Facilitate practical laboratory assignments using on-line measurement and web-conference systems

Purpose and goal

As part of LTU Professional Education, the project has developed new distance learning methods using cloud and IoT platform solutions and web-conferencing systems for practical laboratory assignments in maintenance engineering.

Expected results and effects

In engineering courses, there are learning objectives that require practical elements and there is a need to develop technical and pedagogical tools to make it possible to implement these at a distance. This project has developed, planned, and carried out a laboratory in condition-based maintenance at a distance. The course is given to participants in mining industry. IoT solutions and measurement systems have been developed so that the participants can carry out project work at their own production facilities.

Planned approach and implementation

Learning objectives and activities were identified in the course condition-based maintenance that is given to employees in the mining industry. A cloud-based IoT platform together with web-based applications were used to enable participants to perform real-time measurements. Together with the video conference system Zoom and the learning platform Canvas, a laboratory setting was developed to be conducted at a distance. Due to the delayed start of the course, the laboratory was carried out by students in the master´s program in Maintenance Engineering with successful results.