Architectures and Design Methodologies for Scalable and Sustainable Remote Laboratory Infrastructures

Abstract

With the increasing demand for distance learning opportunities in the higher education sector, there is an ever-growing need for the design and deployment of remote laboratories, especially for engineering, science, and technology curricula. In order to accommodate the offering of entire degrees for distance learning students whose curricula require remote laboratories, scalable information technology infrastructures that support the large scale use and deployment of these remote laboratories must exist. This chapter provides a discussion of architectures and design methodologies using technology such as command and control communications, Web 2.0, and cloud computing, which provide a scalable, manageable, and sustainable technological infrastructure-basis for large scale remote laboratory deployment.