Welcome to the Center for Integrated Access Networks
The Center for Integrated Access Networks (CIAN) is a multi-institutional research effort consisting of the University of Arizona (Lead)and its partner institutions, the University of California at San Diego, the University of Southern California, the California Institute of Technology, the University of California at Berkeley, Columbia University, the University of California at Los Angeles, Norfolk State University and Tuskegee University. The vision of CIAN is to create transformative technologies for optical access networks where virtually any application requiring any resource can be seamlessly and efficiently aggregated and interfaced with existing and future core networks in a cost-effective manner. Analogous to the evolution over decades of today's computer laptop using massive integration of discrete electronic components, the CIAN vision would lead to the creation of the PC equivalent of the optical access network by employing optoelectronic integration to enable affordable and flexible access to any type of service, including delivery of data rates approaching 10 Gigabits/sec to a broad population base anywhere and at any time.
University of Arizona (lead institution) and its partner institutions, the University of California at San Diego, the California Institute of Technology, the University of Southern California, University of California at Los Angeles, University of California at Berkeley, Columbia University, Norfolk State University, Cornell University and Tuskegee University
Creating transformative optoelectronic telecom technologies enabling optical access and aggregation networks where virtually any application requiring any resource can be seamlessly and efficiently aggregated and interfaced with existing and future core telecom/datacom networks in a cost effective manner
The National Science Foundation has awarded a five-year, $18.5 million grant to establish an Engineering Research Center based at The University of Arizona. This research center entitled Center for Integrated Access Networks (CIAN) is focusing on removing one of the last bottlenecks in the Internet by developing optoelectronic technologies for high-bandwidth, low-cost, widespread access and aggregation networks. The vision of CIAN is to create the "PC" equivalent for the optical access and aggregation network. Transforming the costly discrete optoelectronic technologies of today's network into affordable, highly integrated optoelectronic subsystems that demonstrate novel optical network functionalities and infrastructure that enable heterogeneous services. CIAN's ultimate goal is to provide the technological foundation for an advanced optical network that simultaneously achieves efficient high data rate aggregation, to amortize the cost for end users, while providing the necessary flexibility to support diverse end user requirements. The development of these technologies is essential for delivery of single user data rates approaching 10 Gb per second and provision of the associated services to a broad population base regardless of the "last-mile" technology. Attainment of these goals will enable affordable, flexible access to any type of service to anybody, anywhere, at anytime.
Research
The research of the CIAN Engineering Research Center will advance upon three major thrusts wherein interoperability of components will be proven via state-of-the-art testbeds, which will provide for cross-collaboration among system, sub-system, and device research efforts.
Thrust 1: Optical Communication Systems and Networking will act as the "top-down" driver for the development and integration of components and devices that will enable integrated subsystems, co-optimized to cost-effectively provide high-data rate services to the "curb" This thrust includes issues such as aggregation and access networks, cross-layer optimization, wavelength multicasting and ubiquitous monitoring. The projects in this thrust will enable and demonstrate numerous new network applications including ultra high-bandwidth data centers and immersive telepresence.
Thrust 2: Subsystem Integration and Silicon Nanophotonics will explore signal conditioning, processing, reconfiguration, and control functions realized with various platforms including CMOS compatible nanostructures and silicon nanophotonics, and multifunctional integrated subsystems exploiting monolithic and heterogeneous integration.
Thrust 3: Materials and Devices will act as the scientific and technological foundation by conducting research on new materials, device technologies, processing and integration methods for chip-scale integrated optoelectronics.
Education
CIAN's Education and Outreach will include:
(1) creatingvertically integrated (from pre-college to post-graduate) curricula which are team-based, research-inspired and industry-oriented,
(2) promotingcross-disciplinary, diversity-oriented approaches to education for university researchers, college students,K-12 students, teachers, and the general public,
(3) educatinga skilled and diverse workforce to lead the next-generation communications industry, and
(4)integratingengineering, technology and business education into the knowledge base of CIAN's students to stimulate technology transfer. The center will be developing new programs of outreach, creating internship/mentoring programs, as well as development of assessment and tracking processes for the education program.
Industry Collaboration and Technology Transfer
CIAN's Industrial Collaboration and Technology Transfer Program will be involved in all aspects of the ERC: strategic planning, supervision of and collaboration in research projects, operation of testbeds, mentoring of students and post-doctoral fellows, and education. The goals of the Industrial Collaboration and Technology Transfer Program are to provide: (1) an industrial voice in the management of the Center, (2) industrial guidance in the selection and emphasis of research projects, (3) an avenue for technology transfer from the Center to industry, and (4) a path for industrial support of and participation in educational programs. To accomplish these goals, the CIAN ERC encourages the participation of large and small companies as collaborators in the areas such as research, product development, education, and commercialization. Industry sectors expected to be most interested in CIAN's technologies are telecommunications, network equipment, aerospace, semiconductor, test & measurement, and optical component manufacturers and developers.
Diversity
CIAN's aim is to provide comprehensive diversity programs to ensure that the gender, race, ethnicity, and disabilities composition of the leadership, faculty, students, and staff will exceed the national averages in engineering and increase every year. Each core partner institution is committed to the diversity goals of CIAN. CIAN's long-term goal is to create legacy initiatives at each of our core campuses that have a lasting impact to improve diversity in engineering.
