Controlled Environment Agriculture Center

The Controlled Environment Agriculture Center (CEAC) facilities are located at the Campus Agricultural Center, in Tucson, Arizona, on East Roger Road at North Campbell Avenue, 3 miles north of The University of Arizona campus. The CEAC includes advanced technology greenhouses and growth chambers, as well as office, laboratory and teaching facilities.

Training Greenhouse
A modern computer controlled greenhouse became operational in August 2000. The greenhouse is primarily dedicated to classroom teaching and demonstration, however, several research projects are in progress throughout the school year.

The facility is capable of producing approximately 1200 tomato, pepper, or cucumber plants within 5200 square feet (485 square meters). Irrigation is handled by an automated watering and nutrient proportioning system. The greenhouse is heated with a hot air heating system and cooled by natural ventilation or by pad and fan evaporative cooling systems. An interior shade cloth is automatically deployed for reducing solar radiation. The greenhouse has an Internet connection for campus-wide student access. A subsequent research greenhouse is now being planned.

CEAC Classroom & Office Building
The CEAC is home to a large multimedia "SmartClassroom", two plant physiology & engineering laboratories, and several offices for the CEAC faculty and staff. The building will be the center for instruction, research and extension activities of the CEA program.

SmartClassroom
The SmartClassroom will have high-speed Internet access and the hardware for Web-based teaching and synchronous distance-learning. The Internet accessible SmartClassroom will provide a facility for local presentations, lectures and meetings.

The greenhouse laboratory comes alive with the use of Web cameras within the existing hydroponic greenhouse, as part of the Tomatoes Live! research and education program. Distance learning classes, programs, meetings, and workshops will be capable of being broadcast live to other campuses within Arizona and around the world.

Hydroponic Growth Chamber
Dr. Choi led the construction of a 10'x12'x8' high growth chamber at the CEAC for increased control and monitoring of Hydroponic crops. The chamber has since been used for other projects. For a full description, go to research projects, "Design & Construction of Growth Chambers for the FDA".


Future Growth
Additional greenhouses and growth chambers, dedicated to research in plant physiological studies, and engineering systems design and evaluation, are a part of the master plan for the CEAC.