Digital Commons Network^™

An Integrated Approach To Groundwater Management In Northern New Jersey Watersheds, Toritseju Oyen

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Groundwater deterioration has emerged as a pressing global concern, with widespread observations of declining water quality in various regions. The predominant cause of this deterioration is attributed to anthropogenic activities, which are deeply intertwined with daily human practices that contaminate water resources. Over the decades, many forested and wetland areas have been converted mainly for increased urbanization and industrialization use in northern New Jersey. The region’s watershed, already characterized as a low-yield aquifer, is facing deterioration because of continuous change in land cover. Anthropogenic activities aimed at providing solutions to problems, such as food scarcity, icy roads during the winter …

Global Perspectives On Esg And Sdgs In Aviation, Leila Halawi

Publications

ESG implementation in aviation and airline operations has progressed significantly in the past few years. ESG is thought of as a source of competitive advantage. This research investigates the complex connection between ESG practices, SDG alignment, and trust-building in airline operations. We examine how airlines navigate these complex dynamics by drawing on literature and case studies from three distinct regions: the United States, Europe, and South America. We synthesize existing knowledge to illuminate pathways toward a more sustainable and trusted aviation industry and offer insights into successful approaches, persistent challenges, and emerging trends. © 2026 selection and editorial matter, Joanna …

Machine Learning For Predictive Energy And Emissions Modeling Of Vehicles And Power Grids In The United States, S M Tanvir Faysal Alam Chowdhoury

Dissertations

The environmental benefits of electric vehicle (EV) adoption depend on more than replacing internal combustion engine vehicles with electric powertrains. EV adoption reshapes electricity demand, interacts with regional generation mixes, and influences travel behavior and congestion, creating a coupled transportation-energy system in which vehicle and power-plant emissions must be evaluated together. This dissertation develops machine-learning frameworks for predicting energy consumption and emissions from vehicles and power grids under rising EV adoption. The first component forecasts grid emissions from EV charging. Using simulation data from NREL's Cambium database, a Prophet-based time-series framework predicts carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane emission rates …

Element-Based Predictive Modeling Of Hydrothermal Liquefaction Bioproducts Derived From Corn Stover, Isamu Umeda, Meicen Liu, Yi Zheng, Jiefu Wang, Zhiwu Wang, Sandeep Kumar

Civil & Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

The hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) process offers an energetic advantage over pyrolysis because it does not require prior drying of the biomass feedstock. However, there are significant challenges in simultaneously estimating both the yields and characteristics of products from the HTL of biomass with theoretical support. This study developed a unique element-based kinetic model to predict the yields, higher heating values, and fuel characteristics of solid residue and heavy bio-oil, based on the temperature, residence time, solid loading, and elemental composition (C, H, N, and O) of corn stover. Furthermore, the model predicted the weights of dissolved carbon and nitrogen in …

Resilient Built Environment: An Overview On Design Strategies For Coastal Adaptation To Sea Level Rise, Farzaneh Soflaei, Gelareh Abdolzadeh, Navid Ziaee, Mohammad Amin Jafari, Faeghe Borhani

Civil & Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

This paper delves into the escalating risks faced by urban coastal communities due to tidal and storm flooding, exacerbated by climate change-induced Sea Level Rise (SLR). Projections indicate a potential increase in sea levels by at least 3 feet by 2100, with historical data revealing an average annual rise of 1.2-1.7 mm since the 1900s. With over 300 million individuals inhabiting coastal areas, low-lying regions emerge as particularly vulnerable to the impacts of SLR. This accelerated rise amplifies the significant challenge of nuisance flooding, a local-scale issue aggravated by high tide and winds, leading to inundation, road closures, infrastructure deterioration, …

Lack Of Increase In Mercury Contamination In Coastal Western Australia Since European Settlement, Martin Dahl, Larissa Schneider, Harald Biester, Richard Bindler, Antonio Martinez Cortizas, Paul S. Lavery, Miguel A. Mateo, Oscar Serrano

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Current knowledge of long-term mercury (Hg) deposition is predominantly based on studies from the Northern Hemisphere, leading to a geographical bias in the comprehension of the global Hg cycle. Aiming to contribute to fill this knowledge gap, our study presents a high-resolution Hg record of a seagrass Posidonia australis sedimentary archive encompassing the last 3300 years in the Waychinicup estuary (Western Australia, WA). This setting is an ideal site for studying the natural Hg cycle, as it is located in the southwest of the state, outside the prevailing wind patterns that transport emissions from major Hg sources. Our results show …

The Effects Of Financing Green And Brown Sectors: What Do Theories And Evidence Say?, Hao Liang, Maria Teresa Punzi

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

This paper critically examines the economic and welfare implications of financing green and brown sectors. Drawing on a comprehensive review of recent theoretical and empirical literature, we highlight that while conventional green finance—allocating capital toward environmentally friendly (“green”) sectors and away from carbon-intensive (“brown”) sectors—can promote decarbonization, it may also produce unintended externalities. In particular, it can inadvertently incentivize higher emissions from brown firms and contribute to economic disruption. Using a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) model, we demonstrate that lowering the cost of capital for green sectors leads to only modest reductions in emissions, whereas raising it for brown …

Policy Uncertainty Reduces Green Innovation, Mengyu Wang, Jeffrey Wurgler, Hong Zhang

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Policy uncertainty can undermine the power of government subsidies to stimulate environmentally friendly research and development. We show that Chinese firms’ green R&D falls as the uncertainty of environmental subsidies rises: Exogenous, weather-driven air pollution variability induces subsidies to fluctuate, and firms in areas with high weather-driven subsidy variability undertake less green R&D and hire fewer technical employees, controlling for the average level of subsidies. Heavy emitters and environmental technology firms are more affected. The results also illustrate how policy uncertainty can arise when policymakers are influenced by conditions that are salient but with causes that are difficult to disentangle.

The Value Of Saltbush Revegetation For Biodiversity In A Highly Fragmented Landscape, Robert A. Davis, Michael D. Craig, Tim S. Doherty, Jonathan D. Majer, Eddie J.B. Van Etten

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Secondary salinization is a significant global issue affecting up to 1 billion hectares of land, impacting biodiversity and particularly vegetation. One form of revegetation that can provide a return to landholders is saltbush (Atriplex spp.), which provides forage for a wide range of livestock. The effectiveness of saltbush plantings in providing useful habitat for fauna in agricultural landscapes suffering from secondary salinity is poorly understood. We aimed to address this knowledge gap by surveying bird, ant, and spider communities, and quantifying vegetation structure and floristic composition in saltbush and native woodlands in agricultural landscapes affected by secondary salinization in Western …

Understanding Climate Change And Wellbeing Through Bhutan's Pursuit Of Gross National Happiness, Tashi Dorji

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Climate change has evolved into one of the biggest global challenges of the twenty first century reshaping ecological systems and social conditions with wide-ranging implications for human wellbeing. Bhutan offers a distinct context to explore interactions between climate change and wellbeing as it remains guided by its wellbeing-centred development philosophy of Gross National Happiness (GNH). At the same time, it remains highly vulnerable to climate change despite being the only carbon negative country in the world. Nonetheless, the intersections between climate change and GNH have not been systematically explored.

This research aims to explore the relationship between climate change and …

Applied Forest Restoration And Conservation In Michigan: Advancing American Beech Restoration And Documenting A Historical Insect Collection, Thomas E. Panella

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Forest restoration and conservation require both practical management approaches and the preservation of biological resources that support future research. This dissertation presents applied research conducted in Michigan that advances American beech (Fagus grandifolia) restoration in response to beech bark disease (BBD) while documenting an important historical entomological resource. Chapters 1–3 focus on overcoming practical barriers to American beech restoration. Restoration protocols were developed and refined for identifying BBD-resistant trees, graft propagation, rootstock collection, container production, and the field establishment of grafted BBD-resistant trees. A greenhouse experiment evaluated the influence of growing media and fertilization on container stock quality, …

Evaluating Stormwater & Carbon Benefits Of Urban Street Trees, Anthony J. Rodriguez Diaz

Theses

Urban areas experience a multitude of environmental challenges, including flooding and air pollution. In response to these pressures, urban forests have emerged as an essential nature-based strategy to enhance resilience and reduce climate-related risks. The implementation and expansion of urban street trees further contribute to this effort by mitigating stormwater runoff and reducing atmospheric carbon emissions.

Fortunately, advances in environmental modeling have made it increasingly possible to quantify these ecosystem services using specialized software. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service's i-Tree suite exemplifies this progress. The software provides a comprehensive set of tools designed to quantify environmental …

Empowering Youth In A Changing Climate: Design, Implementation, And Evaluation Of A Salt Marsh Summer Science Program, Dan Levesque

Graduate Masters Theses

Climate change presents not only environmental challenges but also emotional challenges for today’s youth. This thesis documents the design, implementation, and evaluation of a field-based summer science program aimed at empowering adolescents with coastal salt marsh ecology while addressing climate change emotions and science identity development. The program, based in a Massachusetts salt marsh, was adapted from existing public environmental curricula and guided by place- and experience-based learning principles. Over Spring and Summer 2025, 13 students (ages 13-18) participated in extra-curricular field trips, hands-on research activities, and reflective discussions about the environment and the emotions it brings forth. Pre- and …

Bio-Papcz: Corn Starch-Based Composite Bioplastic Reinforced With Pineapple Leaf Fiber (Palf), Zinc Oxide (Zno), And Polyvinyl Alcohol (Pva), Marvin C. Caya, Shervin Austin C. Huang, Jovar Khalel J. Maghari, Ruel M. Levida

Sinaya: A Philippine Journal for Senior High School Teachers and Students

Plastic pollution poses a serious global threat, as petroleum-based plastics persist for centuries, and their surging production of over 450 million tons overwhelms ecosystems (Ritchie et al., 2023). Using a quantitative experimental research design, the study examined the effects of varying concentrations of cornstarch-based bioplastic reinforced with pineapple leaf fiber (PALF), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and zinc oxide (ZnO) on the bioplastic’s tensile strength and soil degradability. Sample C2 (ZnO 3.0 %w/w; PVA 9.0 %w/w) demonstrated the optimal tensile properties with a tensile strength of 0.76 MPa and an elongation at break of 6.40%, which was attributed to the addition of …

Comparing Individual Vs Mixed Treatments Of Chicken Bone Meal And Crab Shell Meal On The Growth Of Capsicum Annuum (Bell Pepper), Allthur Rudy R. Arroyo, John Rafael V. Capinia, Ethan Jude R. Reyes, Elnathan Jethro B. Sumalbag, Karl Benedict E. Viri, John Ray Cordova Estrellado, Kerry P. Cabral

Sinaya: A Philippine Journal for Senior High School Teachers and Students

The recycling of nutrient-rich food waste reduces reliance on synthetic fertilizers, enhances soil quality, and improves plant growth. Existing studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of food waste, such as bone meal (B) and crab shell meal (S), as fertilizers; however, their combined use has not been investigated. This study aims to evaluate the effect of varying proportions of B and S fertilizers on the growth of Capsicum annuum (bell pepper) employing a random complete block design with 10 treatments (pure B, pure S, and a 50:50 BS mix, each at 7 g, 14 g, and 21 g) plus a control …

Experiences Of Bukidnon Farmers On The Use Of Carbonized Rice Hulls (Crh) Waste From Biomass Boilers As A Soil Conditioner, Dash Constantine S. Chamen, Queen Loraine D. Ban, Michael Justin O. Eluna, Pole Honson B. Gabitano, Ian Jay P. Saldo, Jhovel Roy D. Calo

Sinaya: A Philippine Journal for Senior High School Teachers and Students

The long-term use of agricultural products that adversely affect soil is a significant issue for farmers. This study explored the potential of carbonized rice hulls (CRH) waste from biomass boilers as a sustainable soil conditioner. The research investigated the specific soil conditioning properties of CRH and explored the lived experiences of nine (9) Bukidnon farmers to correlate their observations with the material’s chemical profile. The composition analysis identified a high silica content and essential micronutrients, such as calcium and magnesium, which act as nutrient restorers and pH regulators. The thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews, four themes emerged to summarize the …

Environmental Science And Sustainable Development: Behavioral Transformation To Knowledge System Integration For Sustainability Action, Ahyahudin Sodri, Herdis Herdiansyah

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

Sustainability issues are now a global concern. However, knowing the root causes of problems and the target is not the only factor that constantly motivates change for the better (Wamsle & Osberg, 2022) as such change also requires encouragement from actors, including individuals, organizations, and communities. Therefore, the human aspect is crucial for the successful achievement of sustainability (Hariram et al., 2023). In other words, questions on sustainability are not just about "what should be done?" and also on “how to get people to do it?” and “why are currently available interventions not yet fully utilized?” …

A Method For Advance Detection Of Underground Concealed Water Hazards In Coal Mines Based On Borehole Transient Electromagnetic Method And Vector Synthesis, Fan Tao, Hao Yue, Li Ping, Zhao Rui, Liu Zaibin, Ma Liang, Li Peng, Yan Junsheng

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background The advance detection of underground concealed water hazards in coal mines is crucial to ensuring the safe and efficient roadway tunneling. The borehole transient electromagnetic (TEM) method allows for long-distance advance detection. However, due to the limitation of the spatial structure of boreholes, currently available techniques can only effectively identify low-resistivity anomalies (e.g., water-bearing structures) in the radial direction, leaving blind areas in the primary tunneling direction (i.e., the axial direction of boreholes). Objective and Method To address this challenge, this study proposed a method for the advance detection of concealed water hazards in the axial direction of boreholes …

Fructure Mechanisms And Fracture Distribution Patterns Of Main Roofs In Goaves Within Abandoned Mines, Tao Xuefeng, Shi Biming, Hua Xinzhu, Lin Baiquan, Yue Jiwei, Liang Yuehui, Zhang Chengcheng, Qin Hao, Yang Yong, Xue Yonglin

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective In abandoned mines, the storage zones of free gas are closely associated with overburden fractures in goaves. To accurately estimate free gas resources in abandoned mines, it is necessary to thoroughly investigate the rupture mechanisms of blocks in main roofs in goaves, as well as the overburden fractures and rupture trace morphologies in goaves. Methods Based on the masonry beam theory, this study established a mechanical model for the primary cantilever beam of a main roof. The analytical solutions of the stress components in the primary cantilever beam were analyzed using the stress inverse method, and the mathematical expression …

Macro-Mesoscopic Developmental Patterns Of Cracks In Surrounding Rocks Of Rectangular Roadways Under True Triaxial Stresses, Shi Wenbao, Xu Qingzhao, Chang Jucai, Li Chuanming, Qiao Longquan, Miao Zhuang, Yan Aoyun

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective and Method This study aims to investigate the relationship between the stress environment and the deformation and failure responses of surrounding rocks, thereby unraveling the inherent mechanisms underlying the deformation and failure. With cement, river sands, and gypsum as raw materials, rectangular roadway model specimens measuring 200 mm × 200 mm × 200 mm were prepared. Using a large-scale true triaxial seepage coupling testing machine, this study conducted triaxial loading tests on the rectangular roadway specimens under different lateral pressure coefficients. Using microcameras and an acoustic emission system, it monitored the whole process of the macroscopic deformation and failure, …

Key Technical Difficulties, Challenges, And Prospects Of Geologic Co2 Sequestration In Saline Aquifers, Wei Hengfei, Shi Junjie, Nie Xiaodong, Fang Jie, Chen Jing, Zhao Yue, Sun Dawei, Li Xin, Zhang Yong, Guo Pei

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background and Method Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology represents the primary technical direction for large-scale carbon emission reduction. Among various CCS techniques, geologic CO₂ sequestration in saline aquifers holds great potential, establishing it as a major technique for future carbon storage. Based on a review of the current status of research on global geologic CO₂ sequestration in saline aquifers, this study comprehensively analyzed the technical difficulties, challenges, and prospects of this technology, focusing on the dilemma of the application of this technology under complex geological conditions in China. Results and Conclusions A huge gap in both the …

Variation Characteristics Of Co2 Adsorption Phase Density In Coal Seam And Its Controlling Mechanism: A Case Study Of Huainan-Huaibei Coalfield, Liu Huihu, Fan Zhengpu, Yang Jinghao, Liu Junlin, Ding Hai, Xu Hongjie, Gao Deyi, Fang Huihuang, Zhao Yuqing

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objectives and Methods The CO₂ adsorption phase density is a key factor determining the CO₂ adsorption sequestration capacity in coal seams. To deeply understand the characteristics of CO₂ density distribution in pores of the coal seam, taking the No.13 coal from Liuzhuang Mine of Huainan mining area and the No.7 coal in Huaibei mining area as the research objects, the CO₂ adsorption phase density of at different pressures and temperatures with different dominant pore diameters was simulated through the simplified local density theory (SLD). The CO₂ adsorption phase densities were obtained by different methods, the …

Investigating Surface-Borehole Transient Electromagnetic Responses From Veined Orebodies Considering Induced Polarization Effects, Li Jianhui, Wang Yao, Wang Wenchuang, Xie Shaojian, Zhu Siwei

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective The observational data derived using the surface-borehole transient electromagnetic (TEM) method tend to feature complex curve morphologies, a problem posing significant challenges to data processing and interpretation. This study aims to ascertain the mechanisms behind the generation of such complex responses using forward modeling.Methods Using the vector finite element-based spectral method and the Cole-Cole model, this study developed a 3D forward modeling technique incorporating the induced polarization (IP) effect. By constructing a typical theoretical model of low-resistivity veined orebodies, it systematically analyzed the electromotive force (EMF) responses excited by transmitter loops at different orientations. Results and Conclusions The …

Coal Body Structure Identification Method Based On Bayesian-Optimized Cnn-Bilstm-Attention, Bian Huiyuan, Ji Jiajun, Duan Chaowei, Zhou Jun, Li Kun, Ma Yuhan

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background Coal-bearing basins contain primary and tectonically deformed coals due to multistage tectonic deformations. However, the gas-bearing properties of coal seams differ significantly due to varying pore and fracture densities, permeability, and mechanical properties. This makes coal structure assessment critical to coalbed methane (CBM) exploration and production. Objective and Method To enhance the accuracy and intelligence of coal structure identification, this study constructed a CNN-BiLSTM-Attention hybrid model that integrated a Bayesian optimization strategy. This model allowed for efficient fusion and representation of multi-scale log data by combining the local feature extraction capability of the convolutional neural network (CNN), the temporal …

Performance And Migration Path Tracing Of Magnetic Grouts For Fractured Rock Masses, Shang Hongbo, Wang Hao, Wang Xiaodong, Qiao Wei, Wang Tiantian, Sun Junqing, Sun Jie

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective For coal mining areas in the middle reaches of the Yellow River basin, sealing mining-induced fractures via grouting serves as an effective approach to preventing water inrushes from coal seam roofs while also protecting groundwater resources. However, accurately identifying the migration paths of grouts remains a bottleneck for the further application of grouting modification technology to fractured rock masses. Methods This study investigated a coal mine threatened by both water inrushes from the coal seam roof and a short supply of water resources within the Jurassic coalfield in the middle reaches of the Yellow River basin, focusing on the …

Intelligent Lithology Identification While Drilling Using Bilstm Integrating Attention Mechanism, Wang Xi, Peng Fengjia, Li Siyang, Guo Xiao, Zhang Feifei, Ran Xiaofeng, Zhang Cong

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective Vibration signals while drilling reflect the physical properties and microstructural characteristics of rocks, providing a valuable basis for real-time lithology identification. However, existing models suffer from limited accuracy and robustness due to the low dimensionality of signal features and the class imbalance induced by variations in the rock layer thickness. Methods To overcome these limitations, this study proposed a novel lithology identification method based on a bidirectional long short-term memory (BiLSTM) network that integrates attention mechanism (also referred to as the BiLSTM-Attention). This approach incorporates automated feature extraction and class weight adjustment strategies to enhance both the classification performance …

Uniqueness And Prospects Of Co2 Sequestration In Basalts, Hu Chenlin, Sang Shuxun, Li Xin, Rui Zhenhua, Liu Shiqi, Wang Ziqiang, Xie An, Yu Huan

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective and Method CO₂ sequestration in basalts offers advantages such as permanent carbonation and elevated safety. Based on literature review and case studies, this study compared the CO₂ sequestration performance of basalts, clastic rocks, and carbonate rocks. Accordingly, the pros and cons of technologies for CO₂ sequestration in these rocks were determined, and the dominant mechanisms underlying the CO₂ sequestration were identified. By revealing the characteristics of CO₂ sequestration in the three rock types based on representative projects and tests, this study conducted a comparative analysis of the mechanisms, conditions, technologies, potential, and siting for …

Numerical Simulations Of Dynamic Rock Damage Under Laser-Induced Shock Waves, Xu Yuelin, Qin Enwei, Li Wei, Wang Ying

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective Traditional laser thermal rock breaking technologies suffer from high energy consumption and a limited damage depth. To overcome these challenges, this study proposed a novel mechanical rock breaking method based on high-pressure plasma shock waves induced by short pulsed lasers, aiming to transform a thermodynamics-dominated rock breaking mechanism into a dynamics-dominated mechanism. Methods and Results Under the Abaqus/Explicit explicit dynamics framework, this study constructed a finite element model to simulate the interactions between nanosecond laser-induced shock waves and rocks. The accurate loading of shock wave pressure in the spatial and temporal domains was achieved using the VDLOAD user subroutine. …

A Novel Model For Calculating In Situ Stress Within Deep Coal Seams Considering Microstructural Characteristics And Its Application, Zhao Haifeng, Shi Hongwei, Xie Fei, Wang Chengwang, Wang Zongfei, Chen Gaojie

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective Research on in situ stress serves as a bridge between geological and engineering analyses. Accurate insights into in situ stress regimes are crucial for ensuring engineering efficiency and development benefits. However, microstructures are well developed in deep coal seams, for which no effective model is currently available for calculating in situ stress. Methods and Results By classifying structures into macrostructures and microstructures, this study established a novel model for calculating in situ stress in deep coal seams while considering microstructural characteristics. In the novel model, the horizontal in situ stress was decomposed into three components: the horizontal components induced …

Technique For Water-Preserved Coal Mining Based On Zonal Height Limits Along Mining Face And Mechanisms Behind Overburden Failure, Sun Xueyang, Cao Hongyi, Li Peng, Han Dehao, Luo Qiyao, Liu Kuan, Li Jihong, Yin Xu

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective The exploitation of shallow coal seams under water bodies faces a contradiction between water resource preservation and overburden disturbance. In this case, achieving safe mining while preventing water-conducting fracture zones from affecting key aquifers and exploring techniques that place equal emphasis on water preservation and efficient resource recovery have emerged as popular research topics. Methods An integrated aquifer-overburden-coal seam model was constructed using 3D geological visualization technology. This model, combined with the principles for the setting up of waterproof coal pillars, enabled accurate delineation of zones with water inrush risks. Accordingly, a technical scheme for mining based on zonal …