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

Engineering Commons™

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

Series

2003

Utah State University

Articles 1 - 10 of 10

Full-Text Articles in Engineering

Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis With Probabilistic Risk Assessment For The Management Of Contaminated Ground Water, I. Khadam, Jagath J. Kaluarachchi Oct 2003

Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis With Probabilistic Risk Assessment For The Management Of Contaminated Ground Water, I. Khadam, Jagath J. Kaluarachchi

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Traditionally, environmental decision analysis in subsurface contamination scenarios is performed using cost–benefit analysis. In this paper, we discuss some of the limitations associated with cost–benefit analysis, especially its definition of risk, its definition of cost of risk, and its poor ability to communicate risk-related information. This paper presents an integrated approach for management of contaminated ground water resources using health risk assessment and economic analysis through a multi-criteria decision analysis framework. The methodology introduces several important concepts and definitions in decision analysis related to subsurface contamination. These are the trade-off between population risk and individual risk, the trade-off between the …

Go to article

Modeling And Control Of Vinyl Chloride In Drinking Water Distribution Systems, M Beardsley, Craig D. Adams Sep 2003

Modeling And Control Of Vinyl Chloride In Drinking Water Distribution Systems, M Beardsley, Craig D. Adams

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

In water distribution systems containing PVC pipe manufactured in the “early era” (prior to 1977), vinyl chloride can leach into drinking water resulting in vinyl chloride concentrations exceeding the 2 μg⋅L−1 maximum contaminant level. Field testing of dead-end segments of water distribution systems consisting of early-era PVC pipe was conducted to examine their initial intrapipe vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) concentrations based on a Fickian-diffusion-based leaching model. The experiments showed a wide range of VCM concentrations within early-era PVC pipe ranging from less than 50 to more than 600 mg⋅kg−1. Based on the diffusion modeling approach, a protocol was designed that …

Go to article

Bie6110 - Sprinkle & Trickle Irrigation, Fall 2003, Gary P. Merkley Aug 2003

Bie6110 - Sprinkle & Trickle Irrigation, Fall 2003, Gary P. Merkley

Biological and Irrigation Engineering - OCW

This is a course regarding technical design and evaluation of pressurized agricultural irrigation systems, including system layout, pipe sizing, water applicator selection, pumping system hydraulics, water filtration requirements, and water application uniformity and efficiency.

Go to article

Applicability Of Risk-Based Management And The Need For Risk-Based Economic Decision Analysis At Hazardous Waste Contaminated Sites, I. Khadam, Jagath J. Kaluarachchi Jul 2003

Applicability Of Risk-Based Management And The Need For Risk-Based Economic Decision Analysis At Hazardous Waste Contaminated Sites, I. Khadam, Jagath J. Kaluarachchi

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Decision analysis in subsurface contamination management is generally carried out through a traditional engineering economic viewpoint. However, new advances in human health risk assessment, namely, the probabilistic risk assessment, and the growing awareness of the importance of soft data in the decision-making process, require decision analysis methodologies that are capable of accommodating non-technical and politically biased qualitative information. In this work, we discuss the major limitations of the currently practiced decision analysis framework, which evolves around the definition of risk and cost of risk, and its poor ability to communicate risk-related information. A demonstration using a numerical example was conducted …

Go to article

Real-Time Image Analysis Of Living Cellular-Biology Measurements Of Intelligent Chemistry, J.C. Solinsky, Scott E. Budge, P.D. Majors, B. Rex May 2003

Real-Time Image Analysis Of Living Cellular-Biology Measurements Of Intelligent Chemistry, J.C. Solinsky, Scott E. Budge, P.D. Majors, B. Rex

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

This paper reports on the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) DOE Initiative in Image Science and Technology (ISAT) research, which is developing algorithms and software tool sets for remote sensing and biological applications. In particular, the PNNL ISAT work is applying these research results to the automated analysis of real-time cellular biology imagery to assist the biologist in determining the correct data collection region for the current state of a conglomerate of living cells in three-dimensional motion. The real-time computation of the typical 120 MB/sec multi-spectral data sets is executed in a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) technology, which has …

Go to article

A Sediment Transport Model For Incising Gullies On Steep Topography, Erkan Istanbulluoglu, David G. Tarboton, Robert T. Pack, Charles H. Luce Apr 2003

A Sediment Transport Model For Incising Gullies On Steep Topography, Erkan Istanbulluoglu, David G. Tarboton, Robert T. Pack, Charles H. Luce

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

We have conducted surveys of gullies that developed in a small, steep watershed in the Idaho Batholith after a severe wildfire followed by intense precipitation. We measured gully length and cross sections to estimate the volumes of sediment loss due to gully formation. These volume estimates are assumed to provide an estimate of sediment transport capacity at each survey cross section from the single gully-forming thunderstorm. Sediment transport models commonly relate transport capacity to overland flow shear stress, which is related to runoff rate, slope, and drainage area. We have estimated the runoff rate and duration associated with the gully-forming …

Go to article

Bit-Level Erasure Decoding Of Reed-Solomon Codes Over Gf(2/Sup M/), T.K. Moon, Scott E. Budge Jan 2003

Bit-Level Erasure Decoding Of Reed-Solomon Codes Over Gf(2/Sup M/), T.K. Moon, Scott E. Budge

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

The algorithms for bit-level erasure decoding of (n,k) Reed-Solomon codes over GF(2/sup m/) beyond the design erasure decoding distance of n-k are considered. Erasure decoding takes place in the (mk, nk) binary image code. When the number of erasures exceeds n-k, then additional parity check equations must be developed. We describe how these equations are obtained and some of their properties. Decoding algorithms are discussed which tradeoff decoding performance for computational complexity. Simulation results for several families of codes are presented which provide information about good binary image codes.

Go to article

Water Management: Partnerships For Future Directions (Research And Testing Education Support Outreach), Mac Mckee Jan 2003

Water Management: Partnerships For Future Directions (Research And Testing Education Support Outreach), Mac Mckee

Reports

The UWRL is uniquely positioned to form collaborations with USU departments, other academic institutions and water centers, government, and private sector organizations involved in addressing water issues. The strong and consistent support of the State of Utah illustrates the importance of water and the creation of knowledge to manage water in Utah and the surrounding western states. The scope of projects ranges from multimillion dollar partnerships related to soil and groundwater remediation with national impacts, to small scale projects related to outreach to a specific city or county public sector audience. The UWRL mission, the strategy used to accomplish the …

Go to article

Somos Simulation/Optimization Modeling System, Richard C. Peralta Jan 2003

Somos Simulation/Optimization Modeling System, Richard C. Peralta

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

SOMOS (Simulation / Optimization Modeling System) is a family of simulation / optimization (S/O) modules to aid in optimally managing water resources. SOMOS results from twenty years experience developing optimization models and applying them to real-world problems, including 11 pump-and-treat (PAT) systems and numerous water supply problems. SOMOS significantly improves water management or designs and saves money. Its user’s manual provides excellent training in principles of applying optimization to managing aquifer and stream-aquifer systems. It is being incorporated with powerful groundwater modeling and visualization packages.

Go to article

Practical Simulation /Optimization Modeling For Groundwater Quality And Quantity Management, Richard C. Peralta, Ineke M. Kalwij, Shengjun Wu Jan 2003

Practical Simulation /Optimization Modeling For Groundwater Quality And Quantity Management, Richard C. Peralta, Ineke M. Kalwij, Shengjun Wu

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Software for mathematically optimizing groundwater management has improved significantly in recent years. The SOMOS code can readily handle large complex plume and water management problems. Most recently, it developed a least-cost $40.82M 30-yr pumping strategy for the 6.58 mile long Blaine NAD plume. That strategy was 19 percent better than the strategy developed simultaneously by an experienced consultant using normal trial and error simulation procedures. The management problem involved 60 stress periods, and well installation and pumping rates that could change every 10 periods. The optimal strategy employed 10 new wells. At a simpler site, SOMOS helped select robust strategies …

Go to article