduate Rotational Opportunity program that groomed him for management responsibilities.

Today, Jackson is still a single dad, devoted to his son’s academic, sports and emotional well being as a coach and role model. He is president of the Engineering Alumni Association and serves on the dean’s advisory board and the Stingers Athletic Association board. He raises money for improve-ments and scholarships. And though his division of Agilent was sold off to PMC-Sierra, ending the inter-disciplinary program he started there, he remains focused on adding value to his company.

Jackson came back at the end of 2008 to speak at commencement and was adamant that anyone can be successful if they take the time to find their place.

Jackson is not finished with school yet. He plans to get his MBA, providing he can work it around his family obligations.

“Advice for students: ‘Get involved.’Advice for alumni: ‘We have to bridge the gap now, more than ever.’”— Brandon Jackson

Brandon Jackson

»Finding a Way to Succeed and Give Back

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John Baker

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As senior vice president and division manager for Northern California’s robust

Kleinfelder engineering consulting operations, John Baker considers himself a consumer of Sacramento State’s College of Engineering and Computer Science’s end product. “Since I am hiring graduates of the program, I like to have input into the curriculum,” he says. That is why Baker takes his position on the dean’s advisory board very seriously. “A lot has changed since I was in school,” he says.

“Colleges are much more involved in helping students be successful now.”

Baker, a registered professional civil engi-neer in California and Oregon, earned his bachelor’s and master’s degree from UC Berkeley and is a member of the California Geotechnical Engineers Association, the American Society of Civil Engineers, the California Engineering Education Council and the American Council of Engineering

Companies - California. His wife is a 1985 graduate of the Sacramento State business MBA program and the director of the Sacra-mento County Regional Parks Department.

Baker tries to give back to the campus as much as his busy schedule permits. He taught engineering geology classes for many years as an adjunct faculty member and enjoys working with students when he guest lectures. “It is important for working professionals to stay involved to ensure the curriculum is still relevant,” Baker says.

Because of his wealth of experience and love of mentoring, Baker was tapped to give last December’s commencement speech. His advice: “Follow your passion. If you don’t find it right away, keep looking.” He also suggests that students get involved in the community and in the political arena because more decisions need to be made rationally with

the head, the way engineers make decisions. “What we do is solve problems,” Baker says.

After Baker retires, he hopes to start teach-ing again, a childhood dream that he says just might solve some problems before they occur. “If I can share the mistakes I made so they don’t have to make them, then my time is well spent,” he says.

“It is important for working professionals to stay involved to ensure the curriculum is still relevant.”— John Baker


engineering 1a

»Hands-On Education Keeps New Students in the Mix

Once students have touched, tinkered with and tallied up all the cool things a career

in engineering has to offer, they will never go back. That is the thinking behind Engineering 1A, a class that gives first-year students a taste of each of the College of Engineering and Computer Science’s practical applications.

Associate Dean John Oldenburg, who shaped the class as a professor of electrical and electronic engineering, describes it as a way to keep students interested while they progress through some of the more theoretical math, chemistry and physics courses on their way to the fun work in their major fields. “This is a very hands-on introduction to mechanical, civil, electrical engineering and computer science,” Oldenburg explains.

The fast-paced curriculum continues to evolve each year and has included field trips to local high-tech centers, such as the California Fuel Cell Partnership, and such seat-of-the-pants team engineering activities as building small robots of the type used to compete regionally and nationally.

Engineering in action activities include designing and building a catapult to launch grapefruits a minimum of 100 feet into the American River. The overview lets students consider all of the different

disciplines the College has to offer while rein-forcing the precise, logical thinking required to ensure a program works when the client hits start. Engineering is an exact science because when it comes to roads and machines, lives can be in danger if the calculations are wrong.

Undergraduate ECS majors serving as “peer coaches” and a small laboratory setting keep students engaged. Although as many as 40 students take the weekly lecture class, two labs break the class into smaller groups of 20 to allow for more interaction. Real-world skills such as team collaboration are stressed, as many of the projects require dividing up duties, coordinating tasks and demonstrating results. “This is about introducing students to the resources available, engaging them in thinking like an engineer and inspiring them to stay on course,” Oldenburg says. “Attraction and retention are a big part of our focus.”

The course isn’t just for college freshmen either. High school students can get a taste of the engi-neering opportunities and earn college credits through the Accelerated College Entrance Pro-gram administered at local high schools.

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From top: two engr 1A students discover the potential energy in a water column; Abigail Cansanay and Clayvius Hill prepare the apparatus for a hydroelectric experiment; three students working in the engr 1A lab; student teams each built a desktop model of a trebuchet; two students record

data during an experiment; (on left) engr 1A uses many sensors during the course, courtesy of pAsCo scientific; (on right) erika signey and Cameron Kerndt prepare apparatus for an experiment; edith Bejar, a computer engineering major, enters data to model the dynamic behavior of a trebuchet.

“This is about introducing students to the resources available, engaging them in thinking like an engineer and inspiring them … ”— John Oldenburg


german exchange

»Teaching International Mechatronics Mastering computer, mechanical and elec-

trical engineering along with communi-cation studies in three weeks is difficult in any language, but for a group of German students from Wilhelm Büchner Hochschule, Darmstadt (the University of Applied Sciences in Darm-stadt, Germany), that was all the time they had to absorb a semester’s worth of integrated Modeling and Simulation of Mechatronics Sys-tems, Robotics Programming and Intercultural Communications. “This is very fast-paced and hands-on,” explains Professor Jose Granda from the Mechanical Engineering Department. He specializes in automatically generated mathematical code for advanced modeling and simulation of mechatronics systems using Bond Graph technology – the same software he used to analyze a centrifuge for scientific experiments on the International Space Station during his research scholar position at the NASA Johnson Space Center.

Although Granda speaks German in addition to Spanish and French, other than the intro-duction and a few German technical terms, he taught the course in English. One goal was to immerse students in the high-level engineering experience from an American perspective.

Professor Ken Sprott, who also teaches in the Mechanical Engineering Department on machine design, mechatronics, robotics and computer-aided design for graduate students and seniors, says the course is designed “to give an understanding of the ideas behind program-ming.” He taught the entire course in English because he didn’t think the one quarter of German he took in college was going to help in their acclimation to the American classroom.

“The students were highly motivated,” Granda says. “Other than a couple of weekend trips to

Tahoe and San Francisco, the students were full-time learning focused.” A large percent-age of the students who made the trip were already working in the electronics or computer industry in Germany and were looking for new multidisciplinary skills to advance their careers.

“The biggest surprise for most students,” Granda notes, “was the amount of interest professors take in them, including the introduction of quiz-zes to monitor learning throughout the class rather than simply lecturing and giving a final exam at the end as is customary in Germany.”

One lesson that students seemed to pick up quickly after interacting with Sacramento State students was the cultural shift to a less formal attitude. “By the third week there were fewer dress shirts and more San Francisco T-shirts in the classroom,” Granda says. The German students visited one of his classrooms, so there was time for a little international friendship to get started.

Sprott did not see his American students, who interacted with the group between classes, pick up the German custom of clapping at the end of the lecture. “They have a different style of treating professors there,” Sprott says.

This is the third group that has made the trip. A fourth is planned for fall, 2009. Granda hopes that Sacramento State establishes a joint mas-ter’s program with Wilhelm Büchner Hoch-schule, Darmstadt, so their students can come here and Sacramento State students can go there to earn a degree that will be recognized in the United States and in all countries of the European Union. “That kind of experience will make our students more marketable here and in the European community, a bargain with a little effort,” Granda says.

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Above, from top: dean macari & pro-fessor granda congratulate german mechatronics student at certificate ceremony. Center: german students work in groups to design their mechatronics course projects (AirC 1015). Bottom: german students showcase their programmed robots as part of their final course project.

Below: professor granda with first cadre of mechatronics students from wilhelm Buchner Hochschule, darm-stadt university.


engineering expo »Smackdown in Sactown Shows Off Mechanical Creativity

The best and the shiniest gathered in the Sacra-mento State University Union on a rainy Febru-

ary Saturday for the fifth annual Engineering Expo Smackdown in Sactown. The tournament of bat-tling robots featured 16 radio-controlled scoop-ing, spinning and slicing machines weighing less than a pound, some no larger than the hand that controlled them. With names like Chains n Pain, Makita Special and Turtle of Doom, the hamster-sized motorized wheels pushed, prodded and cut at their adversaries inside a clear plastic-walled box until one fell in the corner pit or could no longer move.

“It’s all about how far your imagination can take you,” explains Bryan Solari, president of the Com-petitive Robotics Club and event organizer. Some of the “bots” reflect weeks of effort with spinning blades and sophisticated navigation systems. Others look like they were pulled from old com-puter parts and metal scraps found in a dumpster and pieced together the night before. The only rules are that they must be lighter than a pound

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Nothing fast-tracks an education like get-ting your hands dirty. That is the phi-

losophy of the Sacramento State Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). Each year, mem-bers put their education to a road test by building a Formula One-style race car to race against other college teams at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana. “This is very much a case of project management to the extreme,” says SAE president and senior Michael Bell.

With help from Professor Akihiko Kumagai, students design and build their open-wheel vehicle in stages from the ground up. The project starts with computer design, then parts fabrication and testing/adjusting – endlessly tuning and adjusting. “Each stage is critical to the end performance,” Bell says.

Luckily, Bell doesn’t have to do everything himself. Although he estimates that he spends about 60 hours a week on campus, working on the project until late at night, he has 12 club members this year – twice the number from years past.

His secret? “I welcome everyone who is inter-ested.” If they don’t have the skills at first, he has them work on clearly defined projects until they acquire the knowledge to work independently. “That way they stay interested in the club,” Bell explains.

One critical step in the manufacturing pro-cess is fundraising. Building, transporting, entering and sending a team to race the cars comes to about $18,000. Some of that money comes from grants and sponsor-ships, but a big chunk is provided by local merchants who donate or discount parts and alumni who donate to the club to ensure future students have the learning opportunities they enjoyed.

Bell will soon be one of those alums. Although he plans to stay at Sacramento State to get his master’s degree in mechani-cal engineering, he plans to reserve some time to give back to the club that has given him so much pleasure.

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»Formulating Success

“Each stage is critical to the end performance.”— Michael Bell

professor Akihiko Kumagai

and cannot contain blowtorches, electromag-netic pulses or nuclear devices.

In the end, it didn’t matter how fancy the robot was, only whether it was still standing. The last robot standing belonged to a Competitive Robotics club alumnus, Joe Brown. His secret? Endurance, and a little bit of luck.

The event draws from the popularity of the Robot Wars: Grand Champions and BattleBots television shows, only without the glamorous hostesses and Bill Nye as the technical expert. In years past, the event brought as many as 1,000 people to the campus and contenders from as far away as Oregon and Nevada.

“The cool part is making something from scratch and being able to control it,” Solari says.

“The actual fighting is a bonus that releases the stress of the semester.”

The radio-controlled battles were not the only attraction at the Engineering Expo. A student-built flying robot took to the air, while a formula SAE race car and a mini Baja race car kicked up some dust. Gamers tried their hand at student-designed videos, and students demonstrated their engineering projects, including a quick-assemble metal bridge.

Engineering organizations also were on hand to talk about the social side of technology. Cur-rently, the Competitive Robotics Club boasts 15 members, up from eight the year before, and interest seems to be growing as participants come from multiple departments.

Solari, who will graduate this year, says the program continues to grow with help from hobby sponsors ASI and Parallax. Like many alumni, he plans to check back now and then to ensure the tradition is being kept. “Alumni support has been a big part of keeping the competition alive,” Solari says.

robotic Competitors

Emsee Frypants Fry me a river

stumpy Pooky

Bot-a-bing rector

Dome of Death makita special

Daddy Warbucks Finger Taker Hot Pocket 2 Chains n Pain

Protista 420 Bot

slingblade El Longostra


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neighborhood electric Vehicle project

»Real-World Analysis Fuels Valuable Learning ExperiencesTransportation engineering students who

graduate from the Sacramento State Col-lege of Engineering and Computer Science often speed past other graduates when looking for jobs. Real-world experience, like evaluating the life-and-death consequences of adding Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEVs) to busy highways and creating reports for the California Legislature, can put an education in the fast lane quickly.

“The decision to mix non-tra-ditional transportation modes can have real safety and traffic impacts,” says Assistant Profes-sor Kevan Shafizadeh. He is a registered professional engineer and professional traffic opera-tions engineer who worked with a student to conduct a transportation plan evaluation for the state after the city of Lincoln convinced legislators to pass special legislation to add a Neighborhood Electric Vehicle lane to main roadways for enhanced golf cart-like vehicles (NEVs are different than those that putt around on golf-ing greens because they have increased safety features, includ-ing headlights, seatbelts and license plates, and require that drivers be licensed). The project was the first combination NEV/bike lane in the coun-try—and the decision was controversial. The vehi-cles usually go less than 25 miles per hour and had been restricted to roads where the speed limit was 35 miles per hour or less. Shafizadeh’s

conclusion, however, was positive. “The city of Lincoln is meeting its goals of maintaining safety and acceptable levels of traffic flow while increas-ing mobility to its residents,” reads a 99-page report he issued with the help of a student.

Contrary to some predictions, Shafizadeh found no accidents. In fact, the presence of the little cars had a small traffic calming effect. Average

traffic speeds on East Lincoln Parkway stayed the same or decreased by up to three miles per hour when compared to the speeds there before NEVs were introduced. Most auto drivers (80 percent) surveyed felt the NEVs were safe, and they liked the idea of the separate lane. Similarly, most NEV drivers (76.9 percent) preferred separate NEV lanes. Only bicyclists reported caution with a small percentage (5.3 percent) indicating they felt very safe with shared bicycle/NEV lanes and a higher percent-age (42.1 percent) indicating they felt somewhat safe with that configuration. “The primary issue in these instances seems to relate to conflicts when a passing event occurs, which

may be because the speeds of these two modes are close and it may be more difficult to pass,” Shafizadeh says.

The cities of Rocklin, Woodland and Davis have proposed allowing the zero-emission vehicles onto main arteries pending funds to stripe the roadways appropriately and post signage. Shafizadeh says that increased mobility can be good news. “I think they could coexist in other communities as well,” he concludes. Shafizadeh says he and his students will be ready to help if they get federal stimulus money to make the improvements.

“The decision to mix non-traditional transportation modes can have real safety and traffic impacts.”— Kevan Shafizadeh

Left, above: neV lanes as documented in Kevan shafizadeh’s report to the city of Lincoln. note the clear markings on the roadways and highly visible signage. Left: the gem peapod neV.


Windmillmariah power

»Designing a Better

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How do you improve on a good thing? That is the challenge being given to a group of

six Project Engineering students working with Reno-based Mariah Power to improve on the company’s Windspire wind energy conversion technology as part of their senior project.

Mariah Power mass-produces and sells self-con-tained wind energy turbine kits for about $6,500 apiece to homeowners who want to produce their own clean energy using the power of fresh air. The 30-foot tall by 2-foot wide Giromill-style (straight-sided vertical axis) wind turbine was displayed at the Detroit Auto Show as a charg-ing mechanism for electric vehicles and was a few hundred feet from the main stage for the Presidential inauguration. It even received Popu-lar Science’s Best of What’s New award in 2008. The “plug-n-produce” system can withstand up to 100-mile-per-hour winds and produces about 2,000 kilowatt-hours of energy per year.

Mariah CEO Mike Hess first approached Sacramento State Assistant Professor Tim Marbach in 2007 to set up a partnership to fine-tune the turbines it produces. Two seniors worked on a roof-mounted, propeller-free model.

Now, Hess is looking for a next-generation low-cost, renewable energy appliance. Students in Marbach’s Alternative Energy Systems class are already learning the theory of creating energy from wind and bioenergy. This challenge will allow them to put their knowledge to work in the real world. The first semester was devoted to design and analysis of two variations on the existing design. One was to incorporate slight changes in the existing model. The second design request was more drastic; build the best possible wind turbine imaginable. Both designs were to emphasize extending the lifespan of the hardware. Students ran computer simulations of their proposed alterations and gave presentations to the Mariah team. The second semester will be devoted to building full-scale models of the designs that showed prom-ise on paper. That semester will be followed by more presentations and exhibitions in the Sacramento Area Regional Technology Alliance’s CleanStart Expo.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for students to experience how real products are devel-oped and get some visibility for the innovative things they are doing,” Marbach explains.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for students to … get some visibility for the innovative things they are doing.”

— Mike Hess

A windspire wind turbine marketed by mariah power.


“This competition allows students to experience real-world conditions in a way that classroom assignments can’t simulate.”— John Clevenger

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Battle of the Brains

»Solving Real-World Problems

Above: three member teams compete in the programming contest, including students (on the right, from left) russell Bolles, Justin stofle, Justin rogers.

Below: Computer science faculty prepare to judge the programming contest. professors, from left, dick smith, scott gordon, John Clevenger, ted Krovetz, martin meyers and weide Chang.

Problem: What is the best way to ship items of different sizes using Fibonacci-sized boxes

and a discrete amount of filling?

Solution: An algorithm, of course.

Each year, Sacramento State computer science students compete to create complex software programs to solve as many problems like this as possible in a four-hour period as part of the ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest. The three-member teams work together around a single computer to determine the parameters of the problem, design test beds that meet the given requirements, build the software and agree on a solution. They repeat this process up to 12 times, depending on the level of the competition and speed of the team. Success requires knowledge of advanced algorithms, strategic thinking, teamwork – and endurance. Five hours of intellectual sprint-ing can be exhausting on the mental muscle. That is why it is called the Battle of the Brains.

Although the three winning teams from the local level didn’t make it to the World Finals in 2008, they placed well in the large Pacific Northwest Region. Sacramento State teams have made the top 10 nationally before. “One year, they placed ahead of Stanford, and that is big,” says Professor John Clevenger who advised the first local team shortly after he arrived at the college in 1978.

“This competition allows students to experience real-world conditions in a way that classroom assignments can’t simulate,” Clevenger says. In the classroom, strategies are broken down into units and packaged as topics with questions linked to the concept discussed in the chapter. In the real world – and in ICPC competition – the solution could come from something students learned last week or last year or a combination of things they have picked up along the way. One more similarity: Points are taken away in the con-test and industry for wrong answers.

That is why dozens of students are gathering into teams of three to participate in the Spring warm-up contest in anticipation of the Fall 2009 competition season. Students run through past competition problems, discuss strategy and learn to work as a team.

While the experience is a valuable bridge to real-world computer design, students love the thrill of the challenge so much that alumni often return to act as judges.

In addition to participating in the competition, Clevenger and his students have contributed to the contest’s digital framework. Working with other professors, seniors and graduate students who built pieces of the whole, Clevenger devel-oped a sophisticated, automated control system for administering the contest that was adopted by the international organization almost 20 years ago. “Every time the system is booted, it says Cali-fornia State University, Sacramento,” Clevenger says proudly.


“This is a very challenging and very popular class.”— Dick Smith

Sacramento State College of Engineering and Computer Science has staked out a forward

position in the national battle to stay ahead of hacker terrorists. An ever-evolving curriculum includes strategies for securing information, partnerships with local companies and a game of Capture the Flag that resembles reality television. This valuable service has been recognized by local and state agencies contracting with the col-lege for security services and by the Department of Homeland Security as a vital resource.

Information security has been a priority for the College for many years. Federal recognition came in 2006 when the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security desig-nated Sacramento State as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education – only the fourth program in the state to win the designation. This title was the result of two years of documenting that the curriculum matched the national standards for everything from computer forensics to cryptography.

“It showed the importance of information secu-rity as a way to combat terrorism, and our role as defenders of critical infrastructure like banks and hospitals,” says Professor Issac Ghansah. “We have to train the next generation of defenders against cyberterrorism.”

That means striving to keep the curriculum up-to-date. Professors check alert sites daily for new attacks. “The bad guys are constantly coming up with new threats, so we have to always be think-ing of new ways to stop them,” explains Professor Emeritus Dick Smith, who retired but comes back to teach part-time and help with the program.

Public-private partnerships have allowed Ghansah to keep the program relevant and have an imme-diate real-world impact by contracting with the state to create formalized training for all of the

information security officers at 162 state depart-ments that were vulnerable.

A $50,000 grant from Intel secured in 2008 helped purchase equipment and allowed access to a popular mock-attack class that divides 20 students into two teams. Half the team is dedi-cated to hacking into operating computers, while the other half tries to complete business func-tions such as software upgrades while defending against those attacks. The teams then switch sides and use the insights they gained in the first round to attack and defend more successfully.

The interdisciplinary class draws business and criminal justice majors looking to include essen-tial security skills in their bag of tricks. Conversely, it also teaches computer science students how they can use strategic planning and communica-tions along with information security to support the company’s goals. “This is a very challenging and very popular class,” Smith says.

Another public-private partnership, a new Informa-tion Security Leadership Academy sponsored by the California Office of Information Security and Privacy Protection and the Center for Information Assurance and Security, will train public and pri-vate sector security professionals to use the latest system security architecture techniques, including effective disaster recovery and incident response plans. Courses, which started in May 2009, focus on identifying and protecting information assets while managing threats and vulnerabilities by creating policy and education programs.

Because information security has become a prior-ity for companies looking to protect their reputa-tions, operations and cash flow from constant attack, graduates of the program have secured jobs at the California Highway Patrol, the U.S. Navy and numerous private companies, including Hewlett-Packard. Now that is forward thinking.

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»Responding to the National Call

sac state Cyber defense Competition team at Cal poly pomona. From left to right: dr. dan manson, Cal poly; Brad Jonko; matt Claiborne; marcus wat-stein; Brian Lavender; matt Blanford; daniel dong; professor dick smith; dr. isaac ghansah


»Students Passionate About Mixed-Signal Design Laboratory

Above right, professor tom matthews with student Varun gupta at the lab bench; below, professor perry Heedley and student, matt mowdy.

“Being able to learn the art of analog design before leaving college gives our students an advantage …”

— Perry Heedley

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You may expect the halls to be empty late on a Friday afternoon, but if you happen

to walk by the Mixed-Signal Design Laboratory (MSDL) in Riverside Hall 3015, you’ll be in for a surprise. That’s when things are really buzzing in the MSDL, as students working to design, lay out and test their own analog and mixed-signal integrated circuits (ICs) meet to discuss their progress and get help on any problems they’ve encountered.

Faculty advisers and MSDL co-founders, Elec-trical and Electronic Engineering Professors Perry Heedley and Thomas Matthews, move from student to student to give advice and make suggestions based on their own exten-sive IC design experience. Currently more than a dozen students are working on IC designs, but more than 50 students have worked on chips in the MSDL since it was founded in 2005. According to Heedley, “We’re really just getting started.”

Over the last few years, the curriculum in mixed-signal has blossomed from one course to five, the most recent addition being EEE 235, a laboratory class where students are taught to use professional methods and computer-aided design (CAD) software to design their own inte-grated circuits.

“One thing that I enjoy is when a student tells me that their experience designing chips in the MSDL helped them land the job that they really wanted,” says Heedley. “Being able to learn the art of analog design before leaving college gives our students an advantage, as these skills have tradi-tionally only been learned on the job. The MSDL gives them that opportunity now.” One thing is for sure: the students in the MSDL are happy to get this opportunity and are spreading the word, as more students are coming to Sacramento State to study in the MSDL, some from as far away as India. Good news travels fast!


dean macari with president obama.

the College of engineering and Computer science’s

»California Smart Grid CenterDuring his presidential campaign last fall,

Barack Obama spoke to audiences all around the country about an issue our College has been tackling for years.

He said that smart technologies could stimulate our economy, help free our nation from foreign oil and address global warming. Soon after his historical victory, President Obama outlined his plan for energy independence and combined much of it with stimulus funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act approved by Congress and signed into law earlier this year.

I had the honor of meeting President Obama recently, and I believe that Sacramento State’s commitment to educating tomorrow’s work-force fits perfectly with his visions for clean tech-nology research and education in our nation.

President Obama’s plan relies heavily on what has now become known as “Smart Grid” technology, and since 2007, our College has been hard at work planning and designing what is now the California Smart Grid Center at Sacramento State.

Smart Grid has many different definitions, and an ever-growing list of innovations that will help us become more energy efficient while making better use of renewable energy. In essence, it combines the power of our electrical grid with the power of the Internet by deliver-ing electricity from suppliers to consumers using digital sensors and devices to save energy, reduce cost and increase reliability.

The California Smart Grid Center is a major initiative for our College because it incorpo-rates virtually all of our departments’ proven

strengths and expertise: power engineering from our Electrical and Electronics Engineering Department, cyber security from our Computer Science Department, renewable energy from our Mechanical Engineering Department and sustainable construction from our Civil Engi-neering Department.

That is why Sacramento State is the perfect choice for the head-quarters of such an important and distin-guished research and education center.

We have strength-ened our long-time partnership with the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, which is becoming an integral

part of the Smart Grid Center. We are also part-nering with the major utility companies in Cali-fornia: Pacific Gas and Electric, San Diego Gas and Electric, and Southern California Edison.

California is the nation’s leader in the develop-ment of energy-efficiency technologies, thanks to the state leaders, along with the California Energy Commission and the California Public Utilities Com-mission, who have implemented aggressive standards and policies.

California could soon become the leader in Smart Grid technologies, as well, because of the work being done right here on our campus. And much like the plan for smart technology, on the national level, our Smart Grid Center can help our region and our state weather the economic storm and address the biggest problems facing our communities.

— Dean Emir Jose Macari

“… Sacramento State is the perfect choice for the headquarters of such an important and distinguished research and education center.”

— Dean Emir Jose Macari

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Construction management Competition

»Bidding for Confidence and Teamwork“This is as real life as it gets.”— Mikael Anderson

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How would you approach the task of demolishing a building and replacing it

with an aquarium on a pier/pile foundation in a Seattle bay without interrupting operations at the popular tourist attraction?

That was one of the challenges put to a six-member Sacramento State team at the Associated Schools of

Construction competition. Students had 18 hours to come up with a plan for logistics and scheduling, bid the project and make a presentation.

A total of six Sacramento State teams competed in the Region 7 Competition by developing proposals in heavy civil, commercial building, mixed use, design-build, marine and mechani-cal divisions. Students masterminded the rise of everything from university buildings to roadways in marathon days of planning, estimating and

Heavy Civil Team: (from left) Lupe Jimenez, mikael Anderson (coach), stretch parson (back row), david magana, Lorin norton, ryan Henry, stacey merola, and gareth Figgess (coach)

Mechanical Team: (from left) Brian Lonquist, Josh shiyomura, eddy deniz, Jose Buenrostro, matthew moore, Justin Larsen and Jake Bertacchi

Marine Team: (from left) Bud tolp and Kent grisemer of Flatiron west, inc., paul macClana-han, steven Farshchi, Chris Cormier, Keith potter, Arnie garcia, patrick mcguirk, and Jaime Cochran (coach)

Commercial Team: (from left) Frank Lind-say (coach), Ankur Yadav, Kellen wilson, Vince Haycox, nick simonidis, natane rogers-engle, steven tankersley, Kyle glankler (coach), mark shope (coach), and mike mencarini (coach)

Mixed Use Team: (from left) raymond Zhong, Lamont Hurren (coach in back), ron Brown (coach in back), gning saelee, Collin nichols (coach in back), ed dajani, nicolas tovar, Jake white, Jeff stephenson, and Justin Burke


Construction management Competition

»Bidding for Confidence and Teamwork

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Joshua Wagner »outstanding Civil engineering studentJoshua Wagner has stood

out as a top student since he arrived at Sacramento State, and it shows. He has been named ASCE Region 9 Outstanding Civil Engineering Student by the American Soci-ety of Civil Engineers (ASCE).

As a leader in the Sacramento State ASCE chapter, Wagner served as secretary, treasurer and president and started the chapter’s newsletter, the CE Spotlight. His entry into the ASCE Daniel Mead essay contest on eminent domain took first place at the Mid-Pacific Conference and helped Sacramento State win second place overall. He also participated in the Steel Bridge, Concrete Canoe, Water Treatment and Seismic Design competitions. He is a student representative in the Civil Engineering Program Industry Advisory Committee and worked on a bridge-testing manual for Expanding Your Horizons, a workshop designed to attract female students to the engineering profession. Academically, he places in the top 10 percent of students in challenging courses. Additionally, for the last two years, he has also worked as an engineer-in-train-ing at Parsons Brinckerhoff.

“He is very mature, honest, diligent, with a pleasing per-sonality, and has a great desire to help others achieve their goals,” says ASCE Faculty Adviser Ali Porbaha in his recom-mendation letter for Wagner. “He treats everybody with respect, and as a result he has been successful in winning the trust and respect of his classmates as well.”

One example Porbaha used to demonstrate Wagner’s dedication to community service was the student’s initiation of training programs designed to allow upper-classmen to teach peers the finer points of AutoCAD and SAP2000.

Wagner’s excellence also earned him a $3,000 Samuel Fletcher Tapman ASCE Student Chapter Scholarship – an honor that only six students received nationally in 2008. He also won an Academic Achievement Award and the Golze scholarship.

After graduation in the spring, Wagner plans to be involved in the professional chapters of ASCE and Engi-neers without Borders.

writing – work that normally takes teams of experts weeks to complete. “This is as real life as it gets,” says Mikael Anderson, assistant professor of Construction Management and faculty coach.

These talented students follow in some well-worn footsteps. Over the last 20 years, Sacramento State College of Engineering and Computer Science teams have repeatedly placed in the top three in regional competitions and represented the school at the national level. This year, the Design-Build team took second in the regional competition and the Mechanical team won the national silver award. In 2008, three teams won first place at the national level.

The string of successes is not an accident. Students begin practicing in the fall for the February competition by giving their 20-minute bid presenta-tions in front of larger and larger groups of industry experts. Many intern at local companies and experience the bid process firsthand. This builds their confidence and expertise. Time management and teamwork help, too. “By the time they are in front of a panel in Reno, they know what to expect,” says volunteer and Sacramento State alumnus Henry Meier, who is now a senior project manager at Sacramento-based HMH Builders. “The success at these competitions — and their ability to contribute right away in the workplace — speaks volumes about the quality of the construction man-agement program at Sacramento State.”

“The involvement of industry and alumni in the training and support of the program is key,” Anderson says. Sacramento Construction Manage-ment Foundation, a group of alumni and industry supporters, raises approximately $25,000 a year for entry and travel costs. Much of that comes from sponsorships donated by local companies. All winnings go back to the program.

Design-Build Team: front row (from left) nathan gregoire (project scheduler), Carl Arevalo (project executive), Hitesh dewan (project man-ager), matt Burnie (project designer), Kyle gray (project architect). Back row (from left) sean Ladd (coach, HmH Builders), Jeffrey Frost (coach, turner Construction), sean Burnie (coach, Clark & sullivan Construction), Adam della monica (project superintendent), Kent Keller (coach, HmH Builders), Henry meier (coach, HmH Builders).


Ben Fell joined the Civil Engineering Department in Fall 2008 as an assistant professor to teach Theory of Structures, Design in Steel and Seismic Behavior of Structures. He earned his Ph.D. at UC Davis and his M.S. at Stanford. He is a California Registered Professional Engineer, member of the Con-sortium of Universities for Research in Earthquake Engineering, American Society for Engineering Educa-tion and American Society of Civil Engi-neers. Fell hopes to continue his research into predicting steel behavior under stress while inspiring students to find their pas-sion in civil engineering.

matthew salveson joined the Civil Engineering Department in Fall 2008 as an assistant professor to teach Struc-tural Engineering, including Computer Methods of Structural Analysis, Mechan-ics of Materials and Advanced Design in Reinforced Concrete. His specialties include com-putational mechanics, coupled systems, blast mechan-ics and computer-aided bridge design. Salve-son earned his master’s and Ph.D. at UC Davis. He brings 13 years of practical experience as a project manager for Sacramento-based

Dokken Engineering. He worked primarily on roads, bridges and other transporta-tion projects and was involved in hiring a number of Sacramento State graduates at the company. Salveson sees teaching as a way of giving back to the community he loves.

Justin reginato joined the Construction Management Program in Spring 2009. He earned his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from UC Berkeley with an emphasis in Engi-neering and Project Man-agement and a minor in Real Estate Business Administration. He also earned his M.S. in Civil Engineering from UC Berke-ley and his B.S. in Geological Engineering from the Uni-versity of Nevada. Previously, Reginato was a professor at the University of the Pacific, Stockton, and an adjunct professor at Santa Clara University. He also worked in the private sector as an estimator for URS Construction Services and as a proj-ect manager at Kinemed and Integrated Project Management. At Sacramento State, he will be teaching project cost estimating, planning and scheduling and project management. He plans to continue his research in the application of alternative project delivery methods for construction projects, estimating and tools used by managers for decision making.

Ilhan tuzcu joined the Mechanical Engineering Department in Fall 2008. He earned his Ph.D. at Virginia Polytechnic and State Institute in Blacksburg, Va. (Vir-ginia Tech). He taught flight dynamics, aircraft performance and engineering

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Biomedical instrumentation professor wins outstanding scholarly Achievement Award

For the significant contributions to his discipline, Electrical and Electronic Engi-

neering Professor Warren Smith received the 2008/2009 Outstanding Scholarly Achieve-ment Award. “I became a biomedical engi-neer because I wanted to use my engineer-ing know-how to help people with medical needs,” said Smith. “As a professor here at Sacramento State, I’m delighted when stu-dents come to me with that same interest. I love sharing my passion with them.” Smith, along with other Sacramento State faculty and students, is collaborating with Shriner’s Hospitals for Children Northern California, University of California Davis Medical School, and local companies to develop biomedical instrumentation. Projects include develop-ing miniature, wearable in-home monitors for children with cerebral palsy or breathing and oxygen levels in epilepsy patients, and miniature, implantable telemetry moni-tors for blood flow and pressure. Stu-dents interested in biomedical instrumentation can take four new elective courses in the Department of Electri-cal and Electronic Engineering – courses on biomedical applications of sensors, signal processing, and embedded systems and on getting a biomedical device to market. Sac-ramento State’s biomedical instrumentation activities are an important part of MedStart, a new initiative by the Sacramento Area Regional Technology Alliance (SARTA). Med-Start’s goal is to increase biomedical device and technology companies and jobs in the Sacramento Region. “I’ve found that regional professionals in medicine and industry are eager to work with Sacramento State stu-dents and faculty,” said Smith.

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Faculty news 2007/08 outstanding teaching Award:Dr. perry Heedley Electrical and Electronic Engineering

outstanding university service:Dr. akihiko KumgaiMechanical Engineering

2008/09 outstanding university service Award:Dr. Jose granda Mechanical Engineering

outstanding teaching Award:Dr. turan gonenElectrical and Electronic Engineering

2007/08 eCs Faculty Fellows:Dr. timothy marbach, me: Aerojet Fellow Dr. Jose granda, me: Aerojet Fellow Dr. Kevan shafizadeh, Ce: Paduana Fellow Dr. milica markovic, eee: ECS Fellow Dr. ahmed salem, CsC: Intel Fellow

tenured and promoted Faculty 2008/09:Dr. mikael anderson, CeDr. scott gordon, CsCDr. preetham Kumar, eeeDr. thomas matthews, eeeDr. Ken sprott, me

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Lynda Wirt grindstaff, ’95, B.S., Com-puter Science, was recently honored by the National Society of Women Engineers (SWE) with the 2007 Emerging Leaders Award for demonstrated leadership in sales and mar-keting. The Emerging Leader Awards honor women engineers who have demonstrated outstanding technical excellence as an individual resulting in significant accomplish-ments. Lynda is currently responsible for lead-ing the strategic planning efforts to define the future strategy, plans and roadmap for Intel Corporation’s Digital Office brand: Intel® Core™2 Processor with vPro™ Technology. Before this role, Lynda was a technical appli-cations engineering manager and has also held several other engineering positions including System BIOS Engineer and System Validation Engineer. She has been with Intel Corporation for 13 years, has received the prestigious Intel Achievement award and holds one patent. In addition to her out-standing work-related successes, Lynda is an active SWE Life Member and enjoys spend-ing time with her husband and two children.

a generous gift to the College from the John C. gist, Jr. Family will benefit students in engineering programs through a new book scholarship fund and will give sup-port for the student peer coaching and men-toring program. The gift was made in honor and memory of John C. Gist (1893-1968).

I just wanted to pass along my congratulations on the Emerging Horizons maga-zine. It is nice to see something from Sacramento State that is this well done, high-

lighting the great work within the College of Engineering and Computer Science.

— thomas g. tracy, PE BS Civil Engineering, 1981

Joining sacramento state’s Alumni Association gives you access to

a wide range of benefits geared to career, home and recreation. You can receive discounts on continuing edu-cation courses, magazine subscrip-tions, movie passes, vacation travel, car purchases and rentals; use the Alumni Center, the Aquatic Center, the Career Center, and Csu librar-ies; utilize student loan consolida-tion; shop at the Hornet Bookstore; purchase health and life insurance as well as auto/home/renter’s insur-ance; and much more.

the eCs chapter of the sacramento state Alumni Association con-nects alumni and friends from all disciplines within the College of engineering and Computer sci-ence, bringing them back together on campus for events such as the Breakfast Club speaker series and technical talks. they also actively support future technical scientists through student organizations. For more information about the chapter, please visit the website at www.ecs.csus.edu/alumni/chapter.

For more information about the sac-ramento state Alumni Association, please call (916) 278-6295 or (800) sAC-grAd or log onto www.csus.edu/alum/.

we wAnt to HeAr ABout You! if you would like to share news about important life changes and professional accomplishments in an upcoming issue of the eCs Emerging Horizons newsletter, e-mail denise Anderson at [email protected].

join us!

Alumni and College Newsmathematics at the University of Alabama for four years. His specialties include the dynamics and control of aircraft, aerospace, aeroelasticity, thermoelasticity and mechan-ics. He teaches mechanical design courses and will do aero-space-related research.

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FUTUREof Engineering

the

See pg. 4

EMERGING HORIZONSthe College of Engineering and Computer Science alumni magazine

c a l i f o r n i a s t a t e u n i v e r s i t y , s a c r a m e n t o

F A L L 0 7

C O L L E G E O F E N G I N E E R I N G A N D C O M P U T E R S C I E N C E

W W W . E C S . C S U S . E D U


6000 J Street

Sacramento, CA 95819-6023

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non-profit org.u.s. postage

pAidpermit #47

sacramento, CA

sacramento stateCOLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER SCIENCE

John BakerSenior Vice President, Northern California District Manager, Kleinfelder

Orin BennettPresident, Bennett Engineering Services

David BlottieVice President, Syncrotech Software Corporation

Bob BurrisDeputy Director, SACTO

Donald H. GillottEmeritus Dean, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Mike GravelyManager, CA Energy Commission

Jay HalversonPresident (retired), Pacific Construction Consultants, Inc.

Eddie KhoPresident, Morton & Pitalo, Inc.

Wes LumChief, Div. of Research and Innovation, CA Department of Transportation

Scott MaxwellVice President, Unger Construction

William MolinaC.E.O., Alexan International

Terry PearsonDirector (retired), Product and Mission Assurance, Aerojet; Emeritus President, IAB

Kishore RaoProduct Line Manager - Intel Platforms, Intel Corporation

Charlie ShaefferDirector, Ballistics & Propellant Development, Aerojet

Jody policar

Developing the Future

Jody Policar serves as the new direc-tor of development for the College of

Engineering and Computer Science. With more than 10 years of experience in devel-opment, Policar helps to foster strong alumni and community partnerships to benefit the College’s students and faculty. Policar also is the director of Development for the College of Arts and Letters and the Troops to College Initiative.

He has been with Sacramento State for nearly four years and was previously the director of Annual Giving Programs and

the director of Development for the University Library and the Col-lege of Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies. He formerly worked in the Development Office at UC Berkeley’s Boalt Hall School of Law and as the annual fund director at Saint Mary’s Col-lege High School in Berkeley. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government and minor in Communicatio from Saint Mary’s College in Moraga. Policar can be reached at (916) 278-4168 or by e-mail at [email protected].

College of Engineering and Computer ScienceIndustry Advisory Board • 2009-2010Dean Macari, on behalf of the College of Engineering and Computer Science, extends gratitude to the members of the Industry Advisory Committee for their interest, commitment and energy.

Documents

FUTUrE - College Of Engineering & Computer Science · Emerging Horizons is published annually by the College of Engineering ... him for management responsibilities. Today, Jackson