Member Spotlight: Old Dominion University

Old Dominion University (ODU) is a world-class public research university with more than 24,000 students. Located along Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay, ODU is incorporating uncrewed technology for a wide variety of environmental applications and investing in the next generation of engineering talent.?

Value of ODU’s AUVSI Membership?

Professor Tom Allen, an expert in geography, coastal oceanography, GIS, and remote sensing, says AUVSI membership keeps faculty and students up-to-date in an ever-changing industry:??

“AUVSI provides a platform for sharing advances across industry, government and academic applications of autonomous platforms and sensors. University faculty and staff are able to stay informed and abreast of innovations and potential partners. Our students gain awareness of exciting careers and inspiring success stories. The diverse membership, local chapter events, and media provided by AUVSI provide a convenient and informative gateway to the industry.”

Exciting Industry Developments?

Professor Allen points to the increased affordability and accessibility of uncrewed systems as a key development in the industry:??

“It is especially exciting to see students and practitioners across different disciplines and professions increasingly working together, and we look forward to current students and those in the pipeline entering industry, government and non-profit sectors so that uncrewed systems will see even wider adoption.”?

ODU’s Role in the Industry’s Future?

According to Professor Allen, ODU sees an opportunity to advance the industry by investing in collaborative and innovative academic programs:?

“We desire to partner with industry in placing students in internships and the profession, as well as collaborating on innovation and research challenges to advance the engineering and applications. We also hope to structure our academic programs in an interdisciplinary approach, cohesively rather than stovepiped. Hence, we wish to design courses and curricula that are rigorous, high demand, and yet also have a shelf-life for students seeking employment.”?

He also points to the university’s implementation of autonomous technology as evidence of this commitment:??

“With support from the Virginia Institute for Spaceflight & Autonomy (VISA) and collaborating community partners, Old Dominion University has recently been developing small autonomous vehicles as platforms for a variety of environmental, maritime, resilience, and coastal sustainability applications.????

This post updates the interested public on our multi-platform approach to coastal erosion on the Chesapeake Bay, fusing autonomous surface vehicle bathymetry, aerial orthoimagery, and LiDAR and GPS/GNSS to track shoreline erosion and sediment dynamics in the Town of Colonial Beach, Virginia.”?

Support for High Safety Standards?

Professor Allen notes that safety is a critical component of the university’s integration of autonomous technology:??

“Old Dominion has a rigorous risk management program to ensure safety and compliance with laws and regulations. Safety is critical given our location in the urban environment and operational military facilities of Norfolk and surrounding Hampton Roads, Virginia. We are fortunate to have staff devoted to managing these policies and navigating sometimes arduous and complex restrictions of airspace and a very busy port.”?

Building Public Trust?

As an influential institution in its community, Professor Allen says ODU is committed to keeping the public engaged in its efforts:?

“A number of our research projects are applied, collaborative and community service-oriented. We work with stakeholders to assure the validity, quality and safety of our missions.? Students and support staff have allowed us to overcome sometimes skeptical residents or elected officials. We also aim to communicate our efforts widely and effectively with press releases and salient events, not only scholarly outlets.”?

For more information visit: odu.edu ?