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Full-Text Articles in Civil Engineering

Enhancing Management Of Built And Natural Water And Sanitation Systems With Data Science, Nelson Da Luz Jun 2022

Enhancing Management Of Built And Natural Water And Sanitation Systems With Data Science, Nelson Da Luz

Doctoral Dissertations

In the age of the data revolution, the civil engineer can enhance the management of infrastructure systems using new techniques focused on data. This dissertation present three studies in which data science approaches are used to enhance management of water and sanitation systems in both the built and natural environments. Chapters 1 and 2 focus on improving methods for data collection relating to water quality monitoring. In Chapter 1, the efficacy of different water quality sampling program designs is evaluated as the programs relate to meeting monitoring goals. Considerations include how timing, location, and distribution system operations can affect monitoring …


Analysis And Fate Of 2,6-Dichloro-1,4-Benzoquinone In Real And Model Drinking Waters, Aarthi Mohan Mar 2022

Analysis And Fate Of 2,6-Dichloro-1,4-Benzoquinone In Real And Model Drinking Waters, Aarthi Mohan

Doctoral Dissertations

For many years chlorination has served as a barrier to protect human health from waterborne disease outbreaks. Chlorine is viewed as a near-universal oxidant and disinfectant, that provides a stable residual preventing microbial re-growth all the way through the consumer’s tap. Upon reaction with natural organic matter (NOM) however, it forms disinfection by-products (DBPs) many of which are potent human carcinogens and therefore have been of research interest since the 1970’s (Froese et al., 1999; Krasner et al., 2006, 1989; Richardson, 2003; Rook, 1976, 1974; Singer, 1994). The trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs) are the most prevalent (Krasner et …


Influence Of Foundation Damping On Offshore Wind Turbine Monopile Design Loads, Wystan Carswell, Sanjay R. Arwade, Jörgen Johansson, Don J. Degroot Jan 2022

Influence Of Foundation Damping On Offshore Wind Turbine Monopile Design Loads, Wystan Carswell, Sanjay R. Arwade, Jörgen Johansson, Don J. Degroot

Publications

The dynamic behavior of offshore wind turbines (OWTs) must be designed considering stochastic load amplitudes and frequencies from waves and mechanical loads associated with the spinning rotor during power production. The proximity of the OWT natural frequency to excitation frequencies combined with low damping necessitates a thorough analysis of sources of damping; of these sources of damping, least is known about the contributions of damping from soil-structure interaction (foundation damping). This paper studies the influence of foundation damping on cyclic load demand for monopile-supported OWTs considering the design situations of power production, emergency shutdown, and parked conditions. The NREL 5 …


Breaking Wave Hazard Estimation Model For The U.S. Atlantic Coast, Spencer T. Hallowell Jan 2021

Breaking Wave Hazard Estimation Model For The U.S. Atlantic Coast, Spencer T. Hallowell

Publications

As offshore wind development is in its infancy along the U.S. Atlantic Coast challenges arise due to the effects of strong storms such as hurricanes. Breaking waves on offshore structures induced by hurricanes are of particular concern to offshore structures due to high magnitude impulse loads caused by wave slamming. Prediction of breaking wave hazards is important in offshore design for load cases using long mean return periods of environmental conditions. A breaking wave hazard estimation model (BWHEM) is introduced that provides a means for assessing breaking hazard at long mean return periods over a large domain along the U.S. …


Investigating The Role Of Iron In The Photogranulation Phenomenon, Abeera Ayaz Ansari Dec 2020

Investigating The Role Of Iron In The Photogranulation Phenomenon, Abeera Ayaz Ansari

Doctoral Dissertations

Oxygenic photogranules (OPGs) are dense spherical microbial aggregates that are used for self-aerating wastewater treatment. Filamentous cyanobacteria are key granulating species, providing structural backbone and integrity in OPGs. Currently, the mechanisms for selecting filamentous cyanobacteria and their ability to form spherical OPGs are not well understood. Literature shows that iron (Fe) availability plays a significant role in the cyanobacterial growth and colony formation. Moreover, Fe availability is known to be dependent upon light, which is an essential growth substrate for the phototrophs. This research has investigated the role of Fe in the photogranulation phenomenon and the impact of light intensity …


Scaling Up The Oxygenic Photogranule (Opg) Wastewater Treatment Process, Joseph G. Gitau Jul 2020

Scaling Up The Oxygenic Photogranule (Opg) Wastewater Treatment Process, Joseph G. Gitau

Doctoral Dissertations

Photogranular biomass has yet to be utilized at large scale for wastewater treatment despite their potential to lower energy demand due to self-aerating capacity in addition to better process control compared to conventional technologies. An evaluation of critical driving factors affecting scaling up has yet to be undertaken. The current generation of oxygenic photogranules under hydrostatic conditions (a deviation from orthodox conditions creating other granules) limit seeding of larger reactors in time and scale. In addition, evaluating the photosynthetic productivity of granules which exist as closely commingled consortia with tightly coupled production and consumption processes, has yet to be undertaken. …


Evaluating Policy And Climate Impacts On Water Resources Systems Using Coupled Human-Natural Models, Hassaan Furqan Khan Oct 2018

Evaluating Policy And Climate Impacts On Water Resources Systems Using Coupled Human-Natural Models, Hassaan Furqan Khan

Doctoral Dissertations

Extensive human intervention in the terrestrial hydrosphere means that virtually every river basin globally reflects the interaction between human and natural hydrologic processes. Thus, sustainable watershed management needs to not only account for the diverse ways humans benefit from the environment but also incorporate the impact of human actions on the natural system. Informed policy making to address our water challenges requires a comprehensive understanding of these feedbacks and how they might be affected by future changes in climate. This work develops coupled human-natural models for improved surface water and groundwater management in water-scarce regions under future changes in climate. …


Evaluation Of The Erodibility Of Soft Clays And The Influence Of Biopolymers, Pamela Judge Oct 2018

Evaluation Of The Erodibility Of Soft Clays And The Influence Of Biopolymers, Pamela Judge

Doctoral Dissertations

Erosion of silts and clays is less well understood than erosion of sands. Further, current and anticipated climate change impacts along coastlines compel consideration of new approaches to coastal protection measures; seawalls and breakwaters designs now include natural and nature-based measures. The first research topic consists of the Adaptive Gradients Framework which was a theoretically-informed facilitation tool. The framework was intended to aid a collaborative and interdisciplinary decision-making process to encourage inclusion of natural and nature-based measures in coastal protection planning and design. This research is the culmination of a series of workshops and fieldtrips executed by the Sustainable Adaptive …


Microbial Dynamics And Design Considerations For Decentralized Microbial Fuel Cell Applications, Cynthia Castro Nov 2017

Microbial Dynamics And Design Considerations For Decentralized Microbial Fuel Cell Applications, Cynthia Castro

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation was to assess the practicality of using microbial fuel cells (MFCs) as alternative sanitation systems for wastewater treatment and energy recovery, focusing on identifying key design considerations for treating high strength wastewater and managing alternative metabolic pathways. We evaluated the energetic outputs of a lab-based pilot MFC designed to treat complex organics present in both synthetic feces and municipal wastewater. The pilot MFC produced two energetic products, methane and electricity, when treating two types of complex wastewaters. The energetic products associated with anode respiration and methanogenesis were simultaneously observed and yielded a combined energy ouput …


River And Stream Power Assessment Report Including Culvert And Bridge Vulnerability Analysis: Deerfield River Basin, Massachusetts And Vermont, James G. Macbroom, Roy Schiff, Jessica Louisos Jan 2017

River And Stream Power Assessment Report Including Culvert And Bridge Vulnerability Analysis: Deerfield River Basin, Massachusetts And Vermont, James G. Macbroom, Roy Schiff, Jessica Louisos

Water Reports

This geomorphic assessment of Deerfield River in western Massachusetts and southern Vermont has been prepared by Milone & MacBroom, Inc. (MMI) on behalf of the University of Massachusetts as part of its "Farms, Floods, and FGM" project, funded by the United States Department of Agriculture – National Institute of Food and Agriculture National Integrated Water Quality Program(USDA – NIFA NIWQP) program. This project is a broad-based geomorphic assessment of the Deerfield River and its adjacent riparian corridor to define its characteristics, processes, and management issues. The river channel is used extensively for hydroelectric power generation and recreation, with agricultural …


Proactive Assessment Of Climate Change And Contaminant Spill Impacts On Source Water Quality, Lillian C. Jeznach Nov 2016

Proactive Assessment Of Climate Change And Contaminant Spill Impacts On Source Water Quality, Lillian C. Jeznach

Doctoral Dissertations

Managing the water quality of surface drinking water sources has become an increasingly difficult task for water suppliers due to increased watershed urbanization and climate change. Changes in source water quality may affect public perceptions, treatment effectiveness, and ultimately costs to treat water to drinking standards. Although there are increased threats to current and future drinking water quality, current approaches to managing these threats are typically reactionary. Prior detailed modeling efforts of hypothetical events that may impair raw water quality allow for an understanding of constituent fate and transport, including potential maximum concentrations and travel times to the drinking water …


Integrated Solar Technologies With Outdoor Pedestrian Bridge Superstructure Decking, Richard K. Racz Mar 2016

Integrated Solar Technologies With Outdoor Pedestrian Bridge Superstructure Decking, Richard K. Racz

Masters Theses

Solar technology has been a major topic in sustainable design for many years. In the last five years, however, the solar technology industry has seen a rapid growth in installations and technological advances in cell design. Combined with a rapidly declining overall system cost, the idea of introducing solar technology into a wider range of applications is becoming a focus for engineers and scientists around the world. So many variables which alter solar energy production, such as the sun and surrounding environment, determine whether a solar design is beneficial. This thesis presents a bridge deck surface integrated with solar cells …


Socioeconomic Assessment Of The Epic Sustainable Road Infrastructure Program In Nepal, Maria Fernandez, Trista Ristvedt Jan 2015

Socioeconomic Assessment Of The Epic Sustainable Road Infrastructure Program In Nepal, Maria Fernandez, Trista Ristvedt

School of Public Policy Capstones

Roads are being constructed in rural Nepal at a rapid pace. Due to a number of factors many of these roads are poorly built, often without any oversight or planning provided by an engineer; this causes a multitude of problems including roads that are not safe to travel in the rainy season, and damages to property and agricultural lands due to risk of landslide and increased erosion. IUCN's EPIC project in Nepal is intended to showcase an attainable option for local communities to construct and repair roads in such a way to improve their reliability and safety, while also decreasing …


Geochemistry And Inorganic Carbon Transport Of A Glacial Till Drumlin At A Road Salt Facility, Houbao Li Sep 2013

Geochemistry And Inorganic Carbon Transport Of A Glacial Till Drumlin At A Road Salt Facility, Houbao Li

Open Access Dissertations

Investigations were conducted at a salt/premix storage facility lying on top of a glacial drumlin near the coastline in eastern Massachusetts, to characterize salt contaminated groundwater. Groundwater hydrogeochemical variations at different depths were determined based on ten years of monthly or quarterly water quality data from 54 monitoring wells. Groundwater was grouped in three water categories – shallow, middle and deep. Hydrogeochemical characterization indicates that the dominant water types are Na-Cl, Na-Ca-Cl and Ca-HCO3 from the shallow to deep water group. Rock weathering is the dominant hydrogeochemical process for deep water group, whereas salt water percolation and cation exchange control …