Environmental Sciences Commons^™

College Of Engineering Senior Design Competition Fall 2006, University Of Nevada, Las Vegas

Fred and Harriet Cox Senior Design Competition Projects

Part of every UNLV engineering student’s academic experience, the senior design project stimulates engineering innovation and entrepreneurship. Each student in their senior year chooses, plans, designs and prototypes a product in this required element of the curriculum. A capstone to the student’s educational career, the senior design project encourages the student to use everything learned in the engineering program to create a practical, real world solution to an engineering challenge.

The senior design competition helps to focus the senior students in increasing the quality and potential for commercial application for their design projects. Judges from local industry evaluate the projects …

Towards A New Taxation System For Motor Vehicles, Theodoros Zachariadis

Theodoros Zachariadis

No abstract provided.

Analiza Możliwości Ograniczenia Emisji Zanieczyszczeń Powietrza Z Instalacji Spalania Odpadów Medycznych W Tarnowie, Robert Oleniacz

Robert Oleniacz

The paper presents initial research of effects of some factors on the amount of gaseous pollutants formation during medical waste incineration in a two-stage starved air fluidised bed reactor. In the research was included the impact of such factors as oxygen contents in flue gases, frequency of waste loading, momentary mass flow of waste and temperature in the secondary combustion chambers. Measurements showed that the waste incineration in large amount periodically caused excessive emissions incomplete combustion products (CO, HC), especially during wrong operation of the combustion system. The work demonstrated that the essential importance for CO and HC formation reducing …

Emisja Zanieczyszczeń Powietrza Z Procesu Grafityzacji Wyrobów Drobnych, Marian Mazur, Robert Oleniacz, Marek Bogacki, Przemysław Szczygłowski

Robert Oleniacz

The paper presents the research results of the air pollutant emissions from the graphitising process of fine carbon products in the Acheson furnace (discharge capacity 5,5 Mg). Research was performed for two kinds of raw material inputs (based on petroleum coke and pitch coke). Approximately 40-hours measurement series were carried out for each material including mainly such substances like carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, hydrogen sulphide, carbon disulphide, ammonia, benzene, toluene, xylenes, total dust, tar substances and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Both average and maximum concentrations and mass streams in the flue gases and average emission factors were presented …

Mansfield Ct: Planning A New Village Center, Maggie Jones, Richard Barringer

Planning

The case follows the development of a plan for a new village center in Storrs, the central village of Mansfield, Connecticut. A process that was transparent and inclusive of the community members yielded a plan that gained the approval of the Town, the landowner (the University of Connecticut), and the citizenry. The process relied on the mending of fences, the leadership of key participants, and an innovative strategy that included development of a nonprofit corporation and creative use of grant money. While zoning changes are still in the works, the first stage of building goes forward.

South Kingstown Ri: New Zoning For An Historic Mill, Maggie Jones, Richard Barringer

Planning

The village of Peace Dale in the town of South Kingstown, Rhode Island, developed around several mills that commenced operations in the 1800s. One mill, known as the Palisades, is still partially active and in excellent condition, but much of its square footage is unutilized. A citizens’ group of artists and business people joined with the mill owners and the town of South Kingstown to develop new zoning regulations to make more flexible the permitted uses for the mill site. The proposed zoning will allow the mill complex to feature a mix of retail, residential, and manufacturing uses, while preserving …

Augusta Me: The New Bridge Begets A New Planned Neighborhood, Molly Pulsifer, Richard Barringer

Planning

Construction of a new Third Bridge over the Kennebec River in Augusta offered the prospect of a new and handsome gateway to the city. Further, the resulting change in traffic patterns offered the City the chance to plan for a pattern of development quite different from what the city had experienced for the past half-century. The case study describes the planning and construction of the new bridge and corridors that re-routed traffic out of Augusta’s downtown and older neighborhoods, and created the opportunity for planned development adjacent to the corridor created by the new bridge. It goes on to describe …

Changing Maine, 1960-2010: Teaching Guide, Richard Barringer, New England Environmental Finance Center

Maine History & Policy Development

Unlike forty years ago, none of us is now certain what the future holds for Maine – except that it will be different. Maine has been transformed by the events of the recent decades. We have come into a new world, a new time – a new historical era, if you will. This new era, like previous eras in Maine history, will require of us new ways of thinking, new ways of understanding, new ways of organizing ourselves as a community of people, if the values and culture we share and cherish are to endure and flourish.

Relationships Between Pacific And Atlantic Ocean Sea Surface Temperatures And U.S. Streamflow Variability, Glenn A. Tootle, Thomas C. Piechota

Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction Faculty Research

An evaluation of Pacific and Atlantic Ocean sea surface temperatures (SSTs) and continental U.S. streamflow was performed to identify coupled regions of SST and continental U.S. streamflow variability. Both SSTs and streamflow displayed temporal variability when applying the singular value decomposition (SVD) statistical method. Initially, an extended temporal evaluation was performed using the entire period of record (i.e., all years from 1951 to 2002). This was followed by an interdecadal-temporal evaluation for the Pacific (Atlantic) Ocean based on the phase of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) (Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO)). Finally, an extended temporal evaluation was performed using detrended SST …

Evaluation Of Microbial Diversity In Wetland Through Polymerase Chain Reaction (Pcr) And Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (Rflp), Gregory K. Joseph

Theses and Dissertations

The diversity of microbial communities in wetlands has not been fully measured. These communities may offer tools to naturally remediate sites polluted with chlorinated compounds. Polmerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) are genomic techniques that are capable of rapidly characterizing bacteria communities and can provide valuable information about the diversity of microbial communities.

Molecular Characterization Of Wetland Soil Bacterial Community In Constructed Mesocosms, Ethan C. Bishop

Theses and Dissertations

The use of wetlands to effectively remediate aquifers contaminated with chlorinated solvents is an emerging technique, which shows high promise. In order to better understand this process and test its legitimacy, a treatment wetland was constructed at Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio and, in a joint effort with Wright State University (WSU), has previously shown the effective removal of PCE. The purpose of this research was to characterize the soil bacterial community, pre-PCE injection, among three wetland plant species from the sedge family (Cyperaceae) within constructed wetland mesocosms and to identify any bacterial dominance. Carex comosa, Scirpus atrovirens, and Eleocharis erythropoda …

Pomiary Wielkości Cząstek W Powietrzu W Czasie Rzeczywistym, Marek Bogacki, Robert Oleniacz, Marian Mazur, Stanisław Kamiński

Robert Oleniacz

The paper presents the new method for measurements of air particulate size distribution in real time using Kamika Infrared Particulate Sizer type P (IPS-P) with isokinetic air sampler. The device makes it possible to classify (sort) air particulates according to size into 256 granularity classes from about 0.4 µm up to 300 µm. Tests of the IPS-P prototype were conducted in Warsaw at the turn of 2005/2006 and some measurement results were presented in the work.

English title: Measurements of the particulate size distribution in the air in real-time.

On The Spatial Nature Of The Groundwater Pumping Externality, Nicholas Brozovic, David L. Sunding, David Zilberman

Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute: Faculty Publications

Most existing economic analyses of optimal groundwater management use single-cell aquifer models, which assume that an aquifer responds uniformly and instantly to ground- water pumping. This paper demonstrates how spatially explicit aquifer response equations from the water resources engineering literature may be embedded in a general economic framework. Calibration of our theoretical model to published economic studies of spe- cific aquifers demonstrates that, by averaging basin drawdown across the entire resource, existing studies generally understate the magnitude of the groundwater pumping external- ity relative to spatially explicit models. For the aquifers studied, the drawdown predicted by single- cell models may …

College Of Engineering Senior Design Competition Spring 2006, University Of Nevada, Las Vegas

Fred and Harriet Cox Senior Design Competition Projects

Part of every UNLV engineering student’s academic experience, the senior design project stimulates engineering innovation and entrepreneurship. Each student in their senior year chooses, plans, designs and prototypes a product in this required element of the curriculum. A capstone to the student’s educational career, the senior design project encourages the student to use everything learned in the engineering program to create a practical, real world solution to an engineering challenge.

The senior design competition helps to focus the senior students in increasing the quality and potential for commercial application for their design projects. Judges from local industry evaluate the projects …

An Analysis Of Indicator Organism Suitability For Lower James And York Rivers, Rhonda Ashonti Ford

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The primary objectives of this thesis are (1) determine if the proper indicator organism is being utilized to determine the bacterial water quality in the State of Virginia. (2) If other environmental factors can predict the bacterial water quality. The current indicator organism of choice for bacterial water quality of waters in the State of Virginia is enterococci, for estuarine and brackish waters. E. coli is the indicator organism of choice for fresh waters in Virginia.

The study concluded (1) Enterococci are the best indicator organism for beaches located in the Hampton Roads Harbor and the Lower James River. (2) …

Investigation Of Copper Contamination And Corrosion Scale Mineralogy In Aging Drink Water Distributions Systems, Nadja F. Turek

Theses and Dissertations

Research has shown higher levels of copper appear in drinking water conveyed through relatively new copper piping systems; older piping systems typically deliver lower copper levels in their drinking water. This research contributes field data from a real drinking water distribution system, providing a better understanding of this phenomenon, as it relates to treatment considerations and compliance with the Lead and Copper Rule. Copper pipes and copper levels were sampled from drinking water taps of 16 buildings with pipes ranging in age from less than 1 to 48 years. Water samples from each building were collected before and following a …

Modeling Study To Quantify The Benefits Of Groundwater Contaminant Source Remediation, David E. Wagner

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to quantify the benefits of groundwater contaminant source remediation by using a model to simulate how reduction of source mass was related to reduction of contaminant concentration at a receptor. This thesis sought to answer three research questions: (1) how are contaminant source mass reduction and reduction of mass flux leaving the source-zone related; (2) how can we quantify the effect of the important natural attenuation processes that act upon the dissolved contaminant as it travels from the source zone to downgradient receptors, and (3) under specified site conditions, what is the maximum contaminant …

Economic And Energy Aspects Of Motor Vehicle Taxation, Theodoros Zachariadis, Nadia Nicolaidou

Theodoros Zachariadis

No abstract provided.

Analysis Of Bacterial Population And Distribution In The Developing Strata Of A Constructed Wetland Used For Chlorinated Ethene Bioremediation, Milton J. Clausen Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

Chlorinated hydrocarbons and their degradation products are among of the most common organic groundwater contaminates in the United States. These compounds attack the central nervous system in animals and can affect the photosynthesis of plants. These compounds are also resistant to degradation in the environment and, because of this, pose a risk to any ecosystem in which they are present. This study identified the dominant microbial species in a constructed treatment wetland at Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio using 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Samples were taken from three different depths and during each of the four seasons. These samples were …

Optimal Management Of Groundwater Over Space And Time, Nicholas Brozovic, David L. Sunding, David Zilberman

Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute: Faculty Publications

For nearly half a century, groundwater has been portrayed in the economic literature as a typical common property resource. Numerous studies of groundwater extraction have analyzed the externalities imposed by users on each other. A large body of work offers clear prescriptions in the form of optimal policy instruments, and a similarly large body of work advocates the needlessness of any centralized intervention. Yet existing theoretical models of groundwater extraction implicitly make two strong assumptions about the underlying behavior of the resource. First, the spatial distribution of resource users is assumed to be irrelevant. Second, path-independence of the resource is …

Real-Time Measurement Of The Size Of Air Particulates, Marek Bogacki, Robert Oleniacz, Marian Mazur, Stanisław Kamiński

Robert Oleniacz

The gravimetric method of measuring PM10 particulate concentration in air is the reference method used in Poland and in the European Union. To get information on mass fractions of lower diameter particulates (e.g. PM5, PM2,5 or PM1) one usually has to apply various pre-sorters (most often of the impact type). This paper presents a new device that measures air particulate sizes in real time. The device makes it possible to classify (sort) air particulates according to size into 256 granularity classes from about 0.4 µm up to 300 µm. Tests of a device prototype were conducted in Warsaw at the …

Emisja Zanieczyszczeń Z Procesu Grafityzacji Elektrod Węglowych W Piecach Lwg (Castnera). Cz. 2. Wybrane Substancje Pyłowe, Marian Mazur, Robert Oleniacz, Marek Bogacki, Przemysław Szczygłowski

Robert Oleniacz

The measurement results of quantity of dust pollutants originated and emitted to air from LWG (Castner) furnaces during graphitisation process of coal electrodes were presented in the paper. The investigation was carried out for total dust, total tar substances and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The measurements were performed both before and after the flue gas control system (catalytic burning and wet cleaning). Thus changes of the substance concentrations in the gases for the cleaning system were estimated. As a result of the investigation was conclusion that the graphite process of coal electrodes in LWG stoves is not a significant source …

Emisja Zanieczyszczeń Z Pieca Achesona Do Grafityzacji Wyrobów Drobnych, Marian Mazur, Robert Oleniacz, Marek Bogacki, Przemysław Szczygłowski

Robert Oleniacz

Research results of the air pollutant emissions from the graphitisation process of fine products in the Acheson electric resistance furnace (discharge capacity 5,5 Mg) were presented in the paper. Research was performed for two kinds of raw material inputs (based on petroleum coke and pitch coke). Approximately 40-hours measurement series were carried out for each material including mainly such substances like carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, hydrogen sulphide, carbon disulphide, ammonia, benzene, toluene, xylenes, total dust, tar substances and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Both average and maximum concentrations and mass streams in the flue gases and average emission factors …

Removal Of Methyl-Tert Butyl Ether From Water By A Pulsed Arc Electrohydraulic Discharge System, Danielle M. Angeloni, Sarah E. Dickson, Monica B. Emelko, J -S Chang

Sarah E Dickson

The removal of methyl-tert-butyl ether (MTBE) from water by a pulsed arc electrohydraulic discharge (PAED) system was investigated experimentally at the laboratory scale. The effects of arc electrode gap, detention time and initial solution pH on the efficacy of MTBE treatment by PAED were investigated. A 0.3 kJ/pulse spark-gap-type power supply was employed in combination with a 3.0 L flow-through reactor. Experimental results showed that: 1) oxidation reactions are induced by this PAED system; 2) removal efficiency increases with increasing cumulative input energy (kW·h/m3 or kJ/L); 3) removal efficiency decreases with increasing arc electrode gap; and 4) initial solution pH …

Pulsed Electrohydraulic Discharge Characteristics In An Eccentric Electrode Cylindrical Reactor With Pbs, A Yamataki, D M. Angeloni, Sarah E. Dickson, Monica B. Emelko, K Yasuoka, J -S Chang

Sarah E Dickson

Pulsed arc electrohydroulic discharge (PAED) has been proposed as a water treatment technology for the removal of chemical and microbial contaminants. In this work, we examined the fundamental characteristics of a PAED system with an eccentric electrode cylindrical reactor. Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) water was used in lieu of tap water, because the conductivity of PBS is much higher than that of tap water. The results show that the voltage and current waveforms generated in PBS and tap water are very different due to the higher conductivity of PBS. Strong pressure waves and UV emission were also observed in PBS.

Decision Support System For Rural Water Supply In The Nilgris District Of South India, Daniel Olsen, Sarah E. Dickson, Brian Baetz

Sarah E Dickson

A considerable amount of knowledge exists for planning, designing, and implementing rural water supply schemes in developing countries around the world. Generalized decision support systems (DSSs) are used to tackle the daunting task of providing water in areas that have poor water resources and limited financial capacity. However, there is a lack of site-specific DSSs that utilise local hydrological and socio-economic data for assessing regionally-based rural water supply schemes. In the Nilgiris District of South India, an organizational structure exists for improving local water resources through watershed management projects, but many of the tools used to make informed decisions are …

A Novel Amendment Delivery System, Erica Ryter

Sarah E Dickson

No abstract provided.