Supplement: Graduate students: Mid-scale RI-1 (M1:IP) EduceLab - Infrastructure for Next-Generation Heritage Science

We request funds for three graduate students to engage in field and laboratory work that will prepare EduceLab for its ultimate commissioning as a Heritage Science user facility. EduceLab consists of four operational clusters – BENCH, MOBILE, FLEX, and CYBER – each of which will provide unique scientific and technical capabilities for studies in Heritage Science. Students will participate in activities designed to test the usage, integration, and synergy of the clusters under development. MOBILE (1 Student): Software Integration and System Testing The student will work with Co-I Smith and Senior Personnel Bailey and Sama to integrate and field test the instruments in the mobile suite: magnetometer, ground penetrating radar, lidar and photogrammetry surveys, and control/visualization software for data capture and planning. The data sets, acquired using fixed wing and rotorcraft uncrewed aerial vehicles, form capability to conduct surveys using different instruments which each use proprietary software to process data for the user. The objective of the work will be to integrate, test, and prepare all systems for commissioning. BENCH (2 Students): Instrument Testing and Capability Gap Analysis The students will work with Co-PIs Balk and Reyes-Centeno to test the performance characteristics of all bench instrumentation and analyze capability gaps and cyber-usage requirements in preparation for commissioning. They will focus first on the optical and electron microscopy suite – currently aimed at a prototype project on archaeological mussel shells derived from several sights within the Green River Valley of Kentucky. This test project will help to develop measurement protocols for confirming bench capabilities and the need to address any gaps that are discovered. FLEX (1 Student): System Development The student will assist PI Seales with the development of the FLEX micro-CT and non-radioactive imaging environments. Work will involve the determination of desired specifications of the X-ray sensor-source-detector setup for the micro-CT hutch. Tasks will also include equipment testing, data collection, and integration of the micro-CT equipment with the other clusters. The student will help with the setup of the spectral photography and photogrammetry environment. Tasks will include developing protocols for the controlled lighting environment, identifying desired locations of cameras for optimal image quality, installation and testing of hardware, establishing working volumes, and identifying imaging constraints. The student will also assist with the installation of MechDyne data visualization tools including testing and deploying the visualization system and integrating with the other EduceLab clusters