Page 16 - Engineering Penn State Magazine Spring/Summer 2020

Chavanic
IN RURAL COMMUNITIES across the United States delivering reliable broadband internet to to customers remains problematic for service providers Financial geographic and technical components each present unique challenges to overcome As part of a a a a a a a a a semester-long project in in in in their EDSGN 558: Systems Design course this spring Penn State engineering graduate students worked to define a a a a a a a a a a a a low-cost rural rural internet solution for Georges Valley a a a a a a a a a a rural rural area about 10 miles east of State College Students devise a a low-cost internet solution for rural communities a a a a necessity during the pandemic- driven shift to remote learning Course instructor Sven Bilén head of of of the School of of of Engineering Design Technology and and Professional Programs and and and professor of of of engineering engineering engineering design electrical engineering engineering engineering and and and aerospace engineering engineering engineering challenged his students to to design a a a a a a a a a a a a system to to provide reliable broadband access in in in in rural areas Centre County which includes the Allegheny Allegheny Plateau Allegheny Allegheny Front Ridge and and Valley regions and and several wide valleys with rolling terrain serves as an an an excellent example of the the geographic challenges found in in in rural regions With large ridges on on either side and a a a a a a a a deeply furrowed valley 16
ENGINEERING PENN STATE
Features
BRIDGING THE DIGITAL
by
Samantha
WOODWARD
PENNS CREEK
BEAVERTOWN