Engineering Commons^™

Wide View And Line Filter For Enhanced Image Gradient Computation And Edge Determination, Luke Bagan

Theses and Dissertations

Edge determination is a challenging yet crucial step in the object detection process for images. It is the first in a multi-step process, serving as the foundation for all subsequent operations. Its accuracy directly affects the success of any future processing techniques and final detection. The challenge of edge detection is derived from a variety of factors, including noise, image sharpness, orientation, empirical parameters, and computational complexity. Many traditional kernel-based operators excel at tackling one of these problems, but trade off their ability to handle others. For example, the popular Sobel operator uses a horizontal and vertical constant high-pass kernel. …

Approximate And Sample Entropy Of Center Of Pressure In Unperturbed Tandem Standing: Contribution Of Embedding Dimension And Tolerance, Jayla Mashae Wesley

Masters Theses

Approximate entropy (ApEn) and sample entropy (SampEn) are statistical methods designed to quantify the regularity or predictability of a time series. Although ApEn has been a prominent choice for use, it is currently unclear as to which method and parameter selection combination is optimal for its application in biomechanics. The goal of this thesis was to examine the difference between ApEn and SampEn related to center of pressure (COP) data during standing balance tasks, while also refining tolerance r, to determine entropy optimization. Six participants completed five 30-second, feet together and tandem standing, trials under eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions. Ground …

Application Of Multi-Scale Computational Techniques To Complex Materials Systems, Mujan N. Seif

Theses and Dissertations--Chemical and Materials Engineering

The applications of computational materials science are ever-increasing, connecting fields far beyond traditional subfields in materials science. This dissertation demonstrates the broad scope of multi-scale computational techniques by investigating multiple unrelated complex material systems, namely scandate thermionic cathodes and the metallic foam component of micrometeoroid and orbital debris (MMOD) shielding. Sc-containing "scandate" cathodes have been widely reported to exhibit superior properties compared to previous thermionic cathodes; however, knowledge of their precise operating mechanism remains elusive. Here, quantum mechanical calculations were utilized to map the phase space of stable, highly-faceted and chemically-complex W nanoparticles, accounting for both finite temperature and chemical …

Quantifying Project Complexity To Resource Project Managers, Jereme R. Henrard

Theses and Dissertations

This research develops a multi-criteria decision analysis model to quantify project complexity and inform decision-makers in resource-constrained organizations with the Tyndall Program Management Office (PMO) as a case study. The complexity score is used as a risk metric to determine the appropriate number of skilled or novice project managers to effectively manage the PMO portfolio to mitigate cost and schedule overruns. The research provides an innovative approach to consider manning levels at the PMO and other project management-focused organizations/sections.

Quality And Productivity Improvements In Additive Manufacturing, Huseyin Kose

Doctoral Dissertations

Additive manufacturing (AM) is a relatively new manufacturing technology compared to the traditional manufacturing methods. Even though AM processes have many advantages, they also have a series of challenges that need to be addressed to adapt this technology for a wide range of applications and mass production.

AM faces a number of challenges, including the absence of methods/models for determining whether AM is the best manufacturing process for a given part. The first study of this thesis proposes a framework for choosing specific AM processes by considering the complexity level of a part. It has been proven that the method …

Cultivating Creativity In Aerospace Systems Engineering To Manage Complexity, Kenneth Lucas Dodd

Master's Theses

In recent decades, complexity in aerospace programs has been increasing, leading to large budget and schedule overruns. Many of the risks of complex system development can be attributed to the inadequacy of linear methods when applied to nonlinear domains, i.e., oversimplification in a program amplifies the amount of risk produced when a system behaves unexpectedly. Effectively managing complexity involves responding to the various sources of complexity, whether it appears in the objective behavior of the system itself or in the subjective behavior of the people developing it. Thus, the engineering of complex systems requires nonlinear modeling methods of the system …

Analytical Assessment Of Project Complexity: A Guide To Managing Projects Through Reduction Of Complexity, Christopher Vanarsdale

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This research discusses the characteristics that make projects difficult to manage. Project inefficiencies and failures can be attributed to the structure of a system. Developing a measurement for complexity based on the number and nature of interactions in the system can allow project complexity to be reduced while still meeting project objectives. Previous research has identified characteristics or markers of complex systems but does not address how to measure or how to reduce a system’s complexity.

The objective of this dissertation is to develop a metric for complexity that assists project and emergency managers in reducing project complexity either by …

A Quest To Identify The Emerging Leadership Skills In Vuca World And Investigation Of Their Applications In Various Organizational Levels And Security Environments, Ali Can Kucukozyigit

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The theoretical framework of this research is based on “skills approach” that emphasizes the leader’s capabilities (skills, knowledge, and capabilities) that can be learned, taught, and fostered. VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous) environment is chosen as the focal point of this research as the leadership skills are extracted from studies referring to such environment. Although the acronym is dominantly used in management and business domains, the military also uses it to describe the complex operational environments like in Iraq and Afghanistan. The identification of individual leadership skills and delivering the right skill, at the right time, to the right …

A Case Study On Achieving Living Building Challenge Certification On The Ucsd Triton Project, Grayson Farnham

Construction Management

This paper consists of a case study conducted on the UCSD Triton Pavilion project, In San Diego, California. The general contractor on this project is PCL Construction in contract with LMN architecture. The case study evaluates the strategies proposed to help this progressive design build project achieve a Living Building Challenge certification and the costs that would be associated with such implementations. Research and communication with integral employees from PCL Construction helped identify key strategies that ultimately caused the project to not pursue LBC certification and opt to choose a LEED platinum certification instead. In summary the size and scope …

The 3d Abstract Tile Assembly Model Is Intrinsically Universal, Aaron Koch, Daniel Hader, Matthew J. Patitz

Computer Science and Computer Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

In this paper, we prove that the three-dimensional abstract Tile Assembly Model (3DaTAM) is intrinsically universal. This means that there is a universal tile set in the 3DaTAM which can be used to simulate any 3DaTAM system. This result adds to a body of work on the intrinsic universality of models of self-assembly, and is specifically motivated by a result in FOCS 2016 showing that any intrinsically universal tile set for the 2DaTAM requires nondeterminism (i.e. undirectedness) even when simulating directed systems. To prove our result we have not only designed, but also fully implemented what we believe to be …

The Effect Of Task Load, Automation Reliability, And Environment Complexity On Uav Supervisory Control Performance, Sarah M. Sherwood

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Over the last decade, military unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have experienced exponential growth and now comprise over 40% of military aircraft. However, since most military UAVs require multiple operators (usually an air vehicle operator, payload operator, and mission commander), the proliferation of UAVs has created a manpower burden within the U.S. military. Fortunately, simultaneous advances in UAV automation have enabled a switch from direct control to supervisory control; future UAV operators will no longer directly control a single UAV subsystem but, rather, will control multiple advanced, highly autonomous UAVs. However, research is needed to better understand operator performance in a …

Performance Analysis Of Organizations As Complex Systems., William C. Harrington Jr.

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation provides a method for evaluating the difference in performance after an organization makes a change while considering the stochastic nature in which it operates. A procedure that uses simulation to estimate outcomes by adjusting controllable parameters and leaving uncontrolled parameters unadjusted is proposed. As healthcare organizations are considered as highly complex systems, a case study involving a scheduling tactic change in the mother-baby service line of a hospital is used to demonstrate application of this procedure. The goal in the case study was to reduce delays in transitioning care of mother patients from the labor and delivery unit …

Navigational Complexity Within Building Codes, James Stephen Mclean

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

The premise, that building codes have become too complex, has been discussed, commented on, and documented by practicing engineers; however, prior to this research there was little scientific evidence that codes have increased in complexity over time. There are many aspects of building codes that are complicated, and this reflects a combination of the inherent complexity of building design and the dynamical processes that produce the codes. This research focuses on navigational complexity and specifically the aspects that can be quantified to demonstrate current codes are more complex than their predecessors. Navigational complexity is defined as the complexity created by …

Parametric Approaches To Fractional Programs: Analytical And Empirical Study, Chong Hyun Park

Open Access Dissertations

Fractional programming is used to model problems where the objective function is a ratio of functions. A parametric modeling approach provides effective technique for obtaining optimal solutions of these fractional programming problems. Although many heuristic algorithms have been proposed and assessed relative to each other, there are limited theoretical studies on the number of steps to obtain the solution. In this dissertation, I focus on the linear fractional combinatorial optimization problem, a special case of fractional programming where all functions in the objective function and constraints are linear and all variables are binary that model certain combinatorial structures. Two parametric …

A Preliminary Study Of The Relationship Between Complexity, Motivation, And Design Quality., Philip John Mountain

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This collection of work comprises a preliminary study of the relationships between product complexity, design motivation, and design quality. Complexity, as it relates to the design process, is largely undefined and there exists no generally accepted method of measurement. This study applies an independent data set to a complexity measurement technique and develops complexity measurements at the pre and post design stages. Pre design is considered when design ideas are in formation and customer needs are being addressed. Post design is considered when a functional prototype is realized, manufacturing and assembly processes have been considered, and the product design is …

Dynamic Complexity And Causality Analysis Of Scalp Eeg For Detection Of Cognitive Deficits, Joseph Curtis Mcbride

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation explores the potential of scalp electroencephalography (EEG) for the detection and evaluation of neurological deficits due to moderate/severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and early Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Neurological disorders often cannot be accurately diagnosed without the use of advanced imaging modalities such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography (PET). Non-quantitative task-based examinations are also used. None of these techniques, however, are typically performed in the primary care setting. Furthermore, the time and expense involved often deters physicians from performing them, leading to potential worse prognoses for patients.

If …

An Instrument To Assess Individual Capacity For System Thinking, Ra'ed M. Jaradat

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to develop and deploy a new systems thinking instrument to assess individual capacity for systems thinking using an inductive research design. While technology has been increasing exponentially, the corresponding methods to harness those technological advances, and the problems they have spawned, is lagging. While there is a broad collection of systems based methods, techniques, technologies, and tools that can be used in dealing with complex problems, these are predicated on an individual's capacity for engaging a level of systems thinking commensurate with their effective, deployment. Research based methods to determine individual capacity for systems …

A Framework For Measuring The Value-Added Of Knowledge Processes With Analysis Of Process Interactions And Dynamics, Jose Cintron

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The most known and widely used methods use cash flows and tangible assets to measure the impact of investments in the organization’s outputs. But in the last decade many newer organizations whose outputs are heavily dependent on information technology utilize knowledge as their main asset. These organizations’ market values lie on the knowledge of its employees and their technological capabilities. In the current technology-based business landscape the value added by assets utilized for generation of outputs cannot be appropriately measured and managed without considering the role that intangible assets and knowledge play in executing processes. The analysis of processes for …

Framework For Quantifying And Tailoring Complexity And Risk To Manage Uncertainty In Developing Complex Products And Systems, Darrell Williams

Wayne State University Dissertations

In recent years there has been a renewed interest in product complexity due its negative impact on launch performance. Research indicates that underestimating complexity is one of the most common errors repeated by new product development (NPD) teams. It was concluded that companies that successfully manage complexity can maintain a competitive advantage. This is particularly true of CoPS projects (Complex Products and Systems) which are defined as large-scale, high value, engineering intensive products and systems. Investment in CoPS projects continues to grow worldwide, with recent estimates placed at over $500B annually.

In this research we present methods to improve the …

Functional Integration In The Cortical Neuronal Network Of Conscious And Anesthetized Animals, Jeannette A. Vizuete

Dissertations (1934 -)

General anesthesia consists of amnesia, analgesia, areflexia and unconsciousness. How anesthetics suppress consciousness has been a mystery for more than one and a half centuries.

The overall goal of my research has been to determine the neural correlates of anesthetic-induced loss of consciousness. I hypothesized that anesthetics induce unconsciousness by interfering with the functional connectivity of neuronal networks of the brain and consequently, reducing the brain's capacity for information processing. To test this hypothesis, I performed experiments in which neuronal spiking activity was measured with chronically implanted microelectrode arrays in the visual cortex of freely-moving rats during wakefulness and at …

Connective Complexity Methods For Analysis And Prediction In Engineering Design, James Mathieson

All Theses

Complexity is an aspect of engineering design that is often addressed directly with the principle that 'designs should be simple'. However, such a principle fails to offer an effective means of quantifying the complexity of a given design for comparison and decision making. The measurement of complexity within a specific representations and domains has been well established. However, such measurements are inherently limited in their applicability and not always clear in their implications. This research presents a method of measuring complexity from different engineering representations in a consistent manner and explores the application of these measures.
The development of a …

A Decision Making Construct For Complex Situations, Van Edward Brewer

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The uncertainty inherently associated with complexity challenges decision-making processes, indicating a need for a construct for decision making in complex situations. A review of the literature on systems, complexity, and paradigms indicates that such a construct must be internally consistent with well-defined philosophical foundations and further that systems and complexity (as used in complex situations) are not necessarily internally consistent with traditional philosophical foundations. Therefore, a decision making construct for complex situations requires research into different foundations. This research addresses these gaps, deriving axiological and methodological components based on a set of principles consistent with the ontology and epistemology of …

Satisficing Applied To Simulated Soccer, Jay Packard

Theses and Dissertations

Satisficing was introduced by the economist Herbert Simon to allow for decisions that are "good enough" when there are insufficient computational resources and knowledge to obtain the optimal outcome. Autonomous multi-agent systems often require such decision making because of the complexity and unknown factors present in such an environment. Satisficing has been extended significantly by Wynn Stirling. Through extended satisficing, he has departed from conventional approaches to autonomous multi-agent systems, based as they usually are on the assumption that each participant is motivated exclusively by its own self interest, and will therefore attempt to maximize its benefit, regardless of the …