University of North Dakota

Smart World Lab

Cyber-Physical Systems · AI Engineering · Digital Twin · Smart Infrastructure

A comprehensive, interdisciplinary laboratory designed to support research, education, and innovation in CPS, AI Engineering, Digital Twin Technologies, Smart Cities, Robotics, UAV Systems, and Digital Fabrication.

Team View Equipment
0+

NSF Proposals

0K

Budget (USD)

0+

Students Served

0

Departments

Funding Goal — In Progress
$10M+
Targeting $10M+ in cumulative funding across NSF, DoD, DoE & federal contracts over 5 years
Progress~3%
$0$2.5M$5M$7.5M$10M+
Smart World OS Platform Launch ↗
01 SENSE
02 COMPUTE
03 SIMULATE
04 FABRICATE
05 DEPLOY
06 MONITOR
Challenges & Solutions

From Pain Points to Practical Impact

Smart World Lab turns complex institutional challenges into deployable solutions through coordinated AI, CPS, digital twin, and robotics workflows.

Key Challenges

Fragmented Labs

Tools and expertise spread across departments with limited integration.

Slow Translation

AI research outcomes often do not reach practical classroom and operations workflows.

Workforce Gap

Students need more real system-level experience in modern CPS and AI pipelines.

Data Silos

Critical data lives in disconnected systems, limiting model quality and institutional visibility.

Compliance Pressure

Rapid AI adoption increases risk around governance, safety, and responsible usage.

Smart World Solutions

Unified Platform

One operating framework linking sensing, compute, simulation, and deployment.

Rapid Validation

Digital twin and XR loops reduce risk and shorten time from concept to field use.

Talent Pipeline

Hands-on projects prepare students and faculty teams for high-impact funded work.

Shared Data Backbone

Cross-center data architecture supports consistent analytics and model lifecycle management.

AI Governance Loop

Validation, monitoring, and policy controls make deployment safe, scalable, and trusted.

Transition Story: Problem to Impact

01

Identify

Map bottlenecks across teaching, research, and operations.

02

Integrate

Unify tools, infrastructure, and data into one coordinated environment.

03

Validate

Use AI gateway checks for safety, compliance, and performance.

04

Deploy

Move verified models into classrooms, labs, and partner projects.

05

Scale Impact

Grow funding, workforce readiness, and regional innovation outcomes.

Explore Full Why · What · How
Partners & Sponsors
Who We Are

About Smart World Lab

The University of North Dakota's Smart World Lab is a comprehensive, interdisciplinary research and education infrastructure designed to unify sensing, computation, simulation, fabrication, and deployment within a single operational framework.

The lab addresses a critical and time-sensitive need at UND. Faculty across Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, and Aerospace Engineering are actively engaged in research requiring AI-driven modeling, digital twin simulation, real-time sensing, and physical system deployment — evidenced by five NSF proposals currently in development, with two already submitted.

A distinguishing feature is the development of an AI-driven operating and resource management system developed at UND, orchestrating all lab components within a unified environment, enabling secure multi-user access and 24/7 operation.

Research-Grade Infrastructure H100/A100 supercomputing, advanced sensing, robotics
Multidisciplinary Collaboration 5 departments, shared university-wide platform
STEM Education & Workforce 20–30 students simultaneously, next-gen courses
AI Engineering
CPS
Digital Twin
UAV Systems
Smart World

Executive Summary

The University of North Dakota (UND) proposes the establishment of the Smart World Lab — a strategic institutional investment with a total requested budget of approximately $300,000, structured with prioritized implementation tiers. The lab will establish UND as a competitive and forward-looking institution in AI engineering and cyber-physical systems, delivering long-term benefits in research, education, and workforce development. It will directly support the execution of current NSF proposals and significantly expand UND's capacity to develop and submit future proposals to NSF, DoD, and DoE.

Guiding Direction

Mission & Vision

Our mission and vision define how Smart World Lab translates advanced research into measurable impact for UND, North Dakota, and beyond.

Our Mission

To build an integrated, multidisciplinary platform that accelerates AI engineering, cyber-physical systems, and digital twin innovation through shared infrastructure, applied research, and hands-on learning.

  • Deliver research-grade facilities across AI, sensing, robotics, and simulation
  • Enable cross-department collaboration and proposal competitiveness
  • Train students with practical, real-world CPS and AI workflows
0
Research Centers
0+
Researchers
0
Active Projects

Our Vision

To position UND as a national model for AI-driven smart systems by connecting cutting-edge research, responsible technology adoption, and workforce-ready education in one living innovation ecosystem.

  • Become a leading regional hub for smart infrastructure and intelligent autonomy
  • Bridge advanced AI capabilities with everyday academic and societal needs
  • Drive long-term impact through industry, government, and community partnerships
Research Output78%
Industry Partnerships62%
Student Engagement91%
Strategic Planning

5-Year Strategic Roadmap

A detailed quarterly plan from April 2026 to March 2031 — guiding Smart World Lab from first launch to national leadership.

Overall 5-Year JourneyYear 1 of 5 — In Progress
Y1Y2Y3Y4Y5
Q2 2026Apr Jun 2026

Infrastructure & Setup

  • Lab space renovation and equipment installation
  • Deploy AI Center GPU cluster (H100 / A100)
  • Launch Smart World Lab website and brand
  • Onboard founding team: 5 faculty, 10 students
Active Now
Q3 2026Jul Sep 2026

First Research Cohort

  • Launch 3 pilot research projects (AI, CPS, DT)
  • Establish CPS Center operational baseline
  • Submit first NSF seed funding proposal
  • Student training bootcamp for lab tools
Q4 2026Oct Dec 2026

Partnerships & Outreach

  • Sign first 2 industry MoUs
  • Launch Robotics Center initial activity
  • Host first public open-house and demo day
  • Submit 2 journal papers for review
Q1 2027Jan Mar 2027

First Research Output

  • 3 peer-reviewed publications submitted/accepted
  • Digital Twin proof-of-concept demo
  • 4 active grant proposals in pipeline
  • Student cohort grows to 25 active researchers
Q2 2027Apr Jun 2027

Funding Milestone

  • Secure first major grant (NSF/DoD, $500K+)
  • Robotics Center fully operational
  • Industry capstone projects begin
  • 5+ publications in active pipeline
Q3 2027Jul Sep 2027

Scaling Operations

  • Upgrade HPC cluster capacity by 2×
  • Cross-department project (3 departments)
  • AR/VR immersive lab expansion complete
  • Annual Research Symposium #1 hosted
Q4 2027Oct Dec 2027

Technology Transfer

  • Release open-source AI/CPS software toolkit
  • File first patent application
  • Submit federal contract proposals
  • Student cohort grows to 35+ researchers
Q1 2028Jan Mar 2028

Mid-Term Review

  • 10+ peer-reviewed publications total
  • 3 grants secured (cumulative $750K+)
  • External advisory board established
  • First industry licensing agreement signed
Q2 2028Apr Jun 2028

National Visibility

  • Digital Twin partnership with national research lab
  • Invited talks at 3 national conferences
  • Community STEM outreach program launched
  • Second open-source toolkit release
Q3 2028Jul Sep 2028

Smart Systems Summit

  • Host "Smart Systems Summit" at UND (200+ attendees)
  • 20+ institutions represented
  • Government agency collaboration MoU signed
  • 15+ student researchers mentored this year
Q4 2028Oct Dec 2028

Federal Contract Secured

  • Federal contract awarded ($1M+ milestone)
  • 5 UND courses integrated with lab infrastructure
  • International collaboration initiated (EU partner)
  • Phase 4 autonomous systems agenda drafted
Q1 2029Jan Mar 2029

Autonomy Focus

  • Autonomous systems research program launched
  • 20+ total publications milestone reached
  • 2 patent applications filed (cumulative)
  • Industry spin-off exploration begins
Q2 2029Apr Jun 2029

Major Grant Award

  • NSF CISE or DoE grant secured ($1.5M+)
  • National workshop series launched
  • 5-department curriculum integration complete
  • Tech transfer office engagement formalized
Q3 2029Jul Sep 2029

Industry Leadership

  • Industry licensing deal signed (recurring revenue)
  • 50+ students trained & mentored since founding
  • International research network: 5 institutions
  • Best-paper awards at 2 conferences
Q4 2029Oct Dec 2029

Facility Expansion

  • New facility expansion approved by UND
  • 3 patent applications filed (cumulative)
  • 30+ publications milestone achieved
  • Target: top-20 national smart systems lab ranking
Q1 2030Jan Mar 2030

Regional Hub Status

  • Officially recognized as regional smart systems hub
  • Annual symposium grows to 300+ attendees
  • Graduate program specialization launched
  • Federal partnership scope expanded
Q2 2030Apr Jun 2030

National Recognition

  • Achieve top-10 national smart systems lab ranking
  • Host international research delegations
  • Cumulative funding surpasses $5M
  • 40+ peer-reviewed publications milestone
Q3 2030Jul Sep 2030

Global Network

  • International network: EU + Asia (8 institutions)
  • PhD program in Smart Systems officially launched
  • Industry consortium established (10+ companies)
  • Second facility construction begins
Q4 2030Oct Dec 2030

Scale & Scope

  • 75+ active student researchers
  • 50+ total publications milestone achieved
  • 5 patents filed across all research areas
  • 3 federal agencies as active partners
Q1 2031Jan Mar 2031

5-Year Milestone Celebration

  • 5-year impact showcase and celebration event
  • Next-generation research agenda publicly launched
  • UND Smart World confirmed as national model
  • Legacy partnerships secured for the next decade
The Journey

Our Storyboard

How Smart World Lab came to life - from a bold idea to a living innovation platform at UND.

5 Chapters From concept to national impact
2023-2031 Idea, build, launch, and scale
4 Core Centers AI, CPS, Digital Twin, Robotics
Chapter 01

The Spark

2023 - The Idea

Faculty at UND's School of Engineering identified a major gap: AI, robotics, and CPS capabilities were strong, but disconnected. A unified lab became the strategic direction.

  • Cross-department workshops launched
  • Problem statements mapped to state needs
  • Initial vision paper completed
Problem IdentifiedTeam Assembled
Chapter 02

The Blueprint

2024 - Planning and Design

A multidisciplinary team co-designed the four-pillar structure: AI Center, Cyber-Physical Systems, Digital Twins, and Robotics, aligned with UND strategy and regional impact.

  • Facility and compute requirements modeled
  • 5-year milestones and KPIs defined
  • Proposal pipeline initiated
Architecture DesignedBudget Scoped4 Centers Defined
Chapter 03

Building It

2025 - Construction and Procurement

Lab spaces were renovated and high-value infrastructure deployed across compute, sensing, robotics, and immersive systems to support integrated workflows.

  • GPU infrastructure and edge stacks configured
  • Robotics and UAV test zones commissioned
  • Digital twin integration architecture validated
H100 / A100 DeployedRobotics OnlineXR Lab Ready
Chapter 04

Launch Day

April 2026 - Go Live

Smart World Lab opened to researchers, students, and partners. Initial projects started, the platform launched, and execution on the 5-year roadmap began.

  • First cohort and pilot projects activated
  • Public website and engagement channels launched
  • Industry and agency outreach started
Live NowFirst Cohort Active5-Year Plan Running
Chapter 05

What's Next

2027-2031 - The Horizon

Scaling toward national recognition through sustained funding, strategic partnerships, high-impact publications, patents, and workforce development.

  • Multi-year federal contracts targeted
  • Interstate and global collaborations expanded
  • Smart World model replicated across domains
In ProgressNational ModelLegacy in the Making
Challenges & Solutions

Why · What · How

The three-lens framework that guides every decision at Smart World Lab — from identifying real problems to delivering real solutions.

WHY
WHAT
HOW
WHY
The Challenges We Face
01

Research Fragmentation

AI, robotics, sensing, and simulation tools are scattered across departments with no shared infrastructure, making cross-disciplinary projects slow and expensive.

02

Workforce Gap

Students graduate without hands-on experience in real CPS and AI workflows — the exact skills that industry and government agencies urgently need.

03

Limited Competitiveness

Without shared research-grade infrastructure, UND faculty struggle to compete for large federal grants that require demonstrated facilities and collaboration.

04

Technology Silos

Smart city, autonomous systems, and digital twin technologies advance independently — preventing the integrated solutions real-world deployments demand.

WHAT
What Smart World Lab Delivers

Unified AI & CPS Platform

One integrated lab where AI, sensing, digital twins, and robotics share infrastructure, data pipelines, and compute resources.

Workforce-Ready Education

Hands-on training programs, capstone projects, and research mentorship that produce graduates ready for the AI-driven economy.

Industry & Government Bridge

Structured partnerships, MoUs, and contract research that turn lab breakthroughs into deployable products and policies.

Regional Impact Engine

Smart infrastructure solutions tailored to North Dakota's needs — agriculture, energy, transportation, and emergency response.

HOW
Our Approach & Methods
1

Sense the Problem

We deploy multi-modal sensor arrays — LiDAR, thermal, hyperspectral — to collect high-fidelity real-world data, ensuring our models are grounded in reality rather than assumptions.

2

Compute & Learn

Our NVIDIA H100 / A100 cluster processes large-scale datasets using state-of-the-art deep learning, reinforcement learning, and edge AI pipelines to extract actionable insight.

3

Simulate & Validate

Digital twin environments and physics-based XR simulations let us test solutions safely before field deployment — reducing cost, risk, and iteration time dramatically.

4

Deploy & Automate

Autonomous robots, embedded AI agents, and smart control systems carry validated solutions from the lab into real infrastructure — with continuous monitoring and feedback loops.

5

Collaborate & Scale

Every solution is published, open-sourced where possible, and shared with industry and government partners — creating a multiplier effect that extends our impact far beyond UND.

Core Architecture

CPS Lifecycle Framework

The Smart World Lab follows a complete Cyber-Physical Systems lifecycle, enabling seamless end-to-end system development.

Smart World OS Platform Launch ↗
01

Sense

Multi-modal real-world data acquisition using LiDAR, hyperspectral imaging, thermal cameras, and depth sensors for high-fidelity environment understanding.

  • LiDAR (Ouster OS1)
  • Hyperspectral
  • Thermal (FLIR)
  • Intel RealSense
02

Compute

Large-scale AI model training and real-time processing using research-grade NVIDIA H100 and A100 GPU supercomputing infrastructure with continuous multi-user workloads.

  • NVIDIA H100
  • NVIDIA A100
  • Threadripper Workstation
03

Simulate

High-fidelity digital twin creation and physics-based simulation environments with XR platforms for immersive interaction and AI-driven predictive modeling.

  • Digital Twins
  • XR / Meta Quest 3
  • AI Simulation
04

Fabricate

Transition from digital design to physical systems using industrial 3D printing, CNC machining, and PCB fabrication for rapid prototyping and hardware development.

  • Builder Extreme 2000 PRO
  • PCB Milling
  • Voltera V-One
05

Deploy

Real-world implementation and validation through industrial robotics, mobile platforms, and UAV systems bridging the gap between simulation and application.

  • UR5e Robotic Arm
  • TurtleBot 4
  • DJI Matrice 30T
06

Monitor

Continuous system observation and adaptive feedback through edge AI devices, IoT networks, and data analytics platforms enabling systems that learn and evolve.

  • Jetson Nano
  • IoT Systems
  • Edge AI
AI ICEBERG

FROM AIR (INTELLIGENCE) TO
DEPLOY & MONITOR (REALITY)

SMART WORLD LAB
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA
AIR LAYER VISIBLE INTELLIGENCE
ChatGPT
  • Conversational AI
  • Reasoning
  • Knowledge
  • Creativity
Claude
  • Analysis
  • Long-context
  • Writing
  • Insight
Prompt Engineering
  • Prompt Design
  • Context Structuring
  • Optimization
  • Iteration
─── WATERLINE ───
WATERLINE LAYER INTERFACE & ORCHESTRATION
  • User Interfaces
  • API Gateways
  • Orchestration
  • Workflows
  • Safety & Guardrails
FOUNDATION LAYER MODELS & KNOWLEDGE
  • Foundation Models (LLMs)
  • Fine-tuned Models
  • Embeddings & Vector DB
  • Knowledge Graphs
  • RAG Pipelines
INFRASTRUCTURE LAYER COMPUTE & DATA
  • GPU/TPU Compute
  • Cloud / On-Prem
  • Data Storage
  • Databases
  • Data Lakes
FABRICATION LAYER BUILD & TEST
  • Data Processing
  • Model Training
  • Simulation
  • Testing & Validation
  • CI/CD Pipelines
DEPLOYMENT LAYER REAL WORLD IMPACT
  • API Deployment
  • Edge Deployment
  • Applications
  • Integration
  • User Adoption
MONITORING LAYER OBSERVE & IMPROVE
  • Monitoring
  • Logging
  • Analytics
  • Alerts
  • Continuous Improvement
AI
Waterline
AIR LAYER
AI THINKING SPACE
ChatGPT · Claude · Prompt Engineering
INTERFACE & ORCHESTRATION
CONTROL CENTER
Multi-screen ops · API routing
MODELS & KNOWLEDGE
AI CORE LAB
LLMs · RAG · Vector databases
INFRASTRUCTURE
DATA CENTER
GPU clusters · Cloud · Storage
BUILD & TEST
FABRICATION LAB
Training runs · CI/CD · Simulation
DEPLOYMENT
REAL WORLD LAB
Edge · APIs · Live applications
MONITOR & IMPROVE
OPERATIONS CENTER
Dashboards · Alerts · Logging
THE AI JOURNEY: FROM INTELLIGENCE IN THE AIR TO IMPACT IN THE REAL WORLD
Unified Efforts

Projects & Initiatives Hub

Every initiative at Smart World Lab spans multiple lifecycle stages. Select a project to see exactly where it lives — from sensing the world to deploying intelligent solutions.

Sense
Compute
Simulate
Fabricate
Deploy
Monitor
AI · Education

Human–AI Learning Gateway

Active

An intelligent platform that personalises academic and research workflows using large language models, adaptive tutoring, and real-time feedback — connecting students, faculty, and lab resources through a unified AI-powered interface.

Compute
Simulate
Monitor
LLM / GPTAdaptive LearningAI Interface
CPS · Infrastructure

Smart Infrastructure Monitor

Active

Continuous structural health monitoring of bridges, roads, and buildings using multi-modal sensor networks (LiDAR, thermal, strain gauges) feeding AI models that predict failures before they occur.

Sense
Compute
Simulate
Monitor
LiDARThermal ImagingPredictive AI
Digital Twin · CPS

Urban Digital Twin Platform

Planning

A living digital replica of UND campus and surrounding urban infrastructure — continuously updated from real sensors, used to test smart city interventions, energy optimisations, and emergency scenarios in simulation before real deployment.

Sense
Compute
Simulate
Monitor
Digital TwinSmart CityXR Visualisation
Robotics · UAV

Autonomous UAV Inspection

Active

DJI Matrice 30T and custom PX4 drones autonomously inspect critical infrastructure — pipelines, wind turbines, bridges — using onboard AI to flag anomalies in real time and feed data back to the digital twin.

Sense
Compute
Deploy
Monitor
DJI Matrice 30TPX4Edge AI
Fabrication · CPS

AI-Driven Fabrication Lab

Active

Closing the loop from digital design to physical object — AI-optimised generative design, simulation-validated prototypes, and automated 3D printing workflows using the Builder Extreme 2000 PRO and PCB milling tools.

Compute
Simulate
Fabricate
Deploy
Builder ExtremePCB MillingGenerative Design
Education · Digital Twin

Immersive XR Training Environments

Planning

Meta Quest 3 and custom XR platforms create fully immersive training scenarios — students and engineers rehearse dangerous maintenance tasks, emergency response, and complex assembly in safe, photorealistic simulation before touching real systems.

Simulate
Deploy
Monitor
Meta Quest 3XR / AR / VRHaptic Feedback
CPS · AI · ND Focus

Edge AI for Smart Agriculture

Planning

North Dakota's agricultural sector powered by Jetson Nano edge devices, hyperspectral crop analysis, and AI models running directly in the field — monitoring soil health, crop stress, and irrigation needs without cloud dependency.

Sense
Compute
Deploy
Monitor
Jetson NanoHyperspectralIoT
CPS · Cybersecurity

CPS Cybersecurity Testbed

Planning

A dedicated safe-to-fail environment for testing cyber attacks against physical infrastructure control systems — enabling researchers to develop and validate AI-based intrusion detection, anomaly response, and resilience frameworks.

Sense
Simulate
Deploy
Monitor
Intrusion DetectionAI ResilienceSCADA
Interactive 3D Model

Smart City Visualization

A procedural WebGL smart city — drag to rotate, scroll to zoom. This represents the kind of cyber-physical environment the Smart World Lab designs, deploys, and monitors.

Drag to rotate Scroll to zoom Auto-spins when idle
Real-World Testbed

UND Campus — Grand Forks, ND

The Smart World Lab is physically embedded across the UND campus, deploying sensors, networks, and AI systems in a live urban environment.

  • Smart World Lab HQ
  • IoT Sensor Grid
  • UAV Test Zone
UND Campus
Open full map
What We Do

Research Areas & Objectives

Eight strategic research and operational objectives driving the Smart World Lab.

Objective 1

Cyber-Physical Systems

End-to-end CPS lifecycle platform enabling real-world data acquisition, AI model training, simulation, fabrication, and deployment for smart cities and infrastructure monitoring.

  • CPS Lifecycle
  • Infrastructure
  • Sensing
Objective 2

AI Engineering & Digital Twins

Research-grade AI supercomputing (H100/A100) for digital twin development of infrastructure and urban systems, large-scale simulation, and real-time predictive modeling.

  • H100/A100
  • Digital Twin
  • Predictive Modeling
Objective 3

Multidisciplinary Research

Shared university-wide infrastructure enabling collaboration across Civil, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, and Aerospace Engineering.

  • Civil Engineering
  • Aerospace
  • CS & EE
Objective 4

Digital Fabrication

Industrial-scale fabrication including a $40,000 large-format 3D printer and PCB fabrication tools for rapid design-to-deployment workflows and real-world validation.

  • 3D Printing
  • PCB Design
  • Prototyping
Objective 5

Robotics & UAV Systems

Robotics platforms and UAV systems for autonomous infrastructure monitoring, field deployment, and AI model validation under real-world conditions.

  • UR5e Arm
  • DJI Matrice 30T
  • PX4 UAV
Objective 6

STEM Education

Next-generation courses in AI Engineering, CPS, Digital Twin Modeling, Smart Infrastructure, Simulation & XR, and Cybersecurity for Critical Infrastructure.

  • AI Engineering
  • XR Systems
  • Cybersecurity
Objective 7

AI Resource Management

Custom AI-driven operating and resource management system developed at UND, enabling 24/7 access, multi-user scheduling, and optimized utilization of high-value equipment.

  • 24/7 Operation
  • Multi-User
  • Scheduling
Objective 8

External Funding & Competitiveness

Directly supporting 5 NSF proposals (2 already submitted), enabling future proposals to NSF, DoD, and DoE, and expanding interdisciplinary research collaborations.

  • NSF
  • DoD
  • DoE
University Backing

What University of North Dakota Contributes

Smart World Lab is enabled by UND through dedicated physical space, shared infrastructure, faculty expertise, operations support, and long-term institutional commitment.

5+Departments actively integrated
20-30Students trained at once
4Centers under one research ecosystem
24/7Lab operations and data pipelines

Physical Space and Facilities

UND provides dedicated lab zones for compute, robotics, sensing, and digital fabrication, plus shared classrooms for project-based learning and interdisciplinary capstones.

  • Research testbeds for CPS and digital twins
  • Hands-on teaching space for workforce training
  • Integrated lab layout across multiple workflows

Equipment and Technical Assets

UND supports acquisition and integration of advanced assets across GPUs, robotics, UAV systems, XR, and sensing platforms used in both research and instruction.

  • HPC-grade AI compute and edge AI hardware
  • Robotics, UAV, and autonomy toolchains
  • 3D printing, PCB, and prototyping systems

People and Academic Strength

UND contributes faculty leadership, research mentoring, graduate and undergraduate talent, and cross-department collaboration to accelerate project outcomes.

  • Faculty from civil, mechanical, EE, CS, and aerospace
  • Graduate researchers and student project cohorts
  • Curriculum integration with real systems

Funding, Operations, and Partnerships

UND provides grant development support, operational structure, and external partnership channels with agencies and industry to scale Smart World impact.

  • Proposal and compliance support for federal funding
  • Operational support for secure lab management
  • Industry and government engagement pathways

Institutional Commitments

Cross-college coordination, long-term strategy alignment, and shared governance structures that keep the lab sustainable beyond one funding cycle.

Regional and National Impact

UND positions Smart World Lab as a platform for North Dakota innovation while contributing to national priorities in resilient infrastructure, autonomy, and intelligent systems.

Proposed Infrastructure

Lab Infrastructure Design

A fully integrated cyber-physical ecosystem with six tightly coupled layers ensuring seamless data flow and iterative system development.

Layer 1 — Sensing

Multi-modal sensing technologies providing the data foundation for all CPS and AI operations. Supports infrastructure health monitoring, AI perception, and UAV-based mapping.

LiDAR — High-resolution 3D mapping
Hyperspectral Imaging — Material & environmental analysis
Thermal Cameras — Infrastructure diagnostics
Depth & Vision — Robotics perception
Civil · CS · Aerospace · Environmental
Layer 2 — AI Supercomputing

Central intelligence powered by NVIDIA H100 and A100 GPU systems for large-scale AI training, digital twin simulations, and multi-user research workloads without cloud dependency.

2× NVIDIA H100 — Digital twin modeling
2× NVIDIA A100 — Distributed AI workloads
Threadripper Workstation — Central compute
10Gb Network + Storage — Data integration
CS · Civil · Mechanical · Aerospace
Layer 3 — Simulation & Digital Twin

High-fidelity digital twin platforms and XR environments for testing, optimizing, and validating systems before physical deployment, reducing risk and cost significantly.

Physics-based simulation environments
10× Meta Quest 3 — XR visualization
AI-driven predictive modeling
Smart city & urban infrastructure twins
Civil · CS · Aerospace · Mechanical
Layer 4 — Fabrication

Industrial-scale digital fabrication enabling rapid design-to-deployment workflows. Transitions digital designs into validated physical systems for real-world testing.

Builder Extreme 2000 PRO ($40K) — Full-scale 3D printing
Bantam PCB Milling Machine
Voltera V-One — Additive PCB printing
CNC & laser cutting systems
Mechanical · EE · Civil · CS
Layer 5 — Deployment

Robotics and UAV systems enabling real-world implementation and validation of AI models and CPS designs under operational conditions, bridging simulation and application.

UR5e Robotic Arm — Industrial automation
4× TurtleBot 4 — Mobile robotics platforms
DJI Matrice 30T — Infrastructure monitoring UAV
3× PX4 Drone Kits — UAV autonomy development
Aerospace · Mechanical · CS · Civil
Layer 6 — Monitoring & Feedback

Continuous system observation completing the CPS loop through edge AI, IoT sensing, and analytics platforms enabling adaptive systems that learn and evolve in real time.

15× Jetson Nano — Edge AI processing
15× Raspberry Pi — IoT & CPS training
Distributed IoT sensing networks
Data logging & analytics platforms
CS · EE · Civil · All Departments
Equipment & Budget

Detailed Equipment Inventory

Total requested budget: approximately $300,000, structured with prioritized implementation tiers.

AI Supercomputing$100,000
Advanced Sensing$51,200
Digital Fabrication$49,099
Robotics & UAV$58,000
Simulation & XR$5,000
Classroom & Edge AI$3,750
Infrastructure$7,951
Category Equipment Qty Unit Price Total Cost Role in Smart World Lab
AI Supercomputing
NVIDIA H100 GPU2$30,000 $60,000Large-scale AI, digital twin modeling
NVIDIA A100 GPU2$12,000 $24,000Distributed AI workloads
Threadripper Multi-GPU Workstation1$16,000 $16,000Central compute system
Advanced Sensing
Ouster OS1 LiDAR1$10,000 $10,0003D mapping and smart infrastructure sensing
Hyperspectral Camera1$35,000 $35,000Material and environmental analysis
FLIR Thermal Cameras2$2,500 $5,000Infrastructure diagnostics
Intel RealSense Cameras6$200 $1,200Depth perception and AI vision
Digital Fabrication
Builder Extreme 2000 PRO (Large 3D Printer)1$40,000 $40,000Full-scale CPS prototyping
Bantam PCB Milling Machine1$4,999 $4,999Subtractive PCB fabrication
Voltera V-One Digital PCB Printer1$3,500 $3,500Additive PCB prototyping
Soldering Stations2$300 $600Electronics assembly
Robotics Systems
UR5e Robotic Arm1$35,000 $35,000Industrial automation and robotics research
TurtleBot 44$2,000 $8,000Mobile robotics and CPS experimentation
UAV Systems
DJI Matrice 30T1$12,000 $12,000Smart infrastructure monitoring
PX4 Drone Kits3$1,000 $3,000UAV autonomy development
Simulation & XR
Meta Quest 310$500 $5,000Digital twin visualization and XR education
Classroom & Edge AI
Jetson Nano Kits15$150 $2,250Edge AI systems and student training
Raspberry Pi Kits15$100 $1,500IoT and CPS training platforms
Infrastructure
10Gb Network + Storage1$7,951 $7,951Data integration and system connectivity
Total Budget ~$300,000
Why This Matters

Motivation & Need

The rapid advancement of AI, cyber-physical systems, digital twins, and smart infrastructure technologies has fundamentally transformed engineering research. These domains are now central to national priorities in intelligent transportation, resilient infrastructure, autonomous systems, and defense.

At UND, existing infrastructure remains fragmented and insufficient. Resources are distributed across departments, lacking integration between sensing systems, computing platforms, simulation tools, and fabrication capabilities. This fragmentation limits end-to-end CPS research and constrains the scope and competitiveness of externally funded proposals.

Without this investment, UND risks falling behind in rapidly evolving fields central to the future of engineering and technology. With it, the university is positioned to become a leader in smart infrastructure, AI engineering, and integrated CPS research.

Fragmented Infrastructure

No unified integration between sensing, computing, simulation, and fabrication across departments.

Active NSF Proposals

5 NSF proposals in development (2 already submitted) requiring currently unavailable integrated capabilities.

New Curriculum Demand

Next-gen interdisciplinary courses require hands-on system-level lab environments not currently available.

Industry & Government Alignment

Digital twins and AI-driven monitoring now essential across industry and government sectors nationwide.

Broader Impact

Educational Impact & Multidisciplinary Integration

The Smart World Lab delivers significant broader impacts across research, education, and society.

Advanced Research

AI-driven digital twin systems, smart infrastructure monitoring, autonomous robotics, and multi-modal sensing and data fusion at research-grade scale.

Hands-On Education

20–30 students simultaneously gaining practical experience in AI, CPS, robotics, and smart cities using both research-grade and classroom-scale equipment.

Workforce Development

Preparing graduates aligned with national STEM priorities for careers in smart infrastructure, autonomous systems, AI engineering, and advanced manufacturing.

Industry Partnerships

Platform for applied research and technology development, strengthening partnerships with industry, government, and academic institutions worldwide.

Funding Competitiveness

Directly enabling 5 current NSF proposals and significantly enhancing capacity to secure future funding from NSF, DoD, DoE, and industry partners.

Societal Challenges

Research addressing sustainable urban development, disaster resilience, energy efficiency, and intelligent transportation systems.

Departments Served

Civil Engineering Smart infrastructure, digital twins, monitoring
Mechanical Engineering Robotics, fabrication, mechatronics
Electrical Engineering Embedded systems, PCB, sensing
Computer Science AI engineering, simulation, digital twins
Aerospace Engineering UAV systems, autonomous control, flight
Research Centers

Smart World Research Centers

Dedicated research centers advancing AI, cyber-physical systems, digital twins, and smart infrastructure.

AI & Intelligent Technology

AIT Center

AI-driven research hub integrating machine learning, computer vision, and intelligent systems with supercomputing infrastructure for real-world CPS applications.

  • Machine Learning
  • Computer Vision
  • HPC / GPU Cluster
  • Edge AI
Explore Center
Cyber-Physical Systems

CPS Center

Bridging the physical and digital worlds through embedded systems, real-time sensing, wireless networking, and autonomous control for smart environments.

  • Embedded Systems
  • IoT & Sensing
  • Wireless Networks
  • Autonomous Control
Explore Center
Simulation & Modeling

Digital Twin Center

Creating high-fidelity virtual replicas of physical systems to enable predictive maintenance, scenario planning, and real-time decision support at scale.

  • 3D Simulation
  • Real-Time Sync
  • Predictive Analytics
  • Smart Cities
Explore Center
Autonomous Systems

Robotics & UAV Center

Advancing autonomous ground and aerial platforms through intelligent navigation, multi-robot coordination, and UAV-based sensing for infrastructure inspection.

  • Autonomous Robots
  • UAV / Drones
  • SLAM Navigation
  • Multi-Agent Systems
Explore Center
Team Hub

People Profile Hub

Meet the people building Smart World Lab across faculty leadership, research execution, student innovation, and operations.

PI

Principal Investigator

Faculty
Lab Director and Lead Researcher

Shapes strategy, secures partnerships, and aligns all center activities with UND's long-term research and workforce mission.

AI EngineeringCPS StrategyProposal Leadership
CE

Civil Engineering Faculty

Faculty
Smart Infrastructure and Digital Twins

Leads structural sensing, infrastructure lifecycle analytics, and digital twin validation for resilient smart city systems.

Structural HealthDigital Twin ModelsUrban Analytics
CS

Computer Science Faculty

Faculty
AI Engineering and Simulation

Builds scalable AI pipelines and simulation frameworks powering the Smart World platform and real-time model updates.

Machine LearningModel OpsPlatform AI
AE

Aerospace Engineering Faculty

Faculty
UAV Systems and Autonomy

Oversees UAV research, autonomous flight experiments, and aerial sensing deployments for inspection and environmental monitoring.

Autonomous UAVAerial SensingMission Planning
ME

Mechanical Research Lead

Researcher
Robotics and Fabrication Systems

Coordinates robotic fabrication workflows and rapid prototyping studies across digital design, manufacturing, and testing.

Industrial RoboticsDigital FabricationMechatronics
EE

Electrical Research Lead

Researcher
Embedded Systems and Sensing

Drives edge devices, sensing electronics, and secure communication architectures for connected CPS deployments.

Embedded DesignSensor FusionCPS Security
GS

Graduate Research Fellow

Student
AI and Digital Twin Research

Builds experiments, handles model validation, and supports publication output across smart infrastructure and twin analytics projects.

Experiment DesignData PipelinesPublications
LM

Lab Operations Manager

Operations
Facility, Safety, and Program Operations

Manages lab utilization, onboarding, safety compliance, and day-to-day coordination across teams, courses, and partners.

Lab SchedulingSafety ProtocolsProgram Support
Interactive Assistant

Root & Branch Chat

Start from a root topic, then grow the conversation through branch questions about Smart World Lab, centers, and collaboration.

Tree Assistant Online
Welcome. Pick a branch on the left or ask anything about Smart World Lab.
Get in Touch

Contact Us

Interested in collaboration, joining the lab, or learning more about Smart World Lab at UND?

Address Smart World Lab
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, ND 58202
Email smartworldlab@und.edu
Institution University of North Dakota
und.edu
Availability 24/7 shared access via
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