Systems Engineering Commons^™

Sequence-Based Simulation-Optimization Framework With Application To Port Operations At Multimodal Container Terminals, Mariam Aladdin Kotachi

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

It is evident in previous works that operations research and mathematical algorithms can provide optimal or near-optimal solutions, whereas simulation models can aid in predicting and studying the behavior of systems over time and monitor performance under stochastic and uncertain circumstances. Given the intensive computational effort that simulation optimization methods impose, especially for large and complex systems like container terminals, a favorable approach is to reduce the search space to decrease the amount of computation.

A maritime port can consist of multiple terminals with specific functionalities and specialized equipment. A container terminal is one of several facilities in a port …

Factors Influencing Household Solar Adoption In Santiago, Chile, Jeffrey P. Walters, Jessica Kaminsky, Claudio Huepe

Faculty Publications - Biomedical, Mechanical, and Civil Engineering

In Santiago, Chile, the market conditions are seemingly excellent for the household adoption of photovoltaic (PV) technology, yet the uptake is negligible. To explore this paradox, the authors conducted a Delphi study to solicit the knowledge of a panel of Chilean PV experts. These efforts yielded 26 factors—both motivations and barriers—impacting the diffusion of PV in Santiago. Of the 26, experts were in consensus on the relative importance of 21. The literature suggests that diffusion of PV technologies is influenced by complex technical, economic, and social factors. Similarly, the experts saw influence from financial, environmental, and energy supply (e.g., electrical …

Applications Of Complex Network Analysis In Electric Power Systems, Mahmoud Saleh, Yusef Esa, Ahmed Mohamed

Publications and Research

This paper provides a review of the research conducted on complex network analysis (CNA) in electric power systems. Moreover, a new approach is presented to find optimal locations for microgrids (MGs) in electric distribution systems (EDS) utilizing complex network analysis. The optimal placement in this paper points to the location that will result in enhanced grid resilience, reduced power losses and line loading, better voltage stability, and a supply to critical loads during a blackout. The criteria used to point out the optimal placement of the MGs were predicated on the centrality analysis selected from the complex network theory, the …

Bridge Inspection: Human Performance, Unmanned Aerial Systems And Automation, Sattar Dorafshan, Marc Maguire

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Unmanned aerial systems (UASs) have become of considerable private and commercial interest for a variety of jobs and entertainment in the past 10 years. This paper is a literature review of the state of practice for the United States bridge inspection programs and outlines how automated and unmanned bridge inspections can be made suitable for present and future needs. At its best, current technology limits UAS use to an assistive tool for the inspector to perform a bridge inspection faster, safer, and without traffic closure. The major challenges for UASs are satisfying restrictive Federal Aviation Administration regulations, control issues in …

The Role Of Criticality Of Gene Regulatory Networks On Emergent Properties Of Biological Systems, Hyobin Kim

Graduate Dissertations and Theses

The relationship between criticality of gene regulatory networks (GRNs) and dynamics of GRNs at a single cell level has been vigorously studied. However, the relationship between the criticality of GRNs and properties of multicellular organisms at a higher level has not been fully explored. Here we aim at revealing potential roles of the criticality of GRNs at a multicellular and hierarchical level, using a random Boolean network as a GRN. We perform three studies. Firstly, we propose a GRN-based morphogenetic model, and delve into the role of the criticality of GRNs in morphogenesis at a multicellular level. Secondly, we include …

Dispensing Medical Countermeasures In Public Health Emergencies Via Home Health Agencies And Points Of Distribution, Anna Hudgeons

Industrial Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

A major concern regarding emergency preparedness on the state government level involves the handling and dispensing of the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) of medicinal supplies. Each state is required to update and maintain a plan of action for dispensing SNS materials that would effectively provide care to the state’s population in times of distress. This research evaluates a state’s ability to dispense an adequate amount of medicine to her population in a timely manner, specifically after it has been received by the state government. Although simulation modeling has previously been utilized to replicate the dispensing process at pre-designated points of …

Analysis Of Verification And Validation Techniques For Educational Cubesat Programs, Noah Weitz

Master's Theses

Since their creation, CubeSats have become a valuable educational tool for university science and engineering programs. Unfortunately, while aerospace companies invest resources to develop verification and validation methodologies based on larger-scale aerospace projects, university programs tend to focus resources on spacecraft development. This paper looks at two different types of methodologies in an attempt to improve CubeSat reliability: generating software requirements and utilizing system and software architecture modeling. Both the Consortium Requirements Engineering (CoRE) method for software requirements and the Monterey Phoenix modeling language for architecture modeling were tested for usability in the context of PolySat, Cal Poly's CubeSat research …

Demonstrating Set-Based Design Techniques- A Uav Case Study, Colin Small

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The Department of Defense (DoD) and Engineered Resilient Systems (ERS) community seek to improve decision making in the Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) process by incorporating resilience and leveraging the capabilities of model-based engineering (MBE) early in the design process. Traditional tradespace exploration utilizing Point-Based Design (PBD) often converges quickly on a solution with subsequent engineering changes to modify the design. However, this process can lead to a suboptimal solution if an incorrect initial solution is chosen. Enabled by MBE, Set-Based Design (SBD) considers sets of all possible solutions and enables down-selecting possibilities to converge on a final solution. Using a …

Convergent Set-Based Design In Integrated Analysis Of Alternatives: Designing Engineered Resilient Systems, Zephan Wright Wade

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents a comprehensive package for understanding and expanding set-based design quantification through the definition and demonstration of Convergent set-based design (SBD). Convergent SBD is a technique developed for the Engineered Resilient Systems program sponsored by the Department of Defense. Convergent SBD contributes a repeatable methodology with the goal of mathematically eliminating inefficient sets. The study of Convergent SBD led to the development of dominance identification criteria equations using comparison of statistical means. The demonstration of Convergent SBD also illustrates the effect of mission resilience in the tradespace and the impact mission resilience has on preference. Finally, Convergent SBD …

Improvement Of Quality Processes- Asset Condition Assessment Tool And Process For Vanderlande Industries, Mariantonia Hoyos Lopez, Tori Shonk

Senior Design Project For Engineers

Vanderlande Industries is the global market leader in the value added logistic process automation for airports, the parcel market, warehouses, and e-commerce. The company’s extensive portfolio of integrated solutions results in fast, reliable and efficient automation technology. The VI Marietta office supports airport sites that have an operational BHS. These sites hire VI to operate and maintain the site. Preventive, corrective, and emergency maintenance is completed on the equipment to maintain operational success. Usually, the U.S. sites that are supported have BHS systems that are old and worn down. It is important for VI to determine the risk of maintaining …

Class A Average Handle Time Standard, Stephanie Lee

Senior Design Project For Engineers

This report provides an analysis and evaluation on the Average Handle Time performed at Class A. The Universal, Shipping, International, Tracking, InfoNotice, Amazon, Field Support Group, and Preferred Customer Associates call types are evaluated in this study. An Average Handle Time Standard is created, while meeting the appropriate sample size, covering multiple site locations, at various times of the day and days of the week, and meeting corporate quality expectations. Methods of cost analysis, Six Sigma, and optimization are utilized in this study. The V-Process Model is used to verify the system. The implementation and results served as the verification …

Carlex Glass Laminated Side Glass Process Optimization, Jake Massingill, Marshal Turner

Senior Design Project For Engineers

The intent of this project is to determine how many racks of glass should be inserted into the autoclave at a given time in order to maximize productivity of the Laminated Side Glass line. Based on this value, the total number of workers necessary at finishing and the cycle time of the bag furnace were determined. This was achieved by building a model of the line in Arena and analyzing it. The model demonstrated that twelve is the optimal number of racks to insert at a given time, only one team of two workers is necessary per shift, and that …

Atlanta (Kennesaw) Ereturn Project, Shannon Ard, Trisha Donnelly-Nelson, Scott Michael

Senior Design Project For Engineers

The Siemens Energy, Inc. Tool and Instrument Facility is an internal tool rental center that assembles tool kits and ships them to power generation sites. When miscellaneous, broken or extra tools are returned, they are sent to the eReturn area, where tools are processed and reentered into inventory. The current eReturn system is long and complex. The cluttered area causes tools to remain in eReturn for extended periods before being reentered into the inventory. The additional time causes unnecessary ordering and prevents tools from being used in more kits. The team's objective is to determine a solution that will allow …

Atlanta Traffic Optimization Final Design Review, Biram Nicol, Vick Abwavo, Brandon Harris

Senior Design Project For Engineers

To solve the Metro-Atlanta traffic problem, we have embarked in numerous efforts to find feasible goals that had worked in other states with similar situations. In dealing with the traffic problem around the Metro area, we have designed a rail system to counter if our proposed idea of eliminating trucks within the Metro area is realized. This will be a more cost-effective area as the rail system is set to pay for itself after a decade and half of operation.

This idea might be considered radical, but our findings showed that 39.50% of freight is transferred by rail according to …

Grady Health Systems Linen Optimization, Kyleia Hutton, Samira Abdi

Senior Design Project For Engineers

Grady Memorial Hospital, under Grady Health Systems (GHS), is the fifth largest public hospital systems in the United States of America. In the Southeast region, Grady Memorial Hospital is a premier level I trauma institution, that also provides other medical service specialties that accumulate a diverse, and knowledgeable set of medical professionals. Within this report, there are various recommendations that our team has presented based on different scenarios that could be present within the interaction of the linen management department and other departments at Grady Health Systems. These recommendations will aid in determining the best decision that can be made …

Feasibility Study Of Mohawk Industries Water Bottle Recycling Program With Automated Compactor/Baler, Brody Cook, Chris Yeager, Parker Cook

Senior Design Project For Engineers

Mohawk Industries requested a senior design project for a feasibility study of a compactor/baler program. The compactor/baler program has the potential to reduce Mohawk Industries’ polyethylene terephthalate (PET) recycling center costs, thereby increasing the company’s profits. Mohawk Industries uses PET from recycled plastic bottles as a raw material to extrude carpet yarn fibers. Currently, Mohawk Industries has two methods to obtain the PET required to extrude the carpet yarn fibers: purchase recycled bottles from landfills/recycling centers and extrude into PET pellets, or purchase PET pellets from an outside source at a much higher cost. The compactor/baler program would introduce a …

Service Drive 2020 - Fine Design, David Sirotinsky, Ling Marshall

Senior Design Project For Engineers

This report explores a cloud network solution for the automotive industry. The project scope was defined with a problem statement. Robust connectivity solutions offered by the OEM manufacturers provide data communication between the customer and the connected car, but lack data communication from the customer to the private franchise dealers. This antiquated business model creates variation in operation from one dealer to the other and creates a challenge to apply a standardized solution. One fundamental requirement is to provide a network solution that can seamlessly integrate into existing hardware, software and process infrastructure.

The project group conducted interviews with two …

Sauce Repackaging Test: Atlanta, Hannah Smith, Gideon Larios, Christopher Gilbert

Senior Design Project For Engineers

Overview

This project belongs to the Chick-fil-A Supply Chain Innovation Team. This team has designed a new packaging product, which breaks down their current packing product into smaller load units. The Atlanta Sauce test was the first live implementation of this new product, the inner pack. The Supply Chain Team began preparing for this test in May 2017. In this test, the team were specifically looking for product issues, benefits, product user behaviors, and areas of improvement.

Objective

The purpose of this project was to research the implementation of a new sauce packaging. During this research, the current sauce replenishment …

Ejm Chain Fall Tooling Optimization, Migual Medina, Esraa Abdulmahdi, James Algarin

Senior Design Project For Engineers

The following report describes the progress made by the EJM Chain Fall Tooling Optimization Team since the In-Progress Review. The team has finalized the facility layout design for the chain fall area including the concept of operations, functional requirements, and performance specifications. The scope of the project is completing the new procedures for reducing waste and completing the AutoCAD drawing of the final design. The team researched the objectives accomplished by the new layout design. The goal of the project is to reduce the safety hazards and increase productivity. The team shifted the focus to the salvage, recycling, and waste …

A Systems Analysis Of Factors Influencing Household Solar Pv Adoption In Santiago, Chile, Jeffrey P. Walters, Jessica Kaminsky, Lawrence Gottschamer

Faculty Publications - Biomedical, Mechanical, and Civil Engineering

Societal uptake of household solar photovoltaic (PV) technology is the result of a complex and interdependent array of technical, social, political and economic factors. This novel study employs a systems lens to examine both technical and non-technical barriers to renewables, with a focus on interactions that are empirically influential on PV uptake. Using local solar expert stakeholder input into a participatory systems approach, this study provides a structural analysis of factors influencing household solar adoption. The approach is applied and assessed for household solar PV systems in Santiago, Chile, to gain insight into the interconnected factors driving technology adoption. Barriers …