ITS has taken the lead on developing a long-range plan for upgrading wireless across campus. As a first step, a site survey was conducted last fall to map the recommended number and placement of access points in each building. Based on network statistics and feedback from students, high priority sites were identified. They include Mardigian Library, University Center, CASL Building, Social Sciences Building, Engineering Lab Building and Fairlane Center Campus.
During Winter term, ITS met with Student Government and committed to completing a major upgrade of the wireless network in Mardigian Library by start of Fall 2013. That goal was met in late August 2013 when the new wireless system was activated in the library.
The upgrade required a highly coordinated effort between ITS and Facilities Planning in Dearborn, and IT-Com in Ann Arbor. Before wireless could be expanded in Mardigian Library, significant upgrades to the core electrical and network infrastructure were required. A new telecom closet was designed and outfitted, and new wiring was installed throughout.
As a result, the building backbone was increased from 1G to 10G uplink, which offers much faster speeds. The previous base of 12 802.11g access points was replaced with 38 new 802.11n models. These offer greater bandwidth and improved performance throughout the building, and include “clean air technology,” which minimizes interference and unexpected downtime. It is estimated that the number of concurrent users in Mardigian Library has more than tripled, increasing from 350 to more than 1,100.
The next phase of the campus wireless expansion project includes four additional buildings: CASL Building, University Center, Fairlane Center and Engineering Lab Building. Planning has already begun and installations will be rolled out sequentially in these buildings during the next 12 months, with final completion targeted for Fall 2014.
