Engineering Commons^™

Integrated Building Assessment To Enable Retrofit Design, Fabrication And Verification: A Drone-Based Approach, Paul Crovella

SyracuseCoE Research Brief Series

Buildings account for approximately 40% of annual greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. In New York State, approximately 80% of residential and commercial buildings were constructed before the emerging energy codes in the 1970s [1]. Therefore, there is a significant need for affordable and scalable building retrofit solutions with low embodied emissions to meet the targets in the NYS Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act of 2019. A building energy audit is the initial step to quantify a building's energy performance and reveal its energy-saving potential. However, performing a high-level energy audit requires detailed field analysis and is often …

Circular Reinforced Concrete Columns Damaged By Fire And Retrofitted With Cfrp And Steel Jacketing, Jia Xu

Dissertations - ALL

In recent decades, the post-fire behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) columns with normal and high-strength concrete has become an important research topic. Numerous studies have demonstrated that RC columns exhibit good fire resistance owing to the thermal properties of concrete. Therefore, reinforced concrete structures rarely collapse within a finite fire duration and can be successfully repaired. Along with the increasing number of skyscrapers, high-strength concrete (HSC) has played an equally important role as normal-strength concrete (NSC) in the industry. In this study, the thermal behavior of RC columns with NSC and HSC exposed to ISO 834 standard fire for various …

Transformational Leadership And The Adoption Of Sustainability And Asset Management Practices In Ground Transportation Organizations, Mohammad M. Bushahri

Dissertations - ALL

The unprecedented challenges the infrastructure domain has been facing for the past few decades are forcing the authorities and owners of relevant organizations, particularly within the ground transportation sector, to introduce more innovative measures and to mitigate risks by embracing and adopting sustainability and asset management practices. This study examined the relationship between transformational leadership and the embracing and adopting of sustainability and asset management practices in the U.S. ground transportation sector. Further, this study assessed the mediation effect of organizational innovation on the relationship between transformational leadership style and the leaders' perception in terms of adaptation of sustainability and …

Investigation Of Elastic Parameters And Pavement Modeling With Eps Geofoam, Engda Kassahun Temesgen

Dissertations - ALL

Models using EPS geofoam rely on input elastic parameters derived from compression tests on small size samples. Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio are parameters required to model isotropic and homogenous material behavior. For the most widely used EPS density grade of 20 Kg/m3 (1.25 pcf), Young's modulus of 4 MPa and Poisson's ratio of 0.1 are commonly used. Use of these values in models led to unreasonable long term deformation predictions that contradicted with field observations. Tests on small samples are prone to edge effects. Edge effects in turn result in underestimation of input elastic parameters. Alternative tests and sensing …

Assessment Of Pluvial Flooding In Syracuse, Ny, Using High-Resolution Topographic Data, Yngrid Pereira Marques

Theses - ALL

Although there have been many advances in regulations to assess flood risk in urban environments, the majority of these investigations to date have focused on fluvial or coastal flooding. However, in urban systems, pluvial flooding continues to be a pressing issue in need of attention. Due to the limited research on pluvial flooding in Syracuse, NY, its population and assets are exposed to the risks imposed by this type of flooding, as their primary metric for delineating flood risk is the traditional riverine flood zones designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). To address this issue, this research implemented …

Integrated Water Quality Monitoring Of Skaneateles Lake Tributaries, Mengyi Zhang

Theses - ALL

Skaneateles Lake is the drinking water source for the City of Syracuse and surrounding areas. Harmful algal blooms (HABs) have been occurring in Skaneateles Lake every year since 2017 and posing a great threat to water quality and drinking water safety. Although the exact cause of the HABs is still unclear, sunlight, quiescent conditions, warm temperature, and elevated concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus seem to favor the development of such blooms. In this study, a custom-built, low-cost, multi-parameter sensor unit was designed, built, and deployed on a third-order tributary. The unit collected high-frequency data for stage, temperature, pH, and dissolved …

Hydrus-1d Modeling To Represent Hydrologic Performance Of The Oncenter Green Roof, Courtney Gammon

Theses - ALL

Green infrastructure has the potential to alleviate stormwater runoff and reduce combined sewer overflows. Green roofs have stormwater mitigation potential in urban areas but further analysis to predict performance is needed. This research aims to understand how rainfall parameters affect green roof retention and reduction during storm events and whether a one-dimensional hydrologic model can be used to accurately predict performance. An extensive network of sensors on the OnCenter green roof in downtown Syracuse, New York, was utilized for analysis and modeling. This roof is larger than nearly all other green roofs that have been previously studied, and the layer …

Effects Of Acid Deposition And Changing Climate On The Hydrochemistry And Critical Loads Of Watersheds In The Adirondack Region Of New York, Shuai Shao

Dissertations - ALL

Despite decreases in acidic deposition since the 1970s, the recovery of surface waters from acidification has been limited primarily due to the depletion of exchangeable base cations, net mineralization of organic sulfur and nitrogen and release of previously retained SO42- and NO3-, and increases in concentrations of naturally occurring organic acids from soil. The future recovery of stream chemistry from acidic deposition may be altered by projected increases in temperature and precipitation associated with a changing climate. The goals of this study were to conduct a modeling analysis of the response of soils and streams in the Adirondack Park, New …

A Building Information Modeling (Bim)-Centric Digital Ecosystem For Smart Airport Life Cycle Management, Basak Keskin

Dissertations - ALL

An increasing number of new airport infrastructure construction and improvement projects are being delivered in today's modern world. However, value creation is a recurring issue due to inefficiencies in managing capital expenditures (CapEx) and operating expenses (OpEx), while trying to optimize project constraints of scope, time, cost, quality, and resources. In this new era of smart infrastructure, digitalization transforms the way projects are planned and delivered. Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a key digital process technique that has become an imperative for today's Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Operations (AECO) sector. This research suggests a BIM-centric digital ecosystem by detailing technical …

A Building Information Modeling (Bim)-Centric Digital Ecosystem For Smart Airport Life Cycle Management, Basak Keskin

Dissertations - ALL

An increasing number of new airport infrastructure construction and improvement projects are being delivered in today’s modern world. However, value creation is a recurring issue due to inefficiencies in managing capital expenditures (CapEx) and operating expenses (OpEx), while trying to optimize project constraints of scope, time, cost, quality, and resources. In this new era of smart infrastructure, digitalization transforms the way projects are planned and delivered. Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a key digital process technique that has become an imperative for today’s Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Operations (AECO) sector. This research suggests a BIM-centric digital ecosystem by detailing technical …

Effectiveness Of Building Systems Strategies For Mitigation Of Airborne Transmission Of Sars-Cov-2, Meng Kong, Jialei Shen, Bing Dong, Jianshun Jensen Zhang

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering - All Scholarship

Airborne transmission has been recognized as a major transmission pathway for the infectious disease COVID-19. This study investigated the effectiveness of several indoor air quality (IAQ) control strategies on the mitigation of airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The well-known airborne disease infection risk model (Wells-Riley equation) was used to estimate the infection risk of the SARS-CoV-2 in seven (7) different types of spaces including conference center/ballrooms, hotel bistro//cafeteria, hotel lobby, classrooms (lecture), conference room/small classroom, hotel or cruise ship guest rooms and open plan offices. The IAQ control strategies included increased ventilation rate, improved air distribution …

Future Trends In Construction Waste Management, Zaur Zeynalov

English Language Institute

The problem of construction waste has been with us since the beginning of construction history. As the world's population continues to grow, construction waste grows with it and there is a pressing need to address how we deal with the construction waste problem As a result, the whole world is facing the problem of "construction waste management" today. This poster describes current challenges managing construction waste and offers possible solutions to minimize/mitigate/ameliorate its (negative) effects on the environment.

Improving Energy Efficiency In Residential Houses In Kosovo, Fatlum Rexhepi

English Language Institute

Buildings with poor insulation and infiltration in doors, windows, and other openings have very high heating and cooling demands. Due to lack of maintenance, building materials, and standard they are whopping consumers. The necessity to save energy is enormous, especially with newly environmental constrains. Moreover, this would not only save our natural resources, but it would cut large sums that households spend on electricity, gas, or coal. Thermodynamic calculation of heat gain and loss gave us a lucid picture of benefits respecting nearly zero energy buildings standards while comparing same building prior and after improving its envelope. The consumption after …

Tracking The Rain: Can We Use Remote In Situ Sensors To Evaluate The Effectiveness Of Green Infrastructure?, Ethan Schafer

Honors Capstone Projects - All

For decades Onondaga County and the City of Syracuse, New York, have struggled with water quality issues involving combined sewer overflows. These combined sewer overflows and the lack of an appropriate system to mitigate storm water runoff have continually contributed to the degradation of Onondaga Lake and the streams draining into it. To combat the issues presented by combined sewer overflows, Onondaga County implemented the storm water reduction program known as "Save the Rain". The Save the Rain program aims to utilize various forms of green infrastructure to reduce storm water flows into the combined sewer system. Examples of green …

The Role Of The Structural Engineer In The Contemporary Design Process, Amanda Yeager

Honors Capstone Projects - All

This capstone is a critical look at the contemporary design process, particularly design competitions, and the role of the structural engineer in that process. Often, the design process for competitions is architect-led with the technical experts entering the process after the major design decisions have been made. As a result, structural requirements and other technical considerations are too often left out of the conceptual design proposals, leading to extensive design changes and costly structural issues to resolve before the structure can be realized. To investigate this issue, a structural analysis of an ambitious winning pedestrian bridge design was conducted. The …

Inter-Laboratory Variation In The Chemical Analysis Of Acidic Forest Soil Reference Samples From Eastern North America, D. S. Ross, S. W. Bailey, R. D. Briggs, J. Curry, I. J. Fernandez, G. Fredriksen, C. L. Goodale, P. W. Hazlett, P. R. Heine, C. E. Johnson, J. T. Larson, G. B. Lawrence, R. K. Kolka, R. Ouimet, D. Paré, D. De B. Richter, C. D. Schirmer, R. A. Warby

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Long-term forest soil monitoring and research often requires a comparison of laboratory data generated at different times and in different laboratories. Quantifying the uncertainty associated with these analyses is necessary to assess temporal changes in soil properties. Forest soil chemical properties, and methods to measure these properties, often differ from agronomic and horticultural soils. Soil proficiency programs do not generally include forest soil samples that are highly acidic, high in extractable Al, low in extractable Ca and often high in carbon. To determine the uncertainty associated with specific analytical methods for forest soils, we collected and distributed samples from two …

Stress-Strain Behavior By Image Analysis, Mix Density And Pre-Strain Effects Of Eps Geofoam, Chen Liu

Theses - ALL

In order to have a deeper understanding of the engineering performances of EPS geofoam, it is necessary to study the stress-strain response and internal strain distribution when loaded. In this investigation, the key objective is to study the stress-strain behavior of EPS geofoam under different conditions and develop construction practical suggestions when using geofoam. The scope of this research is divided into three main sections: (1) study the effect of induced anisotropy on the stress-strain behavior of EPS geofoam; (2) evaluate stress distribution within EPS blocks by using image analysis system; (3) analyze the effect of combining different EPS densities …

Effects Of Calcium Silicate Treatment On The Composition Of Forest Floor Organic Matter In A Northern Hardwood Forest Stand, Ankit Balaria, Chris E. Johnson, Peter M. Groffman, Melany C. Fisk

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Calcium amendment can help improve forest sustainability in stands that have been impacted by chronic acid deposition. An important component of this improvement is the stimulation of the microbial activity that supports ecosystem nutrient cycling processes. To test the hypothesis that Ca treatment alters the structure and solubility of organic matter substrates, an important driver of microbial activity, we investigated the effect of wollastonite (CaSiO₃) treatment on soil organic matter (SOM) and hot-water-extractable organic matter (HWEOM). We found a decrease in the HWEOM content of forest floor soils within two years of treatment with a high dosage of …

Estimating Mineral Weathering Rates In Catskills Watersheds, Chris E. Johnson

Civil and Environmental Engineering

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of Volatile And Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds Potentially Associated With The Gas Shale Fracturing Process In The Fayetteville And Marcellus Shale, Karl Albert Oetjen

Theses - ALL

With the recent growth of the natural gas industry coupled with technological advancements, gas shale fracturing has become an effective and highly profitable method for natural gas production. Unlike conventional natural gas extraction which may require vertical fracturing, gas shale fracturing relies on a method known as horizontal fracturing to remove gas trapped within the impermeable facies. Compared to vertical fracturing, horizontal fracturing requires larger amounts of fluids to be injected downhole under high pressure. These fracturing fluids can contain high concentrations of petroleum hydrocarbons with known adverse health effects. Due to the large volumes used, the potential for groundwater …

Effect Of Particle Shape And Size On Compressibility Behavior Of Dredged Sediment In A Geotextile Tube Dewatering Application, Louis Lafata

Honors Capstone Projects - All

Each year, more than 250 million cubic yards of sediment need to be dredged from U.S. ports, harbors and waterways to maintain navigability. This is accomplished by dredging, the process of excavating submerged sediment by means of scooping or suction. Dredged sediments have low solids content, typically between 10% and 20% for hydraulic dredging. Geotextile tubes are one of many methods utilized to dewater these sediments, which is a process of removing water from sediment that contains low percent solids. Understanding the engineering behavior of slurries inside geotextile tubes is critical for the evaluation of the properties of the dewatered …

In Situ Decomposition Of Northern Hardwood Tree Boles: Decay Rates And Nutrient Dynamics In Wood And Bark, Chris E. Johnson, Thomas G. Siccama, Ellen G. Denny, Mary Margaret Koppers, Daniel J. Vogt

Civil and Environmental Engineering

The decomposition of coarse woody debris contributes to forest nutrient sustainability and carbon balances, yet few field studies have been undertaken to investigate these relationships in northern hardwood forests. We used a paired-sample approach to study the decomposition of sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.), American beech (Fagus grandifolia Erhr.), and yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britt.) boles at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in New Hampshire. Mass loss over 16 yr followed a first-order exponential decay pattern with half-lives ranging from 4.9 to 9.4 yr in bark, and 7.3 to 10.9 yr in wood. Nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations …

Effects Of Calcium Treatment On Forest Floor Organic Matter Composition Along An Elevation Gradient, Ankit Balaria, Chris E. Johnson, Peter M. Groffman

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Calcium amendment is a restorative option for nutrient-depleted, acidic soils in the forests of the northeastern United States. We studied the effects of watershed-scale wollastonite (CaSiO₃) application on the structural composition of soil organic matter (SOM) and hot-water extractable organic matter (HWEOM) at the Hubbard Brook Experiment Forest in New Hampshire 7-9 years after treatment, along an elevation gradient. Soils in the high-elevation spruce/fir/birch (SFB) zone contained significantly greater amounts of HWEOM compared to lower elevation hardwood soils, likely due to differences in litter quality and slower decomposition rates in colder soils at higher elevation. The only significant …

Is Horizon Sampling More Powerful Than Depth Sampling?, Chris E. Johnson

Civil and Environmental Engineering

No abstract provided.

Biogeochemical Modeling Of The Response Of Forest Watersheds In The Northeastern U.S. To Future Climate Change, Afshin Pourmokhtarian

Dissertations - ALL

In this dissertation I assessed the potential hydrochemical responses of future climate change conditions on forested watersheds in the northeastern U.S. using climate projections from several atmosphere ocean general circulation models (AOGCMs) under different carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions scenarios. The impacts of changing climate on terrestrial ecosystems have been assessed by observational, gradient, laboratory and field studies; however, state-of-the-art biogeochemical models provide an excellent tool to investigate climatic perturbations to these complex ecosystems. The overarching goal of this dissertation was to apply a fully integrated coupled hydrological and biogeochemical model (PnET-BGC) to evaluate the effects of climate change and increasing …

Soil Mercury And Its Response To Atmospheric Mercury Deposition Across The Northeastern United States, Xue Yu, Charles T. Driscoll, Richard A. F. Warby, Mario Montesdeoca, Chris E. Johnson

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Terrestrial soil is a large reservoir of atmospherically deposited mercury (Hg). However, few studies have evaluated the accumulation of Hg in terrestrial ecosystems in the northeastern United States, a region which is sensitive to atmospheric Hg deposition. We characterized Hg and organic matter in soil profiles from 139 sampling sites for five subregions across the northeastern United States and estimated atmospheric Hg deposition to these sites by combining numerical modeling with experimental data from the literature. We did not observe any significant relationships between current net atmospheric Hg deposition and soil Hg concentrations or pools, even though soils are a …

Compositional Characterization Of Soil Organic Matter And Hot-Water Extractable Organic Matter In Organic Horizons Using A Molecular Mixing Model, Ankit Balaria, Chris E. Johnson

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Purpose Microbial decomposition of soil organic matter (SOM) is generally believed to be heterogeneous, resulting in the preferential loss of labile compounds such as carbohydrates and proteins and the accumulation of recalcitrant compounds such as lipids and lignin. However, these fractions are difficult to measure directly in soils. We examined patterns in the biomolecular composition of SOM and hot-water-extractable organic matter (HWEOM) by using a molecular mixing model (MMM) to estimate the content of carbohydrates, protein, lipids, and lignin.

Materials and methods Organic-horizon soils from Spodosols at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in New Hampshire, USA were analyzed for this …

A 13c Nmr Study Of Decomposing Logging Residues In An Australian Hoop Pine Plantation, Chris E. Johnson, Timothy J. Blumfield, Sue Boyd, Zhihong Xu

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Purpose Residue retention is important for nutrient and water economy in sub-tropical plantation forests. We examined decomposing hoop pine (Araucaria cunninghamii Ait. Ex D. Don) residues – foliage, branches and stem wood – to determine the changes in structural chemistry that occur during decomposition.

Materials and methods Residues were incubated in situ using 0.05-m² microplots. We used solid-state ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to determine the structural composition of harvest residues in the first 24 months of decomposition.

Results and discussion The spectral data for branch and stem residues were generally similar to one another and …

Soil Chemistry Response To Wollastonite (Casio3) Addition At Hubbard Brook, Chris E. Johnson

Civil and Environmental Engineering

No abstract provided.

Mercury Concentrations In Tropical Resident And Migrant Songbirds On Hispaniola, Jason M. Townsend, Christopher C. Rimmer, Charles T. Driscoll, Kent P. Mcfarland, Eduardo E. Inigo-Elias

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Despite growing concerns over mercury (Hg) exposure to humans and wildlife on a global scale, little is known about Hg bioaccumulation in the New World tropics. From 2005 to 2011, we monitored Hg concentrations in blood of nine avian species occupying a geographic range of tropical wet broadleaf sites on the island of Hispaniola, including eight passerines (two Nearctic- Neotropical migrant and six resident species) and one top order predatory accipiter. Invertivorous songbirds were further differentiated by foraging guild, with six species of groundforagers and two species of foliage-gleaners. Blood Hg concentrations were orders of magnitude higher in birds sampled …