Luis G. Occeña
, Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Missouri-Columbia
Daniel L. Schmoldt , Work Unit
SE-4702, USDA Forest Service
ABSTRACT
Traditionally, a research center conjures an image of a physical place where people who share a common interest in a particular domain come together to collaborate on a search for understanding of phenomena and the solution of problems associated with the domain. Such a place would be distinguished by the presence of four types of resources that are unique to this place: expertise, facilities, library, and products. In a physical sense, expertise would correspond to human experts on specific disciplines within the domain, facilities would correspond to the hardware and software and the infrastructure available to support the research activities, library would correspond to the holdings of books and journals and other media that store information, and products would correspond to the ideas and publications and hardware and software that are generated.
We are in the process of evolving a virtual center for hardwood integrated
processing (VCHIP). This research center has as its mission the realization
of an integrated approach to hardwood processing, from forest harvesting,
through the various stages of processing, to end-use forest products. The
VCHIP is a virtual center because it does not have a geographical location,
rather it will reside in the vast expanse of the World Wide Web (WWW).
Expertise will consist of human experts who are geographically remote from
each other, but nonetheless in continuing communication with each other.
Facilities will consist of virtual hardware (through computer simulations)
and software that are remotely accessible over the WWW infrastructure.
Library holdings and products would be maintained as a virtual repository
that is easily accessible through the WWW. The VCHIP will be an evolving
entity, much like the WWW on which it exists.
Visit the Virtual Center for Hardwood Integrated Processing ( VCHIP )
Copyright © 1996-2000, Dr. Luis G. Occeña . All rights reserved.