About Us: Our research facilities

Our research facilities

GTRI operates a variety of leading-edge research facilities. Our laboratories and facilities support a wide range of research, as well as test and evaluation activities.

Analytical and Environmental Chemistry Laboratories

This facility boasts 11,500 sq. ft. of laboratory space devoted to analytical and environmental chemistry, specifically integrated optic device testing, characterization and surface chemistry preparation, and the assembly and testing of integrated optic and integrated optical waveguide biological/chemical sensors. These laboratories include exhaust hoods and containment chambers designed to handle hazardous vapors and chemicals. Wet chemistry laboratories consist of two rooms with approximately 1500 sq. ft. of space suitable for synthesis, analytical chemistry and spectroscopic analysis.

Computational Facilities

The Center for Optimization of Simulated Multiple Object Systems (COSMOS) includes 500 computer cores for engagement simulations of UV/VIS/IR threats, signatures, and self-protection systems. Uses the GTSIMS multiplayer simulation architecture for threat and countermeasure simulation and biologically-inspired optimization.

Electromagnetic Test and Evaluation Facility (EMTEF)

EMTEF is a multi-purpose, wideband, electromagnetic test facility that can test virtually every antenna, from cellular to satellite. EMTEF is comprised of several test ranges and laboratories that allow our customers to perform a large spectrum of tests and evaluations through one central facility.

Environmental Radiation Center (ERC)

In operation since 1977, the ERC performs research, service, and student training in radiological monitoring of the environment. As a service, the laboratory performs analyses for very low levels of environmental radioactivity. The Laboratory processes over 1000 samples per year for Safe Drinking Water compliance testing. These ongoing projects provide trained professionals and state-of-the-art radiation detection instruments that support the research and training.

Facility Details and Capabilities

Major Radioanalytical Instrumentation & Usage
5	HpGe Gamma Detector Systems	Gamma Isotopic
1	X-Ray Detector System	X-Ray Isotopic (I-129, etc.)
16	PIP Alpha Detector Systems	Alpha Isotopic (Pu, U, etc.)
3	Liquid Scintillation Detector Systems	H-3, C-14, etc.
4	Low-Level Alpha / Beta Systems	Alpha, Beta, Sr-89/90, Ra-228, Uranium, etc.
1	Beta-Gamma Coincidence System	Low-Level I-131
1	Automatic TLD System	TLD Dosimetry
6	Lucas Cell Counters	Ra-226 analysis
1	Portable MCA & HpGe	Field Gamma Isotopic

GTRI Conference Center

The GTRI Conference Center is the perfect venue for federal, state, university and professional society events. It is also available to select nonprofit organizations. The facility is home to more than 300 events each year. With over 10,000 square feet of prime event space, it is the ideal place for small to mid-sized events.

High Power Laboratory Facility

This facility is one of the best-equipped in the country dedicated to the characterization, development, and testing of power electronic components, assemblies, systems, and effects at voltages up to 100 kV and peak power levels up to 10 MW. The facility offers liquid cooling, multi-voltage, multi-frequency prime power, state-of-the-art power systems analyzers and a wide array of instrumentation.

Facility Details and Capabilities

The High Power Laboratory is equipped with a variety of 3 phase, 208/120 VAC 60 Hz, 3 phase, 208/120 VAC, 400 Hz, and 3 phase, 480/277 V, 60 Hz controlled prime power sources that are permanently distributed within the laboratory. Frequency converters are available to produce 50 Hz power when required. The facility is equipped with a variety of medium- and high-voltage power supplies capable of operating from 8 to 100,000 VDC at currents as high as 900 A.

This facility has a high-capacity liquid cooling system capable of delivering large quantities of DI water at pressures up to 125 PSIG and proportionally controlled temperatures up to 90 °C. Process water is also available for less demanding tests.

The facility contains two permanent test stations, shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2 that are used for operating common high-power devices. Test stations for other devices can be constructed using the facility's extensive stock of high-power and microwave components, test fixtures, and instrumentation.

Figure 1. Linear Beam Test Set

Figure 2. Test Station Shown Configured to Simulate a Directed Energy Attack

Microwave test equipment, included synthesized signal sources, spectrum analyzers, digitizing peak-power meters capable of generating intra pulse power profiles, low-noise phase bridges, CW and pulsed frequency counters capable of intra pulse frequency profiling, and network analyzers are available to support any type of high power microwave tests. High speed digital and intensified analog oscilloscopes are available for viewing narrow pulses at low PRIs and high-speed transients in the sub-nanosecond range. Multiple time interval analyzers and high-speed digital oscilloscopes are used to perform timing and jitter measurements. The facility also contains a number of digital average power meters and a microprocessor-controlled calorimetric power meters that are capable of making very precise average power measurements. All instrumentation is calibrated by GTRI’s Instrumentation and Calibration lab to standards traceable to NIST. The laboratory also utilizes a hybrid test cell to facilitate the simulation of “open air testing” as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3. Faraday-Screened Test Cell in Use to Simulate Open Air Testing of Devices and Effects

Human Systems Engineering Facilities

GTRI's Human Systems Engineering facilities support a wide variety of human performance research and human factors testing and evaluation activities and include the Accessibility Evaluation Facility, Usability Testing Facility, Mini CoVE (in development), Cockpit Prototyping Facility, C4I Simulator and Virtual Auditory Displays Laboratory.

Facility Details and Capabilities

Accessibility Evaluation Facility

The Accessibility Evaluation Facility supports industry and government through the measurement of the ease of use of devices, services and packaging, the development of design solutions targeted at improving ease of use for all users, and research into the application of emerging technologies to universal design.

Usability Testing Facility

The Usability Testing Facility supports traditional hardware and software usability evaluations as well as more detailed user experience evaluations. The facility can be configured to approximate a home or office environment to add contextual cues important for the validity of the evaluations. Human performance data, evaluator notes, and video recordings are integrated into a single data package to facilitate the ease of later analysis.

Mini CoVE – currently under development

Once completed, the Mini Collaborative Visualization Environment (Mini CoVE) will facilitate the collaboration of small teams of researchers and scientists that gather to address research and design problems that require the visualization of complex data sets or the simultaneous consideration of multiple aspects of a problem. The environment consists of a rapidly configurable visual and auditory environment that features innovative user interface elements and large, high resolution displays.

Cockpit Prototyping Facility

The cockpit prototyping facility supports both design and evaluation activities for both rotary wing and fixed wing projects. The facility allows the rapid production of a simulated environment at the appropriate fidelity to support human performance research. The facility is an important design and risk reduction asset on a number of cockpit design projects.

C4I Simulator

The C4I Simulator can be reconfigured to support research in command center design, human decision making, workflow, and team dynamics. Recently, the simulator has been used to research complex human performance topics ranging from the design of effective traffic management centers to the issues surrounding distributed decision making and the influence of bias in the decision making process.

Virtual Auditory Displays Laboratory

The Virtual Auditory Displays Laboratory consists of a semi-anechoic chamber and a complex array of matched speakers. The laboratory is used to research audio perception and attention, the presentation of 3-D audio over headphones, and the use of complex auditory streams to replace or augment visual displays.

Landmarc Research Center

This research facility includes mobile and wireless technology development facilities focusing on RIM/Blackberry, Windows Mobile, Symbian OS, Mac OSX. Available hardware includes head-mounted display technology, smartphones, PDAs, and handheld video game devices with WIFI, Bluetooth, and RFID connectivity.

LIDAR Laboratories

GTRI is home to four LIDAR laboratories, with a total of 1600 square feet of floor space. Two of the labs have electrically-operated roof hatches that provide a view of the zenith sky. The labs are fully equipped and house several lasers, telescopes, detectors, and data systems that are used in prototype lidar systems. One lab houses an operational ozone and aerosol lidar known as NEXLASER.

Machine Services Department

Machine Services designs, fabricates, assembles, repairs and modifies individual parts or entire mechanical devices used for research projects or other needs. More than 90 tools and four types of PC programming/design software are at our disposal to complete each job.

Materials Analysis Center (MAC)

MAC includes 3,100 sq. ft. of secure laboratory space used for chemical and materials processing and analytical/materials testing. The MAC has numerous instruments and equipment to facilitate quantitative and qualitative materials analysis.

Facility Details and Capabilities

Medical Device Test Center

Electromagnetic emissions from security and logistical technologies that surround us can produce potential interference with implanted and externally worn medical devices. GTRI's Medical Device Test Center simulates real-world exposure to these technologies to identify interactions and help manufacturers improve compatibility.

Microsystems Technology Cleanroom

This 3000 sq. ft. class 10/100 cleanroom facility supports advanced research in microelectronics and nanotechnologies. The entire facility is secure and is certified to conduct sensitive research.

Facility Details and Capabilities

Nanotechnology Laboratory

GTRI is home to over 2,000 sq feet of laboratory space dedicated to carbon nanotube (CNT) production and research.

Facility Details and Capabilities

Phosphor Technology Center of Excellence (PTCOE)

Since its inception PTCOE has been involved in the growth, synthesis and characterization of phosphor materials and thin-film structures for all types of display applications such as photoluminescent LCDs, field emission displays, cathode ray tubes, plasma display panels, and electroluminescent displays. The Phosphor Center at EOSL offers an extensive set of modeling, physical, optical, electrical and cathodoluminescent characterization capabilities.

Facility Details and Capabilities

Secure Collaborative Visualization Environment (SCoVE)

GTRI researchers address some of the nation’s most pressing problems. In June 2007, GTRI launched SCoVE—a unique environment where systems engineers, analysts and decision makers can discuss sensitive projects and view all the information associated with solutions in a highly comprehensible way.