Mission Statement
The Infrared Development and Thermal Structure Laboratory (IDTSL) supports research and development efforts that feature non-contact thermal and mechanical measurements and advance the state of the art. These efforts all entail undergraduate participation intended to significantly enrich their technical education. The Infrared Development and Thermal Structure Laboratory is funded by major government organizations and the private sector.
Background
The IDTSL is an undergraduate research laboratory in the College of Integrated Science and Technology (CISAT) at James Madison University (JMU) in Harrisonburg, Virginia. During the 1997-98 academic year Dr. Jonathan Miles established the IDTSL at JMU with the support of a collaborative research grant from Langley Research Center and additional support from the College of Integrated Science and Technology at JMU. The IDTSL provides a unique opportunity to undergraduates who wish to participate in projects that push the boundaries of non-contact measurement technologies and are of critical importance to NASA and U.S. industry. Of equal importance, the IDTSL provides a model for effective hands-on, project oriented, student-centered learning that reinforces concepts and skills introduced within the ISAT program; provides access to advanced topics and emerging measurement technologies; fosters development of teaming and communication skills in an interdisciplinary environment; and avails undergraduates of professional activities including writing papers, presentation at conferences, and participation in summer internships.
The ISAT program is an interdisciplinary applied sciences and technology program, the mission of which is to develop a graduate grounded in science with interdisciplinary skills and prepared to contribute in technology industry. The IDTSL provides a venue through which those students who are especially inclined toward engineering can access research in areas, and at levels, that are ordinarily only within the domain of graduate engineering programs.
Recent Media
Spring 2004 Montpelier Article
Contact information
The Infrared Development and Thermal Structures Laboratory comprises the following spaces:
- Infrared Imaging and Measurement Lab; ISAT/CS 131; (540) 568-2560
- Infrared Spectrometry Lab; HHS 0301
- Large Structures Testing Lab; HHS 0002
- Photogrammetry Lab; HHS 0302
