Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Engineering Commons™

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

PDF

Utah State University

Series

2005

Articles 1 - 12 of 12

Full-Text Articles in Engineering

Modular Neural Network To Predict The Distribution Of Nitrate In Ground Water Using On-Ground Nitrogen Loading And Recharge Data, M. Almasri, Jagath J. Kaluarachchi Jul 2005

Modular Neural Network To Predict The Distribution Of Nitrate In Ground Water Using On-Ground Nitrogen Loading And Recharge Data, M. Almasri, Jagath J. Kaluarachchi

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Artificial neural networks have proven to be an attractive mathematical tool to represent complex relationships in many branches of hydrology. Due to this attractive feature, neural networks are increasingly being applied in subsurface modeling where intricate physical processes and lack of detailed field data prevail. In this paper, a methodology using modular neural networks (MNN) is proposed to simulate the nitrate concentrations in an agriculture-dominated aquifer. The methodology relies on geographic information system (GIS) tools in the preparation and processing of the MNN input–output data. The basic premise followed in developing the MNN input–output response patterns is to designate the …

Go to article

Year One Annual Report: Activities, Findings And Evaluators' Reports, Naida Tushnet, Jodie L.S. Hoffman, Jaclyn Ziobrowski Jun 2005

Year One Annual Report: Activities, Findings And Evaluators' Reports, Naida Tushnet, Jodie L.S. Hoffman, Jaclyn Ziobrowski

Reports to NSF

The ultimate goal of NCETE is to infuse engineering design, problem solving and analytical skills into 9-12 grades through technology education in order to increase the quality, quantity, and diversity of engineering and technology educators, and to significantly strengthen the pathways to engineering and technology professions for students. The Center is doing this by teaming engineering faculty and technology education faculty in a systematic approach that involves: 1. Building a community of researchers, leaders, and PhD students to conduct research in emerging engineering and technology education areas. 2. Creating a body of research that improves our understanding of learning and …

Go to article

Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis For The Optimal Management Of Nitrate Contamination Of Aquifers, Mohammad N. Almasri, Jagath J. Kaluarachchi Mar 2005

Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis For The Optimal Management Of Nitrate Contamination Of Aquifers, Mohammad N. Almasri, Jagath J. Kaluarachchi

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

We present an integrated methodology for the optimal management of nitrate contamination of ground water combining environmental assessment and economic cost evaluation through multi-criteria decision analysis. The proposed methodology incorporates an integrated physical modeling framework accounting for on-ground nitrogen loading and losses, soil nitrogen dynamics, and fate and transport of nitrate in ground water to compute the sustainable on-ground nitrogen loading such that the maximum contaminant level is not violated. A number of protection alternatives to stipulate the predicted sustainable on-ground nitrogen loading are evaluated using the decision analysis that employs the importance order of criteria approach for ranking and …

Go to article

Reply To Comment By Jonathan J. Rhodes On ‘‘Modeling Of The Interactions Between Forest Vegetation, Disturbances, And Sediment Yields’’, Charles H. Luce, David G. Tarboton, Erkan Istanbulluoglu, Robert T. Pack Feb 2005

Reply To Comment By Jonathan J. Rhodes On ‘‘Modeling Of The Interactions Between Forest Vegetation, Disturbances, And Sediment Yields’’, Charles H. Luce, David G. Tarboton, Erkan Istanbulluoglu, Robert T. Pack

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Rhodes [2005] brings up some excellent points in his comments on the work of Istanbulluoglu et al. [2004]. We appreciate the opportunity to respond because it is likely that other readers will also wonder how they can apply the relatively simple analysis to important policy questions. Models necessarily reduce the complexity of the problem to make it tractable and synthesize some diverse sources of information. It may be helpful at times for readers to understand the high dimension of the complexity sacrificed in order to obtain the synthesis and the reasons for reducing the complexity in a particular manner. Rhodes …

Go to article

The Self-Management Of Cognition In A Team-Based Engineering Design Project: A Case Study, Oenardi Lawanto Jan 2005

The Self-Management Of Cognition In A Team-Based Engineering Design Project: A Case Study, Oenardi Lawanto

Reports of Center Studies

Despite differences in educational programs offered by various engineering schools, all engineering education puts its emphasis on students’ ability to apply their knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering. Engineering students are expected to demonstrate their ability to apply that knowledge through various activities such as problem solving, design, and experimental activities during their study. In professional engineering practices, engineers are challenged to solve real-world problems that generally involve certain levels of task ambiguity and complexity. Moreover, they are often obligated to work in a team-based environment. Because of these requirements, engineering students should acquire these skills and demonstrate their ability …

Go to article

Women: Support Factors And Persistence In Engineering, John R. Duncan, Yong Zeng Jan 2005

Women: Support Factors And Persistence In Engineering, John R. Duncan, Yong Zeng

Reports of Center Studies

Limited information is available regarding the factors that promote persistence by women in engineering programs. Stated simply, the problem is that the number of women engineers continues to fall short in comparison to the gender ratio of women to men in the population in the U.S. (BEST, 2002) and worldwide (Hersh, 2000). More women engineers are needed in general and in proportion to male engineers. This study addressed two questions. (1) What are the factors that support women in engineering? and (2) What are the factors that attract women to and help them to persist in a career in engineering? …

Go to article

National Center For Engineering And Technology Education, Christine Hailey, Thomas Erekson, Kurt Becker, Maurice Thomas Jan 2005

National Center For Engineering And Technology Education, Christine Hailey, Thomas Erekson, Kurt Becker, Maurice Thomas

Publications

The article reports that the overall impact of the National Center for Engineering and Technology Education (NCETE) is to strengthen the nation's capacity to deliver effective engineering and technology education in the K-12 schools. Further, it informs that the National Science Foundation established the Centers for Learning and Teaching (CLT) program to address needs in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce. The CLT program has three goals, based upon stated national needs. First, CLT are expected to renew and diversify the cadre of national leaders in STEM education. The CLT includes partners with strengths in engineering and in …

Go to article

Coming To Terms With Engineering Design As Content, Theodore Lewis Jan 2005

Coming To Terms With Engineering Design As Content, Theodore Lewis

Publications

This article addresses the challenges posed by engineering design as a content area of technology education. What adjustments will technology teachers have to make in their approach to teaching and learning when they teach design as engineering in response to the new standards? How faithful to engineering as practiced must their approach be? There is already some advocacy in the literature that greater attention will need to be paid to mathematics and science, where these subjects underpin design. Cotton (2002) proposed that mathematical theories should be applied to design in technology education classrooms, and that students should be encouraged to …

Go to article

President’S Message: Advancing The Tide Of Technology Education, Ethan B. Lipton Jan 2005

President’S Message: Advancing The Tide Of Technology Education, Ethan B. Lipton

Publications

The article presents information relating to the field of technology education. Vigorous change continues in the study of technology and the delivery of technology education because of the integrating nature of technology and the need to prepare students for developing technological world to meet changing human needs. Significant strides have been made in the evolution of technology education of which we should all be very proud. In the last decade alone, the International Technology Education Association has provided the leadership for a wide range of initiatives designed to enhance technology education through technology, innovation, design, and engineering experiences at the …

Go to article

National Center For Engineering And Technology Education, C. Hailey, T. Erekson, Kurt Henry Becker, M. Thomas Jan 2005

National Center For Engineering And Technology Education, C. Hailey, T. Erekson, Kurt Henry Becker, M. Thomas

Engineering Education Faculty Publications

The article reports that the overall impact of the National Center for Engineering and Technology Education (NCETE) is to strengthen the nation's capacity to deliver effective engineering and technology education in the K-12 schools. Further, it informs that the National Science Foundation established the Centers for Learning and Teaching (CLT) program to address needs in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce. The CLT program has three goals, based upon stated national needs. First, CLT are expected to renew and diversify the cadre of national leaders in STEM education. The CLT includes partners with strengths in engineering and in …

Go to article

Optimizing Integrated Water Resources Management: Data, Tools, And Examples, Richard C. Peralta Jan 2005

Optimizing Integrated Water Resources Management: Data, Tools, And Examples, Richard C. Peralta

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Best utilizing water resources requires coordinating their availability and use in time and space. Required can be: spatially and temporally distributed data; simulators to predict system response to stimuli; procedures for defining management goals, constraints, and scenarios; optimizers to compute optimal management strategies; and appropriate strategy implementation techniques. Here, a strategy is a set of controllable groundwater extraction and injection rates and surface water diversions. Simulation/optimization (S/O) models couple simulators and optimizers to compute optimal strategies for posed management problems. S/O models are becoming more commonly used for policy, planning, system design, and management. For example, water planners and managers …

Go to article

Beneficial Reuse And Sustainability: The Fate Of Organic Compounds In The Land-Applied Waste, M. R. Overcash, Ronald C. Sims, J. L. Sims, K. C. Nieman Jan 2005

Beneficial Reuse And Sustainability: The Fate Of Organic Compounds In The Land-Applied Waste, M. R. Overcash, Ronald C. Sims, J. L. Sims, K. C. Nieman

Biological Engineering Faculty Publications

Land application systems, also referred to as beneficial reuse systems, are engineered systems that have defined and permitted application areas based on site and waste characteristics to determine the land area size requirement. These terrestrial systems have orders of magnitude greater microbial capability and residence time to achieve decomposition and assimilation compared with aquatic systems. In this paper we focus on current information and information needs related to terrestrial fate pathways in land treatment systems. Attention is given to conventional organic chemicals as well as new estrogenic and pharmaceutical chemicals of commerce. Specific terrestrial fate pathways addressed include: decomposition, bound …

Go to article