Wilhelm Alexander Friess, Ph.D - Mechanical Engineering

UMaine Alert

Posted: April 19, 2024 - 1:32 PM

At approximately 9:24 a.m. on Friday, April 19, a University of Maine graduate student was struck by a university vehicle on Long Road at the University of Maine campus in Orono. The student reports that they are at a local hospital with minor injuries.

Emergency services, including the Orono Fire Department, University Volunteer Ambulance Corps, University of Maine Police Department, Orono Police Department and Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene.

The university vehicle involved in the incident was a Chevrolet Express van. It was being operated by a university employee.

Counseling services and support are available for students, faculty or staff who may have been affected. The Counseling Center can be reached at 207-581-1392 and the Dean of Students Office can be reached at 207-581-1406.

The scene has been cleared and Long Road is now accessible. An investigation is being conducted by the University of Maine Police Department with assistance from the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Unit. Any witnesses to the incident are encouraged to contact Lt. Noel Santiago at noel.santiago@maine.edu.

Wilhelm “Alex” Friess, Ph.D.

Professor of Mechanical Engineering

The University of Maine
Ferland Engineering Education and Design Center, Room 221
Orono, ME 04469-5711
(207) 581-2122; wilhelm.friess@maine.edu

Ph.D. in Aeronautical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 1997

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/friess/

Researchgate: www.researchgate.net/profile/Wilhelm_Friess

External Engagements:

Rochester Institute of Technology, Dubai Campus, 2009-2012
Dubai Aerospace Enterprise University, 2007-2008
RFB Solar-Tech, 2007 – 2008
South African America’s Cup Challenge, Team Shosholoza, 2004-2005
Friess Ltd. 1998-2007

Teaching Areas: (More Information)

Engineering Graphics and Computer Aided Design; Statics; Dynamics; Strength of Materials; Fixed Wing Aircraft Design; Capstone Design I & II

Research Areas: (More Information)

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, with focus on lighter-than-air vehicles
Engineering Education
Energy Efficiency in the build environment (extreme climates) and advanced infiltration diagnostics

Principal Sponsors:

NASA and MSGC, NSF, UMaine, Emirates Foundation

Select Research / Collaboration Activities:

Remote sensing of forest resources (NASA, UMaine Forest Sciences)
LCA of particle board composed of Nanocellulose Fibrils and Mycelium (USDA/ARS, UMaine Forest Sciences)
K-12 engineering activities to broaden participation in STEM (MSU, UNC, U of South Florida, NY City College, Boise State University)
Spatial visualization in first year engineering graphics courses (Penn State Brandywine, USU)

Select Publications / Conference Presentations:

Friess, W.A. “Lighter than air vehicles as aerospace focused projects in a mechanical engineering capstone sequence”. Accepted for publication to 2020 ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition.
Friess, W.A., Goupee, A. “Using continuous peer evaluation in team-based engineering capstone projects: a case study”. IEEE transactions on Education, 2020. DOI10.1109/TE.2020.2970549
Friess, W.A., Goupee, A. Transformation of a Mechanical Engineering Capstone Experience, 2019, IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference, Cincinnati, October 16-20 2019.
Rais-Rohani, Friess, Rubenstein “Aerospace Engineering Initiative at the University of Maine”. 2018 ASEE National Conference and Convention, Salt Lake City.
Musavi, Friess, ISherwood and James. Changing the Face of STEM with Stormwater Research. International Journal of STEM education, 2018, Online.
Friess, W.A. “Case study of a discontinued start-up engineering program: critical challenges faced and lessons learned”. Higher Education Review, Issue 49(3), September 2017.
Rakshan, K., Friess, W.A. “Effectiveness and viability of residential building energy retrofits in Dubai”. Journal of Building Engineering. July 2017. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2017.07.010
Friess, W.A., Rakshan, K. “A review of passive envelope measures for improved building energy efficiency in the UAE”. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. May 2017. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2017.01.026
Friess, Rakshan, and Davis. “A global survey of adverse energetic effects of increased wall insulation in office buildings: degree day and climate zone indicators “.Energy Efficiency, (2016), 1-20. DOI1007/s12053-016-9441-z
Friess, W.A., Martin, E. L., Esparragoza, I.E., Lawanto, O. Improvements in student Spatial Visualization in an introductory engineering graphics course using open-ended design projects supported by 3D printed manipulatives. Proceedings of ASEE National Conference and Convention, New Orleans, June 2016.
Friess and Davis, “Formative homework assessment strategies to improve student time management and learning; WIP”. Proceedings of American Society for Engineering Education Northeast Conference at the University of Rhode Island, April 28-30, 2016

Professional Activities / Memberships:

ABET IDEAL scholar and Program Evaluator
UMaine Faculty Fellow
ASEE Specialist
Editorial Board (Journal of Sports Engineering) and (Latin American and Caribbean Journal of Engineering Education)
ASEE, AIAA