Thanks to support from NASA, a new Meharry SACS project will use advanced drone and computing technologies to address healthcare delivery disruptions in Middle Tennessee caused by natural disasters.
The $742,286 grant funds CAMPUS (Community Air Mobility for Public Utilization in Support of Healthcare). The project is a collaboration between Meharry Medical College’s School of Applied Computational Sciences and Austin Peay State University’s GIS Center. Eugene Levin, Ph.D., professor of spatial data science, is the primary investigator.
“In Middle Tennessee, we face natural disaster challenges through flooding and tornadoes that can disrupt healthcare delivery by limiting emergency access on the ground and affecting the transportation of medical supplies,” Dr. Levin said.
CAMPUS addresses healthcare delivery challenges through evidence-based technology. Key initiatives include:
- A swarm, or coordinated system, of autonomous 3D-printed drones to provide comprehensive area coverage.
- Integrating edge computing for secure, real-time data
- Near real-time GIS visualization and community mapping that facilitate community input to ensure the technology meets community needs.
The project also supports workforce development through student internships. Long-term goals include creating an Autonomous Air Mobility (AAM) institute that will serve as a model for community-based AAM implementation. This institute will provide the institutional framework necessary for long-term sustainability and scalability of AAM healthcare delivery systems
“Thanks to NASA, we believe CAMPUS will improve emergency response and rural healthcare in Middle Tennessee, and contribute to building a diverse, tech-ready workforce,” said Dr. Levin.
