The Smart Bridge

One feature that makes CIEMAS so unique is the walkway bridge that connects the two main wings of the building. Commonly referred to as "the Smart Bridge," this walkway contains various types of gauges that run along one side of the floor. There are a total of 15 gauges that are placed approximately every meter of the bridge. These gauges are designed to measure different types of information, including stress, strain, temperature, and deflections. Although the system is not currently installed to monitor this information, it is expected that the system will be set up in the near future, perhaps as early as this summer. Dr. Tod Laursen, Professor and Associate Dean for Education, is the head of this project.

When the system is fully running, it will be able to measure the deflection of the bridge whenever people pass over it. A flat screen monitor can be found at the end of the bridge, where students and faculty can view all of this information.

In the future, "the Smart Bridge" could serve as an excellent learning tool for students who are learing about stress, strain, and deflection of beams. There is even a possibility that the bridge could be linked to a webcam showing students as they cross the bridge. In this manner, anyone could see how the bridge responds under different types of loads as well as view the activity on the bridge.

Water Control

CIEMAS currently has three cisterns to collect water from a rainy day. Water drains from the roof and streets into these cisterns that are located in the back of the building. The water is then run through a water purification system. The water is held in huge tanks like the one seen to the left.

By collecting its own water from the natural environment, CIEMAS has been able to greatly reduce the amount of drinking water that is used to maintain its facilities. Almost 50% less drinking water is currently being used for other purposes such as building maintenance, thanks in part to the water monitoring system. New technology's have also helped, such as bathrooms with low water flow and urinals that don't require any water.

Various types of gauges seem to be everywhere around CIEMAS. The soil outside of the building is no exception. Duke has intalled sensors that control irrigation activity for nearby plants. Also, the flowers and plants outside the building have been specifically picked to fit well into the lanscape and soil. By picking plants that naturally fit into their environment, irrigation is reduced and so is water consumption.

The Duke Card

Like many of the buildings on Duke's campus, CIEMAS was designed to give access to many of its facilities through the use of the Duke card. During the day, when classes are in session, CIEMAS' doors are open to the general public, but in the evening and night, CIEMAS can only be accessed by those people who hold the Duke card. In this manner, the safety of students and faculty is ensured at late hours of the night when classes are out and security may not be readily available.

Many of the laboratories and facilities in CIEMAS are also set up so that only certain people or faculty are allowed to enter. This ensures the integrity of the research being performed in those laboratories as well as privacy.

When a student or faculty member swipes his or her Duke card, the University is able to easily monitor the traffic at certain locations. This is particularly useful because it helps Duke keep a record of the people leaving and entering the building. It also useful to keep track of what locations have higher traffic and what particular time of day.