AIR UNIVERSITY

PAF Complex, Sector E-9/4, ICT 46000

INSTITUTE OF AERONAUTICS AND AVIONICS

Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering

Technical Report Writing

Semester Project
Report on “Up-gradation of Computer Lab”

Submitted By:
Ahmad Sabur Hassan
160418
BEME F-16(B)

Submitted To:
Sir Tariq Qureshi
 1. Abstract:
Computer lab-based training has reasonably added to the computer proficiency and skill
development of teachers as well as the students. This report includes the features of lab up-
gradation of the department computer lab. It includes the specifications of the computer
systems required, number of computer systems required, estimated cost per PC as per local
dealers, and an overall project cost. The increased rate of admission of students in computer
studies, employability, income of passed out students indicate a positive impact of the
computer lab-based working. This report will cover the need of computer labs in the university
departments and the problems students faced while working on labs. At the end
recommendations should be given to up-gradation of labs and how to upgrade them.

2. Introduction:
Introduction of computer science both at school and college has become a prime objective is
to enhance the computer literacy of the students and make them more skilled and employable
both within and outside the country. In these modern times when technology is advancing day
by day it has become necessary to keep up with the advancements in technology to be able to
survive in this technically competent world. Why we are in need of up-gradation of computer
lab? The answer is obvious that in order to keep pace with the worldwide technology we have
to prepare our students for the latest technologies. Let us consider only about the defense
purposes, next generation wars will be on computers. If we did not make our students
familiarized with modern technology software’s how they will be able to compete with the
world. All of this is possible with a good and upgraded facility of computer lab in academic
institutions. It was thus very essential to have trained teachers and sufficient computers to
make it possible. The traditional engineering lab model runs up against cost and logistical
barriers. There is a saying in engineering education: “Textbooks are cheap, but lab equipment
is expensive.” Engineering laboratories are expensive to run and maintain. Due to the high
cost, lab time is a strictly scheduled. Most students in a laboratory course get two or three
hours of access to this equipment per week; and it is difficult for students to get extra time if
they need it or want to use it to experiment or just play.

3. Literature Review:

The provision of high end computers in a university’s computer lab is of prime importance
because in the current era where the use of technology is on the verge, everyone tries to have
the top gadgets but not all of the students can afford such high end tech some of them resort
to a-bit older computers for their use at homes and for bringing it to the university, so in the
university’s computer lab such high end and up-to date computers should be made present so
that the students could work on them and familiarize themselves with this new technology,
also the students who are enrolled in technical fields like engineering, architecture etc. Before
1979, computers existed primarily in tertiary level educational institutions. Then, in the
eighties, microcomputers began to be distributed to schools, and teachers began to grapple
with the question of how to use computing for education rather than simply educating about
computing. Starting from the mid-nineties, the use of computers in schools rapidly expanded
in developed nations through curriculum support, networking, the professional development
of teachers and software improvements. A growing number of researchers and educators
began to develop applications. These applications helped to solve real life problems in
computers and check the results if they are safe or not.

4. Qualitative and Quantitative Research:

A quantitative research was done regarding the upgradation of the undergraduate lab for the
Mechanical department in which a series of questions were asked from the Students and the
faculty members.

 Quantitative Research:
By doing a survey and asking different question from the faculty and the students, we found
that 16% of the students use lab daily for their work and projects. So, the computers and the
software’s installed on them must be up-to-date and the students perform their labs and
projects easily. The software’s used mostly on the labs were MATLAB, SolidWorks, Ansys,
AutoCAD by the engineering students.
 Should the Mechanical computer lab be upgraded with newer technology?

Strongly Agree Agree Does not matter Disagree

70% 15% 10% 5%

10%
5%

15%

70%

Strongly Agree Agree Does not matter Disagree

Frequency of Lab Use:

Daily 2-3/Week 1/Week 2-3/Month Rarely

16 35 22 22 24

Preferred Platform:
Mac Win None
27 63 10
 Quantitative Analysis:
We conduct a survey to illustrate user opinion about labs and their upgradation. By
interviewing different students and lab teachers we get negative response. We interview lab
engineer, Sir Farzan, and asked them about the satisfaction with computer lab space,
computers specifications, software’s installed and efficiency of the lab. In answer to our
questions Sir said that the computer lab space is fine, about 60-70 students can work easily
and separately on the computer at a time. But computer specifications are not according to
the need of the students and software’s. Computers are slow and often hang while working on
it. The specifications of the computers must be according to the heavy software’s installed on
the them. Moreover, software’s are not installed on all of the computers, so it would be
difficult for the students to understand it until performed on the software.
Computers allow students to perform research and also communicate with different education
providers, he or she is not only limited to the knowledge of his own field he could gain the
knowledge of everything just by sitting there with a click of the button, so you could definitely
say that computers help a student to grow in terms of gaining knowledge and becoming
mentally sharp. The views of the students and the faculty regarding the condition of our
departmental computer lab was that something needs to be done regarding the condition of
the lab, the computers in this lab have become almost obsolete for the use of the students
who are enrolled in technical fields like Mechanical, they could be placed in the departments
where there is relatively less use of computers departments like Bs English , medical
department etc. So almost everyone including the students and the faculty had a very strong
view regarding the upgradation of the Mechanical lab.

5. Discussion and Development:

Study showed that students of undergraduate program were found to have satisfactory
knowledge in computers, they are found to have shown interest to take up engineering for
their future studies. However, study also revealed that the students of engineering had
theoretical knowledge but as for practical application of that knowledge was not satisfactory.
Students often complaints about the slow PCs, as these systems are not capable of handling
with advanced software programs. Minimum of 1 and maximum of 10 desk top PCs not
functioning at the present. And no effective measures could have been taken to repair or
replace those PCs due to lack of adequate fund provision for the head of institutes to trouble
shoot problematic PCs. Institutes had non-functioning LAN facilities due to faulty network
switch. Due to absence of this non-functional LAN facilities transferring of data and
information between students and teachers and institutes are hampered.
The study findings showed that the major drawbacks were inadequate fund for computer
procurement, related accessories, inadequate practical exercise, lack of uninterrupted power
supply, lack of well-equipped lab.

6. Recommendations:
 Computer Lab size and number of PCs should be increased in proportion to the
increasing size of students.
 More job-oriented computer applications such as web design and development,
desktop publishing, adobe Photoshop, illustrators, data processing packages etc. may be
included in the curriculum in future program.
 The people from IT department should conduct a survey in the Mechanical department
that what are the requirements of the students and according to those requirements
upgradation of the lab should be done.
 Funds should be raised from the students during their enrollment in university by the
institutes to ensure expenses for regular maintenance, repairs of computer labs,
replacement of accessories and minor trouble shooting etc.
7. Conclusion:
After doing a survey and asking questions, we concluded that there is a lack
of adequate number of PC’s, lack of fund to repair and maintenance of PC’s and
accessories. Students should be provided with easy and free access to use Lab for their
practice. Computer labs are equipped with the necessary software’s packages. More than
45% students use labs at least once in a week. The popularity of the software chosen
indicates that renewal of licenses for software like SolidWorks, MATLAB, Ansys should be
on time to avoid unnecessary interruption to teaching and learning. The proficiency in
computer learning and skill depended much on students’ motivation, more practice at
computer labs, and more exposure to computer facilities at home etc. So, the computer
labs should be up-to-date and have the availability of computer for every student. The
software’s should work properly and with no hanging of computers. All the major shortfalls
and lapses that are identified through this report need to be minimized for more
sustainability and improved management of computer lab.

8. References:
https://www.au.edu.pk/Pages/Research/computing.aspx
 SURVEY QUESTIONS

1) How frequent do you use computer lab?

a) Daily
b) 2-3 times per week
c) 1 time a week
d) 2-3 times a month
e) Rarely

2) What platform you preferred to work on?

a) Windows
b) Mac
c) Don’t know about it

3) Should the Mechanical computer lab be upgraded with newer technology?

a) Strongly agree
b) Agree
c) Doesn’t Matter
d) Disagree

4) More workspace is needed in computer lab?

a) Strongly agree
b) Agree
c) Strongly disagree
d) Disagree

Q1: Do you think that students actually learn something by spending time on computers?
Q2: What problems did you encounter while completing the lab?
Q3: What changes could be made to the lab to enhance your learning?