An Exploratory Survey on User Perceptions and Adoption of NEES.org

Manaz Rusi Taleyarkhan; Oluwatosin Alabi; Alejandra J. Magana; Thomas J. Hacker

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Conference: 2014 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Publication Date: June 15, 2014
Start Date: June 15, 2014
End Date: June 18, 2014
ISSN: 2153-5965
Conference Session: Topics in Computing and Information Technologies
Tagged Division: Computing & Information Technology
Page Count: 12
Page Numbers: 24.162.1 - 24.162.12
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--20053
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/20053
Download Count: 621

Oluwatosin (Tosin) Alabi is a graduate researcher in Computer and Information Technology. Currently, she is conducting research in High Performance Computing (HPC) and Data Analytics. Specifically, her research is focused on the use of parallel computational tools in supporting big data problem solving in bioscience and information technology.

She holds a Masters in Computer and Information Technology, where her thesis focus on the role of computational tools and representations in engineering education. And also holds a B.E. degree in Electrical Engineering from The City College of New York where she worked as a research assistant in the are of Remote Sensing and Atmospheric Science.

Tosin is also a graduate of the General Electric Edison Engineering Leadership Development Program (EEDP). During her time at General Electric (GE) her roles included working as an Electronic Component Quality Engineer for GE Switchgear Systems.

Her research interest include: High Performance Computing, Data Analytics, and
STEM Education

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Alejandra J. Magana Purdue University, West Lafayette orcid.org/0000-0001-6117-7502

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Thomas J. Hacker Purdue University, West Lafayette

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Thomas J. Hacker is an Associate Professor of Computer and Information Technology at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. His research interests include cyberinfrastructure systems, high performance computing, and the reliability of large-scale supercomputing systems. He holds a PhD in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He is a member of IEEE, the ACM, and ASEE.

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Abstract

An Exploratory Survey on User Perceptions and Adoption of NEES.orgScientific communities have developed new technologies that allow them to collaborate and atthe same time share resources such as data and tools. Technologies that can support theseprocesses are internet-based science gateways defined as “technological innovations whose aimis to bring about a radical transformation in research” (Procter, et al., 2006, p. 1675). Suchscience gateways are also called cyberinfrastructure or e-science (Procter, et al., 2006).Cyberinfrastructure is considered to be the basis for dynamic clusters of individuals,organizations, and resources such as computational tools and services, which enable flexibility,security and collaboration among their users (Zimmerman & Finholt, 2007).NEES.org is a cyberinfrastructure for research and education aimed at reducing losses fromearthquakes. The NEES is a network of 15 earthquake engineering equipment sites, located atuniversities across the United States, which can be used for testing in-place or through Internet.The NEES has specialized equipment such as shake tables, geotechnical centrifuges, a tsunamiwave basin, unique large-scale testing laboratories, and mobile and permanently installed fieldequipment (NSF, 2009).The goal of this study is to determine users’ practices and perceptions of the attributes of NEEShub based on their current experience. We administered a survey instrument based on Rogers’Diffusion of Innovation to identify (i) how can nees.org users be characterized based on theirintentions of use of NEES.org cyberinfrastructure? (ii) how earthquake engineering researchersand professors perceive NEES.org in terms of its relative advantage, compatibility, complexity,tiralability and observability? and (iii) what are users’ different levels of interaction andfrequency of use? Participants were recruited over email and forty researchers responded to thissurvey. Data will be analyzed using descriptive statistics to identify major tendencies. Findingswill be interpreted under the diffusion of innovation model and recommendations for increasingits usage will be provided.

Citation
Format

Taleyarkhan, M. R., & Alabi, O., & Magana, A. J., & Hacker, T. J. (2014, June), An Exploratory Survey on User Perceptions and Adoption of NEES.org Paper presented at 2014 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Indianapolis, Indiana. 10.18260/1-2--20053

TY - CPAPER
AB - An Exploratory Survey on User Perceptions and Adoption of NEES.orgScientific communities have developed new technologies that allow them to collaborate and atthe same time share resources such as data and tools. Technologies that can support theseprocesses are internet-based science gateways defined as “technological innovations whose aimis to bring about a radical transformation in research” (Procter, et al., 2006, p. 1675). Suchscience gateways are also called cyberinfrastructure or e-science (Procter, et al., 2006).Cyberinfrastructure is considered to be the basis for dynamic clusters of individuals,organizations, and resources such as computational tools and services, which enable flexibility,security and collaboration among their users (Zimmerman &amp; Finholt, 2007).NEES.org is a cyberinfrastructure for research and education aimed at reducing losses fromearthquakes. The NEES is a network of 15 earthquake engineering equipment sites, located atuniversities across the United States, which can be used for testing in-place or through Internet.The NEES has specialized equipment such as shake tables, geotechnical centrifuges, a tsunamiwave basin, unique large-scale testing laboratories, and mobile and permanently installed fieldequipment (NSF, 2009).The goal of this study is to determine users’ practices and perceptions of the attributes of NEEShub based on their current experience. We administered a survey instrument based on Rogers’Diffusion of Innovation to identify (i) how can nees.org users be characterized based on theirintentions of use of NEES.org cyberinfrastructure? (ii) how earthquake engineering researchersand professors perceive NEES.org in terms of its relative advantage, compatibility, complexity,tiralability and observability? and (iii) what are users’ different levels of interaction andfrequency of use? Participants were recruited over email and forty researchers responded to thissurvey. Data will be analyzed using descriptive statistics to identify major tendencies. Findingswill be interpreted under the diffusion of innovation model and recommendations for increasingits usage will be provided.
AU - Manaz Rusi Taleyarkhan
AU - Oluwatosin Alabi
AU - Alejandra J. Magana
AU - Thomas J. Hacker
CY - Indianapolis, Indiana
DA - 2014/06/15
PB - ASEE Conferences
TI - An Exploratory Survey on User Perceptions and Adoption of NEES.org
UR - https://peer.asee.org/20053
DO - 10.18260/1-2--20053
ER -