Moses Davis

Student is Helping to Develop a Stronger Transportation Security System
through Computer Modeling

Every day 7,500 tons of air cargo are packed into the bellies of passenger planes, and not all of it receives a security screening. That, however, is required to change by 2010, according to the 9/11 Law, which was enacted in 2007 to continue strengthening the nation’s defenses and protecting Americans since the attacks of September 11, 2001.

By 2010, the law states, 100 percent of incoming freight shipments for air cargo must be screened, which in turn will call for extraordinary coordination and cooperation between government agencies and all levels of the cargo logistics chain. Alabama State University (ASU) undergraduate student Moses Davis will have a role in the research aimed at meeting those challenges.

Davis, a participant in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) HS-STEM (Homeland Security–Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Summer Internship Program, is spending 10 weeks this summer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) with the Decision Engineering group, where, under the direction of Ike Patterson, he will contribute to the group's DHS projects related to transportation security.

The primary goal of Davis' efforts, Patterson explained, will be to optimize the design of cargo screening systems used at places such as air cargo warehouses and train stations. The systems include equipment procurement and placement, staffing and business rules development.

After working through progressively more difficult simulation models on a state-of-the-art commercial simulation software package from Rockwell Automation, Inc., called Arena®, Davis will become more deeply involved in existing projects in the Decision Engineering group, Patterson said.

Davis, who is studying mathematics, operation research, simulation modeling and industrial engineering at ASU, will begin his senior year in the fall. The DHS summer internship is not only allowing him to make a significant contribution to homeland security efforts, but also is adding a beneficial, new dimension to his education.

“I am gaining an understanding of how industrial and systems engineers use animation and simulation modeling systems to relate to realistic processes,” he said. “The experience is benefitting me by exposing me more to multidisciplinary research with hands-on training. Also, it has given me an idea as to the specific research I want to conduct.”

Based on Davis’ aspirations, research activities figure prominently in his future. He said his goals are to earn a Ph.D. and then attain a high-level position with a government organization or a Fortune 500 company.

Davis summed up his overall impression of the DHS HS-STEM Summer Internship with the word “awesome,” and added, “The experience is more hands-on training in my area of interest, and I am conducting research with a challenging but supportive interdisciplinary team.”

“He's doing remarkably well,” Patterson said.

This is the first summer that internships have been offered through the DHS HS-STEM Summer Internship Program. Undergraduate students majoring in homeland security related science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines spend 10 weeks during the summer interning at federal research facilities. The goal of the program is to prepare a diverse, highly talented, educated and skilled pool of scientists and engineers to address HS-STEM issues.