The Town of Clarkdale lies in the Coconino Forest in north-central
Arizona, housing just over 4,000 residents in an intimate community
centralized around the Clarkdale Town Park and Town Clubhouse.
Considering the increase in remote working and learning due to the
COVID-19 pandemic, the Town recognizes the opportunity to enhance
and build out its internet infrastructure to grow as a “smart town.”
In partnership with ASU Project Cities and the Engineering Projects in
Community Service (EPICS) program, students in the FSE 104/404:
EPICS Gold course split into two groups to investigate smart town
infrastructure features. Over the Fall 2020, Spring 2021, and Fall
2021 semesters, students conducted research and built off previous
semesters’ work to provide feasible recommendations for internet
infrastructure and key technology for the communityÕs public spaces.
Students in the smart infrastructure group
started in the Fall 2020 semester by examining the internet infrastructure
need for Clarkdale’s K-12 students for remote learning. Students
conducted a needs assessment of the Town of Clarkdale and the School
District through surveys and identification of stakeholders. The Fall
2020 students ended with a brainstorming session to propose initial
solutions for the Town of Clarkdale. The Spring 2021 students built on
the previous semester’s work by refining the needs assessment and
stakeholder profiles and identifying potential internet systems.
Students in the Smart Parks group sought to integrate smart
technology in the Town Park and Selna-Mongini Park. Clarkdale seeks
to transform these community spaces into “smart town” hubs where
residents can access reliable internet and enjoy local events. Fall 2020
students researched PA systems for the parks and created an evaluation
matrix based on specific criteria. Spring 2021 students explored the
feasibility of Wi-Fi infrastructure for the two parks. The group identified
potential modem systems and created a design schematic for hardware
placement. Fall 2021 students expanded on this work by investigating
mesh Wi-Fi options, outlining features of different hardware options, and
providing placement schematics for Selna-Mongini park.