Utilizing Telepresence Tools to Remotely Participate in Wall Tests Conducted at the NEES@Minnesota Facility and Their Current Developments

Abstract eng:
Researchers from the University of Minnesota (UMN), Iowa State University and the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez and a consulting engineer from the Nakaki Bashaw Group, Inc. in California have undertaken a collaborative Pre-NEESR research project since 2004 to investigate the behavior of nonrectangular structural walls subjected to the effects of multi-directional loading. The experimental component of the study utilized the Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (NEES) Multi-Axial Subassemblage Testing (MAST) system at the University of Minnesota (NEES@Minnesota) to conduct large-scale seismic testing of a T-shaped concrete wall and several rectangular walls. In each test, a variety of telepresence tools developed by the research team and the NEES Cyberinfrastructure Center (NEESit), were used to enable effective real-time collaboration between the researchers at the test site and those at the three remote locations. These tests were the first NEES experiments to extensively utilize the available telepresence tools and not only provided a proof of concept but were instrumental in identifying deficiencies and guiding future enhancements to the NEESit capabilities. This paper describes features of the NEESit telepresence tools, provides an end-to-end case study demonstrating the ability for remote researchers to actively participate in a seismic experiment, and describes the benefits of using various IT capabilities during large-scale physical testing including the ability to interact with people and equipment at the remote facility and manipulate test data in real-time. Also discussed are current developments of these telepresence tools to make them more suitable for real-time dynamic tests.

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