Providing hands-on learning opportunities and making good use of university resources for the advancement of student success are two things that the Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering (FABE) at The Ohio State University does exceptionally well. The department recently introduced the Digital Earthworks Sandbox.

The nine acre plot of land, located at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center,  gives students across all three majors adequate laboratory space outside of the classroom.

Students gathered around a dozer learning from sales repSpecifically, the Digital Earthworks Sandbox educate students on current technologies for surveying, 3D land-form model development, site design and layout, establishing control networks, grade control on earthmoving equipment, data management, and wireless communications for agricultural land-forming operations, subsurface water management, and site preparation for heavy construction.

“We want to give our students an end-to-end experience of project management, as well as give them some time in real-world equipment,” says Scott Shearer, FABE’s department chair. “We’re thankful for the relationship we’ve built with Ohio CAT and SITEC-Ohio.”

Advancement and FABE worked with Ken Taylor, owner of Ohio CAT, to secure a donation of $400K to support the creation and on-going operation of the Digital Earthworks Sandbox, including the purchase of a CAT D3 dozer to be housed at the Sandbox.

“I am so pleased and proud to see our vision of the “Digital Earthworks Sandbox” come to fruition,” Taylor says. “Our joint vision for the Digital Earthworks Sandbox was developed over several years, the intent being to better equip students in the College of Food, Agriculture and Environmental Science for careers they may pursue after college.”

Taylor says that today and into the future, OSU students, OSU educators, Ohio CAT sales and training personnel, and CAT equipment will be working together at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center, fulfilling The Ohio State University’s vision of being the “model 21st-century public, land grant, research, urban, community-engaged institution.”

Before fall break, students in the construction systems management (CSM) program had the opportunity to operate this D3 dozer at the Sandbox, learning about grade control and safety in the process.

Each student was instructed by Ohio CAT Inside Sales Representative Justin Pittenger, and he guided the group through all the intricate aspects of the machine and helped each student as they tested out the equipment.

“While we wouldn’t usually be operating the machinery on a job site, a good leader knows what everyone else under them is doing, what tools are available, and how they’re able to be used,” said third-year CSM student Maggie Daiber.

This is just one of the first events to be held at the Digital Earthworks Sandbox. The site will continue to expand and provide additional out-of-classroom opportunities for our students.

“Any of us in the CSM program will see them around at some point in time, so it’s good to know how to operate it and how it works,” said fourth-year CSM student Sam Howard.

For more information about the CSM program, CLICK HERE.

https://fabe.osu.edu/undergraduate/construction-systems-management