Digital Commons Network^™

Identifying The Effect Of Architecture Morphology On Wind Fields And Pm2.5 Dispersion At The Urban Block Scale Via A Combined Scheme, Bin Guo, Lu Li, Xiaowei Zhu, Zheng Wang, Miaoyi Chen, Lin Pei, Tengyue Guo

Mechanical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

This study explores the potential of architecture morphology to mitigate PM2.5 pollution through enhanced urban ventilation. Despite the recognized influence of building designs on wind and air pollution distribution at the urban block scale, specific mechanisms remain poorly understood. To address this gap, we have developed an integrative approach combining in-situ observations, Geographic Information System (GIS), Remote Sensing (RS), Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), and statistical modeling. Here, CFD simulates the flow field and PM2.5 dispersion, using in-situ observations for turbulence model selection. GIS quantify architecture morphology parameters to establish accurate CFD boundary conditions, ensuring simulations reflect real-world conditions and precise …

Identification And Analysis On Surface Deformation In The Urban Area Of Nanchang Based On Ps-Insar Method, Mengping Zhang, Jiayi Pan, Peifeng Ma, Hui Lin

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) technology has emerged as a vital tool for monitoring surface deformation due to its high accuracy and spatial resolution. With the rapid economic development of Nanchang, extensive infrastructure development and construction activities have significantly altered the urban landscape. Underground excavation and groundwater extraction in the region are potential contributors to surface deformation. This study utilized Sentinel-1 satellite data, acquired between September 2018 and May 2023, and applied the Permanent Scatterer Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (PS-InSAR) technique to monitor surface deformation in Nanchang’s urban area. The findings revealed that surface deformation rates in the study area …

A Comparative Study Of Cleaning Methods Across Various Dust Types: Optimizing Cleaning Techniques For Dust-Affected Photovoltaic Panels, Ahmed Moustafa, Ahmed Tohami, Hamdy Hassan

Journal of Engineering Research

Solar energy is increasingly crucial for generating electricity and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. However, the efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) panels is substantially affected by dust accumulation. This research aims to enhance the performance and longevity of solar panels by evaluating various eco-friendly cleaning techniques for different dust types: Yellow Sand, Normal Dust, and Mud. The methods tested include low, medium, and high-water flow rates, medium flow rates with a wiper, compressed medium flow, and air blowing. Key performance metrics such as temperature, current, voltage, and power were measured before and after cleaning to assess effectiveness. The results demonstrate that …

Pestle Analysis Of A Seaplane Transport Network In Greece, Dimitrios V. Siskos, Alexander Maravas, Jordan Karatzas

Publications

Seaplane operations connect remote areas, promote tourism, and provide unique transportation solutions. After many years of preparations, commercial seaplane operations on a network of 100 water airports and 200 waterways in Greece are about to commence. The network can serve the needs of 1.6 million permanent residents of the Greek islands, the inhabitants of the mainland, and over 35 million annual tourists. This paper aims to conduct a PESTLE (Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal, and Environmental) analysis to identify the factors that have delayed operations and those that will affect the success of future operations. As such, 26 factors are …

Spatiotemporal Variation Of Vegetation Cover In Mining Areas Of Ysr Kadapa District, Andhra Pradesh Using Remote Sensing And Gis, Vinod Kumar Yarlanki, Prudhvi Raj Muppala, Prem Kumar Yasam, Balaji Gollapudi, Sumanth Moddu, Appanna Besta

Journal of Sustainable Mining

The spatiotemporal variation of vegetation cover in the mining areas of YSR Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh, using Remote Sensing and GIS techniques. By focusing on the years 2014, 2018, and 2023, the analysis provides insights into changes observed in water bodies, bare soil, sparse vegetation, moderate vegetation, and dense vegetation. The results reveal dynamic trends in land cover categories, highlighting the environmental impact of mining activities in the region. A significant decline in water bodies is observed, with the area reducing from 3.48 km² in 2014 to 1.91km² in 2023. This decrease raises concerns about the potential degradation …

“Science Belongs Everywhere”: Outlooks On Post-Secondary Stem Education For Correctional Centers In Virginia, Shelita R. Augustus

Division of Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Success Publications

Virginia has an incarceration rate of 679 per 100,000 residents, the highest among independent democratic nations. This scoping review examines perspectives on post-secondary STEM education to promote STEM education within Virginia's correctional facilities, assesses programs to improve rehabilitation, reduce recidivism, and address systemic inequalities by developing the scientific potential of incarcerated individuals. The review finds that while STEM education in correctional facilities faces limitations, its potential benefits are being realized nationwide. Virginia has made strides through initiatives like House Bill 2158, which aims to expand higher education access for incarcerated individuals. Examples such as the programs at J. Sargeant Reynolds …

Developing A Guideline And Feasibility Tool For Highway Infrastructure Readiness For Autonomous Vehicles, Soujanya Pillala

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) are one of the advanced technologies that is being developed, and infrastructure modifications supporting AVs will be the next major research that is needed. A systematic literature review methodology is used to explore key parameters needed for implementation of AVs. The key parameters are analyzed against economic implications, costs and projected benefits of the integration of Level 4 and Level 5 AVs into the highway system, offering a nuanced understanding of deployment of AV technologies. The research aims at developing a guideline and framework for highway infrastructure readiness for AVs, a toolbox for policy makers and government …

Forecasting State-Level Construction Labor Earnings For Enhanced Project Cost Control: An Econometric And Deep-Learning Analysis Of The Leading Economic Indicators, Ahmed Shiha, Islam H. El-Adaway

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

As a major input to several work packages, the labor element constitutes a critical component for successful performance of construction projects. Localized labor shortages, fundamental changes in prevailing wage laws, and historical shifts in the unionization rates of construction workers impair the adequate estimation of construction labor costs in diverse labor market dynamics. Meanwhile, existing studies have utilized national-level indicators to study the trends of construction labor costs, but the relationship between the multifaceted local economic factors and state-level construction labor costs remains understudied. This paper fills such a knowledge gap. A three-stage methodology is adopted: (1) data collection of …

The Effect Of Participation In A Place-Based Engineering Learning Experience On Engineering Career Aspiration Of Nebraska’S Rural Students: A Mixed Method Study, Samereh Soleimani Babadi

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Masters Project Reports

This study investigates the influence of a place-based, hands-on engineering learning experience on rural middle school students' engineering career aspirations, using Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) as a framework. Employing a mixed-methods approach, we explored how these localized learning experiences shape students' career goals through socio-cognitive factors such as self-efficacy, outcome expectations, goals, and interest. Quantitative analysis of pre- and post-activity surveys revealed significant increases in career aspiration scores, particularly among students from farming backgrounds and female students with initially lower expectations. Path analyses indicated that self-efficacy and interest were the strongest mediators between Place-based learning and engineering career aspirations. …

Crime Theory Informed Agent-Based Modeling For Crime Prediction And Patrolling Route Optimization, Shohreh Moradi

Industrial, Manufacturing, and Systems Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Crime reduction remains a global priority, demanding both accurate modeling of criminal dynamics and efficient allocation of scarce policing resources. To address these needs, this study presents a two‐fold framework that (1) simulates street‐level crime patterns using an agent‐based model (ABM) grounded in Routine Activity Theory (RAT), Rational Choice Theory (RCT), and Crime Pattern Theory (CPT), and (2) optimizes patrol routing through a time-dependent, multi‐visit mixed‐integer linear programming (MILP) formulation.

In the first component, we integrate real‐world crime, environmental, and census data to reproduce realistic offender, citizen, and Police behaviors, capturing where and when robbery, burglary, and larceny occur across …

Data-Driven Forecasting Of Power Demand Via Convex Optimization, Mersedeh Ashraphijuo

Electrical Engineering Dissertations - Archive

This dissertation develops interpretable, data-driven frameworks for short-term power demand forecasting using convex optimization and advanced feature engineering. The models combine historical load data, calendar structures, and meteorological variables to deliver accurate point, quantile, and probabilistic forecasts. By leveraging multi-periodic Fourier features, temperature-based regressors, and autoregressive memory, the proposed approach balances predictive performance with interpretability and scalability. Evaluations on multi-year datasets across US regions show consistent accuracy gains over benchmarks, while preserving transparency critical for real-world deployment. Beyond power systems, the framework generalizes to other time series applications in data science and AI, offering a robust, explainable alternative to black-box …

Atms And Cris Geolocation, Mark Esplin, Kris Robinson, Ben Esplin, Nephi Grant, Deron Scott, Likun Wang

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

Contents

• Summary of Suomi NPP sensors CrIS, ATMS, and VIIRS 
• Geolocation methods 
• Software optimization
• CrIS geolocation results
• ATMS geolocation results
• Conclusions

Landslide Susceptibility Mapping Via Dempster-Shafer, Statistical Index, And Certainty Factor Models In Gis And Their Comparison At Pidie Recency In Aceh, Indonesia, Septianto Aldiansyah, Amniar Ati, Fitriyani Saudi

Applied Environmental Research

Landslides are natural disasters that are active if there is an interaction of environmental factors that are considered to control them, especially in mountainous areas. This study developed a landslide susceptibility map in Pidie Regency via the Dempster-Shafer (DS), statistical index (SI), and certainty factor (CF) models. A total of 957 landslide events were mapped, 70% of which were used for modeling, whereas the remaining events were used to validate the model output. Fourteen layers of conditioning factors were used: elevation, slope, aspect, curvature, TWI, SPI, STI, NDVI, rainfall, distance from river, distance from road, distance from fault, LULC, and …

Assessment Of Landslide Susceptibility And Settlement Exposure Via Geospatial Techniques In Bulambuli Distrcit, Eastern Uganda, Andrew Mulabbi, John Calvin Esagu, Gertrude Akello, Remigio Turyahabwe

Applied Environmental Research

Landslide susceptibility is a significant concern in Elgon County, Uganda, particularly during the rainy season. This vulnerability is attributable to several factors, including steep slopes, fertile soils, and dense settlements on volcanic ridges. Landslide susceptibility maps are important in mitigating the risk particularly at the local level. The objectives of this study were 1) to model landslide susceptibility via an interpretable machine-learning model, 2) to identify the most influential factors for landslide susceptibility in the study area, and 3) to assess the exposure of settlements to landslide risk. This study employed the XGBoost model trained on nine conditioning factors via …

Drone Medical Package Delivery For Improved Transportation And Better Patient Outcomes Final Implementation Report, Amro El-Adle, Madeline Alden, Yin-Hsuen Chen, Melissa Davidson

Information Technology & Decision Sciences Faculty Publications

The Drone Medical Package Delivery for Improved Transportation and Better Patient Outcomes planning and prototyping grant involves five partners, including Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission (A-NPDC), Riverside Health System, Old Dominion University (ODU), Virginia Institute for Spaceflight & Autonomy (VISA), Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC), and DroneUp. The partners worked together to address access, safety, reliability and sustainability for medical and emergency response package delivery via drone, specifically, where the use of aerial drones could lead to better patient outcomes and improved safety and emergency response.

The goal of the project was to develop an operational prototype that woul evolve into …

Comparing Funders' Altruism Versus Self-Interest: Leveraging The Context Of Crisis, Dan Liu, Guangzhi Shang, Cynthia Fan Yang

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

While reward-based crowdfunding has widespread popularity, the motivations driving funders, balancing self-interest and altruism, have remained puzzling. Prior research has been constrained by examination methods and produced mixed findings regarding the weight of altruism versus self-interest among funders. Our study takes a fresh perspective, delving into funder behavior amid a major crisis—the tumultuous backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings reveal that funders not only display an increased willingness to contribute but also significantly amplify their contributions, particularly to projects in crisis-affected regions, irrespective of external incentives like rewards. This underscores the prevalence of altruistic motives among funders in challenging …

Understanding The Determinants Of Blockchain Adoption: An Empirical Study, Amarpreet Kohli, Nihar Kumthekar, Piyush Shah, Rebecca Jauch

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

Blockchain technology (BT) has the potential to enhance security and robustness of transactions through a distributed ledger bookkeeping process. This study employs technology-organization-environment (TOE) framework and threat-rigidity theory (TRT) to examine whether perceived disruption caused by COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the adoption of BT, and inclination to adopt BT in the US. The COVID-19 pandemic provided a unique backdrop, as it affected businesses across all industries, sizes, and geographies. Results show a non-significant effect of perceived pandemic disruption on the current stage of BT adoption and intention to adopt BT. However, disruption readiness positively influences the current stage of BT …

Burnout At University: Cross-Sectional Study Among Dental Students, Manal Elhijazi, Hajar Nafia, Ihsane Benyahya

Health Sciences

Context: The university constitutes a demanding and competitive learning environment which can impact the well-being of students. The objective of this survey is to assess the burnout of students at the faculty of dentistry.

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted via an anonymous questionnaire with 3 sections: socio-demographic data, lifestyle and habit, and burnout through the Maslach burnout inventory-student survey (MBI-SS) . Continuous variables were presented as means and standard deviations,categorical variables as numbers and percentages. The variables were tested in univariate analysis to assess predictive factors related to burnout using the Khi-2 test. The significance level was …

Smart: Semantic Mapping And Analysis For Regional Terrain Using Multi-Scale U-Net And Topsis, Rashmi Sonth

Master's Projects

Accurate land use classification is the backbone for urban planning. But with poor quality satellite images, varied landscapes and structures which are changing faster than ever, it becomes a challenge to define clear boundaries and hence to urban planning. This research explores the application of deep-learning model for land use classification and asses the suitability of the land. The proposed model combines a multi-scale U-Net architecture with Transformer blocks applied on a multi-spectral satellite images that improves the semantic segmentation greatly across the urban and rural regions. Additionally, a patch-wise segmentation is applied to overcome the common problem of feature …

Adaptation For Whom? Understanding The Impacts Of Dyke Policies On Small-Scale Farmers In Ca Mau Province Of Vietnam, Nguyen Minh Quang, Nguyen Van Minh, Nguyen Vo Chau Ngan, Martha B. Lerski

Publications and Research

Low-lying deltas worldwide are extremely vulnerable to sea-level rise. As the risks of climate-induced flooding become increasingly clear, the thirst for infrastructure-driven adaptation increases. This highlights a patent need to understand the impacts of engineering adaptation solutions, especially those targeting built structures such as dykes and sluices, on farmers from a bottom-up, farmer-centred perspective. The study addresses this call by examining cases where dyke policies, while successful in some dimensions, have undermined small-scale farmer livelihoods in Ca Mau ― Vietnam’s southernmost rural province. It identifies areas in need of attention and adds empirical data related to this group of farmers. …

Smartphones On Wheels In Southeast Asia: A Crossroads For Data Governance, Attamongkol Tantratian, Gunn Jiravuttipong

Journal of Law and Mobility

While the transformation of automobiles into data-generating “smartphones on wheels” has revolutionized mobility, it has also raised critical concerns over data privacy and sovereignty. Equipped with sensors and connected technologies, smart vehicles collect vast amounts of data, including personal information, driving patterns, and biometric identifiers. While auto-exporting jurisdictions such as the United States, the European Union, and China have introduced regulatory measures to address these challenges, countries importing smart vehicles remain vulnerable due to their limited influence over the auto companies’ integrated technology and data policies.

This Article examines the regulatory and economic challenges faced by developing nations integrating foreign-designed …

How Inclusive Are Degree Programs In Operations Research And Analytics In The U.S.?, Michael P. Johnson Jr., Tayo Fabusuyi, Elham Hesari, Salina Chu

Public Policy and Public Affairs Faculty Publication Series

Academic programs in colleges and universities in the United States have increasingly embraced principles of equity and inclusion to support student success and diversity within professions. Innovations in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in university programs require baseline data on students, faculty and administrators, curricula, and programmatic support. A review of data shows that underrepresented groups in the US workforce have limited visibility in operations research and analytics. A review of DEI-related research reveals some relevant insights including a gap in studies specific to operations research and analytics.

To provide evidence in support of DEI initiatives in OR/analytics, we describe …

Frozen Commons: Food Security And Food Sovereignty In Rural Alaskan Communities And Tribes, Catey Selby, Weiwei Mo

Honors Theses and Capstones

This project explored the challenges, needs, and potential solutions related to food security and food sovereignty in rural Alaskan communities. These communities have long relied on traditional subsistence practices like fishing, hunting, and foraging, but those practices have been increasingly affected by climate change, regulatory restrictions, and commercial overfishing. Key issues identified included shorter hunting seasons, changes in animal migration, unsafe ice conditions, habitat loss, complex land ownership, and permitting barriers. Large-scale commercial fisheries also put additional pressure on subsistence resources, reducing access to traditional food sources.

The project focused on identifying key stakeholders—such as government agencies, tribal organizations, and …

Engineering Geological And Groundwater Mapping Of Negara Brunei Darussalam For Urban Planning, Nur Thaqifah Junaidi, Siti Lieyana Azffri, Afiq Aiman Jaya, Muhammad Asri Akmal Suhip, Stefan Herwig Gödeke

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

Engineering geology and Hydrogeology play a crucial role in the development of urban areas. Without a thorough geological and hydrogeological understanding, urban development can be risky and prone to numerous challenges. In this study, we aim to conduct engineering geological and groundwater mapping of Brunei utilizing data from 614 sacrificial investigative boreholes drilled over the course of 40 years for geotechnical investigation and housing development. Borehole parameters such as soil data, SPT N-values, depth to groundwater and surface elevation were gathered and evaluated. Soil investigation in the study area revealed predominantly clayey sediments with SPT N-values ranging from 0 to …

The Influence Of The Digital Economy On The Ecological Environment And Its Sustainable Development, Xinpan Lyu, Jianhua Dai

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

This study aims to examine the impact of the digital economy on ecological sustainability and its development in China from 2000 to 2022. The study focuses on the role of innovation in the digital sector, where the adoption of big data technologies is considered, with reference to sustainable development, from an environmental perspective. A dynamic threshold model and, in particular, the Iterated Generalized Least Squares (IGLS) technique is used to analyze the given data.The research reveals a significant link between adopting digital technologies and managing environmental sustainability efficiently. To investigate the interconnection between the digital economy and ecological goals, it …

Analysis Of The Sustainability Management Of Coral Reef Ecosystem In The Marine Protected Area Of Wediombo, Gunungkidul, Nabilah L. Rohmah, Rika Harini, Sudrajat Sudrajat

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

The Wediombo Coastal Area is a Marine Protected Area (MPA) with highly potential in coral reef ecosystems. According to the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA), coral reefs play a vital role in supporting human life by providing provisioning, supporting, regulating, and cultural services. However, the utilization of this area as a tourist destination and suboptimal management practices have led to the degradation of its coral reef ecosystems. Efective management strategies for the sustainability of coral reefs can have positive impacts across ecological, economic, social, technological, and institutional dimensions. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the sustainability management of coral reef ecosystem …

Preparing The Built Environment In Grenada For Future Sea Level Rise And Extreme Precipitation Events, Rocco D. Boyd, Meagan P. Duncan, Alivia D. Markham, Adelle K. Novak, Blaizen B. Bloom, Ashawne Edwards, Jai S. Lewis, Hans-Peter Plag

CCPO Publications

[Introduction] Communities across the globe are being affected by climate change in numerous ways. However, those most often affected, especially by sea level rise, are those small island nations that are pressed for space already; this includes the island of Grenada. Grenada is located in the southern portion of the Caribbean and is bordered by the Caribbean Sea (West) and the Atlantic Ocean (East). The planning and development authority (PDA) has been identified as the main stakeholder involved in this case study, but recommendations will be made to all parties involved to best accomplish our mission.

Key stakeholders were initially …

Applying Transfer Learning For Street-Scale Nuisance Flood Forecasting In Coastal-Urban Cities, Binata Roy, Jonathan L. Goodall, Diana Mcspadden, Chetan Kumar, Steven Goldenberg, Yidi Wang, Malachi Schram

VMASC Publications

An important challenge with Machine Learning (ML) is its transferability; i.e., whether a ML model trained on one set of data can be applied to a second set of data without requiring full re-training of the model. Transfer Learning (TL) addresses this challenge by transferring knowledge learned in the source domain (the data it was trained on) to the target domain (a second set of data that is statistically different but related, which the model was not trained on). This study investigates the use of TL for street-scale nuisance flood forecasting by exploring whether a ML model trained for one …

Assessing Tidal Energy Potential In The Visayas: Viability Of The San Bernardino, San Juanico, And Cebu Straits, Justin Kyle O. Ricafort, King Harold A. Recto

Sustainability, Disaster Science and Energy

By laying the groundwork for sustainable tidal energy infrastructure, this study contributes to advancing the Philippines' renewable energy portfolio and supports the global transition to clean energy solutions. With the country's extensive coastline and rising energy demands, tidal energy presents a largely underutilized yet promising resource that can address both local and global energy challenges. Tidal energy is highly predictable, stable, and environmentally friendly, offering a reliable alternative to conventional energy sources like coal and natural gas, which are often subject to price volatility and environmental concerns. The study focuses on the Visayas region, a prime candidate for tidal energy …

Stable Oxygen And Hydrogen Isotopic Ratios Of Precipitation And Modelling Of Precipitation Sources In Central Kentucky, Usa, 2017-2022, Ariel Gold-Mccoy

Theses and Dissertations--Civil Engineering

Our goals were to carry out analyses of a multi-year δ¹⁸O and δ²H dataset of precipitation from central Kentucky and to analyze the source of precipitation for storm events from 2017 to 2022. δ¹⁸O and δ²H were measured for 244 weekly precipitation samples collected by the National Atmospheric Deposition Program at Mackville, Kentucky, USA. Modelling precipitation source was carried out using HYSPLIT model for 414 events. Results of δ¹⁸O and δ²H from central Kentucky show: consistent seasonality, including summer highs and winter lows for δ¹⁸O and δ²H; correlation with air temperature; and …