Student develops android app for GMIT Energy Lab

GMIT has launched a new Android app which provides information on its state of the art Online Energy Laboratory at the Dublin Road campus, Galway. Users can view virtual models of equipment such as solar panels, heat pumps, biomass boilers and wind turbines, and learn about how they operate.

The app was designed and developed by third year Software Development student Michael Kelehan from Newcastle, Galway city, who was one of six finalists in the GMIT android app development competition. His winning app was developed in conjunction with his lecturer John Healy, Computer Science, Dr Aurora Dimache, researcher on the EU Innovret project (www.innovret.com), and Dr Tom Roche, lecturer in the GMIT Dept of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, who provided a functional specification of the app.

Dr Tom Roche says: "Users can interact with us here in the GMIT Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, find out all about our lab without having to come on campus, and learn about all the new and emerging renewable energy systems and technologies. The app also provides a quick access to information about our programmes in Mechanical, Energy and Industrial Engineering here in GMIT." "The standard of the work from the students in this GMIT competition was excellent. The winning Android app is available for free from Google Play" he added. See the GMIT energy Android app at: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=mike.energyapp.ie

The B.Eng. in Mechanical Engineering provides graduates with skills in product design right across a broad set of areas including medical devices, automotive and manufacturing processes. The B. Eng. in Energy Engineering programme provides mechanical engineering design skills related specifically to energy applications for example wind, solar, biomass and hybrid energy systems. Students can progress from either of these undergraduate programmes to Masters in Environmental Systems in the Dept. For further information on these programmes and other programmes in the dept, see: http://www.gmit.ie/engineering/mechanical-industrial/index.html

"The latest figures show a stabilisation in the sector and we expect to see a far more sustainable, stable and regulated industry with good opportunities for future graduates both domestically and internationally".