Civil Engineering Commons^™

Collision Hazard Prevention And Notification For Construction Worker Safety Using Audio Surveillance, Kehinde Elelu

All Dissertations

The construction industry faces significant safety challenges, with collision hazards ranking as the second highest cause of annual fatalities and injuries in the United States, as reported by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Current collision detection methods predominantly rely on proximity technologies, which necessitate costly and complex installations on each construction equipment piece. Furthermore, auditory situational awareness declines among workers due to hearing loss and intricate construction noises, which further heightens collision risks. This research introduces an innovative, low-cost, audio-based collision prevention technology aimed at enhancing auditory situational awareness for construction workers exposed to high noise levels. The …

Sustainable And User-Driven Scope Development Framework For Engineering Design Services Of Transportation Infrastructure Projects, Ahmad Zaki Ghafari

All Dissertations

Rapid economic growth has led to a significant increase in transportation demands, exerting unprecedented pressure on infrastructure systems in the United States. State transportation agencies play a vital role in maintaining and developing transportation infrastructure networks within their regions. State transportation agencies face immense pressure from federal and state governments, elected officials, and the public to deliver projects efficiently and within budget. State transportation agencies rely on professional consultants for engineering design services. Engineering design services for transportation infrastructure projects are delayed due to incomplete inaccurate scope. For state Department of Transportation (DOTs), a streamlined scope development process is essential …

Numerical Study On The Behavior Of Natural And Recycled Aggregate Concretes, Shahriar Mardpour

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This thesis investigates the mechanical behavior of natural and recycled aggregate concretes (NAC and RAC) using a multi-phase numerical approach to predict performance. Growing interest in sustainable materials has led to using recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) to replace natural aggregates, creating Recycled Aggregate Concrete (RAC). Due to their different structural components, RAC and NAC exhibit varying mechanical properties, particularly in strength and durability.

This study validated tension and bending (flexural) test models by comparing numerical results with similar models from the literature. Following validation, a multi-phase approach modeled NAC and RAC for the bending (flexural) and tension tests, providing a …

Deep Learning Vision-Based Bridge Inspection With Resource-Constrained Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Ji Young Lee

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Bridge inspection is critical for ensuring structural integrity, extending the service life of infrastructure, and minimizing maintenance costs. As bridges age and endure increasing loads, regular inspections help detect early signs of wear, such as cracks or corrosion, that could impact safety and performance. However, traditional inspection methods are labor-intensive, requiring significant time, specialized equipment, and manual access to challenging areas, which can lead to costly disruptions. Additionally, reliance on human inspectors introduces subjectivity, with assessments varying by individual expertise. These factors highlight the inefficiencies and safety risks in current inspection practices, underscoring the need for more objective, efficient solutions. …

Real-Time Assessment Of Rebar Intervals Using A Computer Vision-Based Dvnet Model For Improved Structural Integrity, Bubryur Kim, Sri Preethaa K.R., Yuvaraj Natarajan, Danushkumar V., Jinwoo An, Dong-Eun Lee

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

Structural durability is critical for building and civil engineering safety, wherein the arrangement and distribution of reinforcing bar (rebar) is crucial. Improperly aligned rebar impacts bearing capacity, whereas uniform spacing optimally distributes loads, reducing stress. We introduce a computer-vision based Deep Vision Net (DVNet) model for real-time evaluation of rebar placement. A customized dataset is prepared in an environmental setup and augmented to address overfitting issues. This research conducts a comparative analysis of the learning performance exhibited by the proposed DVNet model against several other pre-trained models, such as Mask-RCNN and YOLOv5. The proposed DVNet model is built on a …

Comparative Analysis Of Design-Build And Design-Bid-Build Project Delivery Methods Through Cost, Schedule And Quality Performance For Warehousing And Storage Facilities, Vijaya Ravi Prasanth Reddi

All Theses

Storage facilities are essential for e-commerce operations, providing inventory, distribution, and delivery space. As per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of warehousing and storage businesses in the United States increased from 15,152 in 2010 to 21,287 in 2024, showing continuous growth over the decade. Given the recent surge, there is a need to understand the performance of these facilities better. This study aims to contrast the measure of quantitative performance of design-build (DB) versus traditional design-bid-build (DBB) project delivery methods (PDM) based on cost, schedule, and quality metrics for storage facilities. This research conducted a literature review to …

Accelerating Microbial-Induced Calcite Precipitation Treatment Protocols Using Calcium-Based Stabilizers Targeting Pavement Construction, Grant Goertzen

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

The research, development, and implementation of sustainable and resilient infrastructure is a critical mission for all aspects of modern Civil Engineering. The engineering and construction sector accounts for 37% of all global greenhouse gas emissions, comprising the largest proportion of any industry (Kafu-Quvane et al. 2024). Typically comprising 100% of base and subbase layers, 90% of asphalt pavement, and 80% of concrete pavement, it takes approximately 38,000 tons of aggregate to construct a single-lane mile of interstate highway (Feuling 2024). This presents significant environmental challenges due to the negative impacts of quarrying and aggregate transportation such as habitat destruction, biodiversity …

Non-Contact Acoustic Emission Detection Of Rail Defects Using Air-Coupled Sensors, Lei Jia

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Rail defects, whether internal or external, present significant safety risks. Acoustic Emission (AE) technology has emerged as a promising technique for monitoring damage progression and detecting these rail defects. This project addresses this critical concern by testing air-coupled optical microphones for non-contact AE detection. The goal of this research is to investigate AE signal characteristics using both rail-mounted and vehicle-mounted methods, establishing the understanding of AE signals in relation to defects and their effectiveness in identifying them.

This research focused on investigating air-conduct sensors in the lab-controlled pencil lead break (PLB) test. The objective was to evaluate the propagation characteristics …

Prediction Of Cost And Schedule Changes In Transportation Projects Through Historical Bid And Change Order Document Analysis – Using Oklahoma Dot Project Cases., Rabin Shrestha

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Construction bid documents encompass project specifications, drawings, schedules, and other critical details and are the foundation for project bidding and execution. Accurate bid documents are essential to ensure project bids are competitive, realistic, and aligned with requirements. However, bid documents are susceptible to risks from various sources. Failure to identify and rectify these risks can result in inaccurate cost estimates and higher bids. Therefore, identifying and resolving risks within bidding or contract documents are of utmost importance. While prior research has shed light on potential risk factors within the bid documents, a noticeable gap remains in the literature regarding identifying …

Performance Of Geopolymer Concrete Incorporating Recycled Aggregates And Glass Fibers, Mohammed Abughali

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

This study aims to investigate the potential use of geopolymer concrete (GC) incorporating recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) and glass fibers (GF) as a sustainable alternative to traditional cement-based concrete. It comprehensively evaluated the impact of RCA and GF on the fresh, physical, mechanical, and durability properties. A blended precursor binder consisting of ground granulated blast furnace slag and fly ash was utilized. To mitigate the challenges associated with the brittle behavior and low crack resistance of GC, mainly when incorporating RCA, two types of GF were used. Type A had a length of 24 mm, while Type B exhibited a …

Integrated Sustainability Analysis Of A Shared Micro-Mobility System In University Campus: Life-Cycle Assessment And User Impact Study Of Electric Scooters, Md Afif Rahman Chowdhury

LSU Master's Theses

The objective of this study is to evaluate the environmental, economic, and social impacts of implementing e-scooter technology on the LSU campus. The study is structured into three main parts: (1) an environmental life-cycle assessment of e-scooters, (2) a comparative environmental and economic impact assessment of e-scooters, cars, and campus shuttle buses, and (3) a comprehensive survey of e-scooter users to assess their characteristics, satisfaction levels, and comfort while using e-scooters on the LSU campus.

To achieve the objectives of the study, a life-cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted to assess the environmental sustainability of e-scooters, encompassing all stages from raw …

Next Generation Permeable Pavement For Enhanced Durability And Functionality, S M Tanvir

LSU Master's Theses

Porous Asphalt Concrete (PAC), also known as Open-Graded Friction Course (OGFC), is known for its high permeability, which provides benefits such as enhanced rainwater drainage, improved skid resistance, and reduced hydroplaning risks. These characteristics are due to its high air void content, allowing water to flow through the pavement and reducing splash, spray, and noise compared to conventional asphalt mixes. However, this high air void content also contributes to durability concerns, such as raveling, stripping, and clogging, which can reduce service life and increase costs, making OGFC more expensive than conventional asphalt mixtures.

This research focuses on identifying the failure …

Geotechnical Characterization Of Saline Sabkha Soil Of Abu Dhabi, Uae, And Its Stabilization Using Steel Slag And Sodium Silicate, Ahmed Maher Abdulla

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Saline sabkha soil is widely distributed across the Abu Dhabi coastal regions of the UAE. These soils are associated with geotechnical problems that principally emerge from the heterogeneous nature of the soil and its high soluble salt content. Upon exposure to fresh water, the soluble salt dissolves, resulting in loss of the bond that once cemented the soil particles. In addition, the volume occupied by the salt minerals becomes part of the voids between the particles. This process results in a weak and loose soil structure of lower bearing capacity that is ready to collapse upon being subjected to loads. …

Float: A Multi-Scale Flood Loss Assessment Tool Developed From Experimentally Derived Material Damage, Anna Katya Opel

Doctoral Dissertations

Current practice of flood loss prediction presents limitations in accurately predicting building flood losses at multiple scales. While whole-building estimates can more accurately predict high-level losses (i.e., large groups of buildings), a significant analysis error is revealed with small-scale (i.e., individual, or small groups of buildings) investigation. The novel approach of collecting experimental flood data to support damage estimation has provided sufficient evidence that current damage models can and do under or overestimate loss. This research has developed a multi-scale approach to assessing flood losses based on experimentally derived material damage. The methodology is stored and accessible in a multi-scale …

Integrating Gis And Ca-Markov Model To Study Urban Dynamics Of Salem, India In Terms Of Pattern, Intensity And Direction, Linda Theres B

Theses and Dissertations

Urban populations have grown substantially in the modern era and the information age as people seek better living prospects. Currently, more than half of the world's population resides in the cities. Such growth must be monitored to ensure that people enjoy the boons of urban spaces, not the banes. Recognising the significance of urban studies, several researchers have attempted to analyse and predict urban dynamics using remote sensing, Geographic Information Systems, and machine learning methods. However, certain limitations exist, especially in improving the CAMarkov model's prediction performance. In addition, studies have suggested that growth characteristics, such as pattern, intensity, and …

Anti-Corrosion Performance Of Magnesium Potassium Phosphate Cement Coating On Steel Reinforcement: The Effect Of Boric Acid, Fan Zhang, Jihui Qin, Kangyi Cai, John J. Myers, Hongyan Ma

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

It has recently been found that magnesium potassium phosphate cement (MKPC) paste coating applied on the surface of steel reinforcement can effectively retard the onset of corrosion and suppress corrosion reactions. However, the fast-setting nature of MKPC—which is a merit in repair—can be problematic in a practical engineering process of coating the steel reinforcement with MKPC paste. To address this problem, boric acid (H₃BO₃) was added as a retarder in an MKPC formulation to prolong the setting time. This work investigated the impact of boric acid (at 5% by weight of MgO) on the anti-corrosion performance …

Unlocking Telecommuting Patterns Before, During, And After The Covid-19 Pandemic: An Explainable Ai-Driven Study, Adedolapo Ogungbire, Suman Kumar Mitra

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

The COVID-19 pandemic has instigated a global paradigm shift in employment practices, precipitating a widespread transition to telework. While past events had no long-lasting effect on the continued working conditions of the population, it is unclear what a prolonged need for telecommuting on such a nationwide scale would continue to have on the working population. This study uses an explainable artificial intelligence approach to investigate the changes in those telecommuting across three periods: i) pre-pandemic, ii) pandemic, and iii) post-pandemic periods. Machine learning methods, including decision trees, random forest, extreme gradient boost, naïve Bayes, and artificial neural networks, were developed …

The Effects Of Wildfires On The Mental And Physical Health Of School-Age Children In North America: A Scoping Review, Sarah Oerther, Sarah Manspeaker, Alison Wix, Daniel Oerther, Carmen Marsit

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Background: Wildfires are occurring more often and with greater intensity, leading to longer and harsher fire seasons. As a result, children are more frequently exposed to wildfire smoke, which increases their risk of mental and physical health effects. Purpose: The purpose of our scoping review is to explore the current literature on what is known about the direct and indirect impacts of wildfires on the mental and physical health of school-age children in North America (5 to 18-year-olds). Methods: A health sciences librarian-assisted literature search, with input from the research team, was performed. Results: A total of 16 studies were …

Building Services Engineering November/December 2024

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Investigating The Relationship Between History, Urbanization And Wealth Gap In Johannesburg, South Africa, Abdallah F. Kaamah

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

The city of Johannesburg is the largest city in South Africa and named as one of the economic drivers of the country. However, the city has the widest wealth gap in the country. This article examines the relationship between historical occurrences, urbanization, and the resulted wealth disparity in Johannesburg and look at the mitigation measures. The findings point to the wealth disparity in the city as a multifaceted problem influenced by historical, urbanization, and political variables. Comprehensive and multifaceted policy initiatives are required to address the structural causes of inequality and the urgent needs of vulnerable populations to close the …