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2021 GCTC Agriculture and Rural SuperCluster Workshop

July 21, 2021 @ 8:00 am – July 23, 2021 @ 5:00 pm PDT

Hosted by Purdue University

Sponsored by Purdue Research Foundation, SBA Communications, Innovation Partners Institute, and Telrad Networks

Venue: Onsite at Convergence Center, Purdue University and virtual via Zoom

NIST and its partners, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NIST), NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association, Joint Venture Silicon Valley and Purdue University invite you to attend the Global City Teams Challenge (GCTC) Smart Agriculture and Rural Broadband SuperCluster workshop, including a special session on Federal funding and Tribal programs.

This is a hybrid event in which Purdue University is hosting the SuperCluster workshop for in-person participation and on Zoom.

Join us to learn about best practices and challenges related to their projects in agriculture, rural connectivity, Tribal regions and STEM. The workshop will also highlight the preliminary blueprint for rural communities, recently released by the Global City Teams Challenge (GCTC) Smart Agriculture and Rural Broadband SuperCluster. Participants will then develop next steps, including case studies for 2021/2, and best ways to map the coverage of broadband services – a critical issue for smart agriculture and rural areas. Registration is free. On Thursday July 22nd afternoon, after the workshop, in person participants have the option of touring the nearby Innovation centers at Purdue University. We will have a tour and deep dive on WHIN Aerostat and rural testbed on Friday morning.

Workshop Organizers:
Mo Shakouri, Dir Community Broadband Initiative, Joint Venture Silicon Valley, Fellow Innovation Partners Institute, Purdue Research

Foundation

Dennis Buckmaster, Professor of Agricultural & Biological Engineering, Dean’s Fellow for Digital Agriculture, Purdue University

Joshua Seidemann, VP Policy, NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association

Robert Tse, Senior Policy Advisor Assistant Administrator’s Office, Telecommunications Program, Rural Utilities Service, Rural Development, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Jean Rice, Senior Broadband Specialist, National Telecommunication and Information Administration (NTIA) Michael Dunaway, Associate Director for Innovation, Smart Grid and Cyber Physical Systems Program

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

Registration and additional information here: https://purdue.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2tWXJ64nWW6ZElo Purdue Campus Map: https://www.purdue.edu/campus_map
Discovery Park District: https://discoveryparkdistrict.com

Hotel (Tue-Thurs): Union Club Hotel Purdue University discounted rate of ($159) associated with (GROUP CODE: 072021GCTCARSC)

AGENDA

Wednesday, July 21, 2021 (9:00 am -7:30 pm)

Welcome and Introductions: (9:00 am -10:15 am) – Moderators: Mo Shakouri, (JVSV) and Troy Hege (PRF)

  • Dave Roberts – Chief Innovation Officer, Indiana Economic Development Corporation
  • West Lafayette Mayor, John Dennis, and Director of Development, Erin Easter
  • Mung Chiang, Executive Vice President, Purdue University, John A. Edwardson Dean, College of Engineering
  • Bernie Engel, Associate Dean for Research and Director of the Experiment Station, College of Agriculture, Purdue University
  • Michael Dunaway, Associate Director for Innovation, Smart Grid and Cyber Physical Systems Program, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) – NIST Global City Team Challenge Overview Session 1: 10:30-12:00 noon, Moderator: Robert Tse (USDA) Systems Approach to Precision Agriculture and Broadband
  • Chris Ali, Associate Professor of University of Media Studies, University of Virginia – Broadband needs of precision agriculture.
  • Dennis Buckmaster, Professor of Agricultural & Biological Engineering, Purdue University – Data Driven Agriculture – ways digital agriculture and data science can impact agriculture today and into the future
  • Aaron Magenheim, CEO AgTech Insight – Workforce development & training needs
  • Gap analysis discussion Working Lunch: 12:00 -1:00 pm, Moderator: Mo Shakouri (JVSV)
  • Troy Hege, Vice President, Innovation and Technology Purdue Research Foundation (PRF), Lee Davenport, Director of Community Development, US Ignite – Announcement: PRF Hack-a-ton
  • Yuri Gawdiak, Airspace Operations & Safety Program Associate Program Director, Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters, Washington DC – NASA Advanced Air Mobility Mission Overview Session 2: 1:00 – 3:00pm, Moderator: Josh Seidemann (NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association) Smart Communities, Tribal and Funding
  • Connected Community Discovery Park District, David Broecker PRF
  • Piyush Raj, Managing Director, Connected Venues, SBA Communication – Private Networks CBRS Shared infrastructure
  • Tribal Panel: (NTCA and NTIA invitation)

o Sacred Wind Communications, which serves the Navajo Nation
o Danae Wilson, Manager, Nez Perce Network Systems, internet in rural and remote areas on the

Nez Perce Reservation

• Funding Panel – Robert Tse, USDA; Matt Suchodolski, Management Analyst for Economic Integration, Economic Development Administration, ____ Treasury, _____ NSF

Break 3:00 -3:15 pm
Session 3: 3:15 – 5:15 pm, Moderator: Dennis Buckmaster (Purdue University) Rural Broadband

  • Joseph Sawasky, President and CEO Merit Network.
  • R. Johannes Bauer, Quello Chair for Media and Information Policy at Michigan State University – homework and student academic performance gap and broadband mapping tool
  • John Greene, CEO at New Lisbon Telephone Company
  • Danae Wilson, Manager, Nez Perce Network Systems – Internet in rural and remote areas on the Nez Perce Reservation
  • Kristie Goodson, Sr. Dark Fiber Specialist, Tennessee Valley Authority Dinner and discussion 5:30-7:30 pm Union Club Hotel Purdue University Thursday July 22, 2021 (7 am-4 pm) Breakfast Keynote 7:00 -8:00 am
    State Of Indiana Rural Economy –     Roberto Gallardo, Director, Purdue Center for Regional Development Session 4: 8:00 – 9:45 am, Moderator: Robert Tse (USDA) Data Analytics Driving Broadband Mapping for Infrastructure Deployment and Digital Equity Goal: Designing National Standard for Crowd Sourcing Acquisition of Broadband Data
  • Roberto Gallardo, Director, Purdue Center for Regional Development – Measuring and analyzing digital inclusion (use of the digital divide index as a digital equity measurement tool)
  • Francella Ochillo, Executive Director, Next Century Cities – Importance of accurate broadband maps and flaws in existing Form 477
  • Paul Deming, CEO, Geo Partners, Demo of data analytics applied to broadband infrastructure design and case study (Rush County Indiana)
  • Chris Ali, Associate Professor, University of Virginia, Importance of County Level broadband mapping, Virginia example
  • Ed Ingle, President, New Lantern Partner – PAgCASA (Precision Ag Connectivity & Accuracy Stakeholder Alliance) and Creating a National Standard for Crowd Source Methodology Session 5: 10:00 – 12:00 noon, Moderator: Mo Shakouri (JVSV) Innovation & Challenges
  • Johnny Park, CEO Wabash Heartland Innovation Network (WHIN) – Rural Aerostat and connectivity projects
  • Julie Bushel, President, Paige Wireless, FCC Precision Ag Connectivity Task Force working groups report: https://www.fcc.gov/task-force-reviewing-connectivity-and-technology-needs-precision-agriculture-united- states and state of NE fully-redundant network
  • Alex Paraskevas of SEDCOR, and Cara Snow of TAO – Innovation Hub and the upcoming Ag Innovation Challenge design sprint.
  • Shawn Irvine, Economic Development Director of City of Independence OR. – Ag innovation work, the NW ag innovation hub, and the design sprints.
  • Debra Lam, Executive Dir, Partnership for Inclusive Innovation on Working Farm Fund Session 6: 12:15-1:30 pm (Working Lunch) – Moderator: Josh Seidemann (NCTA) ARA Lab and Security and Smart Building
  • Hongwei Zhang, Iowa State – ARA Wireless Living Lab for Smart and Connected Rural Communities
  • Jiri Skopek, Vice Chair Board of Governors 2030 Districts Network – GCTC Smart Building Supercluster update
  • Lan Jenson, CEO Cybertrust America – GCTC Smart Security and Privacy (SSP) update: 1 Coral Gables; 2 Regional Cybersecurity; 3 Blockchain Session 7: 1:30 – 2:00 pm, Moderator: Mo Shakouri Trust and Transparency

• Alex Huppernthal, Co-Chair NIST SC3 GCTC – Data Supercluster, Co-founder Aspen.ai, GCTC Data Supercluster “Sustaining Economic Activity by Establishing Trust and Transparency” – learn how successful smart communities move forward with new technologies that measure air, water, and other qualities affecting the health and well-being of citizens, businesses, education attendees. Managing the wealth of citizen provided and approved data by demonstrating use-cases and benefits *prior* to deployment of measurements made in the cyber-physical environment. By Session 8: Optional Tours (2- 5pm) One or more of the following

Session 8: 2:30 – 4:30 pm, Tours & Demonstrations

• Purdue Agronomy Center for Research & Education WIFI, LoRaWAN, & sensors
o IoT4Ag project overview & widgets
o WHIN Testbed sensor systems
o ISOBlue computation and communications platform with CAN & video data

  • The SMART Consortium
  • Autonomous & Connected systems initiative
  • Digital Manufacturing Testbed 5:00 pm, Optional Disc golf outing (Slater Hill on Purdue campus) Session 9: Friday, July 23, 2021, AM – WHIN Ag Alliance “System,” Benefits, and WHIN Aerostat visit – Pat Corey, VP of Engagement, Wabash Heartland Innovation Network (WHIN) The Wabash Heartland Innovation Network (WHIN) has deployed an RTO Wireless AeroSite, flying at 1500 feet, to test the feasibility of using fiber-tethered aerostat technology to provide both access and backhaul for rural areas. WHIN’s aerostat is located in White County, Indiana, about 25 miles north of Purdue University. Its telecommunications capability includes LoRaWAN, supporting digital ag and manufacturing technology in WHIN’s Living IoT Lab. The aerostat also carries 5.8 GHz gear for initial broadband testing before CBRS technology is deployed later this year. The aerostat is part of WHIN’s research network, which will be used to generate publically available use cases to address technology and business issues for both broadband and narrowband rural applications.

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