About EQS

The STAR Center for Environmental Quality Systems (EQS STAR Center) was created in May 2001 through a grant from the New York Office of Science, Technology and Academic Research (NYSTAR). The EQS STAR Center is the principal research arm of Syracuse University’s Center of Excellence in Environmental & Energy Systems (CoE-EES).

Mission - As a Strategically Targeted Academic Research (STAR) Center it has the mission to conduct research, create new knowledge, develop and transfer technology, and educate professionals in intelligent systems that enhance Human Health and Performance, reduce lifecycle costs, and improve the quality of Urban Ecosystems and their Built Environments.

Open Architecture Consortium - The Center has established a network of connected and shared world-class facilities distributed throughout New York State and around a Syracuse HUB of unique centralized capabilities for simulating total indoor environmental systems and their interactions with urban ecosystems. This "open architecture" consortium consists of nine academic institutions and two not-for-profit organizations.

Multi-Disciplinary Teams - More than 100 researchers at the Center's HUB and affiliated institutions are engaged in multi-disciplinary, systems-driven research.

Technology Transfer and Commercialization - The Center is committed to technology transfer and commercialization of its research and intellectual property by fostering university and industry collaboration through the New York Indoor Environmental Quality (NYIEQ) Center, Inc. and Metropolitan Development Association of Syracuse and Central New York, Inc. (MDA). The NYIEQ collaborates with 50 corporate partners from Central New York and New York State.

i-EQS Research - Intelligent Environmental Quality Systems (i-EQS) that sense, optimize and control environmental quality for improved health, productivity, sustainability and security. From personal (micro-scale) to urban (macro-scale).

 

 

Multi-Disciplinary, Systems-Driven

  • Contaminant source and sink characterization in buildings: within personal microenvironments.
  • Combined steady and unsteady transport of air, energy, moisture and contaminants (gaseous and particulate): around occupants, within buildings, and through building envelopes.
  • Intelligent control and optimization of building environmental systems: distributed sensing and information processing under normal and abnormal (e.g., CBA release) operating scenarios; and integrated system optimization to enhance Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), maximize comfort and minimize operating costs.
  • Effect of IAQ on human health and performance: exposure studies and psychological factors (satisfaction and productivity).
  • Energy-efficient air treatment devices (UV/PCO, PVS, ERV...): pollutant removal and environmental control.
  • Remote ‘robotic’ monitoring and intelligent management of urban watersheds and airsheds: distributed sensing and information processing under normal and abnormal (e.g., CBA release) operating scenarios.
  • Fate and transport of pollutants in urban ecosystems: within airsheds and watersheds (e.g., acid rain deposition); gaseous pollutants, acid rain and particulate matter.
  • Characterization of chemical and biological processes in urban watersheds and airsheds.
  • Large-scale, long-term ecological research.
  • Effect of outdoor pollutants on human health: exposure studies and physiological effects.
  • Environmental impacts of power generation and industrial processes.