Engineering Commons^™

The Breathing Human Infrastructure: Integrating Air Quality, Traffic, And Social Media Indicators, Heather O'Leary, Scott Parr, Marwa El-Sayed

Publications

Outdoor air pollution is a complex system that is responsible for the deaths of millions of people annually, yet the integration of interdisciplinary data necessary to assess air quality's multiple metrics is still lacking. This case study integrates atmospheric indicators (concentrations of criteria pollutants including particulate matter and gaseous pollutants), traffic indicators (permanent traffic monitoring station data), and social indicators (community responses in Twitter archives) representing the interplay of the three critical pillars of the United Nations' Triple Bottom Line: environment, economy, and society. During the watershed moment of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns in Florida, urban centers demonstrated the gaps …

Supervised Machine Learning Techniques Applied To Low-Cost Air Quality Sensor Suites, Peter Wahman

All Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

Low-cost PM sensors have garnered interest for their ability to reduce the cost of investigating PM concentrations in both indoor and outdoor spaces. They perform well in high concentration lab testing with correlation coefficients greater than 0.9. In real-world applications, the correlation coefficients drop significantly because of sensing floors and adverse ambient conditions. There are plenty of supervised machine learning techniques that aim to correct the measurements ranging from linear regression to more advanced neural networks and random forests. This work aims to use those more complicated techniques to adjust the measurements using other data sets gathered by a sensor …

Indoor Air Quality Through The Lens Of Outdoor Atmospheric Chemistry, Jonathan P.D. Abbatt, Douglas B. Collins

Faculty Contributions to Books

Outdoor atmospheric chemistry and air quality have been the topic of research that intensified in earnest around the mid-20^th century, while indoor air quality research has only been a key focus of chemical researchers over the last 30 years. Examining practices and approaches employed in the outdoor atmospheric chemistry research enterprise provides an additional viewpoint from which we can chart new paths to increase scientific understanding of indoor chemistry. This chapter explores our understanding of primary chemical sources, homogeneous and multiphase reactivity, gas-surface partitioning, and the coupling between the chemistry and dynamics of indoor air through the lens of …

Emission Of Volatile Organic Compounds From Land-Applied Beef Cattle Manure As Affected By Application Method, Diet, And Soil Water Condition, Bryan L. Woodbury, John E. Gilley, David B. Parker, David B. Marx

Department of Biological Systems Engineering: Papers and Publications

Land application of beef cattle manure may result in the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOC). This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of diet, land application method, soil water condition, and time since manure application on VOC emissions. Manure was collected from feedlot pens where cattle were fed diets containing 0%, 10%, or 30% wet distillers grains with solubles (WDGS). The effects of manure application method (surface-applied or incorporated) and soil water condition (saturated or wet) on VOC emissions were measured over a 48 h period. Heptanoic, hexanoic, isobutyric, and isovaleric acids contributed 23.5%, 17.6%, 9.26%, and 3.39% …

Análisis Comparativo De Las Condiciones De Acidez De La Precipitación Y El Contexto Meteorológico Relacionado Con El Fenómeno, En Las Localidades De Chapinero, Usaquén Y La Candelaria, Ubicadas Al Oriente De La Ciudad De Bogotá D.C, Camila Fernanda Pulido Valero, Jennypher Alexandra Rubiano Cano

Ingeniería Ambiental y Sanitaria

El presente proyecto se desarrolló con el fin de realizar un análisis comparativo de tres estudios de lluvia ácida, los cuales permitan establecer el comportamiento de las diferentes variables meteorológicas (temperatura ambiente, humedad relativa, velocidad y dirección del viento durante el período de estudio 2011-2019) en tres diferentes localidades (Usaquén, La Candelaria y Chapinero) de la ciudad de Bogotá D.C, y sus posibles efectos sobre la vegetación, las condiciones climáticas e infraestructura de estas localidades. Para establecer el proceder del clima y su relación con el fenómeno de lluvia ácida se empleó la información meteorológica (dirección y velocidad del viento, …

Urban Air Quality, Spring/Summer 2002, Issue 6

Sustain Magazine

No abstract provided.

Determinación De La Presencia De Bioaerosoles Y Su Riesgo Asociado A La Salud En El Área De Urgencias De Un Hospital De Ii Nivel En La Localidad De Engativá, Bogotá, Paula Andrea Alvarado Chávez, Lilian Nataly Ivonne Rozo Mora

Ingeniería Ambiental y Sanitaria

El proyecto realizado demuestra los resultados acerca de la calidad del aire microbiológico en el área de urgencias de un hospital público de segundo nivel en la localidad de Engativá durante el periodo comprendido entre octubre de 2018 hasta febrero de 2019. El objetivo principal fue la caracterización de bioaerosoles mediante la identificación de microorganismos patógenos para la salud, seguidamente se determinó el riesgo que puedan generar estas especies con respecto a las infecciones nosocomiales afectando a pacientes, familiares y personal del hospital; contribuyendo con la formulación de estrategias en busca de una mejora en la calidad del aire. Se …

Evaluación De La Presencia De Bioaerosoles Contenidos En Material Particulado Mediante El Método De Impactación En Los Colegios San José Y Cofraternidad De San Fernando De Bogotá Y Su Relación Con Las Fuentes De Emisión Presentes En Cada Zona, Diego Alejandro Sarmiento Rondón, Angie Tatiana Ramos Vargas

Ingeniería Ambiental y Sanitaria

En los últimos años se han desarrollado de manera significativa estudios de bioaerosoles a causa de los impactos que estos ejercen sobre la salud pública, sin embargo, en Colombia aún no se han identificado de manera suficiente los niveles de riesgo asociados a contaminantes biológicos. Este estudio formó parte de un proyecto de investigación realizado en conjunto con la Universidad Santo Tomás, el cual consistió en evaluar la presencia de bioaerosoles contenidos en material particulado (PM10) así como, plomo, cadmio y cromo en los colegios Cofraternidad de San Fernando y San José ubicados en las localidades de Ciudad Bolívar y …

Evaluación De Los Impactos Odoríferos Ocasionados Por La Quebrada Sabaneta En El Barrio Mandalay, Sector B, Fusagasugá, Cundinamarca, Angie Carolina Veloza Parra, Brayan Andrés Misnaza Pineda

Ingeniería Ambiental y Sanitaria

La calidad de vida de una población está determinada, entre otras cosas, por la calidad del aire que respira; uno de los aspectos de la calidad del aire es la emisión e inmisión de sustancias que generan contaminación odorífera. Cuando se presenta dicha contaminación, se desarrolla una serie de impactos negativos que inciden en los componentes sociales y ambientales de una población. El presente proyecto de grado tiene como objetivo evaluar los impactos odoríferos ocasionados en el componente social por la quebrada Sabaneta en el Barrio Mandalay, Sector B, Fusagasugá, Cundinamarca, el cual será un soporte académico valioso para la …

Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Beef Feedlot Surface Materials As Affected By Diet, Moisture, Temperature, And Time, Bryan L. Woodbury, John E. Gilley, David B. Parker, Bobbi S. Stomer

Department of Biological Systems Engineering: Papers and Publications

A laboratory study was conducted to measure the effects of diet, moisture, temperature, and time on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from feedlot surface materials (FSM). The FSM were collected from open-lot pens where beef cattle were fed either a dry-rolled corn (DRC) diet containing no wet distillers grains with solubles (WDGS) or a DRC diet containing 35% WDGS. The FSM were collected, air-dried or mixed with 3.0 L of water to represent dry or wet conditions, and then incubated at temperatures of 5°C, 15°C, 25°C, or 35°C. Static flux chambers were used to quantify GHG emissions over a 14-day period. …

Health Impact Of Air Pollution On Italy: Main Findings Of Viias And Med Hiss Projects, Antonio Piersanti, Carla Ancona, Giovanna Berti, Ennio Cadum, Luisella Ciancarella, Ilaria D’Elia, Francesco Forastiere, Gaia Righini

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

The effects of air pollution on human health in Italy have been recently estimated in two different projects with complete national coverage, VIIAS and EU LIFE+ MED HISS. The projects share the methodological approach of the Health Impact Assessment (HIA) and the combined use of dispersion models and monitoring networks data, but differ on the exposure assessment and the overall objectives. VIIAS, using sub-municipal census data of population projected on the dispersion model grid, has estimated health outcomes on baseline years (2005 and 2010) and on three scenarios for 2020, in order to evaluate trends and effects of alternative policies. …

Dispersion Modeling Of Nitrogen Dioxide (No2) And Fine Particulate Matter (Pm2.5) From Backup Generators At Data Centers In Prineville, Oregon, Brooke E. Harmon

Civil and Environmental Engineering Master's Project Reports

As our society becomes increasingly dependent on digital communication (e.g., social media and email) and computerized storage (e.g., digitized medical records and government documents), tech giants such as Google, Facebook, and Apple are constructing and managing an increasing number of massive Internet data centers. These data centers house a network’s most critical systems and are vital to the continuity of daily operations. Requiring as much electricity as a medium size city, data centers rely on complex auxiliary power systems to prevent disruption to service. These backup systems consist of tens of multi-megawatt diesel-powered generators that release combustion byproducts, including over …

Evaluación Del Impacto En Calidad Del Aire, Asociado A Resuspensión De Material Particulado Por La Pavimentación De La Vía Principal De Caracolí - Ciudad Bolívar, Bogotá D.C, Laura Catalina Pinto Herrera, Juan Felipe Méndez Espinosa

Ingeniería Ambiental y Sanitaria

En Bogotá D.C., la Unidad de Planeación Zonal Ismael Perdomo (UPZ- N°69), en la que se encuentra el Barrio Caracoli (zona estrato uno), es catalogada según Decreto 623 de 2011, como área-fuente de contaminación Clase I por PM10 (SDA, 2012), por lo que se hace imperativo según Resolucion 601/2006 (Art 9.), la ejecución de programas que contribuyan a la reducción y control de la resuspensión de material particulado, acciones encaminadas a pavimentación de calles, asi como la implementación de criterios ambientales por parte de entidades públicas como la Unidad Administrativa Especial de Rehabilitación y Mantenimiento Vial (UAERMV), el Instituto de …

Impact Of The Municipal Solid Waste Incineration Plant In Warsaw On Air Quality, Robert Oleniacz

Robert Oleniacz

The only Polish municipal solid waste (MSW) incinerator has been operating within the Municipal Solid Waste Disposal Plant in Warsaw since 2000. In the paper selected results of the air quality impact assessment for this incinerator during an operating period of one year (2008) are presented. With respect to the incinerated waste amounts and emission levels, the analysed period can be considered typical for this facility. Assessment of the air quality impact was carried out by assessing air pollutant emissions in reference to the applicable emission limit values and by modeling atmospheric dispersion of these pollutants. It has been found …

Ocena Wpływu Rozdzielczości Siatki Obliczeniowej Na Wyniki Modelowania Rozprzestrzeniania Się Zanieczyszczeń W Powietrzu, Mateusz Rzeszutek, Robert Oleniacz, Marian Mazur

Robert Oleniacz

In this study are presented the results of the assessment of the impact of grid resolution on the results of computational modeling of the dispersion of air pollutants. Calculations were performed using Gaussian, non-stationary puff model CALPUFF. Four different grids resolution were analyzed. Networks were established on the basis of SRTM3 terrain and land cover classes of CLC, 2006. Analysis of results of spatial distribution of concentrations of air pollutants obtained in a regular computing grid was performed using statistical indicators recommended by the U.S. EPA. The study shows the applicability of particular computational grids in the system modeling transport …

Development Of A Chemical Kinetic Model For The Combustion Of A Synthesis Gas From A Fluidized-Bed Sewage Sludge Gasifier In A Thermal Oxidizer, Luis Martinez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The need for sustainability has been on the rise. Municipalities are finding ways of reducing waste, but also finding ways to reduce energy costs. Waste-to-energy is a sustainable method that may reduce bio-solids volume while also producing energy. In this research study bio-solids enters a bubbling bed gasifier and within the gasifier a synthesis gas is produced. This synthesis gas exits through the top of the gasifier and enters a thermal oxidizer for combustion. The thermal oxidizer has an innovative method of oxidizing the synthesis gas. The thermal oxidizer has two air injection sites and the possibility for aqueous ammonia …

Near-Road Dispersion Modeling Of Mobile Source Air Toxics (Msats) In Florida, Kurt Westerlund

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

There is a growing public concern that emissions of mobile source air toxics (MSATs) from motor vehicles may pose a threat to human health. At present, no state or federal agencies require dispersion modeling of these compounds, but many agencies are concerned about potential future requirements. Current air pollution professionals are familiar with Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements for dispersion modeling to produce predicted concentrations for comparison with appropriate standards. This research examined a method in which the potential near-road concentrations of MSATs were calculated. It was believed that by assessing MSATs in much …

Zawartość Węgla I Siarki W Pyle Pm2,5 I Pm10 W Powietrzu W Centrum Krakowa, Monika Dziugieł, Marek Bogacki, Robert Oleniacz, Marian Mazur

Robert Oleniacz

This paper presents the results of the PM2.5 and PM10 mass concentration measurements in an urban air and results obtained from the additional chemical analysis concerning carbon and sulfur content of the collected dust samples. Dust samples were collected at the measuring point located on the roof of five-storey building at the AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow, Poland (the center of the urban area of the city). In the scope of this study the relations between the carbon and sulfur content within the collected dust samples were determined in the function of the dust fraction content and …

Impact Of A Large Medical Waste Incinerator On Air Quality, Robert Oleniacz

Robert Oleniacz

In the paper, an assessment of the compliance with air emission limit values and the impact on air quality of one of the largest medical waste incinerators in Poland, with a total capacity of about 300 kg/h (two incineration lines) is presented. The assessment took the results of continuous and periodic measurements of emissions in the plant’s installation over a period of 12 months’ operation into account. For this period, a calculation was performed for the spread of air pollutants emitted by the two operating incineration lines. According to the analysis and calculations, the analysed medical waste incineration plant does …

A Study Of Central Florida Nonroad Voc And Nos Emissions And Potential Actions To Reduce Emissions, Michael Radford

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Ground-level ozone is harmful to the human respiratory system, as well as the environment. The national EPA 8-hour ozone standard for ground-level ozone was reduced from 85 parts per billion (ppb) to 75 ppb in 2008, and trends from previous years show that some of the counties in Central Florida could be in danger of violation. Violation means "non attainment" status; in which the county is ordered by EPA to develop specific implementation plans to reduce its emissions. The objective of this study was to compile an emissions inventory of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) from nonroad …

Ocena Oddziaływania Na Środowisko Instalacji Spalania Odpadów – Wybrane Problemy, Robert Oleniacz

Robert Oleniacz

The paper presents some problems related to the environmental impact of waste incineration plants with particular emphasis on the impact on air quality and the assessment of this impact carried out for newly built incinerators. Methodology for the calculation of emissions for new plants based on emission standards was proposed. It has been shown that waste incineration plants complying with emission limit values to a negligible extent affect the air quality, especially in the case of units with small capacity.

In the case of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans, due to lack of permissible levels in the air, it was found …

Ocena Oddziaływania Mittal Steel Poland S.A. Oddział W Krakowie Na Jakość Powietrza W Aspekcie Likwidacji Strefy Ochronnej, Marian Mazur, Robert Oleniacz, Marek Bogacki, Przemysław Szczygłowski

Robert Oleniacz

The paper presents results of the air quality impact assessment for Mittal Steel Poland S.A. unit in Krakow (Poland). The assessment included all emission sources working in the unit in 2003 as well as emission sources belonging to companies separated from the steelworks in the past. A special attention was taken to comply of air quality standards in area of the protective zone in connection with their planned liquidation by the end of 2005 (the requirement of the new environmental law).

English title: Evaluation of impact of Mittal Steel Poland S.A. unit in Krakow on air quality in connection with …

Agenda: Energy Field Tour 2004, University Of Colorado Boulder. Natural Resources Law Center

Energy Field Tour 2004 (August 4-6)

Tour (day trips along the Front Range, originating in Boulder) held August 4-6, 2004.

Summary: Assorted articles, maps, brochures, and other materials prepared for participants of the tour

Contents:

2004 energy field tour agenda -- Mission and vision of the Natural Resources Law Center -- Natural Resources Law Center, University of Colorado School of Law : a brief introduction -- Boulder area street map 4 -- Chatauqua area map -- [Bus] Route 203/225 : Boulder/Lafayette/Baseline -- Boulder-Lafayette via Baseline [bus schedules]

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2004: OIL & GAS PRODUCTION FACILITIES AND PLATTEVILLE GAS PROCESSING FACILITY: 'Our next shortage', The Washington …

Zmiany W Metodyce Modelowania Rozprzestrzeniania Się Zanieczyszczeń W Powietrzu Opartej Na Modelu Gaussa, Robert Oleniacz, Marek Bogacki

Robert Oleniacz

The paper presents the changes that have occurred in December 2002 in the Polish reference modeling methodology (based on the stationary Gaussian atmospheric dispersion model) used for the air quality impact assessment in Poland since the 60s of the 20th century. Discusses the changes that have occurred in the preparation of data for the simulation, the procedure used in shortened and full range of calculation, the algorithms of initial computations and the results of calculations.

English Title: Changes in the methodology of modeling the pollutant dispersion in the air based on the Gaussian model.

Air Quality Impact Evaluation Of A Hypothetical Fire-Fighter Training Facility, William Glenn Fuller

Doctoral Dissertations

Human Health Risk Assessments (HHRAs) have become a required component in the permitting process for hazardous waste incinerators and boilers and for closure or evaluation of chemical and petroleum facilities. However, although not currently required, these evaluations are also essential for additional daily processes having the potential to adversely impact the environment. One such process includes emissions produced from a firefighter training facility. Firefighter training facilities perform scenarios to enhance the firefighting ability of the trainees. Three typical scenarios conducted at such a facility include air rescue and firefighting, building fire simulation, and propane system fires. During the course of …

Prognoza Wpływu Na Stan Zanieczyszczenia Powietrza Procesu Unieszkodliwiania Odpadów Pestycydowych W Piecu Cementowym, Marian Mazur, Robert Oleniacz, Marek Bogacki

Robert Oleniacz

The paper presents the general conditions associated with running of pesticide waste co-incineration in rotary kilns for cement clinker burning, and describes the behavior of toxic substances entering to this process with waste materials or forming as the result of thermal decomposition. Additional air emissions and their impact on air quality were also assessed.

English title: Prediction of the impact on the state of air pollution for the process of pesticide waste disposal in a cement kiln.

Validation Of Passive Air Sampling Monitors Onboard United States Navy Submarines, Larry A. Mcfarland

Community & Environmental Health Theses & Dissertations

An operating submarine creates a unique air quality mixture of compounds that result from a combination of human metabolism, construction materials, materials brought onboard and compounds created through the interaction of ship systems. A comprehensive study of submarine atmospheres is ongoing during deployments of U.S. Navy nuclear submarines. As part of the overall effort, a paired air sampling comparison field validation was conducted to compare the air sampling effectiveness of passive diffusive monitors compared to more traditional active air sampling methods when sampling for acrolein, formaldehyde and ozone in the enclosed submarine atmosphere. Acrolein monitors containing 2-hydroxymethylpiperidine (HMP) impregnated glass …

Koncepcja Monitoringu Zanieczyszczeń Powietrza Wokół Elektrowni “Jaworzno Iii” Mobilną Stacją Pomiarową, Marian Mazur, Robert Oleniacz, Marek Bogacki, Ryszard Kozakiewicz

Robert Oleniacz

The paper presents the concept of air pollution monitoring around the Power Plant "Jaworzno III" (Poland) with the use of the mobile station. Aim of the new monitoring system is to provide information about the current state of air pollution and to enable an assessment of the environmental implications of the use of low-emission burners, run the installation of flue gas desulphurisation and changes in the way of releasing flue gases into the atmosphere. Due to economic, technical and practical the monitoring system was based on a single mobile station. Measurements will be carried out in a random scheme at …