Carlos Enrique Caicedo Bastidas, an Associate Professor at Syracuse University’s iSchool and Director of the Center for Emerging Network Technologies 
(CENT), has been designing information systems for the last few years, and his work has recently earned a prestigious NSF grant with a total budget of $1.2 million in collaboration with other institutions. Working with the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers), Caicedo has contributed to the standardization of an information model called the Spectrum Consumption Model (SCM), which is used to “define how a wireless device (transmitter or receiver) uses spectrum and the boundaries of that use.” The NSF grant was awarded to Caicedo, and a team of research collaborators from other schools: Rutgers, Columbia University, Princeton, Duke, and CUNY
“This project investigates ways to share the electromagnetic (radio-frequency) spectrum using an automatic spectrum management system with the potential for order-of-magnitude gains over current static allocation practices. The project prototypes a management system for spectrum sharing within and among disparate services such as communications and active and passive scientific uses. The project involves two facilities in West Harlem, New York City: (i) the COSMOS testbed sponsored by the NSF Platforms for Advanced Wireless Research (PAWR) program and (ii) the Cooperative Science Center for Earth System Science and Remote Sensing Technologies sponsored by NOAA (NOAA-CESSRST).”
According to the NSF, this work is critical because, “Enhancing spectrum sharing will increase the amount of wireless activity that can be supported in the limited available spectrum. In this way, the project helps sustain future economic growth, social benefits, and scientific discoveries that are threatened by growing spectrum congestion.”
Caicedo was also recently elected as the Vice Chair of the IEEE 1900.5 Working Group (WG) on Policy Language and Architectures for Managing Cognitive Radio for Dynamic Spectrum Access Applications of the IEEE Dynamic Spectrum Access Networks Standards Committee. He has served as secretary for the organization since 2015, and in those years he has won the trust and respect of his peers, he will now help oversee the enhancements of SCM as well as the development of future standards for Dynamic Spectrum Access.
In previous research work Caicedo has collaborated with the City of Syracuse as a testbed to address vacant property issues and public bussing concerns. With the latest grant, targeting spectrum issues with a testbed in NYC, Caicedo and his collaborators will use the $1.2 mil grant – dispersed over 3 years – to develop new techniques and strategies for spectrum access and management. The money will also be used for outreach and educational activities related to spectrum management topics.
