Geological Engineering Commons^™

Elemental And Mineralogical Characterization Of Permo-Carboniferous Coal In The Ngaka Coalfield, Southwest Tanzania: Implications For Coal Quality Variation, John W. Gama, Justina J. Saroni, Remigius L. Gama

Tanzania Journal of Science

Coal from heterolithic seams exhibits distinct chemical characteristics due to interbedded non-coal beds, which influence its quality and usability. Despite extensive research in these settings, the elemental and mineralogical characteristics of the heterolithic sequences of the Mchuchuma Formation (K2) in the Ngaka Coalfield remain poorly documented. This study provides the first detailed assessment of K2 seams across five active mine sites. Eleven representative samples were analyzed using proximate, elemental, and mineralogical techniques, supported by Pearson correlation, binary analysis, and Principal Component Analysis. Proximate analysis revealed that ash content varies across mine sites, with values ranging from 9.17 to 25.03%, volatile …

Iron Ore Tailings Reprocessing By Electrostatic Separation Plus Two-Stage Froth Flotation, Vincent Bailey Arohunmolase, Akintunde Stephen Samakinde, Palas Kamlakar Borkar, Daniel Amponsah-Berko, Timothy Eisele

Michigan Tech Publications

The reprocessing of tailings is crucial for recovering valuable iron and reducing the environmental impact associated with tailings disposal. The raw iron ore tailings used in this study had an initial iron oxide content of 24.05 wt% Fe2O3, as determined by ICP-OES analysis. This study investigates the practicality of tailings reprocessing to enhance iron oxide content by integrating electrostatic separation with a two-stage froth flotation process consisting of direct anionic flotation using oleic acid followed by reverse cationic flotation using amine collectors. The primary goal is to efficiently recover valuable iron from tailings, thereby reducing waste and promoting sustainable resource …

A Platform For Acquiring And Classifying Low-Noise Electrocardiogram Signals For Applications In Cardiovascular Monitoring, Begmamat Berdimurodovich Dushanov, Narzullo Mamatov Dr.

Technical science and innovation

The early screening and continuous monitoring of cardiovascular diseases need effective acquisition and smart processing of electrocardiogram (ECG) signals. In this article, we introduce a compact platform designed for the acquisition of low-noise ECG signals and classification of the signals using a one-dimensional convolutional neural network (1D-CNN). Our compact platform consists of a low-noise analog front-end (AFE), including an instrumentation amplifier and a chain of analog filters, along with a data acquisition component designed to ensure effective suppression of baseline wander and high frequencies. Our compact platform consumes a low amount of power and can therefore be used for continuous …

A Model Intercomparison Study To Investigate Mixing Characteristics In Non-Precipitating Stratocumulus Clouds, Fan Yang, Kyoung Ock Choi, Kamal Kant Chandrakar, Fabian Hoffmann, Pei Hou, Steve Krueger, Chunsong Lu, Mikhail Ovchinnikov, Yangze Ren, Shin Ichiro Shima, Peng Wu, Chongzhi Yin, Zeen Zhu, Seong Soo Yum

Michigan Tech Publications

Recent aircraft observations of marine stratocumulus clouds consistently showed that cloud microphysical relationships vary with altitude, indicating inhomogeneous mixing characteristics near cloud top and homogeneous mixing characteristics in mid-levels of clouds. Here, we conduct model intercomparison of an idealized, non-precipitating stratocumulus cloud to evaluate model consistency and examine whether simulations can reproduce the observed mixing characteristics. The results show that eleven large-eddy simulations with various dynamics and microphysics schemes show good agreement on the thermodynamical, microphysical, and dynamical properties of the stratocumulus-topped boundary layer in a steady state. The inter-model spread in steady-state liquid water path is significantly reduced compared …

Geospatial Analysis Of Primary Healthcare Accessibility And Qualitative Assessment Of Affordability In Rural Communities Of Twifo Ati-Morkwaa District, Ghana, Peter Ansah Boakye, Daniel Buor, Francis Tei-Nartey

Michigan Tech Publications

Regardless of the efforts of the government and the private sector to improve health facilities in Ghana, a significant number of rural communities still experience inadequate access to primary healthcare. This study used the mixed-methods approach to provide an overview of the geographic distribution of healthcare facilities and the accessibility and affordability of primary healthcare within the Twifo Ati-Morkwaa District. Accessibility was assessed using Euclidean buffer analysis around primary healthcare facilities, while affordability was examined qualitatively using in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with community members, community leaders and health workers. Focus group discussions and interviews were conducted using the …

Remote Sensing Of Dynamic Ground Motion Via A Moiré-Based Apparatus, Adrian Ali Moazzam, Nontawat Srisapan, Gregory Waite, Durdu Guney, Roohollah Askari

Michigan Tech Publications

Highlights: What are the main findings? A Moiré-based optical apparatus enables long-range, non-contact ground displacement measurement in hazardous environments. Controlled indoor and outdoor experiments demonstrate reliable detection of dynamic and seismic-like ground motions with sub-millimeter resolution. What are the implications of the main findings? System performance is evaluated under atmospheric turbulence and wind, revealing key limits and mitigation strategies for field deployment. The proposed approach provides a low-cost, scalable complement to traditional seismic and geodetic monitoring techniques. Ground-based remote sensing of seismic and geophysical displacements remains a major challenge due to environmental hazards, signal attenuation, and practical deployment limitations of …

Volcanic Plume Height During The 2021 Tajogaite Eruption (La Palma) From Two Complementary Monitoring Methods-Implications For Satellite-Based Products, África Barreto, Francisco Quirós, Omaira E. García, Jorge Pereda-De-Pablo, Daniel González-Fernández, Andrés Bedoya-Velásquez, Simon Carn, Et. Al.

Michigan Tech Publications

Volcanic emissions from the Tajogaite volcano, located on the Cumbre Vieja edifice on the island of La Palma (Canary Islands, Spain), caused significant public health and aviation disruptions throughout the eruption (19 September–13 December 2021, officially declared over on 25 December). Nonetheless, it is considered the most significant volcanic event in Europe over the past 75 years due to the substantial amount of SO2 released into the atmosphere. The Instituto Geográfico Nacional (IGN), the authority responsible for volcano surveillance in Spain, implemented extensive operational monitoring to track volcanic activity and to provide a robust estimation of the volcanic plume height …

Contrasting Coastal Dune Environments In Chile, Aurora Christianson

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

Emerging coastalization and urbanization threats to the prehistoric Concón Dunes and Humedal de Mantagua coastal area of Chile is being investigated by researchers via uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS). Four UAS were utilized: Anzu Raptor T, DJI Mavic 3E, DJI Mavic 3M, and DJI Air 3 to collect various images of the coastal dunes. Multispectral and RGB cameras gather images by photogrammetry to create orthomosaics and monitor vegetation indexes in Pix4Dmapper. Thermal cameras provided images in rainbow, white hot infrared, and black hot infrared schemes to monitor wildlife and vegetation. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) was calculated to visualize overall …

Solar Backscatter Ultraviolet (Buv) Retrievals Of Mid-Stratospheric Aerosols From The 2022 Hunga Eruption, Robert J.D. Spurr, Matt Christi, Nickolay A. Krotkov, Won Ei Choi, Simon Carn, Can Li, Et Al.

Michigan Tech Publications

On 15 January 2022, a highly explosive eruption of the submarine Hunga volcano (Kingdom of Tonga) generated the largest stratospheric hydration event ever observed and the largest aerosol perturbation since the 1991 Pinatubo eruption. Here, we develop a novel method for satellite retrieval of stratospheric aerosol optical depth (AOD) and layer peak height (zp) using solar backscattered ultraviolet (BUV) radiation; this is made possible by the exceptional mid-stratospheric altitude of the Hunga aerosols. We analyze BUV observations of the Hunga stratospheric aerosol cloud on 17 January 2022 (47 h after the eruption), using BUV band 1 measurements from the TROPOspheric …

Workshop Outcomes Report: 2nd International Workshop On Seismic Resilience Of Arctic Infrastructure And Social Systems, Majid Ghayoomi, Daniela Morganti

Faculty Publications

The report provides an overview of the second international workshop on Seismic Resilience of Arctic Infrastructure and Social Systems. The report discusses agenda, workshop activities, interdisciplinary working groups, and results. It ends with several strategic questions and investigation plans that were developed as part of the workshop activities.

Discrete Element Modeling Of Granular Soils: Critical State Behavior Applied To Impact Pile Driving, Esteban Patino Marin

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

This thesis investigates the use of the Discrete Element Method (DEM) to study two complementary aspects of granular soil mechanics: critical state behavior of granular materials and dynamic response of driven piles in sand, both of which are governed by the same particle-scale mechanisms of dilation, contraction, and fabric evolution.

The first examines the critical state behavior and fabric anisotropy of granular soils through DEM simulations of direct shear, direct simple shear, and true triaxial tests. Sphere-cluster particles representative of a uniform sand are used in two assemblages of approximately twenty-five thousand and one hundred twenty-five thousand spheres to evaluate …

Data-Driven Seismic Site Classification Using Earthquake And Microtremor Horizontal-To-Vertical Spectral Ratios, Sanidhya Sharma

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

The prevailing seismic site classification parameter, the time-averaged shear-wave velocity in the upper 30 meters (V_S30), provides an incomplete representation of site conditions, neglecting deeper geology, impedance contrasts, and resonance phenomena. This thesis developed and validated a data-driven framework for seismic site classification based on the full spectral shape of Horizontal-to-Vertical Spectral Ratio (HVSR) curves combined with unsupervised machine learning, through two complementary research studies. Research 1 applied K-means clustering to earthquake-based HVSR (eHVSR) data from 3,186 ground motion stations across California and adjacent regions, identifying four physically distinct site clusters, characterized by low-frequency, very-low-frequency, high-frequency, and …

Toward Urban-Scale Liquefaction Hazard Analysis: Evaluation And Optimization Of Cpt-Based Lateral Displacement Assessment, Varun M. Singh

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Liquefaction-induced lateral spreading is a major type of earthquake-induced ground failure hazard and poses a significant threat to infrastructure systems. While semi-empirical methods, such as Lateral Displacement Index (LDI), have been developed to estimate lateral spreading displacement (LSD), their efficacy for regional-scale liquefaction hazard assessment remains unknown. This study evaluates and improves the LDI method for urban-scale seismic hazard assessments using a comprehensive dataset consisting of 1,713 Cone Penetration Test (CPT) case histories from the 2011 Christchurch, New Zealand earthquake, and high-resolution topographic data. Comparing the predicted LSDs and ground-truth observations from both field investigations and remote-sensing surveys reveals that …

Development Of Technical Solutions To Prevent The Formation Of Sludge Regime At The Bottom Of A Well, Rustam Umarkhanovich Juraev, Jonibek Tursunov

Technical science and innovation

The trouble-free process of drilling wells largely depends on the effective cleaning of the borehole. The formation of a slurry regime at the bottom of the well leads to the process of repeated crushing of drilling fines, which in turn leads to a decrease in the mechanical drilling speed, to an increase in the energy consumption of the rock-crushing tool for repeated crushing, and also increases the risk of oil seals. In addition, the formation of a slurry regime at the bottom of the well increases the intensity of abrasive wear of the drilling rig. This article provides a theoretical …

Lithological-Stratigraphic Characteristics And Prospects For Oil And Gas Potential Of The Mesozoic-Paleozoic Deposits Of The Muynak Uplift, Nursultan Sakenovich Kayupov, Marina Georgiyevna Yuldasheva, Shakhnoza Ulzhavaevna Eshmetova

Technical science and innovation

To increase hydrocarbon reserve growth, it is necessary to involve areas in the immediate vicinity of established oil and gas accumulation zones in geological exploration, as they developed under similar geological conditions within a single sedimentary basin. In the central part of the Ustyurt oil and gas region, deposits have been discovered in Jurassic sediments within the Berdakh swell, adjacent to the east by the Muynak Uplift. Analysis of available geological and geophysical data, including the study of lithological, stratigraphic, and reservoir properties, allows us to predict the oil and gas potential of Mesozoic rocks in this part of the …

Comprehensive Assessment Of The Impact Of Hydrogeological Factors On The Stability Of Open-Pit Slopes, Vokhid Rakhimovich Kadirov, Khurshida Yunusovna Norova, Zavkiddin Yahyo Oglu Ravshanov, Jamol Hasankhonovich Abdumalikov

Technical science and innovation

This paper presents an analysis of the influence of hydrogeological conditions on the stability of open pit slopes located within zones of tectonic disturbance. Based on field investigations and long-term hydrogeological monitoring conducted within the Almalyk ore cluster (Kalmakyr, Yoshlik-I, and Kurgashinkan deposits), the key factors affecting slope stability have been identified. It has been established that groundwater inflows from fractured and karstified Paleozoic rocks, as well as the presence of flooded abandoned pits, significantly increase the risk of slope deformation and failure. A special role is attributed to tectonic faults, which act as filtration channels for groundwater, leading to …

Climate-Driven Flood Risk Mapping And Adaptive Strategy Modelling For Coastal Tamil Nadu, Sakthi Kiran Dr Mr

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Tamil Nadu’s coastal corridor (Cuddalore–Sirkazhi; ~2,740 km²) experiences recurring floods driven by climate change, rapid urban expansion, and inadequate drainage across low-lying deltaic terrain. Existing flood assessments remain largely reactive and rely on static methods that fail to incorporate future climate projections, demographic growth, and evolving urban patterns.

Methods: This research develops a dynamic, climate-resilient flood risk framework integrating (i) long-term hydroclimatic trend analysis (1984–2023), (ii) satellite-based flood hazard mapping using multi-temporal Sentinel-1A and RISAT-1A SAR, (iii) CORDEX REMO2015 (RCP 4.5)–driven HEC-RAS 2D hydrodynamic modelling, (iv) machine-learning-based susceptibility modelling (RF, DT, SVM), and (v) scenario-based evaluation of structural mitigation …

High-Resolution Lidar Observations Of Sedimentation-Induced Size Sorting Of Droplets Near A Laboratory Cloud Top, Fan Yang, Yong Meng Sua, Zipei Zheng, Jesse Anderson, Hamed F. Sadi, Jae Min Yeom, Suryadev Pratap Singh, Pei Hou, Will Cantrell, Ernie Lewis, Alex Kostinski, Raymond Shaw

Michigan Tech Publications

No abstract provided.

Coaxial Electrospinning As A Promising Technique For Fabricating Advanced Materials For Energy Storage Applications, Yakubu Adekunle Alli, Abayomi Bamisaye, Akinsanmi S. Ige, Rabi Elabor, Oluwatobi Ife-Adediran, Adanlawo Olayinka Samson, Samuel Oluwadadepo Oni, Alfred Yeboah, Owolabi Mutolib Bankole, Dele Peter Fapojuwo, Adeniyi Sunday Ogunlaja

Michigan Tech Publications

As the demand for efficient, high-performance energy storage systems intensifies, the need for innovative materials that can enhance energy density, power output, and cycle stability has become paramount. Coaxial electrospinning, a versatile nanofabrication technique, has emerged as a powerful method for producing advanced core-shell nanofibers with tailored properties specifically designed for energy storage applications. This review delves into the principles of coaxial electrospinning, highlighting its advantages over conventional fabrication techniques in creating multifunctional materials for batteries and supercapacitors. By manipulating the core and shell compositions, coaxial nanofibers offer superior ion/electron transport, mechanical stability, and electrochemical performance. The review discusses the …

Evaluating Utilidor Performance And Ground Temperature Variability In UtqiaġVik, Tate Rachow

Geosciences

Permafrost degradation in Arctic regions poses increasing risks to infrastructure as climate warming accelerates thaw processes, alters hydrology, and deepens the active layer. In Utqiaġvik, Alaska, utilidors— utility conduits—play a vital role in protecting water and wastewater services, yet their thermal performance under changing conditions remains poorly constrained. This thesis evaluates the thermal behavior of the Site U-1 direct buried pipes on Stevenson Street using historical thermistor resistance data converted to temperature, combined with calibrated two- dimensional TEMP/W numerical models. The models incorporate layered backfill materials and polyurethane insulation, while also simulating operational influences of water and wastewater temperatures. Calibration …