The Wireless Nomad Project is an ongoing, comprehensive endeavor to provide the NC State campus community with maximum connectivity to the campus data network using nomadic (wireless) computing devices. The overall goal of the project is to deploy wireless technology so as to provide access for users in all campus buildings and public outdoor spaces. It is based on the "students first" principle (provide service as fast as possible to as many students as possible). Of course, faculty and staff will benefit as well.

This project attempts to satisfy two needs of the campus community. The first is to have access to a pervasive coverage network anywhere on campus for routine data network uses (email, web browsing, etc.). The second is for faculty to utilize wireless networking in the classroom for instructional purposes. As the project continues it is providing NC State with new and exciting computing capabilities across greater and greater areas of campus.

In November 2002, the University Information Technology Standards Committee (UIT) approved an initial proposal to implement wireless nomadic computing across campus. In 2003, research was conducted on various wireless LAN technologies and manufacturers to determine appropriate products for use at NC State. Building wide projects were completed in Daniels, EGRC, and a few other locations using available funding. In addition, a fairly significant number of hot spots were deployed. All of these projects allowed initial "best practices" to be developed and experience to be gained in working with wireless access technology. In the summer of 2004, the Infrastructure Subcommittee of the UIT Committee further defined policies and design strategies for wireless deployment. This work allowed wide-scale design activities to commence (Fall 2004).

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In order to meet the goal of deploying comprehensive wireless access across the entire NC State campus, it was necessary to subdivide the campus into discrete areas. Main Campus, Centennial Campus, and the CVM/Stadium area were divided up into 115 distinct "mini-zones". Typically, a mini-zone consists of one building and identified nearby outdoor spaces. Some may include an additional building (especially where buildings are so close together to make separating them impractical in designing coverage). The Infrastructure Subcommittee of the UIT Committee determines the prioritization and sequence of the design of the mini-zones. This subcommittee meets on a regular basis, and will adjust the Wireless Nomad Project priorities on an ongoing basis, taking into consideration factors such as occupant needs, available funding, and construction/renovation schedules.

• Top 10 Mini-Zones
• All Mini-Zones

The overall scope, strategy, and deployment plan is outlined in the Wireless Nomad Project Deployment Proposal document* (Revision 3). Strategies for design were developed by a work group (subset of the Infrastructure Subcommittee) in August 2004. Their conclusions* also guide the current design effort.

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