Digital Commons Network^™

Performance Analysis For 5g Cellular Networks: Millimeter Wave And Uav Assisted Communications, Esma Turgut

Dissertations - ALL

Recent years have witnessed exponential growth in mobile data and traffic. Limited available spectrum in microwave ($\mu$Wave) bands does not seem to be capable of meeting this demand in the near future, motivating the move to new frequency bands. Therefore, operating with large available bandwidth at millimeter wave (mmWave) frequency bands, between 30 and 300 GHz, has become an appealing choice for the fifth generation (5G) cellular networks. In addition to mmWave cellular networks, the deployment of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) base stations (BSs), also known as drone BSs, has attracted considerable attention recently as a possible solution to meet …

Machine Learning In Support Of Electric Distribution Asset Failure Prediction, Robert D. Flamenbaum, Thomas Pompo, Christopher Havenstein, Jade Thiemsuwan

SMU Data Science Review

In this paper, we present novel approaches to predicting as- set failure in the electric distribution system. Failures in overhead power lines and their associated equipment in particular, pose significant finan- cial and environmental threats to electric utilities. Electric device failure furthermore poses a burden on customers and can pose serious risk to life and livelihood. Working with asset data acquired from an electric utility in Southern California, and incorporating environmental and geospatial data from around the region, we applied a Random Forest methodology to predict which overhead distribution lines are most vulnerable to fail- ure. Our results provide evidence …

Drones On The Rise: Societal Misperceptions Of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Renee Keilman

The Journal of Purdue Undergraduate Research

Throughout the past decade, small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) have been on the rise in both the civilian and military sectors. It is forecasted that in the near future they will create thousands of jobs and billions in tax revenue due to their ability to execute difficult and hazardous tasks safely, efficiently, and cost-effectively. However, one current issue with the proliferation of the technology is a shortage of skilled employees due to a lack of education and common negative public misperceptions associated with them.

To investigate this, responses from a mixed-methods survey will be analyzed. Within the survey, questions such …

Perceptions Of Immigration Among Nonmetropolitan Nebraskans: Nebraska Rural Poll Research Report 19-2, Rebecca Vogt, Cheryl Burkhart-Kriesel, Randolph Cantrell, Bradley Lubben, L. J. Mcelravy, Timothy Meyer, Jason L. Weigle

Rural Futures Institute: Publications

The percent of Nebraska’s population that is foreign born has steadily increased during the past decade. In fact, its growth in foreign born population since 2010 ranks in the top 10 among all states. Given these changes, are rural Nebraskans aware of recent immigrants in their community? How do they perceive immigrants and their impacts on rural Nebraska? How do they view various immigration policies? This paper provides a detailed analysis of these questions. This report details 1,776 responses to the 2019 Nebraska Rural Poll, the 24th annual effort to understand rural Nebraskans’ perceptions. Respondents were asked a series of …

Design Of Capacitive Wireless Power Transfer Systems With Enhanced Power Density And Stray Field Shielding, Ujjwal Pratik

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Wireless power transfer is becoming relevant today because of its effectiveness and convenience. It has been employed into consumer electronics such as cellular charging and electric vehicle charging. In general, inductive wireless power transfer (IPT) is mostly used for WPT. IPT requires coils and power transfer enhancing material such as ferrite to transfer power. However, Capacitive wireless Power Transfer (CPT) appears as an alternative because it requires cost effective and light metal plate couplers. Among CPT couplers, Vertical (stacked) Four-Plate Coupler (V4PC) structure offers the advantage of higher input and output self-capacitances, rotational misalignment.

Safety is one of the most …

Lifecycle Environmental Impact Of High-Speed Rail System In The I-45 Corridor, Raghava Kommalapati, Venkata Botlaguduru, Doeun Choe

Publications

The Houston-Dallas (I-45) corridor is the busiest route among 18 traffic corridors in Texas. The expected population growth and the surge in passenger mobility could result in a significant impact on the regional environment. This study uses a life cycle framework to estimate the net change in environmental impact with the development of a high speed rail system (HSR) along the I-45 corridor. The study follows ISO 14040 principles and standards of life cycle assessment and uses SimaPro 8.5® software and the Ecoinvent 3.3 inventory database. Infrastructure construction, vehicle manufacturing, system operation, and end of life phases are included in …

Comparison Of Environmental And Social Costs Of Trenchless Cured-In-Place Pipe Renewal Method With Open-Cut Pipeline Replacement For Sanitary Sewers, Vinayak Kaushal

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

The development of underground infrastructure, environmental concerns, and economic trends is influencing society, resulting in the advancement of technology for more efficient, environment-friendly, and cost-effective pipeline installation and renewal. Comparison of environmental and social costs of a pipeline renewal and replacement is an essential element when considering sustainable development of underground infrastructure. Project owners, decision makers, design and consulting and contractors commonly take into consideration the construction costs only, and overlook the environmental and social cost aspects while making a choice between trenchless and open-cut pipeline installation. Trenchless Cured-in-Place Pipe (CIPP) involves a liquid thermoset resin saturated material that is …

Development Of A Framework For Design And Installation Of Cementitious Spray Applied Pipe Linings In Renewal Of Corrugated Metal Culverts, Seyedmohammadsadegh Jalalediny Korky

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Millions of culverts under road embankments provide drainage for U.S. transportation network system and are in need of maintenance, repair, and renewal. Over time culverts, like any other asset, deteriorate due to many factors. Spray applied pipe lining (SAPL) is one of the trenchless technology methods applicable for culverts renewal. In the SAPL method, polymers or cementitious materials are sprayed by machine or manually in different lifts to achieve required thickness based on the design criteria. The scope of this dissertation includes reinforced concrete pipe and corrugated metal pipe (RCP and CMP) culverts renewal with cementitious and polymer SAPLs. The …

Karst Sinkhole Detecting And Mapping Using Airborne Lidar, Su Zhang, Shirley Baros, Susan Bogus

Publications

The focus of this study is to detect sinkhole hazards using airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data. The premise is sinkholes, particularly those close to transportation infrastructure assets, could cause substantial damages to infrastructure assets, and therefore, being able to accurately and rapidly detect them is essential. However, it is expensive, time-consuming, labor-intensive, and unsafe to survey sinkholes using conventional ground observation methods. This research project was focused on developing accurate and rapid airborne LiDAR-based sinkhole detection and mapping methods, and transfer the technologies to transportation engineers for implementation and workforce development. The project team also identified best practices …

Strategies For Prioritizing Needs For Accelerated Construction After Hazard Events, Fernando Moreu, Chao Wang, Xinxing Yuan, Laleh Ghanbari, Claudia Garrido

Publications

There is a need for rapid and responsive infrastructure repair and construction after natural disaster events such as hurricanes, wildfires, and tornadoes. These natural disasters often shut down basic infrastructure systems, as experienced recently in several Region 6 states as well as in other states around the country. Accelerated construction practices are often used in these situations to speed up the traditional, and often slow, project delivery process. However, after a natural disaster, several and different types of transportation infrastructure components are in need of inspection, rehabilitation or reconstruction, and transportation agencies are challenged with the task of prioritizing these …

Portable Roadway High Water Detection System For Driver Safety And Infrastructure Assessment, Hatim Sharif, Samer Dessouky

Publications

The state of Texas, local governments, and community groups are adopting several initiatives to address this problem. The main goal of this project is to develop an approach to enhance prediction and detection of roadway flooding and help efforts to prevent driving into flood roadways. The motivation of this work was initiated by the alarming number of vehicle related flood fatalities in Texas, mostly at low-water crossings. Texas leads the nation in the number of flood fatalities and about 77% of flood fatalities in Texas are motor vehicle-related. This percentage is much higher than the national percentage reported in several …

Mass Evacuation Effects On Transportation: A Comparative Analysis, Emily M. Jannace

Beyond: Undergraduate Research Journal

Mass evacuations have changed greatly in the past two decades. Evacuations such as Louisiana during Hurricane Katrina, Florida during Hurricane Irma, and New York during the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks, Hurricane Sandy, and Hurricane Irene have had significant impacts on future mass evacuations in terms of transportation. This paper takes these methods and analyzes the best approach in given situations based on volume capacity, impact, and cost to make recommendations that can be used by the three previously mention municipalities. With so many different techniques available, it is important to choose the one that moves the most people out of harm’s …

Community Involvement And Leadership In Nonmetropolitan Nebraska: Rural Poll Research Report 19-1, Rebecca Vogt, Cheryl A. Burkhart-Kriesel, Randolph Cantrell, Bradley Lubben, L. J. Mcelravy, Timothy Meyer, Jason L. Weigle

Rural Futures Institute: Publications

Community leadership and involvement are important parts of community development. Rural communities rely on volunteers for many community development activities as well as local leadership positions. In smaller communities in particular, community members often take on multiple roles. Given these challenges, how involved are rural Nebraskans in community and political activities? How do they feel about the leadership in their community? How often do they have social interactions with others during a typical month? This paper provides a detailed analysis of these questions. This report details 1,776 responses to the 2019 Nebraska Rural Poll, the 24th annual effort to understand …

Rapid Repair Of Bridge Decks In Cold Weather, Abheetha Peiris, Issam E. Harik

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Using regular concrete or mortar to repair potholes in concrete bridge decks is typically infeasible in cold weather due to extended set and curing times. However, several commercially available rapid-set repair materials can be used at temperatures near or below freezing. This study evaluated five such materials to assess their properties and determine which are most suited to executing pothole repairs in cold weather. For each material, laboratory testing evaluated set times, compressive strength gains, and bond strength to existing concrete at three temperatures: 35°F, 15°F, and 0°F (1.7°C, -9.4°C, and -17.8°C, respectively). Testing identified Phoscrete as the repair material …

Integrating A Modified Pulse Amplitude Modulation (Pam4) Scheme With Two Spatially Multiplexed Channels In Optical Fiber Communication Systems, Bilas Chowdhury

Theses and Dissertations

A multi-input multi-output (MIMO) based optical fiber multiplexing architecture known as Spatial Domain Multiplexing (SDM) adds a new dimension to optical fiber communication systems by spatially reusing the optical frequencies. SDM allocates different spatial location for different input signals based on the input launch angles. These input signals propagate helically inside the carrier fiber. They abide total internal reflection and exit as concentric donut shaped rings while travelling the fiber. These SDM channels do not exhibit any crosstalk or intersymbol interference. SDM systems can also complement different modulation techniques such as Return to Zero (RZ), Non-Return to Zero (NRZ), and …

Seismic Vulnerability Assessment Of Anchored Block Type Contents Due To Sliding And Overturning, Sereen Majdalaweyh, Weichiang Pang, Amir Safiey, Ershad Ziaei, Keivan Rokneddin, Mohammad Javanbarg, Saurabh Prabhu

Publications

Damage to contents and nonstructural components is often the main driver of property losses against smaller earthquakes as evidenced by empirical evidence from past events. In the 2014 South Napa earthquake in California, for example, 56% of the affected buildings reported content damage. The primary modes of content damage include sliding, rocking, and overturning. The FEMA P-58 document provides seismic fragility functions for sliding and overturning of unanchored block content types, but no data is provided for anchored components. The ASCE/SEI 7-16 provides stability guidelines for different types of nonstructural components, but falls short of providing recommendations for the contents …

”Cyberworld” As A Theme For A University-Wide First-Year Common Course, Kristen Przyborski, Frank Breitinger, Lauren Beck, Ronald S. Harichandran

Engineering and Applied Science Education Faculty Publications

Nowadays we all live in a cyber world and use the internet for emailing, banking, streaming video, shopping, reading news, or other activities. Given all the time people spend online, it is important that all students (regardless of their major) learn some basics about living in a cyber world, e.g., strategies for online safety, impact of artificial intelligence, digital forensics or ancestry.com. To facilitate students from many majors to learn about important issues related to the internet, eight faculty from a variety of disciplines at the University of New Haven integrated the theme of Cyber World into our team-taught, first-year …

A Comparison Of Water Main Failure Prediction Models In San Luis Obispo, Ca, Kyle Eric Aube

Master's Theses

This study compared four different water main failure prediction models: a statistically simple model, a statistically complex model, a statistically complex model with modifications termed the 2019 model, and an age-based model. The statistically complex models compute the probability of failure based on age, size, internal pressure, length of pipe in corrosive soil, land use, and material of the. These two values are then used to prioritize a water main rehabilitation program to effectively use the municipality’s funds. The 2019 model calculates the probability of failure and consequence of failure differently than the statistically complex model by considering corrosive soil …

Assessing The Impact Of Game Day Schedule And Opponents On Travel Patterns And Route Choice Using Big Data Analytics, Anuj Sharma, Vesal Ahsani

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

The transportation system is crucial for transferring people and goods from point A to point B. However, its reliability can be decreased by unanticipated congestion resulting from planned special events. For example, sporting events collect large crowds of people at specific venues on game days and disrupt normal traffic patterns.

The goal of this study was to understand issues related to road traffic management during major sporting events by using widely available INRIX data to compare travel patterns and behaviors on game days against those on normal days. A comprehensive analysis was conducted on the impact of all Nebraska Cornhuskers …

Data Driven Workforce Performance Planning, Christopher Barajas

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The business of logistics and transportation is increasing in demand and complexity and will do so into the future. As with many businesses in the digital age, large amounts of data is being generated at increasing speeds leading us all into the era of big data. A common result is that organizations are left data rich and information poor. At ABC Logistics, and many other third party logistics and transportation companies, the question is how to harness the data and create centers of excellence through business intelligence methodologies. This research project goes through the steps taken to identify an area …

Field Emissions Of Methane And Nitrous Oxide From California Landfills, Alexandra D. Limpert

Master's Theses

Comprehensive and systematic aerial and field investigations were conducted at representative California landfills to quantify emissions of methane and nitrous oxide. Landfills are highly engineered; however, they are one of the largest anthropogenic sources of greenhouse gases, causing human health and safety concerns. Methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) are significant greenhouse gases with high global warming potentials that are generated in a landfill environment.

For site selection, sites were evaluated based on waste in place, climate zone, faults and oil and gas operations, population density, cover conditions and percentage of cover types, age of waste, …

Student Response To Traditional Fire Alarm Systems In The Cal Poly Yosemite Dorms, Adam F. Alviso

Construction Management

What would you do if you were a student living on campus and you were burdened by an annoying fire alarm late at night? Though evacuating the building seems like the most logical and safe course of action, sleeping or studying for a big midterm may be a risk you are willing to take. Going back to grade school and up to your freshman year of college, we have been exposed to countless fire drills and false alarms. It is important to know the real facts on how students respond to fire alarms, the reason why they would respond, and …

College Of Engineering Senior Design Competition Spring 2019, University Of Nevada, Las Vegas

Fred and Harriet Cox Senior Design Competition Projects

Part of every UNLV engineering student’s academic experience, the senior design project stimulates engineering innovation and entrepreneurship. Each student in their senior year chooses, plans, designs, and prototypes a product in this required element of the curriculum. A capstone to the student’s educational career, the senior design project encourages the student to use everything learned in the engineering program to create a practical, real world solution to an engineering challenge. The senior design competition helps focus the senior students in increasing the quality and potential for commercial application for their design projects. Judges from local industry evaluate the projects on …

Probabilistic Risk Assessment And The Path Planning Of Safe Task-Aware Autonomous Resilient Systems (Staars), Uluhan Cem Kaya

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Theses - Archive

Recent advancements on the unmanned systems manifest the potential of these technologies to impact our daily life. In particular, the unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) become ordinary for people in almost any area from aerial photography to emergency responses, from agricultural services to even autonomous deliveries. Increased autonomy and advancements in low-cost high-computing technologies made these compact autonomous solutions accessible to any party with ease. Easiness and affordability to access these systems accelerated the innovations and the novel ideas for the solution of diverse real-life problems. Despite its benefits, however, this widespread availability also resulted in the safety and regulatory concerns …

Evaluating The Water Quantity And Quality Performances Of Underground Gravel Filter Basins., Jihad A. Hallany

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Underground gravel filter basins (UGF basins) are subsurface structures that are used for detention, filtration, and infiltration of stormwater runoff in urbanized areas. The application of these structures is recommended in highly developed urban areas, where land is not available or it is too expensive for surface-level green infrastructures such as stormwater ponds, bio-retention, and infiltration trenches. Objectives of this study are to assess and analyze the effectiveness of two (2) UGF basins in reducing the stormwater runoff peak flow, and to assess water quality parameters in a high-density residential area. The experimental site is located at Red Mile Village, …

Point Cloud Technology For Analysis Of Existing Structures, Jacob Cano

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

For this thesis, a study was completed on two different structures on the UCF Orlando campus through the use of both structural plans and point cloud technology. The results sought to understand the viability of point cloud technology as an accurate tool for the static and dynamic modal analysis of existing structures. For static analysis, a portion of the framing of Spectrum Stadium was rendered, modeled, analyzed and compared to a previous case study. The results emphasized how different users can render dissimilar member sizes and lengths due to human judgment on point cloud visuals. The study also found that …

Development Of Robust Control Laws For Disturbance Rejection In Rotorcraft Uavs, Johannes Verberne

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Inherent stability inside the flight envelope must be guaranteed in order to safely introduce private and commercial UAV systems into the national airspace. The rejection of unknown external wind disturbances offers a challenging task due to the limited available information about the unpredictable and turbulent characteristics of the wind. This thesis focuses on the design, development and implementation of robust control algorithms for disturbance rejection in rotorcraft UAVs. The main focus is the rejection of external disturbances caused by wind influences. Four control algorithms are developed in an effort to mitigate wind effects: baseline nonlinear dynamic inversion (NLDI), a wind …

The Changing Face Of Airmanship And Safety Culture Operating Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Tracy Lamb

Student Works

The notion of using drones for commercial purposes has evolved in the past 5 years from the initial “boom” of excitement around this, somewhat of a novelty and curiosity, to more calculated and sophisticated use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), or drones. In the hands of true professionals, drones can offer highly efficient and profitable solutions for industrial, and commercial inspections and other data capturing tasks. The appetite for safe and efficient collection of data is a changing face of safety cultures and how teams and individuals apply airmanship principles, and how inspection crew and UAS crew interact. UAS are …

2019 Directory Of Indiana State, County, City And Town Officials Responsible For Road And Street Work, Indiana Ltap

Indiana Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) Directory

Contact information for agency officials and employees responsible for Indiana’s local road infrastructure.

Wildfire Smoke: Trends, Challenges, Unknowns, And Human Response, Mariah Dawn Fowler

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Wildfire smoke is a growing threat to human livelihood in the Western United States. The economic and the health burden of smoke is accelerating in response to a growing fire season and escalating fire activity. This study first evaluates the trends in air quality over Boise, Idaho and the entire Northwest (and Montana) to assess the impacts of wildfire smoke in the region. The Mann-Kendall trend analysis shows that there is a statistically significant trend in the average and maximum air quality index (AQI) during the fire season (July-August-September) in the Boise area. The AQI shows a decreasing trend, although …