MIKE CHIEN Ph.D. and graduate students use the digital
camera to get computers to "see" 3D objects.
By Marjorie Hernandez
Daily Bruin Reporter
From biological hazards and national security to race relations,
the University of California Office of the President has called
upon UC researchers to provide expertise concerning post-Sept. 11
issues
Most researchers have conducted studies for years, but the
aftermath of the terrorist attacks have brought an increasing
awareness of possible applications for their findings.
“There’s certainly been much more of a redirection
of people’s overall thinking in which ways research can be
helpful,” said Vice Chancellor of Research Roberto Peccei.
“There are people who are definitely going to spend more time
thinking about these issues.”
In response to the attacks, UCOP required all campuses to
compile a list, detailing faculty members’ special interest
and area of expertise pertaining to terrorism, which it then
released to Gov. Gray Davis’ office.
Researchers are already looking at possible uses of their new
developments and technologies other than what was first
intended.
The UCLA Vision Lab research team introduced in July of 2000 the
first computer system with the ability to track an object’s
movement and provide a 3-D image as it moves in real time. Called
“dynamic vision,” researchers employ computers with
sensory information without prior knowledge of its environment.
With this information, computers interpret the physical shape,
motion and material of any given object and interact with its
surrounding, said Stefano Soatto, a computer science assistant
professor and head of UCLA’s Vision Lab. With this
capability, unmanned cars and military vehicles can be placed in
unknown environments such as cave entrances in places like
Afghanistan to locate possible hazards.
Biosecurity has also become a major player in research due to
the recent anthrax scares. The Department of Environment Office
Safety visited at least five UCLA labs conducting research with
highly biohazardous agents to ensure they are compliant with the
Centers for Disease Control requirements, Peccei said.
UCLA clinical labs are testing human exposure to anthrax, while
the UCLA Biosafety Committee prepares for emergencies concerning
any infectious diseases.
Faculty members and researchers are also providing workshops and
lecture series on topics such as international affairs and
protesting military mobilization.
The issue of terrorism, homeland security and the role of
diplomacy have opened new frontiers for debate. Sept. 11 has
greatly impacted the type of research faculty members are
undertaking in international relations, said School of Public
Policy and Social Research assistant professor Amy Zegart.
“The world is a different place today than it was before
Sept. 11,” Zegart said. “The challenges to politicians
and to citizens are different from what they were. Given the
tremendous uncertainty and danger of the current world situation we
would be irresponsible if we didn’t take a closer look at all
aspects of foreign policy.”
In addition to campus research, the Lawrence Livermore, Lawrence
Berkeley and Los Alimos National Labs are conducting studies in
weapons of mass destruction and biological weapons. According to
UCOP Vice Provost for Research Lawrence Coleman, the Livermore and
Los Alimos labs are working on technologies such as DNA
fingerprinting to identify strains of biological bugs.
Though these labs have conducted such research for years, the
outbreak of anthrax and the possibility of other bioterrorist
attacks have placed importance on these studies, Coleman said.
“There is a lot of research that has been going on for a
long time on things that are directly applicable,” Coleman
said. “In general, the faculty’s research is at the
forefront of these interesting topics.”
Civil engineering departments and labs in UC Berkeley and UC San
Diego are also conducting research to improve building and bridge
infrastructures that will prevent future massive damages, such as
those that occurred with the World Trade Center.
Additionally, UC researchers are studying agricultural
bioterrorism, different forms of surveillance and
cyberterrorism.
Research among the UC campuses and in labs nationwide are
receiving support from government agencies to continue
terrorist-related studies.
The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and
Logistics, along with the Combating Terrorism Technology Support
Office Technical Support Working Group, announced in October a
competitive selection process for research proposals.
Areas of research interest for the proposals, due Dec. 23,
include the detection and mapping of underground facilities, remote
censors, locating and identifying faces in video images, terrorist
behavior-predicting technology and the detection and countermeasure
of released chemical and biological agents.
“Everybody is doing their bit to help and share the
knowledge that they have on some particular subject matter,”
Peccei said. “That is basically one of the things
universities are: repositories of knowledge. That is where our role
is most clear.”