Empowering Research With Cloud OCR Solution

ALT Revolutionizing Research: Cloud Solutions Unlock Academic Potential

Technology Stack:

  • Amazon Web Services (AWS) enterprise cloud environment
  • Amazon Textract optical character recognition (OCR) service
  • AI-powered document processing capabilities
  • Cloud-based data storage and management systems
  • Pay-as-you-go resource consumption model

Researchers like Xiaoding Liu from the Mays School of Business face significant challenges when analyzing massive historical document collections. Texas A&M Technology Services in collaboration with AWS, has transformed this challenge by leveraging Amazon Textract's advanced optical character recognition (OCR) technology. The solution enables processing of 4 million patent files—approximately 20 million pages—with unprecedented efficiency, reducing what would traditionally take weeks or months of manual work to a matter of days.

By providing a strategic cloud-based approach, the partnership dramatically reduces research costs and complexity. Researchers can now automatically extract text from historically low-quality documents, processing up to 1,000,000 files per day, and pay only for the resources consumed. This innovative solution empowers academic researchers to focus on analysis and insights, transforming technological limitations into opportunities for groundbreaking research.

Transforming Decades-Old Research Workflows

ALT From Legacy Systems to Limitless Potential: A Research Transformation

Technology Stack:

  • Amazon Web Services (AWS) research computing environment
  • Virtualized computing clusters for parallel processing
  • Cloud-optimized automation systems
  • High-performance computing infrastructure
  • Research grant facilitation services
  • Legacy workflow integration capabilities

For over two decades, Dr. Edward Osei has navigated complex computational challenges at Tarleton University. Through a strategic partnership with Texas A&M Technology Services and Amazon Web Services, he has transformed his research capabilities, gaining access to virtually unlimited computing resources that dramatically reduce research timelines. By leveraging cloud computing, Osei has already significantly accelerated critical research processes, including soil carbon sequestration estimation, which previously would have taken weeks of manual calibration.

The collaboration opens unprecedented opportunities across multiple research domains, including climate variability modeling, bioeconomic analysis, and healthcare provider availability studies. With an AWS grant supporting his efforts, Osei can now perform highly intensive computational tasks with remarkable efficiency, processing complex simulations in a fraction of the time required by traditional methods. This innovative approach not only saves time but also expands the scope and potential of academic research, demonstrating the transformative power of cloud technologies in scientific investigation.

Empowering Research Through Cloud Innovation

Technology Stack:

  • REDCap cloud-based research platform
  • Multi-institutional data collection infrastructure
  • Secure research data management systems
  • Remote data acquisition capabilities
  • Cross-disciplinary research collaboration tools
  • Wearable technology data integration solutions

Texas A&M Technology Services has delivered exceptional value to Dr. Steven Riechman's DARPA-funded research through their implementation and support of cloud-based REDCap. This sophisticated research tool has been instrumental in Riechman's complex interdisciplinary, multi-institutional study identifying breath biomarkers of physical, mental, and sleep deprivation fatigue while developing predictive models using wearable technology data. The Technology Services team provided crucial technical expertise that allowed Riechman to push REDCap's capabilities to their limits, enabling data collection that would otherwise be impossible due to geographical constraints.

"The experience with the technology itself and the support from the Technology Services team have been exceptional, and I am very grateful to have this tool available," said Riechman, who has now expanded his use of the system to additional studies, including research on professional gamers' cognitive abilities.

Enabling Cutting-Edge Autonomous Vehicle Research With Private Cellular Network

Technology Stack:

  • Private cellular network utilizing licensed 2.5GHz spectrum
  • Edge-computing infrastructure for real-time data processing
  • High-bandwidth, low-latency communication systems
  • Sensor integration and data fusion capabilities
  • Remote operation technologies
  • Smart infrastructure hubs with advanced computing capabilities
  • Congestion-resistant network architecture for large event support

Researchers are pushing the boundaries of autonomous systems innovation with unprecedented technological support. Dr. Swaminathan Gopalswamy and Dr. Srinivas Shakkottai are pioneering groundbreaking research made possible by a cutting-edge private cellular network that provides critical connectivity and computational resources. Gopalswamy's team developed intelligent infrastructure hubs with edge-computing capabilities for real-time vehicle safety data processing, while Shakkottai's team achieved remarkable remote operation of an Unmanned Ground Vehicle, demonstrating precise control and obstacle avoidance from a mile away.

By creating a robust technological infrastructure, Texas A&M Technology Services has transformed researchers' ability to explore complex autonomous systems. As Ed Pierson, Vice President for Information Technology, notes, the network is strategically designed to empower innovation, providing researchers with the tools to push scientific boundaries. This support extends beyond individual projects, offering a flexible platform that enables researchers to tackle increasingly sophisticated challenges in autonomous technology, public safety, and advanced computing.