Adomaitis mentors Gemstone 'ChemSense' student group

The gas sensors group presents the findings of their research.

Associate Professor Ray Adomaitis (ChE/ISR) has been the mentor for the ChemSense Gas Sensors Networking group of Gemstone students, who have completed their thesis research on assessing the true value of gas sensor networks in protecting public spaces.

The work was partly inspired by the sensors installed in some of the DC-area Metro stations in an effort to to protect the stations from attacks using chemical warfare or other toxic agents. As part of their research, the students constructed a test rig modeled after the Gallery Place/Chinatown station, and fit it with four sensors. They ran experiments, fine-tuned the networking electronics, and compared experimental data with simulator predictions. In the photo above, the students are presenting their thesis defense on April 2. TheMetro station model they constructed is on the table.

Gemstone is a multi-disciplinary undergraduated honors program in which students from different disciplines work together on a four-year research project with both technological and societal implications.

—April 2004

Published April 4, 2004