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Innovating Green Stormwater Infrastructure For Nutrient Management: Long-Term Field And Modeling Studies Of Conventional And Modified Denitrifying Bioretention Systems, Emma V. Lopez-Ponnada

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Urban stormwater and nutrient management are increasingly important topics to address globally, as coastal urbanization increases, disturbing the natural landscape, hydrology, and water quality. Untreated urban stormwater runoff carries pollutants that enter our waterways, such as rivers and marine environments, which serve as drinking water sources, recreational sites, and locations for economic livelihood. One pollutant and nutrient of concern for water quality is reactive nitrogen (N). Since pre-industrial time, reactive nitrogen has doubled from human activity. When found in excess in waterways, nitrogen causes an overabundant growth of algae, which can result in eutrophic and hypoxic conditions, impacting ecosystems, human …

High Ammonia Strength Wastewater Treatment Using Algae, Bacteria And Ion Exchange, Nadezhda Zalivina

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Nitrogen pollution has been considered one of the major problems of the 21st century. Discharge of nitrogen from improperly treated wastewaters into surface water bodies causes eutrophication and hypoxia, which results in significant environmental, public health and economic damages. In addition to the incoming flow, wastewater treatment plants generate internal highly concentrated ammonium streams, such as anaerobic digestion sidestream. As a current practice, sidestream without prior treatment is returned to the head of the plant, which increases the total incoming nitrogen load by 20-30% and often exceeds the treatment capacity. The most commonly used conventional biological nitrogen removal processes are …

Dynamic Prediction Of Runway Configuration And Airport Acceptance Rate, Yuan Wang

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Automated prediction of runway configuration and airport capacity is critical for the future generation of air traffic management. In the future aviation industry, multi-sources weather forecast information will be available for air traffic decision-making units; how to use these data efficiently is key for overall efficiency of air traffic management. Currently, air traffic management personnel lack tools to assist them to translate weather forecast data into real-time airport capacity. Runway configurations and AARs of airports in a multi-airport system are determined by different air traffic controller personnel. The lack of synchronization may lead to the loss of efficiency of the …

Enhancing Concrete Pavement Service Life Using Multiple Strategies To Reduce Cracking Potential, Dhanushika Mapa Mudiyanselage

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Over the past years, prevention of cracking in concrete structures, especially at early age, has been a challenge facing transportation agencies. During early age, restraint of thermal and moisture related volume changes causes cracking in concrete. This research focuses on evaluating the effectiveness of different cracking mitigation strategies that can be implemented, in different concrete elements, to reduce early-age cracking incidents and therefore enhance concrete service life. To this end, a battery of field and laboratory testing were conducted, and finite element analysis was performed to better understand the mechanisms of primary significance on minimizing cracking risks commonly associated with …

Effects Of Reservoir Conditions And Trace Co-Contaminant Gases On Geological Carbon Sequestration, Ram Kumar

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Geological carbon sequestration in a saline formation is a promising technology for large-scale carbon dioxide (CO2) mitigation. Several factors such as temperature, pressure, salinity, hydraulic conductivity, and mineralogy of a formation affect the CO2 sequestration in saline formations. These factors can vary widely depending upon the type of formation or the degree of heterogeneity within a formation. In addition to these properties of the repositories, the CO2-rich flue gas streams captured from point sources often contains small amounts of impurities such as sulfur oxides (SOx) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), which may have serious implications on the chemistry of the repositories …

Thermo-Oxidative Degradation Of Hdpe Geomembranes: Effect Of Phenolic Antioxidant And Hindered Amine Light Stabilizer Concentrations, Yasin Kocak

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

High density polyethylene (HDPE) geomembrane is most common geomembrane which is mainly used for civil engineering applications. However, HDPE geomembrane loses its properties under oxidative degradation progress. This study aims to assess geomembranes which have different percentage of phenolic antioxidant and hindered amine light stabilizer (HALS) with under the six months of the thermal-oxidative degradation. The interactions between phenolic antioxidant, HALS and carbon black can affect the mechanical, physical and chemical properties. To monitor these properties, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Fourier-transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX), Melt Index tests, …

Chemolithotrophic Denitrification Of Nitrate Contaminated Groundwater Using Sulfur-Bearing Minerals, John Sutton

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Nitrate contamination in groundwater resources poses a serious threat, not only to the health of those who would drink it, but also as a potential nutrient for eutrophication. Current methods of nitrate removal can efficiently remove nitrate below 10 mg/L as nitrogen, but may require resources unavailable to small community water systems (SCWS). Sulfur-oxidizing biological denitrification is a promising alternative that may be more suitable for SCWS. Sulfur-oxidizing denitrification has previously been shown to have a high nitrate removal efficiency; however, it produces water high in sulfate. Utilization of sulfide-bearing minerals, rather than elemental sulfur as an electron donor, may …

Impact Of The Number Of Lane-Changing Times On Throughput By Fundamental Diagram Based On Ngsim Data, Gangyan Zhang

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In the present report, the characteristics of the fundamental diagram (FD) are exploited to delve into the effect of the number of times of lane changes on traffic throughput. The NGSIM data are classified and screened by splitting the regions of US-101 and I-80; the relevant traffic variables (e.g., traffic flow, density and speed) are calculated. Appropriate statistical approaches are employed to verify the correlation of the impact of lane changes on different traffic variables. Lane changes could affect traffic throughput in light congestion instead of in heavy congestion. The causes of the effects of lane changes on throughput are …

Device For Imaging Cross-Section Of Post-Tensioned Structural Tendons In The Field, David Dukeman

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

With increasing use of grouted post-tensioned tendons in structures, there is a critical need for equipment to determine deficient grouting. Inadequate grouting can cause dangerous corrosion of the high-strength post-tensioning steel in the tendons. Evaluation should be non-destructive, and early detection is needed to take timely remedial actions to repair or replace any tendons that are affected before catastrophic failure occurs. In particular, there is need for an imaging method that shows the cross-section of the tendon being tested and flag any deficiencies present relative to the location of the strands in the cross section. The method should be rapid, …

Toward Car Free Key West, Mary Bishop

Journal of Transportation Demand Management Research

This paper explores the transportation problems created by the large volume of tourist arrivals to the island of Key West, Florida. A survey of visitors to the island was conducted to uncover their perspectives related to the barriers and benefits of various transportation modes in hopes to inform City staff on the development of transportation options that will meet the needs and desires of tourists. The results from 398 respondents revealed a variety of trends, including varying travel choices depending on the number of visits, where visitors were from, and arrival types. From these trends, priority groups for behavior change …

Bamboo As A Sustainable Engineering Material: Mechanical Properties, Safety Factors, And Experimental Testing, Lorena Sánchez Vivas

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

With exponential global population growth occurring and associated environmentally destructive consumption of natural resources, alternative materials that are fast growing and sustainable are being sought out to satisfy human needs. One material that is fast growing and sustainable that can be used to meet most basic needs of humans (i.e. shelter, food, tools) is the plant bamboo, of the grass family Poaceae. Bamboo was used in the past by native peoples who lived in the environment where bamboo natively grows (all continents except Europe and Antarctica) with proven success for uses such as shelter, piping, tools, wells, food, fencing, baskets …

Effects Of Support Fluid Type On Concrete Integrity And Durability In Drilled Shafts, Sarah J. Mobley

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Until recently, concrete flow in tremie-placed drilled shafts has been mischaracterized as rising uniformly with laitance formation occurring only at the top of the rising concrete in the shaft. In actuality, concrete first fills a portion of the reinforcement cage to a sufficient height to promote radial flow into the cover region. Depending on support fluid type, the radial flow can produce laitance-filled creases/channels projecting the reinforcing cage configuration to the side of shaft surface. The flow pattern (and creases) can affect filter cake thickness, cover quality and propensity for corrosion. This research examines 52 tremie-placed laboratory drilled shaft specimens …

A Decision-Making Framework For Hybrid Resource Recovery Oriented Wastewater Systems, Nader Rezaei

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Water shortage, water contamination, and the emerging challenges in sustainable water resources management (e.g., the likely impacts of climate change and population growth) necessitate adopting a reverse logistics approach, which is the process of moving wastewater from its typical final destination back to the water supply chain for reuse purposes. This practice not only reduces the negative impacts of wastewater on the environment, but also provides an alternative to withdrawal from natural water resources, forming a closed-loop water supply chain. However, the design of such a supply chain requires an appropriate sustainability assessment, which simultaneously accounts for economic, environmental, and …

Morphology And Detection Of Corrosion On Stainless Steel Reinforcement In Concrete, Julio J. Saire Yanez

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Stainless steel (SS) has emerged as an alternative corrosion-resistant reinforcement in concrete instead of the commonly used carbon steel (CS). The biggest advantage of SS is that it takes more time for corrosion to initiate than for CS. An additional benefit from the use of SS in concrete may be derived from the period after the corrosion started until the concrete structure reaches a limit state. This period is called corrosion propagation stage (CPS) and it has been hardly studied in SS reinforced structures. The duration of this period could be related, among other factors, to the morphology of corrosion …

Prioritizing Rehabilitation Of Sanitary Sewers In Pinellas County, Fl, Jesse T. Hillman

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Following large rain events, extraneous freshwater contributions known as inflow and infiltration (I/I) bypass the storm sewer and enter the sanitary sewer system. In areas with a high water table, like Pinellas County and the surrounding Tampa Bay area, a majority of the wastewater infrastructure is submerged year round exacerbating the rate of groundwater infiltration. This excess flow overloads the existing wastewater infrastructure leading to sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs). These SSOs result in serious problems for municipalities and utilities across the country.

This study was performed in order to assist Pinellas County Utilities in rehabilitating their southern sewer system. To …

Steady State Hydroplaning Risk Analysis And Evaluation Of Unsteady State Effects, Menna Yassin

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Hydroplaning is a major concern on high speed roadways during heavy rainfall events. Hydroplaning tools are widely used by designers to reduce their roadway’s hydroplaning potential, therefore reducing the possibilities of severe crashes. This dissertation presents two methodologies for improving the prediction of hydroplaning potential.

The first phase focused on improving an existing widely used software called PAVDRN. Using multiple datasets from the Florida Department of Transportation, the author filtered the data using specific criteria to leave only truly dynamic hydroplaning crashes. The author then evaluated PAVDRN’s prediction capabilities and assessed its reliability in predicting a hydroplaning crash. Using past …

Characterization Of Geogrid Reinforced Ballast Behavior Through Finite Element Modeling, Bugra Sinmez

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Recently, the railway pavement structure system, as an integral part of the transport infrastructure, has been under fast development in some countries such as China, Turkey, and some European Union countries, particularly for the use of high-speed trains. In designing and constructing the railway pavement structure, it is necessary to take into account the infrastructure demand of the High-Speed Railway Lines (HSRL). Compared to traditional railway trains, HSRL can cause more significant problems to the ballast or base layer of commonly used ballasted railway pavements. The deteriorated ballast or base layer may further result in substructure degradation that may cause …

Seepage-Coupled Finite Element Analysis Of Stress Driven Rock Slope Failures For Bothnatural And Induced Failures, Thomas Becket Anyintuo

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Rock slope failures leading to rock falls and rock slides are caused by a multitude of factors, including seismic activity, weathering, frost wedging, groundwater and thermal stressing. Although these causes are generally attributed as separate causes, some of them will often act together to cause rock slope failures. In this work, two of the above factors, seepage of water through cracks and crack propagation due to the after effects of blasting are considered. Their combined impact on the development of rock falls and rock slides is modeled on ANSYS workbench using the Bingham Canyon mine slope failure of 2013 as …

Investigating Air Pollution And Equity Impacts Of A Proposed Transportation Improvement Program For Tampa, Talha Kemal Kocak

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Transportation infrastructure is important for human mobility and population well-being. However, it can also have detrimental impacts on health and equity, including through increased air pollution and its unequal social distribution. There is a need for better understanding of these impacts and for better approaches that improve health and equity outcomes of transportation planning programs. In this study, we are investigating the air pollution and health equity impacts of an ongoing large-scale metropolitan transportation improvement program, Tampa Bay Next (TBNext). Specific objectives are: 1) to characterize and quantify the air pollution levels and population exposures resulting from the roadway expansion …

Modeled Affinity Constants For Phosphorus Adsorption And Desorption Due To Saltwater Intrusion, Yasemin Taşcı

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

It is important to understand the processes that regulate phosphorus (P) fluxes to coastal environments, because P is an important nutrient in coastal ecosystems. Phosphorus adsorbs to the surface of minerals in sediment and bedrock, and an influx of seawater can cause some of that P to desorb, raising the P concentration of ambient water. Although seawater-induced P desorption is thought to be an important source of P to coastal environments, the chemical reactions that underlie it have not been established. Previous work provides some relevant surface reactions and associated affinity constants between various aqueous P species and the surface …

Estimation Of Number Of People Living In Developing Countries That Received Water From A Spring Source, Prapti Shinde

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In the year 2000, 170 countries decided to stand together and solve some primary and common global problems like poor health, water, and sanitation. Obtaining access to safe drinking water is every individual’s right. The UN defines safe drinking water as “the water required for each personal or domestic use must be safe, therefore free from micro-organisms, chemical substances and radiological hazards that constitute a threat to a person's health” (UNDESA, 2014). This thesis focuses on identifying the number of people who potentially receive spring water from a piped source in rural mountainous areas. There are three significant steps and …

Model Of A Sulfur-Based Cyclic Denitrification Filter For Marine Recirculating Aquaculture Systems, Zhang Cheng

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) are a type of near zero-discharge fish production system that is used to treat and recirculate aquaculture wastewater and increase the biomass stocking density in the fish tank. The RAS presented in this thesis was a marine system which was operated with two temporally independent cycles, Loop 1, a continuous loop, and Loop 2, an intermittent loop. Flow in the RAS was switched between the two loops by a solenoid valve. During the operation of Loop 1, components involved in the cycle were successively the fish tank for fish production, solids filters for solids removal and …

Removal And Recovery Of Nutrients From Wastewater In Urban And Rural Contexts, Kevin Daniel Orner

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Efforts to remove and recover nutrients from wastewater are motivated by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the National Academy of Engineering Grand Challenges of Engineering. Of the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), multiple SDGs relate to managing nutrients in wastewater. SDG 6, which is to “ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all,” contains targets that aim to improve water quality by reducing pollution, halve the amount of untreated wastewater released to the environment, and increase recycling and safe reuse of wastewater (UN, 2017). SDG 2 seeks to improve food security and SDG 12 seeks …

Development And Application Of Decision-Making Tool For Rural Spring-Sourced Gravity-Fed Community Managed Water Systems, Oswaldo Galicia

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

People all over the world still lack access to safe drinking water service. Those with access experience several issues during the first few years of installation that impede on their overall access. In order to improve water services, not only is a proper decision-making tool necessary, taking into account key factors that impact sustainable water service, but proper monitoring and evaluation is also important in ensuring service for the long term. There are several developed assessment tools used for monitoring and evaluation of water systems post-construction, applicable in various scenarios. However, there are only few tools available to facilitate the …

Evaluation Of Strand To Grout Bond In Post-Tensioned Tendons With Corrosion Inhibiting Penetrants, Kurt Kupselaitis

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Post tensioning bridges is an efficient way of construction where segments of a bridge are strung together using small diameter high strength strands. The steel strands are passed through internal and/or external ducts within the concrete segments, jacked to high levels of stress, anchored using steel wedges, and then filled with a corrosion inhibiting filler. A cementitious material called grout has been widely used for over 50 years as this filler. The Federal Highway Administration design and construction manual provides recommendations in the properly filling techniques to ensure the tendons are full of grout. Despite the level of detail the …

A Route Navigation Algorithm For Pedestrian Simulation Based On Grid Potential Field, Minghua Li, Yun Wei, Yan Xu

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Pedestrian simulation modeling has become an important means to study the dynamic characters of dense populations. In the continuous pedestrian simulation model for complex simulation scenario with obstacles, the pedestrian path planning algorithm is an indispensable component, which is used for the calculation of pedestrian macro path and microscopic movement desired direction. However, there is less efficiency and poor robustness in the existing pedestrian path planning algorithm. To address this issue, we propose a new pedestrian path planning algorithm to solve these problems in this article. In our algorithm, we have two steps to determine pedestrian movement path, that is, …

Future Climate And Land Use Change Impacts On River Flows In The Tapajós Basin In The Brazilian Amazon, Fabio Farinosi, Mauricio E. Arias, Eunjee Lee, Marcos Longo, Fabio F. Pereira, Angela Livino, Paul R. Moorcroft, John Briscoe

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Land conversion and changing climate are expected to significantly alter tropical forest hydrology. We used a land surface model integrated with a river routing scheme to analyze the hydrological alterations expected in the Tapajós River basin, a large portion of the Brazilian Amazon, caused by two environmental drivers: climate and land use. The model was forced with two future climate scenarios (years 2026–2045) from the Earth System Model HadGem2-ES with moderate (+4.5 W/m² radiative forcing value in the year 2100 with respect to preindustrial levels) and severe (+8.5 W/m²) representative atmospheric carbon dioxide pathways (Representative Concentration Pathways). …

Analysis Of Truck-Related Crashes Of Freeways In China, Ting Xu, Rui-Sen Jiang, Lei Zhao, Long Qi, Yu Zhang

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Truck-related crashes result in tremendous lives and property loss and become a serious safety issue in China. The goal of this article is to identify the influential factors for severity of truck-related crashes using data from Jingjintang freeways in China and to design an ordered probit model to explore their relationship. Records including crashes, traffic flow attributes, and geometric design features ranging from 2009 to 2012 were collected from Jingjintang freeway. Crashes are divided into three severity levels: slight injury, injury, and fatal injury. The injury crashes is ranking the first place occupying 64.37%. Truck-related crashes are likely to occur …