Project Goals: To connect five classrooms and Library/IMC to the Internet.

Implementation: Volunteers to assist with the installation of wiring, patch panel, and data ports. Sponsors to provide NetDay installation kits and technical support.

The basis of the plan was to look at NetDay ⁽¹⁾ as an opportunity and stepping stone toward the integration of the various systems within the school building. These systems include: automatic temperature/energy management controls, fire alarm systems, security systems, and voice/data/video communications. Typically, each of these systems are designed, bid, and installed in a standalone manner with separate raceways and independent remote access connections. The integration of all of these electronic systems with secure access leads to the term "Intelligent Building ⁽²⁾". Figure 1 shows an integrated approach to this system design methodology making the best use of limited available funds to simultaneously meet the code compliance, operations & maintenance, building, and educational and technology needs of the district.

Schools typically include annual funding in capital outlay for renovations and replacement of these various building systems. These needs can be further categorized as health and safety/code compliance (Level 1), operations and maintenance (Level 2), building structure/cosmetic (Level 3), and educational and technology (Level 4).

The opportunity now exists to provide high bandwidth connection’s (i.e. T-1 speed or better) to each building that could service ALL systems simultaneously when planning for these ongoing construction projects. Over time as the need increases for more bandwidth, all systems will simultaneously benefit from the upgrade.

To successfully implement NetDay, a team composed of Department of Facility and Service Operation staff (Supervisors, Trade Foremen, Mechanics), Central Office and Technology Staff, School Principals, Staff/Students, Paterson Education Fund members, NetDay Sponsors and Volunteers all worked together to make the first implementation steps a success.

Prior to the on-site NetDay activities site-specific planning ⁽³⁾ (i.e., equipment locations, rooms to be connected, etc.) and preparation (NetDay roughing) were required. Also, additional materials and supplies had been ordered and installed in addition to the basics included in the NetDay kits. The installation of the wall-mounted telecommunications enclosures, 120V power, provisions for high-speed access to the building, raceway installation, drilling, and rough wiring of the other telecommunications enclosures occurred before NetDay volunteers arrived. The systems have been designed to allow easy, low-cost expansion beyond the first five classrooms and Library/IMC to be connected on NetDay.

On the actual day that volunteers arrived, district staff and sponsors worked to make the day productive and informative. Before the volunteers went out in the building to wire the rooms they first participated in hands-on activities to learn the fundamentals of working with Category 5 cable and proper termination methods to the patch panel and data outlets. After the basics, the volunteers tagged and pulled the cable from the classrooms to the telecommunication enclosure using the pre-installed raceway systems.

Because this roughing work was completed before NetDay volunteers it was possible to demonstrate Internet connectivity the same day using the wires that they had just installed. By the end of the day, all team members felt a very strong sense of comradeship, pride, and accomplishment.

At this point, NetDay could be viewed has having been completed. However, NetDay can also be considered as the first step to the Intelligent Building and the following opportunities.

One of the fundamental concerns with NetDay was that it was based on a kit that included wire, and patch panels and data outlets. ⁽⁴⁾ These components are a very small part (3%-5%) of the true cost to provide for Internet connectivity to the classrooms and Library. Also, once the patch panel is mounted on the wall and wires are terminated to this point it will most likely be in this location for many, many years.

Various design guidelines have recommended that dedicated space be provided for communications rooms and closets on various floors within the school building. In a typical school retrofit, floor space is at a premium, and this is not a realistic option.

This was especially true in the City of Paterson where most school buildings were constructed in the late 1800s and early 1900s. This led to the development of a plan based on 24- and 48-inch wall-mounted telecommunications enclosures. These enclosures are located on walls as space permits on each floor and provide for the permanent home of the patch panel and various electronics needed to integrate the systems.

Typically, this will include the main 48-inch enclosure with the shelves or rack-mounted devices including: high-speed line to router, Ethernet 10/100 switched hub(s) and the NetDay patch panel. The main enclosure is usually located in close proximity to the telephone company’s panel that also serves the building. This enclosure then connects the other 24- or 48-inch telecommunications enclosures located on the walls on various floors of the building within the distance constraints of an Ethernet-based system (i.e., 300-330 feet).

For the various systems to be connected, an integrated raceway system is sized and installed to allow connection of all of the telecommunication enclosures. This integrated raceway system also includes provisions for all classrooms, offices, cafeteria, auditorium, mechanical equipment rooms, etc. At any time, additional Category 5 cable and 10baseT data outlets can be installed and activated allowing the connection of a new device to the system.

All renovations, additions, and new construction must be designed using this integrated methodology. All work including new automatic temperature control systems, fire alarm systems, security and surveillance systems, teleconference rooms, and interactive media centers must be designed with connectivity in mind. The building local area network may include several sub-level networks including small LANs in computer labs, security systems, fire alarm systems, energy management systems, and other networks such as Lonworks. ⁽⁵⁾ All of these subsystems must include gateways to allow local and wide-area network connectivity and management at higher levels using an Ethernet backbone and Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). ⁽⁶⁾

Digital video surveillance and security systems can be network based and serve all buildings simultaneously in a district. ⁽⁷⁾ The technology that is used for these types of true digital closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems can also be used in the design and construction of teleconference rooms and interactive media production both inside the local area network and on a district-wide area Intranet/Internet networks.

All of these systems are converging to a network backbone based on copper Category 5 and fiber-optic cable. Millions of miles of new cable will need to be designed, installed, and connected to allow full Intranet/Internet connectivity of schools, libraries, municipal/state/federal government facilities, businesses, and homes.

The new connections of Intelligent Building Systems and these diverse organizations will open new areas of mutual interest and partnering as described in the following section.

The introduction and integration of network-based systems at all levels of technology within the building, and the school district and with provisions for Intranet/Internet connectivity will open many new areas of home, work, school, library, and college/university opportunities.

At the simplest levels it will be enabled by Internet e-mail and web browsing. At the higher levels the potential for home, work, school, library, and college/university connectivity via the Internet will allow collaborative efforts and exposure to the business world.

NetDay Volunteers: The need for volunteers with technical knowledge and those looking to obtain valuable hands-on experience will continue.

NetDay Sponsors: Sponsors providing technical expertise and resources at the NetDay kit level and beyond will still be needed.

School to Work: The Intelligent Building and the connectivity from school to home to work via the Internet will expand upon the viability of this concept. The availability of dial-up/wireless connections from home to school will allow educational opportunities beyond the school day and year. Network Computers (NC) or laptops will be required to be signed out to students/staff to meet these off-site needs. The staff/students would also be exposed to telecommuting opportunities.

Workforce training: As previously mentioned, there will be a need for installing millions of miles of new wire and fiber-optic cable to provide for Internet connectivity in the school, at home, and in the workplace within the next few years.

Internet Connectivity: This new market will open new entrepreneurial opportunities for schools. At the basic level the school district could expand on in-house resources and become an Internet Service Provider (ISP). ⁽⁸⁾ As an ISP the district could offer Internet Connectivity to homes, businesses, and other school districts and local government. Students and Staff with the necessary skills could provide these services which are needed 24 hours per day year round.

Web Development: Thousands of new jobs are being created to meet the needs of schools, businesses, and organizations to provide a presence on the Internet. This process requires creativity as well as artistic and technical skill. This is another entrepreneurial area for Students and Staff in the District to provide these services to the market.

Revitalization of City Businesses via Internet Electronic Commerce: The City of Paterson has a unique opportunity to offer its services online to a new worldwide market. Using the services of Internet connectivity and web development, the entrepreneurial Students and Staff could offer businesses and merchants access to the electronic marketplace. Existing businesses and new businesses in the city can take advantage of this opportunity to offer their services "around the clock." Through collaborative efforts the City of Paterson can take advantage of industrial roots in the new high-technology Internet-connected world.

Training Center: All of these NetDay spin-offs will require initial and ongoing training. The District and its new Intelligent Buildings will be in a unique position to provide these technical skills and workshops to the community.

Hi-Tech Intelligent Building Testing: The systems now being designed, bid, and installed in the District could provide for new partnerships and collaborative endeavors. A fully networked building, district, and city will provide a unique setting for businesses testing new high-technology systems as they are being designed and developed.

School Choice, Virtual Classroom, and Continuing Workforce Development: The ability for students/parents to obtain the best skills, knowledge, and expertise will no longer be based on proximity. Internet connectivity and high-speed bandwidth connections will offer new opportunities for distance learning from K-12 and beyond.

Knowledge Workers and Agent Technology: As more and more information becomes computer readable and available on the Internet there will be a need for specialized information-based services. These services can be from the basic level of obtaining and summarizing this information as knowledge workers to the development of entities or agents ⁽⁹⁾ that automatically perform these functions.

The Future of the Internet: As the media and businesses based on sound, video, print, and computer technologies continue to merge during the next decade, connectivity will play an integral role. ⁽¹⁰⁾ The Intelligent Building and Internet connections (preferably continuous) will allow staff/students to keep informed and ready to enter the new and rapidly changing workplace.