THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, August 7, 1996 TAG: 9608070337
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY KATRICE FRANKLIN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: 62 lines
The technology hub that's expected to be a big economic boost to the region will be opening soon.
Old Dominion University has set aside $500,000 to start up the Virginia Modeling and Simulation Center during the next two years.
The center will work closely with the new Joint Training Analysis and Simulation Center in Suffolk, where the military uses computers, models and simulators to develop, test and study war operations.
The new state center will help industries use clones of the military's technology in their daily practices. Old Dominion has found space to house the center and has selected its first technology project - a simulation of the Hampton Roads ports system.
The idea is to find out what resources the port needs to handle a traffic flow that is expected to triple by the year 2010.
``We were looking for something that would immediately speak to a challenge that exists in the area and one that would appeal to one ofthe largest firms in the area (Norfolk Southern Corp.),'' Koch said.
So far, the university has started to build a model of the flow of trains for Norfolk Southern and Virginia International Terminals Inc.
``This will allow them to ask some `what if' questions and get some answers,'' said Roland Mielke, an ODU engineering professor.
``We've met several times with Virginia International Terminals, and Norfolk Southern. They are collecting data information about when trains arrive, how big they are, that kind of thing.
``We're making step one of what might be a 10-to-15-step process. We're showing people what we mean when we say modeling and simulation.''
ODU officials said the start-up money is enough to hire a director and to get the first project off the ground. The university is interviewing to fill the post, and officials expect the center to open in 60 days. The director will be paid $75,000 to $100,000.
The university also will set up a graduate studies program to teach the new technology.
``It required a good deal of re-allocation of funds, and that's a demonstration of how important we think this is,'' said Old Dominion University President James V. Koch. ``It's a great opportunity for the faculty, students . . . and has tremendous economic impact for everyone.''
Last year, Suffolk officials agreed to provide ODU with a building for the state center near the military installation just south of the Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel. They also promised $10,000 for an in-depth marketing and economic-impact study. A similar simulation center in Orlando, Fla., helped that area attract 140 companies and more than $180 million in economic development in eight years.
Suffolk City Manager Myles E. Standish said the funds for the study are available and the city is working on an agreement for leasing space.
``They (university officials) are interested in one of the buildings on the vicinity of the old General Electric plant,'' Standish said. ``We'll be working on leasing space over the next month or so.''
If the city cannot come up with an agreement for space soon, the center will open in rooms at Tidewater Community College, Koch said.
The center had been in jeopardy after the state failed to allocate the $750,000 that ODU had sought. The university also had asked for another million dollars a year to operate the center during the next five to seven years. University officials said they will ask the General Assembly for funds again next year. by CNB