that wall is a UNESCO-protected heritage site and important tourist destination in the city. Due to increases in acid rain, the wall is eroding, and the strength of its current state is unknown. The JMU Drones Project has partnered up with Ph.D. candidate Manuel Saba to test the strength of the wall in an engineering software called SAP 2000. The software requires a 3D model as a skeleton for information about the porosity (density) of the wall. By capturing images of the wall on their drone, the JMU City Walls team will stitch together a 3D model using AgiSoft software for Manuel’s study. Through these efforts, the team hopes to contribute toward the conservation of this historic monument.
Wednesday, December 7, the City Walls team presented their work to the public. Local news casters took footage and interviews while the team i
nstalled their display in JMU’s Lakeview Hall, which overlooks Newman Lake. The team began the presentation by pitching their project to a group of professionals for a closed evaluation. After the formal presentation, the public presentation began. Professors, friends, and hobbyists flooded into the presentation room, and each member of the team engaged with the public by explaining the project, answering questions, and receiving feedback. Some students present asked the team for advice on their own projects, while others appreciated the elaborate display created by the team. The night generated attention across campus and the community, and the City Walls team finished the evening with appreciation for the public’s excitement over their project.
Though the event ended, the team took away lessons from the semester that have expanded their abilities. Team member Dustin Hux said, “I thought it was really cool how we could be talking about one issue but hit it from all different sides and angles because of how different we all are.” Kiva Gayle added that the interdisciplinary perspective shift has helped her communicate her work to public audiences. She said explaining technical concepts to diverse audiences “was a skill that I didn’t know that I needed, and I am happy I gained it through this project. I feel I can better explain complicated subject matters to anyone that asks no matter their expertise.” Nick Sipes agreed that he felt a strong response to the differing perspectives in the group and felt that they improved his outlook. He said,
“Summary: Always keep an open mind.”
What’s next for the City Walls team? Over the next month, team members will continue to practice with the drone and with the software in preparation for their trip to Colombia. Then, January 8, the team will leave for Colombia to immerse themselves in the intercultural practical application of this project. The team will fly the drone over Cartagena’s historic wall throughout the week and stitch images together to provide a 3D model for Manuel’s use in his research. The team will strive to establish a relationship between James Madison University and the University of Cartagena, and team members look forward to exploring the beautiful city of Cartagena.
Check back in with the team in January to read about the team’s upcoming work in Colombia.
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