The entire project installation and system integration of the Smart Classrooms & Distance Learning Technology were custom built. This is not a put together kit from IKEA furniture. There were no wiring diagrams, design prints or a workable set of plans with instructions. It was left entirely up to me to design, integrate, engineer, set-up and implement this entire installation project.
At the early phase of this project the only drawings I had in my hands were the architectural and landscape drawings of the building. I needed to obtain electrical conduits and structural blueprints. A lot of time were spent researching and organizing those details. It is important to contact the right person on the main campus as well as the general contractors at PDC ( Swinerton ). Since this is a brand new building (phase one of three) I made it a point to purchase, recommend and install high-quality equipment in line with cost savings. Forward thinking new equipment had to be aesthetically pleasing, upgradable and scale-able for future growth.
In fact on some critical installations, we installed extra long cable service loops and spare cables for future equipment add-on. Every task had to meet or exceed the specification scope of a Smart Classroom design and Distance Learning technology. In addition, I made sure it met the approval of Capital Planning Design and Construction Department (CPDC) at the main campus, Facility Services standard, my director, end users perspective, Electronics Electrical NEC code, Building & Safety, fire code requirements, seismic specification against earthquake and past practice personal safety awareness.
On the second week of March 2002, my director approached me with this temporary assignment to take on the Palm Desert Campus. Palm Desert Campus is the new CSUSB extension campus for the desert community. After a week to follow, we toured PDC. I reviewed the scope of work to be done. The assignments were to install, build, implement, and integrate the Smart Classroom and Distant Learning technology. There are 3 Smart Classrooms; 1. Auditorium,
1.Control Room, 1. Audio-Video Booth and 1. Equipment Room.
After the tour, I was very optimistic and motivated to start this project. In fact, during the next few weeks to follow; I spent my time doing administrative task. I had to write a Student Assistant job description, advertise, interviewing applicants, meetings and consultation with directors, purchase parts, move-in tools, equipment and overview research of the Palm Desert community.
On the third weeks to follow, I met Mr. Gilbert Trevino through a referral from Ms.Tina Howe at College of the Desert. Gilbert was the perfect candidate.He was a Navy veteran with an electronics background and a student at Cal State San Bernardino. In order to be an eligible student assistant worker, you must meet the following two requirements:
1) You must be currently enrolled as a student at Cal State- San Bernardino.
2) Student Assistants are not allowed to work more than 20 hours per week.
Thank goodness Gilbert met those requirements and a plus because he was a local resident to the desert community. Although Gilbert was the perfect candidate, I still needed additional help for a project this massive undertaking. Furthermore, there were no other students from our campus that was willing to sacrifice the long commute from San Bernardino to Palm Desert everyday. It is over 140 miles around trip at a starting entry level student wages with no fuel reimbursement.
My first priority objectives for this project were to break it down into three phases.
Phase 1: The logistics: planning, organizing, scheduling, moving in tools, setting up desk space, equipment overview, gathering & ordering parts needed, project managing, research specifications, meeting with directors, builders, contractors, conferring and gathering information, blueprints,
clarification memos, emails, faxes and scope of items needed for the project.
This building is so new there were no phones installed or active lines. The first step was to establish my communication equipment to the outside world. This is so I can connect to the main campus at CSUSB for emails, send/receive faxes and basic telephone service. At that time my only link was using a laptop with a connection speed of 2400 baud rate via modem. There is no Internet access unless you have other means via commercial dial up. My 2400 baud rate means very very slow data rate computing access to the Internet or email server.
Phase 2: The Installation process: This required running and installing cables, assembling equipment, setup apparatus, system integration, engineering and designing, Inventory control, building safety & concerns, work requests & purchases to be processed. Although I was at Palm Desert location, the main campus Facility Services still required me to process Work Order Requests so it can be approved, processed and Charge-backs for payments. Prior to these steps, there are additional coordination and collaboration needed for approvals and coordination from the university architects, directors, staff, contractors, vendors, suppliers, building trades colleagues, electricians and so on.
Phase 3: Testing and Calibration, Diagnostic Troubleshooting, Live Online system analysis, Operations, Instructions, training for staff, end-users and finally a walk through inspections of each classrooms to overview performances and show case the completed project.
California State Budget Crisis
In June 2002, there were many challenges along the way due to the State budget issues. No parts could be purchased .There were also incorrect parts and equipment that were ordered by the vendors and suppliers. Up until August 2002, an emergency trust fund were arranged to complete the project.
September 10th 2002, upon 99.9% completion of the project, my director requested for me to return to the main campus to fulfill another assignment. In the meantime, he hired his brother "Mark" as a replacement to take over my place when I leave Palm Desert Campus. The reason I was returning to the main campus in San Bernardino because of a new project at hand. The campus needed my attention to build, engineer, design and install 22 brand new Smart Classrooms for the College of Social Behavior Science and for the new Counseling Center.
History on a side note: I remember the old days when my department was called Audio Visual in 1989. Now it is called Academic Computing & Media Services (ACM) at CSUSB. During that time, Dr. Robert Senour was my former director (now retired), Tom Richards the TV engineer and myself use to climb up the transmission towers at Whitewater & San Gorgonio to install microwave dishes. Those were the days of Instructional Television Fixed Service (ITFS) system. That was way back before we had Internet Network technology (World Wide Web) or fiber optics systems on campus.
What is ITFS? In simple terms, Instructional Television Fixed Service consists of a group of frequencies (channels) in the microwave transmission band that is set aside by the FCC for use by educational institutions. That was Distance Learning Technology for the campus in those days. Now it is through the use of fiber optic systems, microwave links, cable television, T1 lines and On-Line technology through the World Wide Web on the INTERNET.
I thank you and appreciate your time for reading my Palm Desert Campus project. I hope I have enlightened your thoughts, sparked up new ideas and dreams. I welcome all your comments.
Kind Regards,
This website is copyrighted
Andy Gildore Jr. October 1, 2002
