WWU Capital Project Proposal - Wireless Network Upgrade - 2011-13 (1)

7/27/2019 WWU Capital Project Proposal - Wireless Network Upgrade - 2011-13 (1)

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WIRELESS NETWORK UPGRADE

CAPITAL PROJECT PROPOSAL

2011-2013


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Infrastructure Category 2011-13 BienniumWestern Washington University: Wireless Network Upgrade

1

Institution Agency Code

Western Washington University 3800

Project Title Category of Project Project Number

Wireless Network Upgrade INFRASTRUCTURE 30000429

County City Legislative District

Whatcom Bellingham 40

Was this project included in a prior 10-year capital plan? If yes, when?Previous ProjectNumber

Yes, a wireless network upgrade was part of the 2009-2011 Emergency CommunicationsInfrastructure request.

30000012

Prepared By: Phone Number Analysis Date:

Rene Roberts (360) 650-2875 August 1, 2010

1. Project Schedule:Start Date Complete Date

Predesign

Design July 2011 January 2012

Bid February 2012 March 2012

Construction/Occupancy March 2012 March 2013

2. Problem Statement (short description of the project the needs and the benefits)

Upgrade and expand the current - limited - coverage campus Wireless (Wi-Fi) Local AreaNetwork (WLAN) to support services for IEEE 802.11 standards based wireless Computingand mobile telephone service. The current WLAN was developed and funded under theStudent Technology Fee (STF) structure approximately seven years ago. The current systemdoes not cover significant portions of campus and accessibility has not kept pace withincreased demand for this service. Upgrading and expanding this service will provide industrystandard, ubiquitous, and secure wireless network services and will discourage the growth ofrogue systems.

3. History of the project or facility

The use of the WLAN on campus, supporting portable computing and telephony devices, hasmoved from alternative use to commonplace in support of the University's educational mission.The primary values of this evolution include increased mobility, safety, productivity, andconvenience.

Because of inadequate coverage and capacity in certain areas, the University is experiencinguncontrolled and exponential growth of ad hoc Wi-Fi networks by early adopters who haveinstalled their own non-secured (rogue) Wi-Fi routers thereby seriously compromising thesecurity and integrity of our current wired and wireless network. This trend is likely to continuewithout upgrading and expanding this service by providing secure, industry standard, wirelessnetwork services.


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Wi-Fi Security & Reliability: In a recent Information Technology Security audit (Report datedJanuary 31, 2010), the security consultant retained by the University (LBL) identified severalsecurity issues related to the Wireless LAN system. Under Section Three of the detailed reportaddressing the proliferation of rogue access points and single points of failure, LBLscomments included:

Rogue Access Points: During the walkthrough of the campus with testing tools APsauthorized to WWU were detected as well as a number of access points not belonging toWWU. These rogue APs were not all determined to be on WWU property. However, givensome of the broadcasting names along with the signal strength, it is safe to assume there aresome non WWU authorized APs on campus and within WWU buildings. Along with beingagainst WWU guidelines it is considered by LBL to be an unnecessary and an unadvised riskto the network.

Single Points of Failure: With respect to the wireless network there exists one single pointof failure. This means that if it were to go down a large portion of the wireless network wouldgo down. This Cisco 2912 BH011bS06 device is specifically utilized for the Bluesocket APs onthe network and allows WWU to spread that network's VLAN around the campus.

The lack of updated and expanded systems, such as appropriate monitoring tools, redundantdistribution and control devices, and lack of security measures, have caused the university tofall behind in both the local user's wireless technology demand curve and wireless technology"best standards" resulting in these security related issues. The proposed wireless relatedacquisitions will correct these issues by providing improved redundancy, security, monitoring,availability and reliability for all campus community wireless users.

(Appendix information is not provided due to confidentiality requirements related to this type ofstudy.)

4. University programs addressed or encompassed by the project

Universal coverage, improved security, and increased capacity and bandwidth offered underthe proposed system upgrade and expansion will address the following University functionsand programs:

Increase Wi-Fi access from the current 200 wireless access points (WAPs) to about 900

to 1000 WAPs to fully cover all indoor and outdoor spaces, providing access toUniversity resources for student, faculty, and staff via portable and mobile computing

devices virtually anywhere on campus.

Improve access bandwidth from the current 6 to 22 Mega-bits per second (Mbps)

shared service to maximum 300 Mbps with greater range and capacity.

Support the increasing use of personal mobile devices (PDAs, iPods, etc.) allowing hi-

speed data, text, and voice communication.


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Make wireless voice communication available to faculty and staff via the existing

telephone system, providing the same features, functionality, and matching the

telephone numbers of existing desktop phones.

Provide mobile computing access at all roadways and parking lots on campus for use

by the University Police Department and Parking Services. Allow for wireless inventory control and the ability to access maintenance records on-

location for Facilities Management staff.

5. Supports Insti tutional Plans:

Campus/Facilities Master Plan

The 2001 adopted Institutional Master Plan (IMP) states on page IV-7 that, there is a needfor cellular telephone and communication technology to serve the campus and neighbors.

Beyond this, the Institutional Master Plan (IMP) establishes the concept of an academic coreas the heart of the institution. Established as Westerns highest intensity use, the academiccore is a conceptual 10-minute walk zone situated deep within the campus. While the IMPincreases the overall existing built density, the academic core absorbs much of thatplanned growth by in-fil l and modernization to accommodate the Universitys academicneeds. It does this while retaining the key desirable characteristics that define Western as it istoday, among them a sense of a community of learners, and a breakdown of scale.

The project will enhance our ability to maintain the central part of campus as the academiccore and maintain the north part of the campus as residential... by expanding the number ofaccess points and increasing the density of use within these defined areas. Enhancing and

increasing wireless connectivity automatically reduces the need to expand traditional brick andmortar buildings that encroach on open spaces, thus enabling the creation of a more intimate,virtual scale. Future academic growth can thus be contained within the core of campusbecause of this additional density of use. Creating more, faster and secure access points onthe network enhances and makes for a more intimate community of learners.

(See Appendix C for additional information.)

Strategic Plan

The campus strategic plan calls for, among other things, the development and maintenanceof campus infrastructure, including consistent and ongoing enhancement of informationresources, development offlexible, efficient and sustainable spaces, and a secure campusenvironment. Finally, effective stewardship of resources and demonstratingaccountability to key stakeholders is a primary goal.

The Wireless LAN project enhances Westerns ability to achieve these strategic goals byleveraging our existing investment in computing and communications to provide more wirelessaccess points, protect critical and confidential information and maximize use of existingacademic, residential and administrative space. It also provides greater protection ofinformation resources, affords greater flexibility in the use of both information resources and


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computing abilities. The ability to leverage our existing investments, provide greaterinformation security and improve space efficiency is a key component in demonstratingaccountability and stewardship of increasingly scarce resources.

(See Appendix D for additional information.)

Identify whether the proposed project is the institutions first, second, or third priority for statefunding among all of Infrastructure, Land Acquisition, or Predesign Requests the institution isproposing for the 2011-13 biennium.

First priority

Second priority

Third priority

Due to higher priority projects, this project is not eligible for additional points.

6. Significant Health, Safety, and Code Issues:

The Universitys Emergency Communications Plan includes notification of campus constituentsby text messaging to personal cell phones. Students, faculty and staff are requested to pre-register their devices to allow text messages to be transmitted. Current registered use of thenotification program by students, faculty and staff is as follows:

Type Count Cell Cell ActivityDateStudent 13399 11081 83% 30MAR2010

Staff 1685 927 55% 30MAR2010

Faculty 965 383 40% 30MAR2010

Cell Wireless coverage on campus is intermittent at best and communications may be furthercompromised and become overloaded or blocked in an area-wide emergency. The addition ofreliable Wi-Fi based and local service increases the chance that emergency messages andcommunications reach their intended targets.

University Police communications will be improved in reliability and increased access providingfor rapid response to emergency situations.

7. Evidence of Failure/Ability to Defer Project:

As stated above, the lack of updated and expanded systems has caused the university to fall

behind in wireless technology standards resulting in Wi-Fi access, coverage, and securityrelated issues. The proposed Wi-Fi project for the 2011-2013 biennium will prevent theUniversity from falling further behind in providing secure and functional wireless services.

8. Impact on Institutional Operations wi thout the Infrastructure Project:

Demand for Wi-Fi services is increasing and Institutional operations and programs will sufferwithout implementing the Wi-Fi project.


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9. Reasonable Estimate:

Total project cost is estimated to be $4,947,000. (See Appendix A for CBS002 and CBS003cost estimate forms. See Appendix B for third-party cost estimate.)

10. Engineering Study:

No independent engineering study has been performed for this project. The UniversitysTelecommunications department has been responsible for the design and implementation ofthe current system, which has evolved over the seven years of its existence, and isexperienced in site survey, design, and installation of Wi-Fi systems. The implementation ofthis project will include a comprehensive engineering study, site survey and design byexperienced consultant engineers.

Successful use of wireless computers in higher-education has been well documented inexisting research. Mobility afforded by wireless laptops makes it possible to study flexiblyregarding times and places. It provides a convenient way for students to access and store their

own study materials and facilitates collaboration with other students.

11. Resource Efficiency and Sustainabili ty:

All efforts will be made to implement a best standards energy efficient system. It is possiblethat the system expansion may marginally increase energy use.

12. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction:

In 2007, a Greenhouse Gas Inventory was completed for FY 2006 using the Clean Air CoolPlanet Carbon Calculator. The GGI included all scope 1 and 2 emissions, including air mileage

and student commuting data. In 2008-2009 a Climate Action Plan (CAP) was produced by theClimate Action Plan Working Group. Accepted by the WWU Board of Trustees in June of2010, the CAP recommends a 36% drop in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 and carbonneutrality by 2050. Potential strategies include biomass power generation, electrification offleet vehicles and improved utility use reporting. The plan also asks for creation of a standingClimate Action Plan implementation team and cyclical reporting to the Board of Trustees. (See

Appendix E for the Western Washington University Climate Action Plan, 2010 ExecutiveSummary.)

Western Washington University also has a Sustainable Transportation Office that: providesassistance to the WWU community with alternative transportation information; supports the

Student Transportation Program; is a campus resource for sustainable transportation newsand information, is a liaison between WWU, Whatcom Transportation Authority and othertransportation related community groups; and fulfills the requirements of the state CommuteTrip Reduction Act.


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Infrastructure Category 2011-13 BienniumWestern Washington University: Wireless Network UpgradeProject Proposal Addendum September 10, 2010

Please provide more information in regard to question #6 (Significant Health, Safety, and Code Issues) onthe Project Proposal Form. Please indicate what code deficiencies will be corrected/addressed as a result

of the proposed project.

Health & L ife Safety: Improving the extent and quality of wireless coverage campus wide will enhance health andlife safety by allowing user access in remote and secluded areas of the campus. The expansion of the wirelessnetwork into remote areas of the campus also allows the University to affordably expand its access control system.

Seismic: The project will not impact seismic requirements.

ADA: The project will offer persons with disabilities improved communication in the event of emergencies; it will

also improve the functionality of many campus spaces to persons with disabilities by expanding the work studyenvironment to areas not presently covered by the LAN network.

Energy Code: The university acknowledges RCW 19.27A.027 and RCW 43.70.600 and the health and safetyconcerns expressed relating to exposure to some wireless telecommunications facilities. The project will endeavorto minimize exposures to the wireless facilities. * **

* RCW 43.70.600: "The legislature finds that concerns have been raised over possible health effects from exposureto some wireless telecommunications facilities, and that exposures from these facilities should be kept as low asreasonably achievable while still allowing the operation of these networks. The legislature further finds that thedepartment of health should serve as the state agency that follows the issues and compiles information pertaining to

potential health effects from wireless telecommunications facilities." [1996 c 323

** RCW 19.27A.027: Personal wireless service facilities exempt from building envelope insulation requirements.

(1) The state building code council shall exempt equipment shelters of personal wireless service facilities frombuilding envelope insulation requirements. (2) For the purposes of this section, "personal wireless service facilities"means facilities for the provision of personal wireless services. [1996 c 323 4.].


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Documents

WWU Capital Project Proposal - Wireless Network Upgrade - 2011-13 (1)