The Controlled Environment Agriculture Center
(CEAC) facilities are located at the Campus Agricultural Center, in
Tucson, Arizona, on Roger Road at Campbell Avenue, 3 miles north of the
University of Arizona campus. The CEAC includes advanced technology
greenhouses and growth chambers, as well as office, laboratory and
teaching facilities.
Training
Greenhouse
A modern computer controlled
greenhouse became operational in August 2000. The greenhouse is primarily
dedicated to classroom teaching and demonstration, however, several
research projects
are in progress throughout the school year.
The facility
is capable of producing approximately 1200 tomato, pepper, or cucumber
plants within 5200 square feet (485 square meters). Irrigation is handled
by an automated watering and nutrient proportioning system. The greenhouse
is heated with a hot air heating system and cooled by natural ventilation
or by pad and fan evaporative cooling systems. An interior shade cloth is
automatically deployed for reducing solar radiation. The greenhouse has an
Internet connection for campus-wide student access. A subsequent research
greenhouse is now being planned.
CEAC Classroom & Office
Building
Construction is complete on the
new UA CEA headquarters. It is home to a large multimedia
"SmartClassroom", two plant physiology & engineering laboratories, and
several offices for the CEAC faculty
and staff. The building will be the center for instruction, research and
extension activities of the CEA program.
SmartClassroom
The SmartClassroom will have high-speed
Internet access and the hardware for Web-based teaching and synchronous
distance-learning. The Internet accessible SmartClassroom will provide a
facility for local presentations, lectures and meetings.
The
greenhouse laboratory will come alive with the use of Web cameras within
the existing hydroponic greenhouse, as part of the Tomatoes
Live! research and
education program. Distance learning classes, programs, meetings, and
workshops will be capable of being broadcast live to other campuses within
Arizona and around the world.
Hydroponic Growth Chamber
Dr. Choi led the construction of a 10'x12'x8'
high growth chamber at the CEAC for increased control and monitoring of
Hydroponic crops. The chamber has since been used for other projects. For
a full description, go to research projects, "Design & Construction of Growth Chambers for
the FDA".
Future Growth
Additional greenhouses and growth chambers,
dedicated to research in plant physiological studies, and engineering
systems design and evaluation, are a part of the master plan for the
CEAC. |
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