Sinclair Community College’s Workforce Development & Corporate Services (WFD&CS) is collaborating with local aerospace, business and government leaders to aggressively pursue two emerging technologies – electronic sensors and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) – to make a significant impact on the Dayton region’s economic development.

Deb Norris, vice president of WFD&CS, was one of nearly two dozen Dayton-area leaders to participate in a September 2008 trade mission to Haifa, Israel. Within less than a year, business and government representatives from both cities signed an agreement aimed at energizing economic development in both communities. 

Specifically the trade mission led Woolpert, Inc.; the University of Dayton’s Institute for the Development and Commercialization of Advanced Sensor Technology (IDCAST); and an Israeli company, Tidex Systems, Ltd., to jointly form i23D, a Dayton-based company. Its products have the ability to instantly transform video into 3-D renderings.

“WFD&CS recently did a video-technology consultation for i23D, and we hope to provide additional expertise in the future,” said Norris. “These and other sensor-technology developments dovetail with one of our region’s other keen economic interests, UAVs.” 

Responding to market growth

Another outgrowth of the Dayton-Haifa agreement is local company STAN Solutions, LLC’s acquisition of exclusive distribution rights in North America for a high-resolution panoramic camera made by Haifa-based Adaptive Imaging Technologies.

Military and civilian needs have fueled rapid growth of the UAV market. UAVs’ wide range of capabilities appeals to companies adapting the technology for civilian use in global information systems, mapping, homeland security, law enforcement and more. In fact, industry experts predict that UAVs could become a $15 billion industry within five years. 

As the use of UAVs increases, so does the need for industry-specific education, training and certification. Over the past year, WFD&CS has convened a series of meetings with UAV collaborators. Sinclair now seeks to establish a National Center for UAV Education, Training and Certification in the Dayton region. The center will deliver training through a variety of methods, including face-to-face classroom instruction, online learning, simulation, and hands-on experience gained both on and off the ground. The college is currently evaluating the submission of a certificate of authorization from the Federal Aviation Administration for airspace within southwestern Ohio in which UAVs may be permitted to operate for flight training. 

“The establishment of this National Center for UAV Education, Training and Certification will provide leading-edge training to our regional workforce and extend training offerings to a national audience,” said Norris. “It will also leverage the Dayton region’s designation as an aerospace hub and support efforts to establish the region as the national leader in UAV research, development, integration, education, training and testing.” 

For more information, go to sinclair.edu/workforce.

By Gary Honnert

Gary Honnert is marketing communications manager of Workforce Development & Corporate Services. He has more than 35 years’ experience in broadcasting, public relations and nonprofit community relations.