Digital Commons Network^™

Wind Tunnel Investigation Of The Along-Wind Dispersion In Finite-Duration Neutrally Buoyant Gas Releases, Daniel Williams

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the along-wind dispersion of hazardous gas releases within a turbulent boundary layer using controlled experiments in an ultra-low-speed wind tunnel, recognizing the limitations of numerical modeling and field tests. This study utilizes a neutrally buoyant gas mixture and dual Flame Ionization Detectors (FIDs) to capture representative, repeatable data on gas cloud behavior over finite durations. Ensemble averaging of 65 trials across varying release durations and downwind distances provided detailed insights into gas dispersion and the distinct time phases within finite-duration releases. Analysis revealed that along-wind dispersion coefficients depend on turbulence and vertical wind shear, with normalized coefficients …

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 …

Detection Of Methane Leaks By The Use Of Mid-Range Infrared Camera, Jared Rosario, Oscar Salcido

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Timely detection of methane leaks from natural gas infrastructure, like pipelines and valves, is essential for mitigating environmental and safety risks. This research focuses on using mid-wave infrared (MwIR) cameras on unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to detect leaks. By leveraging machine learning, the study aims to develop an efficient, real-time methane inspection system that operates directly on embedded processors on UAS platforms.

This project employs the FLIR G300a OGI camera for remote gas inspection, utilizing video preprocessing and optical flow to mask gas plumes in footage. The YOLOv8 deep learning model is used to detect gas pixels and segment the …

Benefits And Challenges Of Constructing Low-Altitude Air Route Network Infrastructure For Developing Low-Altitude Economy, Xiaohan Liao, Chenchen Xu, Huping Ye

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Low-altitude airspace is a resource that needs to be fully explored, and the low-altitude economy is a new type of economic activity resulted from low-altitude airspace exploration and utilization. As the primary players of low-altitude flight activities, the commercialization and wide applications of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are promoting the prosperity of the low-altitude economy. A low-altitude air route network is an effective means to ensure the safe and efficient operations of a large number of UAVs, and it is also a new key infrastructure hosting low-altitude traffic. The history shows that the investment on public transport infrastructure as a …

Measuring Integrated Accessibility For Sustainable Mobility: A Fuzzy Set Approach Case Study, Behnam Tahmasbi, Poria Hajian, Farzaneh Tahmasbi, Qian He

School of Earth & Environment Departmental Research

Sustainable transportation is vital to climate justice and social equity. Despite the efforts to achieve sustainability, there is still a lack of adequate measurement that integrates land use and transportation systems, which can be barriers to planning implementation. With methodological improvements in fuzzy theory application, this study develops an integrated index to measure the sustainability of multimodal accessibility. We do so by defining a fuzziness degree based on the different trip purposes and modes of transportation with a case study in Isfahan, Iran. Sustainable accessibility indicators were developed for walking, biking, and public transportation to represent the performance of each …

Integrating Gis And Ca-Markov Model To Study Urban Dynamics Of Salem, India In Terms Of Pattern, Intensity And Direction, Linda Theres B

Theses and Dissertations

Urban populations have grown substantially in the modern era and the information age as people seek better living prospects. Currently, more than half of the world's population resides in the cities. Such growth must be monitored to ensure that people enjoy the boons of urban spaces, not the banes. Recognising the significance of urban studies, several researchers have attempted to analyse and predict urban dynamics using remote sensing, Geographic Information Systems, and machine learning methods. However, certain limitations exist, especially in improving the CAMarkov model's prediction performance. In addition, studies have suggested that growth characteristics, such as pattern, intensity, and …

2024 - The Fifth Annual Fall Symposium Of Student Scholars

Symposium of Student Scholars Program Books

The full program book from the Fall 2024 Symposium of Student Scholars, held in November 2024. Includes abstracts from the presentations and posters.

The Effects Of Wildfires On The Mental And Physical Health Of School-Age Children In North America: A Scoping Review, Sarah Oerther, Sarah Manspeaker, Alison Wix, Daniel Oerther, Carmen Marsit

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Background: Wildfires are occurring more often and with greater intensity, leading to longer and harsher fire seasons. As a result, children are more frequently exposed to wildfire smoke, which increases their risk of mental and physical health effects. Purpose: The purpose of our scoping review is to explore the current literature on what is known about the direct and indirect impacts of wildfires on the mental and physical health of school-age children in North America (5 to 18-year-olds). Methods: A health sciences librarian-assisted literature search, with input from the research team, was performed. Results: A total of 16 studies were …

Smuggling Of Person By Sea In Southeast Asia : From Regional Perspective, Sovisal Srey

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Influence Of Planning And Architectural Styles On The Sustainability Of The City Of Kumasi, Ghana, Elom Ayeke

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

The city of Kumasi that was once dubbed the ‘Garden City of West Africa’ was founded in the late 17th century and served as the seat of government for the medieval Greater Asante Union. It later served as a commercial hub for the British Colony after undergoing massive transformation in the first two decades of the 19th century. Post-independence, the city went through various urban planning projects that mostly targeted social development. The architecture of Kumasi has also been changing through different periods of its history. This article examines the relationship between the evolution of the city of Kumasi through …

Urbanization And Urban Sprawl In The Post-Colonial Era Douala City, Cameroon, Sylvia Munisi

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

The history of the port city of Douala spans pre-colonial period, colonial period of the Germans and French occupation, the post-colonial era and the contemporary situation with continuous occupancy of the coastal environment. This article looks at the relationship between the history of the city of Douala to the resulting urban situation focusing on governance structure as well as rapid urbanization. The findings show that governance structure allowing for a duality of modern political system and traditional cultural system of kingships and chiefdoms has an effect to the resulting urban sprawl. Moreover, rapid urbanization under this condition has an overall …

The Use Of Locally Available Materials Towards Urban Planning For Sustainable Construction: The Case Of Gondar-Ethiopia, Kidist Dereje

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

The city of Gondar in northern Ethiopia has a rich history that is connected to urban planning and construction. From the era of the Fasiledes that built masonry castles, Italian colonialism that zoned the city on racial boundaries and the post-colonial planning that wanted a more global standard, Gondar has been subjected to different planning and construction methods. This evolution however, has brought about challenges related to the sustainability of the construction industry and the communities within the city. This paper analyses the relationship between urban planning and use of local construction materials to attain sustainable development of the city. …

Transport Mobility Analysis For Informal Settlements In Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, Fatma Kassim Mohamed

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Dar es Salaam is one of the world’s fastest growing cities and is expected to be the third largest by 2100 with a population of 76 million. Dar es Salaam city is made of multiple neighbourhoods that are very diverse in terms of socio-economic status, gender, age and prevalent activities. One of the biggest challenges facing the city of Dar es Salaam is urban sprawl due to informal settlements that in turn leads to very long travel time and hinders equal mobility and accessibility of labour and goods. This study found that the current mobility vision for Dar es Salaam …

Investigating The Relationship Between History, Urbanization And Wealth Gap In Johannesburg, South Africa, Abdallah F. Kaamah

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

The city of Johannesburg is the largest city in South Africa and named as one of the economic drivers of the country. However, the city has the widest wealth gap in the country. This article examines the relationship between historical occurrences, urbanization, and the resulted wealth disparity in Johannesburg and look at the mitigation measures. The findings point to the wealth disparity in the city as a multifaceted problem influenced by historical, urbanization, and political variables. Comprehensive and multifaceted policy initiatives are required to address the structural causes of inequality and the urgent needs of vulnerable populations to close the …

Green Cities And Transportation, Ariadna Reyes-Sanchez, Soheil Sharifi-Asl, Ladan Mozaffarian

Mavs Open Press Open Educational Resources - Archive

Green Cities and Transportation examines the significance of sustainable transportation projects for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions while supporting transportation equity for vulnerable commuters. The book examines insightful case studies from around the world that can serve as a reference for sustainable transportation initiatives in the U.S. It is organized into three sections: 1) Sustainability, Transportation Equity, and Planning, 2) Case Studies and Lessons from the North and South, and 3) Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Cities, and Mobility.

Transportation Land Use Modeling And Policy, Qisheng Pan, Soheil Sharifi-Asl

Mavs Open Press Open Educational Resources - Archive

Transportation Land Use Modeling and Policy provides a comprehensive introduction to land use and transportation models, offering a detailed exploration of integrated modeling approaches through case studies and real-world examples. It begins with an overview of current transportation planning issues and moves into several chapters dedicated to integrated land-use and transportation models, including Land Suitability, Lowry-type models, and more recent approaches such as MEPLAN and PECAS. The book also examines traditional travel demand modeling (TDM), giving readers a solid foundation in the subject.

Editorial: Advances In Ecological Environment Changes In Coastal And Estuarine Waters In Response To Hydrodynamic Variability, Jiayi Pan, Yeqiang Shu, Zhe-Wen Zheng, Adam T. Devlin, Majid Nazeer, Andrew M. Fischer

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Over the past few decades, coastal and estuarine ecological environments have undergone significant and rapid transformations, driven by a range of factors, with the variability in hydrodynamic conditions being one of the most prominent (Elliott et al., 2019; Statham, 2012; Da et al., 2024). These dynamic forces influence water movement, sediment transport, and nutrient cycling, all of which are critical components affecting the health and stability of these ecosystems (van Vliet et al., 2023; Li et al., 2023). Consequently, understanding and interpreting hydrodynamic processes in coastal and estuarine waters are fundamental to unraveling the mechanisms behind ecological changes. This task …

13th International Conference On Business, Technology And Innovation 2024, University For Business And Technology - Ubt

UBT International Conference

Welcome to IC – UBT 2024

UBT Annual International Conference is the 13th international interdisciplinary peer reviewed conference which publishes works of the scientists as well as practitioners in the area where UBT is active in Education, Research and Development. The UBT aims to implement an integrated strategy to establish itself as an internationally competitive, research-intensive university, committed to the transfer of knowledge and the provision of a world-class education to the most talented students from all background. The main perspective of the conference is to connect the scientists and practitioners from different disciplines in the same place and make …

Integrating Risk And Vulnerability: Exploring A Unified Model For Supply Chain Resiliency, William G. Cook

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The world has entered an era of retreating globalization, mounting geo-political tensions, rising protectionism, and increasing focus on the fragility of complex supply chains. The negative impacts of supply chain disruptions have been increasingly documented since the turn of the century. Given the global scale of recent disruptions, supply chain resiliency has become a national imperative. The Global Financial Crisis, the Covid-19 pandemic, and other major disruptive events demonstrate the active role of government in mitigating damage, the enduring effects of regulation, and the resultant re-evaluation of supply chain strategies by the private and public sectors. In this environment, supply …

Organic Amendments Improve The Quality Of Coal Gob Spoils: A Sustainable Mining Waste Reclamation Method, Zhiming Zhang, Anshuman Satpathy, Kirby Morris, Abhishek Roychowdhury, Rupali Datta, Dibyendu Sarkar

Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering Departmental Research

Coal mine tailings can lead to a range of environmental problems, including toxic metal contamination, soil erosion, acid mine drainage, and increased salinity. Mine spoils from coal mining activities accumulated as gob piles are difficult to reclaim due to constraints such as a steep slope, unsuitable pH, insufficient nutrient supply, metal toxicity, low water-holding capacity, and poor soil structure. We investigated the efficiency of low-cost amendments on coal gob spoils from Carthage Coal Field (CCF) in New Mexico in improving the quality of coal gob spoils. Gob spoil was incubated for 90 days with various rates of organic amendments such …

Impact Of Low-Altitude Technology On Low-Altitude Industry Development From Perspective Of Low-Altitude Economy, Yong Wang, Yusen Yang, Jimin Zeng, Zhenglong He, Zongxi Cen

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Low-altitude economy, as a typical representative of new quality productive forces and a strategic emerging industry, has become an important engine for promoting high-quality economic development and achieving technological self-reliance and self-improvement in China. This study systematically reviews the development trajectory of low-altitude economy, deeply elucidates the connotations and characteristics of low-altitude technology and its impact mechanisms on low-altitude industrial development, providing theoretical support for constructing a modernized low-altitude economic system. It finds that the concept of low-altitude economy has undergone a paradigm shift from industry terminology to economic formation, gradually completing the institutionalization process from strategic planning to legal …

Development Index Assessment And Future Prospects Of China’S Low-Altitude Economy, Jiaoe Wang, Delin Du, Zhuo Chen, Wenwei Tan

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

With the gradual opening of low-altitude airspace and continuous advancements in low-altitude technology, the low-altitude economy has ushered in significant development opportunities, emerging as a quintessential example of new quality productive forces and garnering widespread attention from both the state and society. However, given China’s vast territory, the development trends and foundational conditions of the low-altitude economy vary considerably across regions, presenting distinct challenges and prospects. To accurately assess the development trends of the low-altitude economy, this study constructs an evaluation framework based on five dimensions, namely, innovation efficacy, industrial strength, scenario vitality, development potential, and support capability, and conducts …

Innovative Integration Of Modern Facade Design With Traditional Bubungan Tinggi Facade: Towards A Sustainable Home, Nursyarif Agusniansyah, Gusti Novi Sarbini

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

This study investigates the transformation of Bubungan Tinggi, a traditional Banjar house with a high roof, into a modern home through the integration of modern facade design with traditional Bubungan Tinggi facade elements. Bubungan Tinggi is a monumental artifact in South Kalimantan representing the collective memory of the Banjar community with its distinctive typology and anatomy. With its unique typology and anatomy, this particular building has evolved into an iconic structure that symbolizes the collective memory of the Banjarese people.

This study uses a qualitative approach with design experiments to explore the integration of facade design, new form, and contemporary …

Learning Outcomes, Benefits, And Challenges Of International Research Experiences For Students (Ires): An Exploratory Study Of An Ires Program In China, Yousef Jalali, James Barilla, Kirsten Davis, Vinod Lohani, Rolf Müller

Journal of International Engineering Education

Despite the increasing number of international programs targeting students’ learning of research and intercultural skills, there has been limited holistic investigation of students’ experiences employing both qualitative and quantitative methods. In this study, we incorporated several measures to explore students’ experiences in an International Research Experiences for Students (IRES) program, which benefited from the existing partnership between Virginia Tech in the U.S. and Shandong University in China. We examined students’ intercultural competence and interdisciplinary research skills and explored students’ stories of their lived experiences across three cohorts, each with five students, who completed the IRES program. Both open-ended survey responses …

Towards An Iot-Enabled Digital Earth For Sdgs: The Data Quality Challenge, Msb Syed, Paula Kelly, Paul Stacey, Damon Berry

Articles

Digital Earth (DE), a technology offering real-time visualisation of Earth's processes, has shown promising results in aiding decision-making for a sustainable world, raising awareness about individual impacts on our planet, and supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) agenda. However, both DE and SDGs face a common obstacle: Data Quality (DQ). This review investigates the challenge of DQ in the context of DE for SDGs and explores how IoT can address this challenge and extend the reach of DE to support SDGs. Furthermore, the study discusses three core aspects; first, the potential of IoT as a data source …

Santa Clara Magazine, Volume 65 Number 2, Fall 2024 [Print Issue 62:2], Santa Clara University

Santa Clara Magazine

12 - INCREASING ACCESS Discerning one’s dream requires a whole set of experiences based on community, opportunity, and, yes, cash. Leslie Griffy

16 - UNPACKING UTOPIA It seems like billionaire-backed utopias are popping up all over the map. What does it take to build a perfect city? Lauren Loftus

22 - A WEALTH OF WELL-BEING In his new book, Professor Meir Statman explores a holistic approach to financial and life well-being. Leslie Griffy

26 - A WOMAN'S PLACE Despite being denied access to the priesthood, Catholic women find new ways to lead. Leslie Griffy

Experimental Examination Of Enhanced Nanoceramic-Based Self-Cleaning Sprays For High-Efficiency Hydrophobic Photovoltaic Panels, Iman El-Mahallawi, Merna Abdrabo, Ahmed Elkaseer Prof., Engy Elshazly, Mohamed S. El-Deab

Renewable Mechanical Energy

Dust deposition poses a significant challenge in the implementation of photovoltaic panels (PV) especially in hot and dusty environments, such as the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. This issue leads to progressive degradation of PV efficiency and output power. In this context, this research work aims to improve PV performance by developing self-cleaning sprays as a preventative solution. Different concentrations of SnO2 and TiO2 nanoceramics were dispersed in isopropyl alcohol solvent to reduce the mixture’s viscosity and facilitate smooth spraying on solar panels, whose efficiency was continually assessed in outdoor conditions. Although less commonly used for this application, …

Pillar Wall Angles Of Karst Collapse Pillars In The Xishan Coalfield: Characteristics And Implications, Zhao Jingui, Wang Jiangwei, Yang Gaofeng, Guo Mintai

Coal Geology & Exploration

Significance As coal mining expands into deep parts, karst collapse pillars have become one of the most concealed disaster-causing geological factors in coal mining from mines in North China. The pillar wall angle of a collapse pillar serves as an important index used to describe the morphology of the collapse pillar. Methods and Results With 265 karst collapse pillars cut by the fully mechanized mining of the upper and lower coal seams in the Xishan coalfield as the data source, this study extracted the geological information contained in the pillar wall angles of karst collapse pillars in the Xishan coalfield …

Reconciling Modern Engineering Education With The Everyday Of Rural Schools And Youths, Malle R. Schilling, Jacob R. Grohs

Journal of Pre-College Engineering Education Research (J-PEER)

We highlight the impacts of inequitable distributions of resources across geographies, structural challenges faced in partnerships with rural schools, and the importance of asset-based arguments to recognize and engage with systemic challenges. Precollege engineering education often focuses on engaging students and teachers hands-on with novel technologies and experiences that frequently distract from systemic inequities, particularly pertaining to place. Given national efforts in rural STEM education, there is a need to recognize important contextual factors influencing precollege engineering education. Through a lens of working with rural Appalachian schools, we hope to challenge practices and assumptions in precollege engineering education.

Sustainable Mobility, Shams Tanvir

Mavs Open Press Open Educational Resources - Archive

This textbook and OER material cover tools and basic knowledge required to prepare transportation engineers and planners to contribute towards a carbon-neutral mobility future. The goal of the textbook is to train engineering students on existing tools and policy levers that can be used to incorporate emerging transportation technologies in a sustainable, equitable, and efficient manner.