Boeing has begun construction on a 7000-ft² addition to its research and technology center in Alabama. The Center for Applied Simulation and Analytics (CASA) will serve as a hub for Boeing, its research partners, and academic collaborators to create and develop simulation and analytics technologies, providing advanced simulation of Boeing products from concepts through operations.

The lab, which is scheduled to open in mid-2015, will consist of seven individual laboratories and a large collaboration center that will provide an immersive environment for technology development and customer interaction. It will take advantage of Boeing's capabilities to enable geographically distributed teams to provide advanced math, analytics, and simulation technology to improve the effectiveness and efficiency across the life cycle of Boeing products and services.

"This lab will help us create flexible and affordable environments for modeling, simulation, and analytics research," said Steve Swaine, leader of the Boeing Research & Technology–Alabama research center and director of Support and Analytics Technology.

The CASA labs include:

• Cybersecurity

• Data analytics

• Mobile development

• Modeling and simulation

• System engineering integrated technology

• Technology integration

• Immersive visualization.

The BR&T–Alabama research center includes metals and fracture technology, chemical technology, and many new or increased labs, such as radio frequency systems, advanced systems integration, vehicle management systems integration, composites lab, and advanced electromechanical technologies.