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Landslide Inventory And Unstable Slope Monitoring Along Highways In Eastern Tennessee, Robert Mcsweeney

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research introduces an unstable slope management program (USMP) for Tennessee based on federal slope management standards, along with improved methods for landslide monitoring with unmanned aerial systems (UAS) lidar and photogrammetry. In mountainous regions, monitoring slope hazards is a critical function of transportation management. A mobile field assessment form created with Survey123 was used to collect 22 unstable slope ratings in eastern Tennessee. Location points were appended with photographs, notes, and site information. Landslide scores ranged from 325 (Fair) to 1005 (Poor). UAS monitoring of a slow-moving soil landslide along I-40 near Rockwood, TN, produced high-resolution lidar and photogrammetry …

Thermal Modeling Of Cooling Time Of Submarine Dacite Lapilli Tuff: Brothers Volcano, Kermadec Arc, Kyler Byrd

Master's Theses

Little is known about submarine volcanoes' eruptive histories and styles, even though they are essential to developing island arc systems and represent the second largest volcanic systems on Earth. Scientific drilling allows for the opportunity to study these systems. This study focused on two drill sites on Brothers volcano from IODP Expedition 376: Site U1528, located on the resurgent cone, and Site U1530, located on the caldera rim. Expedition researchers analyzed samples for clast radius, density, thermal conductivity, and specific heat. This data was then entered into the heat transfer equation of a sphere to create a cooling curve model …

Nature-Based Solutions For Flood Risk Mitigation: Mapping And Hydrological Modeling In An Under-Resourced Urban Area On The Mississippi Gulf Coast, Jennifer Makenzie Holifield

Master's Theses

Flooding is the most frequent and costly disaster in the United States, affecting people disproportionately based on environmental, societal, and economic limitations. Through stakeholder engagement, open-access research, and nature-based solutions (NBS), ecology and hydrology can be bridged with local-scale politics to raise awareness of local issues and form strong interdisciplinary bonds. I approached nature-based equity from a ground front, in which I engaged with local stakeholders and city officials to gain insight and calibration on flooding experiences and flooding presence within Moss Point, MS. This engagement helped calibrate GIS models, from which, I found that the flooding hazards of Moss …

Leveraging High-Frequency Water Quality Data And Machine Learning For Monitoring Harmful Algal Blooms, Ibrahim Busari

All Dissertations

Freshwater management is one of the most critical resources on the earth due to the plethora of water use and its limited availability. Increased algae proliferation is one of the significant problems of freshwater bodies that is triggered by nutrient enrichment and enabling conditions such as light and warm temperatures. This algal proliferation is toxic to the ecosystem through their biomass and potential toxin production that can cause hypoxic conditions and is often referred to as Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs). Current monitoring approaches include laboratory analysis of water samples to observe algal cells, monitoring of water quality parameters using water …

Biogeochemical Controls Of Cesium-137 Migration In Surface Waters And Near Surface Sediments At The Usdoe Savannah River Site, Reid Williams

All Dissertations

Considerable concentrations of cesium-137 (¹³⁷Cs) and other anthropogenic radionuclides have been released into the environment at the Savannah River Site (SRS). Additionally, cesium-containing radioactive waste will be stored onsite for the foreseeable future. Therefore, the goal of this work was to identify mechanisms controlling cesium transport in surface waters and near surface sediments at SRS to further the understanding of ¹³⁷Cs migration in the vadose zone and reservoirs. It was hypothesized that a multitude of factors impact the mobility of ¹³⁷Cs at the SRS, but that the clay sediment fraction provides an important contribution in limiting …

Evaluation Of 3d Beach Profiles: A New Method For Monitoring Changes In Beach Morphology And Grain Size, Kalinda Ellen Roberts

Graduate Masters Theses

Beach profiles are a simple and affordable approach to monitoring changes in beach morphology. However, traditional methods offer limited resolution and dimension. Recent advancements in technologies, particularly structure-from-motion (SfM) and grain size detection models (GSDMs), can be integrated into conventional beach profiling techniques, enabling more detailed spatial and temporal analysis of slope and grain sizes. This research introduces a new technique for coastal monitoring, termed “3D Beach Profiles,” which integrates SfM technology to create high-resolution three-dimensional digital surface models (DSMs) and orthomosaics of beach surfaces. These digital surfaces enable the extraction of beach slopes with orders of magnitude more data …

Rice Response To Struvite And Other Phosphorus Fertilizers In A Phosphorus-Deficient Soil Under Simulated Furrow-Irrigation, Jonathan B. Brye, Diego Della Lunga, Kristofor R. Brye

Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Wastewater-recovered phosphorus (P), in the form of the mineral struvite (MgNH₄PO₄⋅6H₂O), may provide a sustainable alternative to decreasing rock-phosphate reserves. Struvite can be generated via precipitation methods, potentially reducing the amount of P runoff to aquatic ecosystems. The objective of this greenhouse tub study was to evaluate the effects of chemically- and electrochemically precipitated struvite (CPST and ECST, respectively) on above- and belowground plant response in a hybrid rice (Oryza sativa) cultivar grown using furrow-irrigation compared to other common fertilizer-P sources [i.e., triple super phosphate (TSP) and diammonium phosphate (DAP)]. Rice was …

Traittrainr: Accelerating Large-Scale Simulation Under Models Of Continuous Trait Evolution, Jenniffer Roa Lozano, Mataya Duncan, Duane D. Mckenna, Todd A. Castoe, Michael Degiorgio, Richard Adams

Entomology and Plant Pathology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Abstract

The scale and scope of comparative trait data are expanding at unprecedented rates, and recent advances in evolutionary modeling and simulation sometimes struggle to match this pace. Well-organized and flexible applications for conducting large-scale simulations of evolution hold promise in this context for understanding models and more so our ability to confidently estimate them with real trait data sampled from nature. Results

We introduce TraitTrainR, an R package designed to facilitate efficient, large-scale simulations under complex models of continuous trait evolution. TraitTrainR employs several output formats, supports popular trait data transformations, accommodates multi-trait evolution, and exhibits flexibility …

Α-Quartz Plastic Strength Investigation Via Diffraction Experiments On Novaculite Using A D-Dia And Elastic Plastic Self-Consistent Interpretation, Denali Jivanjee Medina

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The plastic response of experimentally deformed quartz provides insight into the strength of ductile shear zones that has implications for tectonic, lithospheric, and ore deposit models. We present a suite of 15 uniaxial deformation experiments on Arkansas novaculite conducted in a DDIA apparatus with in-situ synchrotron x-rays. Experimental temperatures range from 25 C to 1334 C with pressures between 1.39 GPa and 3.1 GPa, and strain rates between 1x10-5 s-1 and 9x10-6 s-1. Macroscopic sample strain ranges from 3% to 24%. d-spacings from the (101), (110), (200), (201), and (112) lattice planes were measured, producing lattice strain up to ~5%. …

Landscaping Impacts On Urban Soil Development, Fry Lundgren

University Honors Theses

Urban soils can play a key role in flood mitigation, water filtration, and supporting urban plant communities, however many are highly disturbed due to development and management practices. Although full recovery will take time (centuries), in the short term managing soils in ways that conserve organic matter inputs and promote nutrient cycling can support important soil functions and likely promote long term development. To understand how landscaping impact soil development on PSU campus, organic matter content, moisture content, and respiration rates were measured in soils from four area types with different long term weed management strategies (mulch- M; sustained plant …

Evaluation Of Industrial Hemp Cultivar And Biochar Rate To Remediate Heavy-Metal-Contaminated Soil From The Tar Creek Superfund Site, Usa, Dietrich V. Thurston, Kristofor R. Brye, David M. Miller, Philip A. Moore Jr., Donald M. Johnson, Mike Richardson

Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Soil contamination by cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) at the Tar Creek superfund site in northeast Oklahoma, United States, remains a threat to the environment and local ecosystem. Phytoremediation with industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) and the use of biochar (BC) have been independently shown to be effective methods to remediate heavy-metal-contaminated soils. The objective of this greenhouse study was to evaluate the effects of industrial hemp cultivar (‘Carmagnola’ and ‘Jinma’), biochar rate (0, 2, 5, and 10% by volume), soil contamination level (low, medium, and high), and their interactions on above- (AG) and belowground dry matter …

The United States National Security And Policy Implications Of Desertification, Eric Olvera

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Contemporary climate security literature reveals that desertification appears to be overlooked as a climate change security threat to the United States (US). This investigation demonstrates that an inequity exists between sea-level-rise- and desertification-based climate security literature. This inequity may reveal that the US may be ignoring desertification at a time when land use in some dryland areas is reaching a critical point where it can no longer support human activity. Due to the interdisciplinary nature (science and security) of this work, a review of the terminology used in the article is provided to establish a baseline understanding of “desertification” and …

Assessing Sedimentation Impact Through Dem, Point Cloud, And Discharge Analysis, Shandell Thomas

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This study focused on five arroyos flowing into the Rio Grande, in the stretch between Caballo Dam and Las Cruces, New Mexico. Drone imagery was acquired from study areas in each arroyo. Photogrammetry was used to create high-resolution digital elevation models (DEMs), point clouds, drone imagery and potential discharges were acquired for each arroyo. Investigation of seven different methods resulted in the selection of the Terrain Ruggedness Map (TRM) as a predictor of surface roughness, along with high-resolution DEMâ??s to illustrate small and low-relief channel features. The five arroyos with varying sediment sizes and characteristics were studied to understand how …

Rockets, Rovers, And Rocks, Oh My!, Tara Lynn Sweeney

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This body of work undertakes three distinct projects, all with the ultimate goal of improving the future efforts of human space exploration.Chapter 2 is a seismic analysis of rocket launch and landing operations. Being able to identify and understand anthropogenically induced seismic signals in comparison to naturally occurring seismic signals is an important step in characterizing and monitoring both types of signals on the Moon. Relatively few terrestrial studies have been performed to explore this, but there is a growing opportunity to record, discern, and understand the differences between anthropogenic and naturally occurring seismic signals due to the increasing pace …

Impact Of Weather Systems On Uav Parameters Using Computational Fluid Dynamics, Saif Aljuhaishi, Yaseen K. Al-Timimi, Basim I. Wahab

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Since drones cannot fly in any kind of weather, they are not safe for time-sensitive activities. The study examines how the passage of weather systems in Iraq leads to the ban on drone flights, and how these weather conditions impact the aerodynamic forces of the drone. Hourly climate data for the study area were obtained from ECMWF ERA5 and CAMS in NetCDF format for four climate stations (Erbil, Baghdad, Rutbah, and Basrah). A ScanEagle drone was chosen for this study. The Python programming language was used to perform mathematical operations to calculate the ban on drone flights. ArcGIS 10.8 was …

Multi-Scale Thermal Mapping Of Submarine Groundwater Discharge In Coastal Ecosystems Of A Volcanic Area, Ebony L. Williams, Christopher B. Kratt, Raymond S. Rodolfo, Mark R. Lapus, Ryan R. Lardizabal, Aya S. Bangun, Amber T. Nguyen, Scott W. Tyler, M. Bayani Cardenas

Environmental Science Faculty Publications

Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) in volcanic areas commonly exhibits high temperatures, concentrations of metals and CO2, and acidity, all of which could affect sensitive coastal ecosystems. Identifying and quantifying volcanic SGD is crucial yet challenging because the SGD might be both discrete, through fractured volcanic rock, and diffuse. At a volcanic area in the Philippines, the novel combination of satellite and drone-based thermal infrared remote sensing, ground-based fiber-optic distributed temperature sensing, and in situ thermal profiling in coastal sediment identified the multi-scale nature of SGD and quantified fluxes. We identified SGD across ∼30 km of coastline. The different approaches revealed …

Evidence For Subsidence Rate Variation In The Newark Basin And Its Influence On The Deposition Of Fluvial Sediments Of The Stockton Formation, Jane L. Alexander, Sean T. Thatcher, Jay Tobon, Victoria Rivelli

Publications and Research

The Stockton Formation of the Newark Basin represents an exciting time in Earth history during the early stages of rifting of the North Atlantic, with rapid subsidence and sediment deposition. Much of the previous work on this formation has been done using drill cores, with development limiting surface exposure. While this allows us to build a full stratigraphic sequence of deposition, it has the potential to miss smaller-scale variability and sedimentary structures. It is also difficult to understand the three-dimensional geometries, architecture and relationships between the depositional elements from drill core alone. An outcrop in North Bergen, NJ that was …

Techniques For Coal Resource Conservation During The Ecological Restoration Of Alpine Mining Areas On Plateaus, Li Congcong, Wang Tong, Zhao Xin, Wang Weichao, Liang Zhenxin

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective The prolonged coal mining of the Muli coalfield, located in an alpine region in the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, has posed many ecological challenges, which especially include the presence of considerable quantities of disturbed coal resources in open-pit mining areas. This study aims to achieve scientific and effective coal resource conservation during the ecological restoration of coal mines. Methods Focusing on the Jvhugeng mining area of the Muli coalfield, this study investigated the destruction characteristics of the coal resources in the open-pit mining area. From the perspective of geological mechanisms behind the destruction, this study artificially constructed the roofs of …

3d Reconstruction Of Surface Temperature Field In Spontaneous Combustion Coal Gangue Dump Fire Area And Its Practice, Shao Zhenlu, Zhang Huisong, Deng Rong, Yang Tong, Ma Dong

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective The spontaneous combustion of coal gangue dumps has severely damaged the ecological environment and affected the production safety, which has become a bottleneck in the process of ecological civilization construction in China. In order to formulate a fire extinguishing plan and implement a fire extinguishing project, it is very important to accurately detect the fire area of the spontaneous combustion coal gangue dump. Methods Herein, the idea of detecting the three-dimensional distribution of high-temperature areas using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) based thermal infrared oblique photogrammetry technology was proposed. Meanwhile, the multi-scale Gaussian filtering detail enhancement technology for thermal infrared …

Detrital Zircon Ages Of The Permian Coal-Bearing Rock Series In The Zhongtiao Mountain Area And Their Sedimentological Constraints On Regional Tectonic Activity, Wu Fang, Li Zhenhong, Jing Xianghui, Kou Linlin, Du Zhuang, Liu Bohua

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective The changes in the material composition of detrital sediments in a sedimentary basin are intimately associated with the uplift and denudation processes of provenance areas. The southern margin of the North China Craton, a primary tectonic unit of the continental area of China, preserves relatively complete geological records of the Permian. The Zhongtiao Mountain area is located in the core of the Fen-Wei graben system on the southern margin of the North China Craton, with the southern margin of the North China Craton and the adjacent Qinling orogenic belt potentially serving as its provenance areas. Therefore, the Zhongtiao Mountain …

A Smogn-Based Mpso-Bp Model To Predict The Height Of A Hydraulically Conductive Fracture Zone, Liu Qi, Liang Zhihao, Zi Jianxiao

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective The height of a hydraulically conductive fracture zone, a significant factor influencing roof water inrushes and groundwater resource loss, is identified as a research focus of the prevention and control of mine water disasters. Methods To accurately predict the heights of hydraulically conductive fracture zones in coal seam roofs, five parameters were selected as the primary factors influencing hydraulically conductive fracture zones the mining depth: mining height, coal seam inclination, the length of the mining face along its dip direction, proportional coefficient of hard rocks (i.e., the ratio of the cumulative thickness of hard rocks within the statistical height …

Acoustic Velocity Inversion Based On Convolutional Autoencoder Embedded With Fourier Neural Operator, Li Chen, Zhao Haixia, Bai Zhaowei, Hao Yufan

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background Seismic wave inversion serves as an effective method for obtaining the characteristics of structures, lithology, and physical properties of subsurface media using the arrival times, amplitude, and waveforms of seismic waves. Seismic inversion methods based on wave equations iteratively update model parameters using forward modeling. This generally involves extensive numerical simulations and optimization calculations, requiring large quantities of computational resources and time. In recent years, neural operators for deep learning, represented by the Fourier neural operator (FNO), have gained widespread attention. However, the original FNO structure fails to effectively learn the wavefield information with sharp changes in geological structures …

Intelligent Noise Suppression For 3d Post-Stack Seismic Data Of The Junggar Basin, Mao Haibo, Zhou Xin, Li Xiaofeng, Pan Long, Lin Juan, Liu Dawei, Wang Xiaokai

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective The Junggar Basin is recognized as a significant petroliferous basin in China, and its hydrocarbon exploration targets have shifted to deeper strata. However, the 3D seismic data of this basin suffer from low signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) and high data volumes due to the basin's complex near-surface conditions, the great depths of exploration targets, and seismic data acquisition methods characterized by wide azimuths, broadbands, and high density. This complicates the identification of hydrocarbon exploration targets, rendering the improvement in the quality of the 3D seismic data by noise suppression vitally important. Methods The progress in the deep learning theory and …

Transient Electromagnetic Numerical Simulation Based On The Transformer Neural Network, Wang Yunhong

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective The deep learning-based transient electromagnetic (TEM) forward and inverse modeling methods are data-driven, requiring considerable numerical simulation results as supervisory data to train and assess neural networks. The conventional finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method for TEM numerical simulation necessitates an iterative solution of time-domain Maxwell's equations. Therefore, this method is time-consuming and computationally intensive, failing to meet the data demand of deep learning-based TEM inversion. Methods This study introduced deep learning for TEM numerical simulation. Based on the transformer neural network architecture, a neural network for deep learning-based TEM numerical simulation was designed using an encoder-decoder structure. This neural network …

Surfaced-Related Multiple Attenuation Using The Cnn Method In The Nmo Domain, Huang Zhufu, Liu Jianfeng, Fang Wenqian, Fu Lihua

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective The presence of surface-related multiples results in a lower accuracy in seismic data interpretations, and the effective multiple attenuation is a key step in seismic data processing. Multiples are coherent noise signals with similar characteristics to effective signals. It is difficult impossible to distinguish multiple signals from full-wave field data using a traditional convolutional neural network (CNN). Additionally, since the surface-related multiples vary significantly with surveyed areas, the CNN method will face more severe challenges when being transferred to other networks. Methods This study developed a CNN method based on the normal moveout correction (NMO) domain by introducing physical …

Impacts And Regulation Mechanisms Of Phase-Change Wall Microspheres On Cement Slurry Performance In Well Cementing, Zheng Mingming, Wu Zurui, Yan Shichun, Hu Yunpeng, He Juan, Zhang Yawei, Xiong Liang, Zhu Chengtao

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective The current design of low-heat cement slurries prepared by adding microspheres with phase change materials as wall materials for well cementing in strata bearing natural gas hydrates (NGHs) fails to fully account for the impacts of the particle size and mass fraction of the microspheres on the performance of cement slurries. This leads to impaired cement slurry performance and increased costs, further inducing many problems with well cementing quality. Hence, it is significant to analyze the impacts and controlling mechanisms of the microspheres on cement slurry performance. Methods To eliminate the interference of the heat storage effect of the …

An Intelligent Identifying-While-Drilling Method For Geological Features Of Roof Strata In Coal Roadways Based On A 1dcnn-Bilstm-Cbam Model, Lei Zhiyong, Wang Jiawen, Fan Dong, Lu Feifei, Chen Weiming

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective Most roof accidents in coal roadways occur in potential caving zones such as primary fissure-bearing zones and rock fracture zones. A significant approach to preventing roof accidents is to understand the geological features of roof strata in an accurate and timely manner and optimize support schemes and parameters of roofs. However, current methods for identifying the geological features of roof strata in roadways suffer from issues such as slow identification speeds, low efficiency, and high costs, thus failing to meet the demand for safe, efficient, and intelligent coal mining. Methods This study proposed a neural network model based on …

Design Method For Active Slope Reinforcement: A Case Study Of Excavated Slopes, Qin Hui, Yin Xiaotao, Tang Hua, Cheng Xu

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective Slope instability and failure exhibit extinct spatiotemporal characteristics. Existing design methods for passive reinforcement have resulted in the engineering instability of numerous excavated slopes. Therefore, analyzing the spatiotemporal evolutionary patterns of slopes during excavation and exploring the design methods for active slope reinforcement are particularly important for the information technology (IT)-based construction and safety control of slopes. Methods Using on-site investigations and numerical simulations, this study analyzed the causes of excavation-induced failure of high slopes, as well as the evolutionary pattern of the principal stresses in the sliding zone. Consequently, this study revealed the progressive failure mechanism of slopes …

Natural Gamma-Ray Log-Derived Heat Production Rates Of Strata And Lithospheric Thermal Structure In The Central Depression, Yinggehai Basin, Zhang Jiahao, Song Rongcai, Zheng Feng, Zhang Yan, Tang Xin, Li Bo, Dong Shuyi

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective Understanding the lithospheric thermal structure is significant for exploring the dynamics of a basin's thermal evolution, as well as for the assessment, exploitation, and utilization of geothermal resources in a basin. However, the limited data on heat production in the Yinggehai Basin has constrained research into the lithospheric thermal structure of the basin. Methods Using natural gamma-ray (NGR) logs from 23 wells in the Yinggehai Basin, this study calculated the heat production rates of strata in the central depression using the fitted gamma-ray value (GR) - radiogenic heat production rate (A) empirical formula. Based on the ocean …

A Method For Intelligent Identification Of Weak Interlayer Characteristics During The Drilling Of Anchor Boreholes, Gao Dan, Yue Zhongwen, Wang Peng, Yue Xiaolei, Yan Yifei, Zhou Xingyuan, Li Yang

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective The drilling quality of anchor boreholes is significantly influenced by the structural planes of weak interlayers within rock masses. Weak interlayers, tending to be hidden hazards within rock masses, affect the drilling stability and efficiency, further influencing the stability and safety of the whole support structure. Once drilled by drill bits, weak interlayers exhibit significant dynamic responses, which reflect the changes in rock mass structures during the drilling. Methods From the perspective of drilling specific energy, this study conducted digital drilling experiments on rock mass-like specimens bearing weak interlayers using the independently developed measurement while drilling (MWD) system, which …