Digital Commons Network^™

Accident Data Analytics And Ai-Based Auditory Enhancement For Highway Construction Safety, Thinh Nguyen

All Dissertations

This research develops data-driven and AI-enhanced approaches to improve worker safety in highway construction environments. The study integrates advanced analytics and auditory signal enhancement to identify high-risk worker behaviors and improve real-time safety warnings. The work consists of three core studies. The first study applies Sequential Pattern Mining and Social Network Analysis to more than 1,000 construction accident reports to identify high-risk worker actions and their hidden sequential relationships with accident types and consequences. These insights reveal sector-specific risk patterns, supporting the creation of targeted, data-informed safety interventions. The second study introduces an AI-based auditory enhancement model built on a …

Private Sand Mining In The Mississippi River: Sediment Budget And Morphology Implications Between Baton Rouge And Belle Chasse, Louisiana, Brett Mcmann

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

This analysis examined how private sand mining within the Mississippi River between Baton Rouge, LA and Belle Chasse, LA affected its sand budget from 2004-2012.

Records assembled indicated that private mining removed an annual average of 2.8 million cubic yards of sand. A HEC-RAS one-dimensional sediment transport model was utilized to assess this practice. Three scenarios were simulated: a baseline without mining, conditions reflecting documented mining rates, and a hypothetical case with excessive extraction.

Results suggest that private mining constituted approximately 26 percent of the total sand deficit between Baton Rouge and Belle Chasse. Mining appeared to cause localized changes …

Development Of A Handy Tool For The Selection Of Urban Stormwater Best Management Practices, Aaron T. Kenny

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The City of Norfolk, Virginia faces substantial stormwater management challenges due to shallow groundwater, tidal influence, dense urban development, and limited right-of-way. These constraints limit the applicability of many Best Management Practices (BMPs) and require the early identification of feasible practices before detailed hydrologic modeling. This thesis introduces a decision-support tool that quickly and systematically identifies and prioritizes BMPs that are both feasible and well-suited to Norfolk’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) program, streamlining early-stage selection and saving time and resources.

The tool implements a two-stage methodology. First, feasibility gates are applied using catalog attributes derived from the Virginia …

Experimental Determination Of Modulus Of Rupture For Concrete Masonry Beams And Implications For The Tms 402/602 Code, Shreedhar K C

All Theses

Currently, the experimental database for Modulus of Rupture (MOR) of masonry beams is limited, and current provisions in TMS 402/602-22 use the MOR values from wallette tests. The primary goal of this research is to experimentally determine the parameters that influence MOR. The secondary goal of this work is to compare the MOR values from beam and bond wrench tests obtained in this study with each other as well as with values published in the literature. The standard ASTM E518 test was used for determining MOR values for beams, and a modified approach to ASTM C1072 that nullifies the eccentricity …

Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting From Roadways: Challenges, Advances, And Future Directions, Heba Mohamed Gaber, Mohamed Abdel-Raheem

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

As the global demand for renewable energy intensifies, piezoelectric energy harvesting from roadways has emerged as a promising avenue for sustainable power generation. This systematic literature review analyzes 61 peer-reviewed studies to assess the feasibility, performance, and potential of integrating piezoelectric systems into roadway infrastructure. While technology faces challenges, such as high installation costs, limited energy output, and a scarcity of thorough economic evaluations, findings suggest it holds considerable promise as a supplementary renewable energy source. The review analyzes the operational characteristics and efficiencies of various piezoelectric transducers, identifies key factors influencing system performance, and evaluates recent technological advances. It …

Upcycling Carbide Slag Waste For Low-Temperature Co2 Sequestration: Direct Application And Adsorption After Chemical Alteration, Manisha Sukhraj Kothari

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Excessive carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions and large-scale industrial waste generation are the results of rapid industrialization and ever-increasing energy demand. The recent trend of repurposing waste materials for pollution prevention is a promising approach to address both these environmental challenges. One such industrial waste residue generated from acetylene gas production is called carbide slag (CS). Its high Ca(OH)₂ content presents a promising opportunity for its utilization in CO₂ sequestration. However, CS waste is primarily studied as a CaO source for the intensive Ca-looping process. Despite the great potential, the high temperature requirements of the Ca-looping process limit its industrial application. …

Fusion Of Simulation And Ai Methods For Understanding Hov/Hot Lane Operational Flow Dynamics, Deo Chimba, Therezia Matongo, Hellen Shita, Erickson Senkondo, Masanja Madalo, Afia Yeboah

Civil and Architectural Engineering Faculty Research

This study investigated the impact of converting High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes to High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes on fundamental traffic flow characteristics, focusing on speed, density, and flow relationships. A 25-mile HOV corridor along I-24 Westbound in Nashville, Tennessee was evaluated using both microscopic simulation via VISSIM and data-driven machine learning through a Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) neural network. Four operational scenarios were assessed: (1) HOV lanes without enforcement, (2) HOV lanes with effective occupancy enforcement, (3) HOT lanes with limited access points, and (4) HOT lanes with intermediate access points. Flow-density and speed-flow relationships were modeled using Greenshields theory …

Synthesis Of Sustainable Self-Foaming Glass Ceramics Using Waste Glass And Aluminium Dross, Abba Musa Hassan

Student Works (2020-2029)

The growing global demand for sustainable materials has driven extensive research into lightweight insulating materials, such as self-foaming glass ceramics (SFGCs), which align closely with the principles of a circular economy. While the alkali activation of aluminosilicates offers an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional, energy-intensive industrial methods for producing glass-based foams, current approaches often depend on synthetic foaming agents, high-speed agitation, and elevated sintering temperatures. These factors adversely affect slurry rheology, resulting in suboptimal microstructures, reduced mechanical strength, increased production costs, and negative environmental impacts. This study contributes to the advancement of the field by developing eco-friendly SFGCs using soda-lime …

Potential Use Of Waste-Derived Products In Producing Geopolymer Sorbents, Mariam Mohammed Al Nuaimi

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Environmental sustainability and the circular economy are central to addressing global challenges in waste management and water pollution. This study investigates the synthesis and performance of geopolymers derived from industrial wastes, including fly ash, waste glass, silt deposits, and carbide lime, as adsorbents for methylene blue (MB) dye removal from water. Geopolymers were engineered under varying particle sizes, NaOH addition methods, and curing temperatures. Their physicochemical and microstructural properties were thoroughly characterized via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), andparticle size analysis (PSA). Among the tested formulations, the sodium silicate–sodium hydroxide …

Assessment Of Traffic Related Air Pollution Effects On Indoor Air Quality In Educational Buildings, Ahmed Gouda Mohamed, Mohamed Sherif Dr., Fahad Alqahtani Dr., Yousif Deeb Eng.

Civil Engineering

This study assesses the impact of traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) on indoor air quality (IAQ) within a Riyadh school. The main objectives are to pinpoint factors influencing IAQ and to evaluate the effectiveness of existing ventilation and filtration systems. Air quality Egg sensors monitored nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and particulate matter (PM1.0, PM2.5, PM10) levels both indoors and outdoors over 30 days. Findings revealed average indoor PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations of 14.09 µg/m3 and 18.15 µg/m3, respectively, while outdoor concentrations averaged 20.63 µg/m3 and 27.88 µg/m3. A strong positive correlation was observed between indoor and outdoor PM levels, …

Downdrag Defeated – The Neutral Plane Method, Kyle L. Zak, Min Sang Lee

Civil Engineering Professional Development Seminar

The neutral plane method for evaluating downdrag on deep foundations has been gaining popularity over the past few years. It is a powerful tool that, in many situations, can all but eliminate downdrag concerns on deep foundations. INDOT has allowed its use recently and adapted its forms to accommodate this method. The presentation will cover the theory behind the method and how it can be applied in bridge design. We will then demonstrate how to incorporate the method into the INDOT workflow, and we’ll show a couple real-life examples where the neutral plane method saved the day.

Curbless By Design: Revitalizing Downtown Infrastructure For Pedestrians, Alex Duran, Steve Cherry

Civil Engineering Professional Development Seminar

This presentation will discuss the design of a curbless, pedestrian-focused corridor as part of a small-town downtown reconstruction in Sylvania, Ohio. The project team will share how they balanced community goals, accessibility, and utility coordination, along with considerations for drainage, hardscape, lighting, and power. The session will also highlight early construction lessons learned from Phase 1.

Mass Timber Construction: Products, Performance And Design, Anthony Harvey

Civil Engineering Professional Development Seminar

Due to their high strength, dimensional stability and positive environmental performance, mass timber building products are quickly becoming materials of choice for sustainably‐minded designers. This presentation will provide a detailed look at the variety of mass timber products available, including glue‐laminated timber (glulam), cross laminated timber (CLT), nail laminated timber (NLT), heavy timber decking, and other engineered and composite systems. Applications for the use of these products under modern building codes will be discussed, and examples of their use in U.S. projects reviewed. Mass timber’s ability to act as both structure and exposed finish will also be highlighted, as will …

Carbon-Neutral Concrete: A Review On Carbon Capture, Storage, And Utilization Technologies, Syed Muhammad O Naqvi, Muhammad Daniyal Raza, Syed Muhammad Bilal Haider

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

Concrete industry is responsible for approximately 7% of total CO2 emissions around the globe making it a critical target for decarbonization. This review study evaluates carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies applicability in concrete industry with a focus on direct air capture (DAC), CO2 curing, mineral carbonation, and incorporation of carbonated recycled aggregates and alternative binders. Emphasis is placed on the mechanisms of various CCUS technologies, economic feasibility, environmental benefits, mechanical performance, and current challenges in their application and scalability aiming to optimize the structural efficiency, carbon uptake, and cost of concrete structures. Case studies from industrial implementations, such …

Cytotoxicity And Genotoxicity Of Glyphosate And Roundup Quickpro On Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells, Tasnimul Ferdous, Qingfang He, Wen Zhang

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Glyphosate and Roundup products have become the most used herbicide worldwide. However, previous bans in Europe and recent reversal have caused confusion over their safety. This study aims to investigate the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of Roundup QuickPro and its main ingredient glyphosate using Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Cytotoxicity was calculated by measuring CHO cell viability with 72 h of exposure to each toxicant. Roundup QuickPro exhibited higher cytotoxicity with LC50 of 511.2 mu g/mL than glyphosate's LC50 of 3389 mu g/mL. The recommended application concentration (11,233.7 mu g/mL) of Roundup QuickPro is much higher than the measured LC50, …

Numerical Modeling Of Circular Reinforced Concrete Columns Confined With Frcm Composites, Ahmed Khaled Elzaher

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Fabric-reinforced cementitious matrix (FRCM) composites are considered a promising alternative for strengthening reinforced concrete (RC) columns due to the noncorrosive nature of the fiber strands and the enhanced thermal resistance of the cementitious mortar. The interaction between the confinement provided by the internal steel ties and the external FRCM composites represents a key parameter that has not yet been thoroughly investigated. The complexity of this combined FRCM–steel confinement mechanism increases under eccentric compression loading, which is commonly encountered in practical applications. This study aimed to investigate the structural behavior of short circular RC columns confined with FRCM composites under concentric …

Development Of New Design Criteria For Coastal Highway Embankment Under Wave-Induced Loading, Udaya Bilas Panta

Master's Theses

In the face of intensifying hurricanes and rising sea levels, Louisiana’s coastal highways, lifelines for communities and commerce, stand increasingly vulnerable. This thesis introduces a pioneering methodology for designing geosynthetic-reinforced highway embankments capable of withstanding wave-induced loading and rapid drawdown scenarios, the most critical failure condition identified in coastal environments. By integrating statistical wave modeling, advanced numerical simulations using SEEP/W and SLOPE/W, and a comprehensive parametric analysis, the study develops a novel hybrid regression formula that accurately predicts optimal reinforcement lengths based on site-specific geotechnical and hydraulic parameters. Validated against Hurricane Katrina data and real-world soil profiles from Cameron Parish, …

Seagrass Persistence In The Indian River Lagoon And Lake Worth Lagoon, Florida, Kelly Kibler, Melinda Donnelly, Vincent Encomio, Madison Giuntoli, Manisha Thenuwara, Brice Bennett, Laura Andrade Barron, Mariam Sonbol, Wynter Raine Seppala, Namritha Ramakrishnan, Jennifer Jordan Báez, Beth Orlando, Irene Arpayoglou, Melissa Meisenburg

Indian River Lagoon Shorelines

The spatial dataset: UCF_seagrasspersistence_IRL_LWL.shp was created with support from the Indian River Lagoon National Estuaries Program and Florida Sea Grant. These projects cumulatively led to creation of a living shoreline restoration prioritization model and hydrodynamic habitat suitability models for 1,550 km (963 miles) of estuarine shorelines in Indian River Lagoon (IRL) and Lake Worth Lagoon (LWL). The dataset presented herein represents persistence of seagrass throughout waters of the IRL and LWL.

Locations Of Outfalls In The Indian River Lagoon And Lake Worth Lagoon, Florida, Kelly M. Kibler, Melinda J. Donnelly, Vincent Encomio, Madison Giuntoli, Manisha Thenuwara, Brice Bennett, Laura Andrade Barron, Mariam Sonbol, Wynter Raine Seppala, Namritha Ramakrishnan, Jennifer Jordan Báez, Beth Orlando, Irene Arpayoglou, Melissa Meisenburg

Indian River Lagoon Shorelines

The spatial dataset: UCF_Outfalls_IRL_LWL.shp was created under grants from the Indian River Lagoon National Estuaries Program and Florida Sea Grant. These projects cumulatively led to creation of a living shoreline restoration prioritization model and hydrodynamic habitat suitability models for 1,550 km (963 miles) of estuarine shorelines in Indian River Lagoon (IRL) and Lake Worth Lagoon (LWL).

The dataset presented here includes the location of outfalls identified throughout the study region and general characteristics of the shoreline where they were identified.

From The Editors, Rully Karim Dr.

Journal of Project Management & Construction

The Journal of Project Management and Construction (JPMC) is a peer-reviewed publication dedicated to advancing the field of project management and construction, grounded in the principles outlined in the PMBOK 6th Edition. Our focus encompasses the ten knowledge areas essential to successful project management: Integration, Scope, Schedule, Cost, Quality, Resource, Communications, Risk, Procurement, and Stakeholder Management.

JPMC publishes original research papers written in English that provide deeper insights into these knowledge areas and contribute to the development of best practices in project management and construction. Submissions may include theoretical analyses, computational models, experimental observations, or a combination of both theoretical …

Critical Success Factors Of Lean Construction Implementation To Improve Construction Project Efficiency In Indonesia, Onal Putra, Rossy Armyn Machfudiyanto

Journal of Project Management & Construction

Inefficiency is still a problem in the construction industry in Indonesia and in the world. Inefficiency leads to delayed deadlines, budget overruns, and inappropriate quality. It is caused by a lot of waste in the form of activities that use resources but do not produce the expected value. Lean construction is one approach to address this problem by eliminating waste and maximizing value for users or customers. This research aims to identify and determine the critical success factors that most influence the implementation of lean construction to improve the efficiency of construction projects in Indonesia as well as the development …

Development Of Work Breakdown Structure (Wbs) Dictionary And Checklist Integrated With Building Information Modelling (Bim) On Concrete Bridge’S Care And Maintenance Work To Improve Maintenance Performance, Dina Benua Lalitya, Yusuf Latief

Journal of Project Management & Construction

According to The Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing of Republic of Indonesia (Kementerian PUPR), there was a significant decrease in national bridge condition in year 2021 compared to year 2018. One of the crucial factors that led to the collapse of the bridge was the lack of bridge management and maintenance to ensure the bridge’s serviceability. To cope with this condition, the solution needed is to carry out effective, efficient, and economical care and maintenance works. In bridge’s care and maintenance works, good project management can be improved with Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) and the use of integrated …

Wildfire Impact Analysis On Power System Operation: A Framework Leveraging Physics-Based Wildfire Simulation And Dynamic Line Rating, Saeed Nematshahi, Behrouz Sohrabi, Amin Khodaei, Ali Arabnya, Rui Fan

Electrical and Computer Engineering: Faculty Scholarship

The growing frequency and intensity of wildfires is significantly impacting power grid operations. Specifically, wildfires spreading to power lines can induce thermal stress, leading to a restriction in line capacity. This reduction imposes a challenge for electric utilities as they must supply electric demand while experiencing reduced transmission capacity. This paper introduces a model that simulates wildfire behavior in proximity to a transmission line, evaluates the impact on conductor temperature and capacity constraints, and subsequently analyzes the impact on grid operation from economic and reliability perspectives. The numerical studies conducted on the IEEE 14-bus test system assess both economic and …

Deep Reinforcement Learning Based Control For Enhanced Frequency Response With Multi-Energy Storage Systems, Abu Shouaib Hasan, Rui Fan, Wei Gao, Di Wu

Electrical and Computer Engineering: Faculty Scholarship

This paper proposes an advanced strategy for managing multiple battery energy storage systems (BESS) to enhance frequency support during contingencies. A novel deep reinforcement learning (DRL) framework based on a guided surrogate-gradient-based evolutionary strategy (GSES) was developed to dynamically regulate BESS outputs for rapid power injection or absorption. This approach effectively mitigates the rate of change of frequency (ROCOF) and stabilizes the system frequency under varying operating conditions. Parallel computing techniques are employed to accelerate training and ensure robust performance. In addition, a genetic algorithm is implemented to determine the placement of BESS within the grid network, strategically minimizing ROCOF …

Evaluating Tire-Pavement Noise Reduction Of Porous Asphalt Using Close Proximity Tests: Comparative Performance And Long-Term Effectiveness, Jin Hwan Kim, Kyungnam Kim, Oh Sun Kwon, Woo Young Cho, Youngguk Seo

Faculty Articles

The objective of this study was to understand the long-term noise reduction effect of Porous Asphalt (PA) in an expressway environment. To this end, PA was compared with that of Stone Mastic Asphalt (SMA), tined concrete, and Next-Generation Concrete Surface (NGCS) at the time of construction. Then, the evolution of PA’s acoustic performance was characterized on 82 pavement sections over the period of 1–18 years. The Close Proximity (CPX) method was used to measure tire-pavement noise at three cruising speeds: 80, 100, and 120 km/h. Mean Profile Depth (MPD) and permeability time were considered as key functional measures of PA …

Lithological Modeling And Aquifer Characterization Of The Coastal Lowlands Aquifer System In Texas, Emmanuel Egyin Hayford

LSU Master's Theses

The Texas Coastal Lowlands Aquifer System (CLAS) is a crucial water resource for the Gulf Coast, serving millions through municipal, agricultural, and industrial supplies. However, its sustainability is increasingly threatened by factors such as population growth, saltwater intrusion, land subsidence, and climate change. A significant limitation is the absence of a comprehensive, data-rich, three-dimensional lithologic model that accurately represents the intricate structure and geometry of the aquifer. Existing models are overly simplistic, treating the hydrogeologic unit as laterally uniform and failing to capture its true hydrogeologic complexity. This study addresses this gap by developing the first high-resolution 3D lithologic model …

Truck Drivers And Autonomous Trucks: A Topic Modeling Analysis Of Truck Driver Posts, Noah Britt, Amy M. Schuster, Shubham Agrawal, Chu-Hsiang Chang, Jenna A. Van Fossen, Elizabeth A. Mack, Sheila R. Cotten

Publications

Social media provides a rich, alternative data source to interviews or survey-based research to study hard-to-reach populations (e.g., truck drivers, because of their transient work structure and unique subculture). This study uses public social media posts from the largest trucking forum in the United States to examine truck drivers’ views on autonomous trucks (ATs), which are poised to transform the trucking industry. We expand on traditional qualitative strategies of analyzing social media data by combining newer methods, including BERT-based topic modeling, sentiment analysis, stance detection, emotion analysis, topic similarity, and location analysis through a social interaction network, to analyze a …

Living Shoreline Prioritization And Hydrodynamic Habitat Suitability Models For Restoration In The Indian River Lagoon And Lake Worth Lagoon, Florida, Kelly M. Kibler, Melinda J. Donnelly, Vincent Encomio, Madison Giuntoli, Manisha Thenuwara, Brice Bennett, Laura Andrade Barron, Mariam Sonbol, Wynter Raine Seppala, Namritha Ramakrishnan, Jennifer Jordan Báez, Beth Orlando, Irene Arpayoglou, Melissa Meisenburg

Indian River Lagoon Shorelines

The spatial dataset: UCF_shorelinemodel_IRL_LWL.shp, was created with support from the Indian River Lagoon National Estuaries Program and Florida Sea Grant. These projects cumulatively led to creation of a living shoreline restoration prioritization model and hydrodynamic habitat suitability models for 1,550 km (963 miles) of estuarine shorelines in Indian River Lagoon and Lake Worth Lagoon.

The dataset presented herein includes:

1. shoreline data from >15,000 transects collected in the field,
2. shoreline wave climate data created through hydrodynamic modeling and frequency analysis of historic data,
3. categorization of potential risk for shoreline boat wake impact,
4. persistence of seagrass within 210 m of the shoreline, …

Crack Propagation Behavior Of Polyurethane Grouting Sma Asphalt Mixtures, Ji Guoqi, Ma Hui, Zheng Junqiu, Huang Yujie

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

To reveal the influence me chanis m of polyurethane grouting on the crack propagation behavior of SMA-13 asphalt mixtures, this paper first conducted a semi-circular bending (SCB) test to validate the effectiveness of the PFC2D discrete element model, which was employed to simulate the microscopic responses of mixtures under different notch positions and grouting conditions. The analysis focused on load-displacement curves, crack propagation paths, crack number evolution, and force chain distribution characteristics. The results indicate that polyurethane grouting significantly increases the peak load and peak displacement of the specimens, thereby enhancing the fracture load-bearing capacity and deformation tolerance, with the …

Characterization Of Sediment Loads And Size Distribution In Nebraska Roadway Runoff, Pavel Shrestha

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

The Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) must manage sediment and pollutant loads from roadway runoff to meet stormwater regulations for discharges into impaired waters. The SAFL Baffle, a hydrodynamic separator used by NDOT, depends on accurate estimates of total suspended solids (TSS) and particle size distribution (PSD). However, existing studies show large variability in these characteristics, limiting their relevance to Nebraska roadways.

This study monitored stormwater runoff for 1.5 years at four NDOT-maintained sites—two in Lincoln and two in Beatrice—that received runoff from areas outside the roadway right-of-way. The SAFL Baffle was evaluated using the SHSAM (Sizing Hydrodynamic Separators and …