Digital Commons Network^™

Investigating And Improving Bridge Management System Methodologies Under Uncertainty, Minwoo Chang

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This dissertation presents a novel procedure to select explanatory variables, without the influence of human bias, for deterioration model development using National Bridge Inventory (NBI) data. Using NBI information, including geometric data and climate information, candidate explanatory variables can be converted into normalized numeric values and analyzed prior to the development of deterministic or stochastic deterioration models. The prevailing approach for explanatory variable selection is to use expert opinion solicited from experienced engineers. This may introduce human influenced biases into the deterioration modeling process. A framework using Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) penalized regression and covariance analysis are …

Evapotranspiration Estimation: A Study Of Methods In The Western United States, Clayton S. Lewis

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Theoretical water use of well-watered vegetation in the western United States was investigated by comparing a gridded dataset developed from satellite and ground instruments to weather stations representative of irrigated agricultural conditions. Since wetter environments are cooler and therefore subject to lower levels of evaporation than the same scenario with warmer temperatures, models derived from dryland and often populated areas overestimate potential plant needs in semi-arid or arid conditions. Evaluation of the model revealed an acceptable fit for air temperatures and solar radiation but with less confidence in humidity and wind speeds. Ultimately, the last two parameters were minor components …

Anaerobic Hydrogen And Methane Production From Dairy Processing Waste: Experiment And Modeling, Jianming Zhong

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Dairy processing waste (DPW) is the waste produced from manufacturing dairy products: cheese, yogurt, ice cream, milk, butter, etc. DPW is high in chemical oxygen demand (COD) due to its lactose, fat and protein content, and therefore needs to be appropriately treated. An investigation was conducted to produce energy (hydrogen and methane) from DPW by anaerobic digestion. This project developed an effective engineering method for stable methane production from DPW without adding pH control chemicals. This study also explored the optimal operational condition for hydrogen production from DPW. We further built a mathematical model to help us monitor and predict …

Quantifying The Removal Of Trichloroethylene Via Phytoremediation At Hill Air Force Base, Utah Operational Unit 2 Using Recent And Historical Data, J. Oliver Diamond

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a carcinogenic, chlorinated volatile organic compound that was commonly used as a degreasing solvent for aircraft maintenance at many US Air Force bases. Past improper disposal of TCE has resulted in contaminated groundwater plumes surrounding many of these facilities. Phytoremediation, defined as the use of plants and their associated microorganisms to stabilize or remove contamination, has been implemented as part of a TCE groundwater cleanup effort at Travis Air Force base near Sacramento, CA and is being considered as a remediation option at other bases. Volatilization of TCE from leaves and the surface of the soil near …

The Application Of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle To Precision Agriculture: Chlorophyll, Nitrogen, And Evapotranspiration Estimation, Manal Elarab

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Precision agriculture (PA) is an integration of a set of technologies aiming to improve productivity and profitability while sustaining the quality of the surrounding environment. It is a process that vastly relies on high-resolution information to enable greater precision in the management of inputs to production. This dissertation explores the usage of multispectral high resolution aerial imagery acquired by an unmanned aerial systems (UAS) platform to estimate three fundamental crop parameters (plant chlorophyll, leaf nitrogen and crop water demand). The UAS acquired imagery in the visual, near infrared and thermal infrared spectra with a resolution of less than a meter …

Application Of Computational Fluid Dynamics In Flow Measurement And Meter Design, Zachary B. Sharp

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Flow measurement has been an important part of society for hundreds of years. For this reason there are many methods to measure flow rates both in open channel scenarios like irrigation canals and also in closed conduits like pipelines that supply water for human use. This research focused on Venturi flow meters which have been used to measure flow since the 1890’s. The object of this research was to use computational fluid dynamics and laboratory data to provide industry with applicable answers to some under researched areas in flow measurement. The areas chosen for this research include areas requested by …

Developing More Efficient Mechanically Stabilized Earth (Mse) Wall Reinforcements, Matthew J. Rahmeyer

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The most common shape for metallic reinforcement in Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) walls is a rectangular strip. The amount of force required to pull the reinforcement out of the wall versus how much steel is required is well balanced.

This study shows that a metal round bar can be altered, either by bending into various geometries or welding into crossbars, and provide similar and sometimes higher resistance to pullout than the rectangular strip. This was achieved while reducing the weight per foot of reinforcement of steel required and providing cost saving benefits.

Developing A Method For Quantifying Nitrogen Transformation Rates Using In Situ Benthic Chambers Dosed With Isotopically Labeled Nitrate, Chelsea A. Stewardson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Nitrogen, a nutrient required for biological growth, is a common water quality parameter of concern as too much nitrogen can cause a strain on aquatic environments and even death of plants and animals. One way high levels of nitrogen are introduced into aquatic systems is by anthropogenic sources such as effluent from water reclamation facilities. A method was designed to observe the fate of nitrogen and measure the rates of its transformation into different nitrogen species within a stream receiving the effluent from the Silver Creek Water Reclamation Facility in Park City, Utah.

Sealed chambers were designed and installed along …

Analyzing Irrigation District Water Productivity By Benchmarking Current Operations Using Remote Sensing And Simulation Of Alternative Water Delivery Scenarios, Jonna D. Van Opstal

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The competition for fresh water is vastly increasing particularly in semi-arid areas. Agricultural irrigation areas are urged to decrease their water use, being the largest consumer of fresh water in these areas. Improvements in irrigation management aim at increasing crop production whilst maintaining or decreasing water use. The analysis of water productivity at the irrigation district scale is challenging due to spatial heterogeneity between fields and temporal variability between growing seasons.

This dissertation makes use of satellite-based remote sensing imagery and an irrigation system simulation model to determine the water management at different spatial scales from field scale to the …

Live Load Testing And Analysis Of A 48-Year-Old Double Tee Girder Bridge, Victor J. Torres

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A 48-year-old prestressed double tee girder bridge located on Icy Springs road in Coalville, Utah, was tested for live load. The test measured strains, deflections and rotations. The instruments used for measuring the respective measurements were strain gages, deflectometers ("twangers") and tiltmeters.

From the recorded measurements a finite element model (FEM) was calibrated to validate the modeling techniques based on the test data. The FEM implemented two joint link elements to connect the flanges of the FEM deck to model the transverse load distribution of the bridge deteriorated shear connectors. The abutment restraints were modeled by one joint link elements. …

Analysis And Modeling Of Pedestrian Walking Behaviors Involving Individuals With Disabilities, Mohammad Sadra Sharifi

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Walking facilities like walkways and stairs are important infrastructures which must be designed to effectively accommodate the behavior of pedestrians. Heterogeneity in pedestrian composition is one important factor generally overlooked in walking facility design guidelines and handbooks. While individuals with disabilities constitute a significant portion of the population in the United States, they are often overlooked due to lack of available data. To remedy this, large scale controlled walking experiments were performed at Utah State University (USU) to study the walking behavior of various types of individuals with disabilities (including vision and mobility impairments) in different walking environments. These environments …

Urban Agriculture And Small Farm Irrigation: Case Studies From Cache Valley, Utah, Tyler Pratt

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The socioeconomic landscape of water in Utah is rapidly changing due to population growth, conversion of agricultural land to urban development, and increasing awareness of future water scarcity. The Utah Division of Water Resources (DWRe) forecasts that the currently developed water supplies will not be enough to provide for Utah’s future population, and is pursuing conservation and new development to be able to meet the state’s needs.

Along with the urban growth Utah is experiencing a quickly growing sector of urban and small farm agriculture, but knowledge of water use and current practices in this area is limited. Further research …

A Risk-Based Assessment Of Agricultural Water Scarcity Under Climate Change In A Semi-Arid And Snowmelt-Dominated River Basin, Hossam Moursi

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Water shortage is a crucial concern in the semi-arid areas that have relatively low precipitation. Given the current situation in semi-arid areas where the water supply
already does not meet the water demand, climate change is one of the important factors that is expected to exacerbate the water shortage problem and make the situation even worse in the future. There are many indicators that prove climate change is happening, like the increasing land temperature, sea level rise and decreasing snow cover. Therefore, studying climate change impacts is a vital issue, especially its impacts on water resources systems.

In this research, …

Partially Closed Valve Effects On Electromagnetic Flow Meter Accuracy, Jordan Clark Jarrett

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

As the need to manage water resources increases, the ability to accurately measure use becomes crucial. In industry, measurement inaccuracies can cost either the
supplier or consumer large amounts of money or even result in a depleted resource. Generally, flow meters need a flow profile to be fully developed so to optimize
measurement accuracy.

In order to produce accurate measurements, most flow meters require a straight section of pipe immediately upstream of the meter. The straight pipe helps to develop the flow profile and produces flow conditions that are as ideal as possible. In many field installations, space restrictions lead …

Laboratory Modeling Of Piping Initiation Behavior Through Constricted Outlet, Ibrahim Ahmed Abdelmotelb Ibrahim

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Backward erosion piping is a type of internal erosion. It occurs beneath water structures as a result of seepage force. It needs two conditions to take place; 1) sufficient hydraulic head to drive the seepage force, and 2) cohesive layer overlies the sand layer and this will lead to concentration of flow. Many researches were done in the past in an attempt to predict the critical gradient. But it was just taking into account the buoyant unit weight which found in recent research that piping can occur at much lower values than was predicted. And other researches were too conservative …

The Effects Of Upstream Straight Pipe Length On Magnetic Flow Meter Accuracy, Bradley C. Clawson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

In closed conduit water systems, being able to accurately measure flow is absolutely essential. For many meter designs, including electromagnetic induction meters (also known as magnetic flow meters), the greatest accuracy is achieved when the device is calibrated correctly. Optimal meter accuracy often depends on the flow conditions associated with the upstream geometry in the pipe system. Manufacturers typically give standards for the length of straight pipe required upstream of the meter. These standards vary, however, and do not address every possible configuration that may be installed upstream of the straight pipe requirement.

An investigation on the effects of the …

Size Scale Effects On Linear Weir Hydraulics, Kedric W. Curtis

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Linear weirs are a type of hydraulic structure that have been used for centuries with many different applications. One of the characteristics of weirs that is particularly useful is the head-discharge relationship where the discharge over the weir is directly related to the upstream water depth above the crest. In general, the head-discharge relationship for a weir is determined experimentally using geometrically similar models. Due to space, time, money, and discharge capacity limitations at water laboratories, creating full scale models is not always a feasible option when determining head-discharge relationships for weirs, resulting in the use of smaller scale models. …

A Comprehensive Safety Analysis Of Diverging Diamond Interchanges, Holly Lloyd

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

With the implementation of new roadway configurations, there is a great need to study the influence of the roadway design on the crash rate. Utah is one of the leading states in the implementation of the Diverging Diamond Interchange.

In order to determine the effects of the new roadway configuration on the safety of the intersection, this study employs an Empirical Bayes before-after study of the crash rates at selected Diverging Diamond Interchanges in Utah. The results of the Empirical Bayes method were also used to calculate crash modification factors. The total number of crashes at each site were analyzed. …

The Effects Of Meter Orientation Downstream Of A Short Radius Elbow On Electromagnetic Flow Meters, Jared C. Justensen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Electromagnetic flowmeters (known as magnetic flow meters) are a widely used type of flowmeter. The accuracy of magnetic flow meters are a function of several factors, not the least of which is the flow condition inside the pipe. It has been shown that disturbances in the velocity profile affects the accuracy of a magnetic flow meter (Luntta, 1998). Accordingly, manufacturers of magnetic flow meters give installation guidelines. These guidelines help prevent the user from installing the meter in a pipe configuration that is likely to cause the meter to produce inaccurate results. Although most manufacturers provide recommendations about the amount …

Optimizing Sustainable Integrated Use Of Groundwater, Surface Water And Reclaimed Water For The Competing Demands Of Agricultural Net Return And Urban Population, Silvia Anastasia Landa

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The world population is growing rapidly. In developing countries, the growing population is mostly in urban areas. A bigger population requires more food, and more food requires more water. The water needed for food and people comes from the same sources: surface water (rivers, lakes, etc.) and groundwater (aquifers). Thus, there is a competing water demand between people and agriculture in urban areas.

In this research, we use computer software to make a model of the hydrologic system that focuses on surface water and groundwater. To make the model, we use data from real aquifers and streams in order to …

An Analysis Of Airborne Data Collection Methods For Updating Highway Feature Inventory, Yi He

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Highway inventory plays an important role in highway management. Governments and agencies have been employing different kinds of methodologies for highway inventory. Existing methodologies include field inventory, photo/video log, integrated global positioning system (GPS)/ global information system (GIS) mapping, aerial/satellite photography, terrestrial light detection and ranging (LiDAR), mobile LiDAR, and airborne LiDAR. Each has advantages and disadvantages as well as limitations in collecting road inventory data. This paper mainly focused on the application of airborne data collection method.

Four highway sections in Utah were mapped in this experiment: one section on Interstate 84 (I-84), two sections on Interstate 15 (I-15 …

Chromium Oxidation By Disinfectants And Oxidants Used In Drinking Water Treatment, Nathan D. Rogers

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This project investigated the behavior of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI), a potential carcinogen) in drinking water. While Cr(VI) can exist naturally, it can also be oxidized from Cr(III), a known trace nutrient. Recently, the State of California implemented a water regulation specifically for Cr(VI) at 10 parts per billion (ppb). This project completed a comprehensive evaluation of chromium behavior when in contact with common drinking water treatment chemicals including chlorine, monochloramine, chlorine dioxide, potassium permanganate, and ozone.

The results of these oxidation experiments are highly applicable to water treatment facilities. If a treatment plant is using monochloramine, there is no indication …

Rhizosphere Interactions Between Copper Oxide Nanoparticles And Wheat Root Exudates In A Sand Matrix; Influences On Bioavailability And Uptake, Paul Mcmanus

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) are extremely small particles (less than 1 nm in one or more dimension, or one billionth (10^-9) of a meter) used in a diverse range of industries. They have been shown to travel through water systems, and like pharmaceuticals, can end up in wastewater treatment plants and then be land applied as biosolids, where crops are grown for animal consumption, potentially leading to food chain accumulation.

Cu is an essential micronutrient for plants, but is phytotoxic at higher concentrations. CuO NPs present an increasingly real environmental threat to agriculture in soils treated with …

Physically Based Modeling Of The Impacts Of Climate Change On Streamflow Regime, Nazmus Shams Sazib

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Understanding the implications of climate change on streamflow regime is complex as changes in climate vary over space and time. However, a better understanding of the impact of climate change is required for identifying how stream ecosystems vulnerable to these changes, and ultimately to guide the development of robust strategies for reducing risk in the face of changing climatic conditions. Here I used physically based hydrologic modeling to improve understanding of how climate change may impact streamflow regimes and advance some of the cyberinfrastructure and GIS methodologies that support physically based hydrologic modeling by: (1) using a physically based model …

Live-Load Test And Finite-Element Model Analysis Of A Steel Girder Bridge, Jake L. Morrill

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The Utah Transportation Center in conjunction with the Mountain Plains Consortium sponsored a study to investigate the performance, and condition of a steel, twin, I-girder bridge. The bridge is located on the Idaho-Oregon border near Payette, Idaho, and was designed to carry traffic over the Snake River.

Bridge Diagnostics Inc. was contracted by the Idaho Transportation Department to perform a live-load test on the bridge. This testing included the placement of 62 gauges that measured the response of the bridge as heavy trucks were driven across it.

A 3-D finite-element model of the bridge was generated and compared to the …

Achieving Uniform Flow Distribution In Compact Irrigation Splitter Boxes With High Flow Rates, Joshua Ryan Hogge

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

In many irrigation systems and networks, there are multiple water users and shareholders who take their water from different locations along a single canal or pipeline. Often, irrigation splitter boxes are used to divert water to multiple shareholders from a single location. The splitter boxes, which can be small and compact, are generally installed at different locations along a piped irrigation supply line. The purpose of a splitter box is to split a specific amount of water so that each user receives their allotted portion, regardless of the flow rate in the system.

Each splitter box usually includes two compartments, …

Accumulation And Release Of Trace Inorganic Contaminants From Biofilm Matrices Produced And Challenged Under Drinking Water Distribution System Conditions, William W. Kent

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Drinking water distribution systems (DWDS) are used to transport drinking water from the place of treatment to your home. DWDS are made of many types of pipe materials and have the potential to accumulate materials such as iron and manganese oxides and biofilms that serve as reservoirs for toxic trace inorganic contaminants (TICs) such as thallium, arsenic, and lead. These materials can be stable, but changes in water quality or a physical disturbance such as road construction or water use changes may result in a TIC release, causing water quality degradation. This study used glass columns filled with glass beads …

Traffic Sign Management: Data Integration And Analysis Methods For Mobile Lidar And Digital Photolog Big Data, Majid Khalilikhah

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Traffic signs often convey critical information to drivers. However, traffic signs are only effective when clearly visible and legible. This study aims to determine the effects of various damage and deterioration forms on sign retroreflectivity, identify the most important factors affecting traffic sign visual condition, predict traffic sign vandalism that obstructs critical messages to drivers, and identify important environmental factors contributing to the temporary obstruction of the sign messages. To do so, two data sets are used. A sample data of over 1,700 signs was manually collected in the field, and the background retroreflectivity of each sign was measured using …

Anaerobic Digestion Process Stability And The Extension Of The Adm1 For Municipal Sludge Co-Digested With Bakery Waste, Morris Elya Demitry

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The anaerobic digestion process is used to treat and convert waste organic matter to biogas (principally methane and carbon dioxide) through biological, chemical and physical reactions. The biogas can be used as a source of energy recovery. In order to increase the biogas production rate, two different kinds of waste (municipal wastewater treatment sludge and bakery waste) were mixed together to enhance the anaerobic process and increase the biogas production in pilot scale reactors. The process succeeded in increasing biogas production and at the same time kept the process of treatment effective when high rates of organics were fed to …