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CTC of the Future: An IT Perspective
Bruce Kendall, Director
Information Technology
March 7, 2005
FORWARD
As the Belton-Lampasas monorail shuttle glides silently along its track, CTC Shuttle Car #3 automatically detaches from the end of the shuttle and enters the Bell Tower Road access rail. While some of the occupants on board Car #3 chitchat with each other, some scan their Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) attempting to study for an upcoming class or preview the day’s events before they arrive at work. As the monorail shuttle continues its trek westward, Car #3 enters the campus and stops at the CTC Western Terminal Building in what was formerly the parking lot in front of Building 108. After a brief stop to allow passengers to disembark and others to board, Car #3 automatically proceeds to the eastern terminal of the CTC campus to pick up more passengers and then joins the eastbound shuttle of the Belton-Lampasas line.
Due to the speed, efficiency, and low maintenance cost of the electromagnetic shuttle system that translates into very low user fees, passengers prefer to use the shuttle system than drive their own vehicles to campus. The reduction in privately owned vehicles on campus caused the administration to remove most of the parking lots on campus and construct new buildings to support new academic programs.
CENTRAL CAMPUS: 2015
As the passengers exit the terminal building, they step onto the bi-directional Campus People Mover (CPM). A system based on electromagnetic propulsion similar to the monorail shuttle, the Campus People Mover is an interconnected system of electromagnetic platforms that transport pedestrians under covered causeways around campus. The causeways have solar panels to provide power for lighting and to power the platforms. Able to adjust to the weight of one rider or two, the platforms silently glide on a series of electromagnetic rails from building to building in a safe and efficient manner. The CPM parallels the campus sidewalk system for those who prefer to walk rather than ride.
As two students step onto a CPM platform, they discuss their upcoming presentation for their Professional Speaking class. As the CPM platform approaches Building 104, they decide to join their classmates at a picnic table near the Fine Arts Building and enjoy the fresh, spring air rather than sit in the classroom.
Meanwhile, other passengers of Car #3 continue to ride the CPM to the Campus Collegium. Housed in the former Student Center, the Campus Collegium is a mixture of study and relaxation lounges, a mini-mall, and library. It is a place to relax, study or enjoy some downtime. It is also a home-away-from-home for the students who attend the College and the faculty and staff as well. It provides lounges for students to study collaboratively with other Central Campus students or worldwide through real-time video connections. Each lounge is linked to the library’s database via a high-speed connection allowing students to browse the library’s electronic collections to do research for their classes or read periodicals for relaxation. The Collegium also provides food and retail services.
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