Digital Commons Network^™

Branded Skateboard Series, Max David Munday

Graphic Communication

This project demonstrates how graphic communication principles can be applied to product branding within the skateboarding industry. By combining research on branding systems, visual communication theory, and production methods with practical design experimentation, this project highlights the importance of balancing creative design decisions with real-world production considerations

3d Bouldering Project, Joseph Robison

Liberal Arts and Engineering Studies

Many indoor rock climbers struggle to make the transition from indoor to outdoor bouldering due to differences in route visualization. This project applies photogrammetry to create 3D scans of outdoor holds with accurate measurements and textures to improve climber visualization. The measurements were then mapped onto a Tension Board 1 simulation. Six climbers were divided into control and simulation groups to test effectiveness. Results showed that confidence and perception of outdoor ability were increased in the simulation group. Performance outcomes were approximately equal between both groups. These findings suggest that visualization tools can enhance mental preparation for outdoor climbing.

The Dumbarton Flyer Initiative Study: A Conceptual Plan, Aaron Posternack

City and Regional Planning

The Dumbarton Flyer Initiative Study is a comprehensive and ambitious vision for a study corridor that stretches from Fremont on the East Bay to Redwood City on the Peninsula within the San Francisco Bay Area (Bay Area) of California. It advocates for significant changes to how localities and regions embrace transportation and land use planning. The literature asserts that these two aspects of planning should be inseparable from each other. This assertion particularly holds if the Bay Area seeks to construct additional rail transit lines and to maximize their benefits. Additionally, the transportation mode of “automated light metro”, which this …

Same, But Better: Modernizing A Professional Soccer Team’S Logo, Jessica A. Halladay

Graphic Communication

Valencia CF is a historic soccer club with a highly recognizable crest, and this project focuses on modernizing that identity while preserving its core elements. Rather than creating a full rebrand, the project follows an identity evolution approach, refining the crest to improve clarity and adaptability across digital and physical applications. Guided by research in brand identity, social identity, and visual perception, the redesign focuses on four key elements: the bat, crest shape, typography, and soccer ball. Each component was simplified through iterative sketching and critique-based refinement to improve readability and consistency while maintaining recognizability. The final design demonstrates how …

Immersive Experience Design In Contemporary Theme Parks: A Case Study Of Universal Epic Universe, Roi Andre F. Ramos

Experience Industry Management

The evolution of contemporary theme parks has increasingly centered on large-scale immersive environments designed to transport guests into cohesive narrative worlds. The purpose of this study was to examine the immersive design practices utilized at Universal Epic Universe. A case study was conducted to evaluate five themed lands, four attractions, and four queue environments using a researcher-developed observational instrument. The results of this study determined that Epic Universe effectively sustains immersion through architectural enclosure, intellectual property-based world-building, sensory layering, and interactive technologies that increase guest agency. The park demonstrates a cohesive “self-contained land” model that minimizes negative cues and extends …

Retained Placenta Removal Device (Womb-A), Savannah Fujimoto, Ciana Villar, Edward Barba

Biomedical Engineering

Womb-a aims to design a safe, minimally invasive, and effective product that solves the issue of removing retained placentas after childbirth reducing the risk of infection and uterine trauma. Womb-a brings a handheld motorized device that can be used at the bedside immediately after delivery of a baby. Retained placentas happen to approximately 1-3% of deliveries [1] which elevates the likelihood of postpartum infection and hemorrhaging. Current solutions include manual removal, windmill technique, and D&C which individually have severe issues such as elevating risk of infection, inconsistent removal of adhered placenta, and surgical complications. The Womb-a aims to mitigate these …

Reimagining The Laguna Lake Driving Range, Audrey Bonifacio, Jessica Rice

City and Regional Planning

The Laguna Lake Municipal Golf Course is located in San Luis Obispo, California, and is operated by the city. Recently, the community, city staff, and the City Council have begun a conversation regarding the use of the golf course. To explore the different uses, this senior project presents four alternative developments for a selected area of the golf course. These four uses include enhancing the existing driving range, a sports facility, a children’s center, and a senior living community. To assess these alternatives, the project explores current urban planning theories, development trends, and case studies for each use. Through this …

Cathy's Trike, Jameson Stengel, Victor Robles, Asher Becker

Mechanical Engineering

Cathy Hoenig needs a better way to safely steer her trike since she recently had her arm amputated at the elbow. Right now, the standard steering setup doesn’t work for her because it’s designed for someone with two arms. The main issue is that because she can't hold the steering bar with both hands, she loses control and stability while riding, which takes away from her freedom and independence. We’re looking to design some kind of support or adaptive steering system that’ll let her feel safe and confident on her trike again. Our goal is to create a solution that …

Bonderson Workbench, Han Xu, Aidan Robleto, Sean Murphy, Victor Duran

Mechanical Engineering

This project redesigns the existing creative workbenches in Cal Poly's Bonderson High Bay to improve mobility and functionality for students and staff in the Mechanical Engineering Department.

Fsae Bespoke Brake Calipers For Hub Motor Architecture, Connor William Vaughan, Liam Upton Walsh, Bradley Brian Kern

Mechanical Engineering

Brakes are the most critical safety system on any performance vehicle, and as Cal Poly Racing transitions their Formula SAE car from a single rear motor to a four-in-wheel motor setup with regenerative braking, the team identified an opportunity to develop a bespoke brake caliper tailored to their specific needs. This document outlines the research, design, manufacturing, and validation of custom front brake calipers designed to improve upon commercial motorcycle calipers in key areas such as serviceability, mounting rigidity, thermal behavior, mass, and hub motor integration. The resulting design is a two-piece, four-piston, radially-mounted aluminum caliper featuring titanium pistons, toolless …

Semi-Automated Oxide Etch System, Chloe Dodson, Andrew Korpela, Bobby Machado, Thomas Slayton

Mechanical Engineering

This document presents the scope of work for the senior design project titled Semi-Automated Oxide Etch System. This project arose from the need to improve the current method the microfabrication laboratory at Cal Poly uses to lower 100-mm diameter silicon wafers into a hydrofluoric acid solution to remove layers of oxidation. The goal of this project is to create a system where silicon wafers can be safely loaded into a holder and lowered at reliable time and depth increments into hydrofluoric acid. In this scope of work, we will present the relevant background research we have conducted, the specific objectives …

Evaluating Carbon Risk And Benefit Under Improved Forest Management Prescriptions In A California Mixed Conifer Stand, Jonathan A. Garcia

Master's Theses

Improved forest management (IFM) prioritizes carbon accumulation through practices such as extended rotations and retention harvesting. These management strategies, increase fuel loads and elevate the potential fire intensity, may offset the benefits of carbon sequestration. Additionally, IFMs use spatially complex silvicultural treatments that may introduce prediction errors into the simulation processes used for long-term projections, and carbon accounting.

We evaluated the extent to which calibration in the Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS) reduces error in aboveground carbon stock predictions and tested whether modeling approaches and calibration influence the magnitude and direction of basal area increment (BAI) prediction error using generalized mixed-effects …

Ari Still: Developing Packaging Design And Branding To Overcome Saturated Market, Andrea De La Vega

Graphic Communication

The alcoholic beverage market in the United States is facing a period of transformation, affecting the success and longevity of new launches and existing brands. Shifting consumer values and behaviors, generational changes, and an increasingly oversaturated landscape emerged after the immediate effects of the pandemic. Understanding these changes, especially as more members of Generation Z enter the legal drinking age, is imperative so retailers and spirit providers learn what the new generation expects and adapt in response. In a highly competitive market, my project aims to address how a brand can establish itself and be competitively unique, on-trend, and long-standing. …

Creation Of The 2-Way Cross Laminated Timber Subroutine For Computing Dynamic Analysis Parameters, Joseph Freitas

Architectural Engineering

This document will describe the inputs, methodology, and outputs for the CLT 2-way subroutine for cases with and without openings recently added to a proprietary structural analysis software. For the sake of simplicity, most of the discussion will be focused on cases without openings from here on out, as the verification process for a novel method for cases with openings is still in progress. The CLT 2-way module calculates multi-point resistance functions for panels without openings by automating the procedure outlined in an industry-standard structural design manual. The subroutine also finds the appropriate dynamic response factors, kinetic load multipliers, mass, …

Middle Plaza Redesign, Marlo Lavacude-Klenck

City and Regional Planning

Middle Plaza Redesign presents a conceptual redevelopment of Middle Plaza, an 8.43-acre site located at 500 El Camino Real in Menlo Park, California. Originally developed as a mixed-use project in the 2010s, the redesign evaluates the site through the regulatory atmosphere, market conditions, and housing needs of 2025.

The project examines site conditions, market demand, state and local planning frameworks, and applicable development standards, including recent California housing legislation that eliminates parking minimums and streamlines environmental review. A financial feasibility analysis using proforma modeling evaluates two investment scenarios and demonstrates the economic challenges of delivering high-density rental housing despite regulatory …

Nature-Based And Outdoor Learning In The K-12 Setting, Samantha Bertotti, Cecilia Dunbar, Julia Fazio

Psychology and Child Development

This literature review examines the impact of nature-based and outdoor learning on K–12 students’ academic achievement, socio-emotional development, and mental health. Drawing on a wide range of empirical studies and systematic reviews, the paper highlights how learning in natural environments enhances academic outcomes by improving self-efficacy, cognitive functioning, and student engagement. Evidence consistently shows that outdoor learning fosters critical thinking, collaboration, and deeper conceptual understanding compared to traditional classroom instruction.

In addition to academic benefits, nature-based learning supports socio-emotional development by strengthening peer relationships, promoting confidence, and encouraging prosocial behaviors such as cooperation and empathy. These environments provide opportunities for …

A Reflective Case Study: Mission Plaza Enhancement Project, Emma J. Roeller, Sheridan R. Green

City and Regional Planning

This reflective case study examines the purpose and process that has guided the Mission Plaza Enhancement Project. This leads us to our research question:

How do foundational theories of behavior in public space in tandem with evolving community needs shape the motivations and process behind the Mission Plaza Enhancement Project? What lessons can be drawn from observed behavioral patterns and planner perspectives to inform future phases of the plan?

To gain a deeper understanding of what makes a public space successful and how to record and analyze behavior in a public space, we will use foundational planning literature from the …

Riverbend Ranch Mixed-Use Development Project, Anthony James Sousa

City and Regional Planning

This senior project is a proposed mixed-use development project in the City of Visalia, California. The scope of work includes site analysis and site plan development formatted in a comprehensive development package. This project aims to set a precedent for future development in the City of Visalia by increasing density to meet housing requirements and incorporating various urban agricultural uses to reconnect the urban and rural relationship. Additionally, the project includes a literature review on urban agriculture to explain its role in planning practice.

Cvj Torque Loss Dynamometer, Malaika Sriram, Coleman Brown, Zachary Norris, Logan Mast, Chris Mattis

Mechanical Engineering

This report details the design and results of a dynamometer testing rig built to measure torque losses in constant velocity joints (CVJs) for Cal Poly Racing's Baja SAE team. The rig spins a flywheel connected to articulable CVJs up to 800 RPM using a motor, then decouples it and measures the spin-down rate from 800 to 100 RPM to calculate angular acceleration and torque loss. The data collected from this dyno will be used to inform freewheel packaging for future Baja car development.

Time-Dependent Amplification Of Growth Rates In A Plankton-Oxygen Model, Rapha Coutin

Master's Theses

Near-bottom hypoxia occurs when dissolved oxygen levels drop to a level that is harmful to marine biology, creating biological dead zones along the ocean floor. Recent years have seen a dramatic increase in the percentage of coastal, near-bottom, hypoxic water, with the average in 2021 nearly double that of the average from 2009 to 2018 and about twenty-eight times the average from 1950 to 1980. Recent literature has linked this increase in oceanic hypoxia to the increase in upwelling-favorable winds caused by climate change. Upwelling brings low-oxygen, nutrient-rich water up to the surface, leading to plankton blooms and mass consumption …

Video Generation Techniques For Novel View Synthesis With Flow-Matching Transformers, Xiuyuan Qiu

Master's Theses

Novel view synthesis (NVS) aims to generate images of a scene from unseen camera viewpoints. Recent work, such as Stable Virtual Camera, shows that large-scale image diffusion models like Stable Diffusion can be adapted for pose-conditioned view synthesis by incorporating video-generation techniques with camera conditioning. In this thesis, we introduce MVFlow, a new NVS model that extends this approach to a different image generation architecture: a flow-matching diffusion transformer, specifically FLUX.1, which has demonstrated strong performance in image synthesis. We evaluate MVFlow under varying input view counts and pose distance settings. Our results show that this architectural transfer is feasible; …

Design And Development Of A 12-Degree-Of-Freedom Quadruped Robot, Kai De La Cruz

Master's Theses

This thesis presents the design, analysis, and experimental validation of a 12-degree-of-freedom (DOF) quadruped robot developed as a research platform for legged locomotion and control. The system builds upon the Cal Poly Legged Robotics Group’s prior 8-DOF quadruped, addressing key limitations in manipulability, load distribution, and mechanical robustness by introducing a 3-DOF leg architecture.

The mechanical design emphasizes lightweight construction, structural integrity, and modularity to support future research extensions. Static and dynamic loading models were developed to inform component sizing and material selection. A carbon-fiber chassis and redesigned leg assemblies were fabricated and validated through finite element analysis and physical …

The Application, Construction, And Validation Of Hidden Markov Model Profiles For Carbonic Anhydrase Enzymes, Samuel F. Kaplan

Master's Theses

Carbonic anhydrases (CAs) catalyze the reversible hydration of CO2 and have evolved independently at least eight times, resulting in structurally distinct enzyme families (α, β, γ, δ, ζ, η, θ, ι). Traditional sequence alignment methods struggle to classify these convergently evolved proteins because their sequential similarity does not reliably indicate functional or evolutionary relationships. Many CA sequences in public databases are annotated generically without family assignments, and prior computational approaches have focused predominantly on the three well characterized families (α, β, γ), leaving the five recently discovered classes without robust classification tools. Family level assignment is often a prerequisite for …

Sea Level Trends Near Critical Levees In The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, Reyna Sanchez Gomez

Master's Theses

The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta) levee system faces threats from rising sea levels, land subsidence, and deteriorating levees, all of which pose risks to California’s primary surface water supply. The purpose of this thesis is to assess relative sea level rise (RSLR) and estimate the spatially varying factors that influence water levels in the Delta. This thesis extends the work of Baranes et al. (2023) to the period 1975-2022 by appending recently acquired water-level records (1975-1982) to modern datasets (1982-2022) from 10 water-level stations. These water level datasets were digitized, quality-assured, and referenced to a common geodetic datum, as described …

Measurement And Control Of The Oxidation-Reduction Potential And Its Chemical And Sensory Consequences In Wines, William Jordan Wright

Master's Theses

The oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) is a measurement thought to reflect the overall ability of a solution to oxidize or reduce substances within that solution. In wine, there is no absolute agreement as to which substances control or dominate the ORP; however, oxygen, ethanol, iron-tartrate and copper-tartrate complexes, and glutathione are suspected to play key roles, while sulfur dioxide and phenolics may act as buffers. Anecdotally, some varieties of Vitis vinifera are prone to oxidation while others are prone to reduction, though the chemical basis of this remains unclear. The following works aim to further elucidate the influence of specific chemical …

Designing For Trust In Chat-Based Question Answering Systems: An Exchange-Based Retrieval Approach, Nathan Mccutchen

Master's Theses

Community chat platforms such as Discord and Slack support spontaneous, collaborative communication but make it difficult to retrieve previously discussed information. As conversations accumulate, valuable exchanges become buried, leading to repeated questions and sustained burden on experienced community members.

This work contributes a set of design requirements for question-answering systems operating over unstructured chat data, a Discord bot prototype implementing those requirements named Echo, and an empirical evaluation of how such a system affects user trust. Rather than encoding discrete question-answer pairs or generating synthetic responses with a language model, Echo indexes conversation topics for semantic retrieval and presents results …

Associations Between Nutrition-Related Chronic Disease And Food Insecurity: Data From The California State University, Elizabeth Ochoa

Master's Theses

Food insecurity is a growing public health concern consistently associated with elevated rates of nutrition-related chronic disease (NRCD) across the general population. Despite young adulthood being a critical window for dietary pattern formation, this relationship remains minimally explored among college students. This thesis examined associations between food insecurity and NRCD diagnosis, including hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and cardiovascular disease, among undergraduate students across the California State University (CSU) system. Cross-sectional data were drawn from the Spring 2021 CSU National College Health Assessment, administered across all 23 campuses. After exclusions, the analytical sample comprised 13,762 students. Bivariate analyses assessed relationships between key …

Sustainabake, Kevin Kunta Swanson Ii

Electrical Engineering

This senior project outlines the development of an oven that utilizes renewable energy to operate safely and effectively. It aims to test building an oven using mostly basic hardware students acquired during their time at Cal Poly and provide a starting point for those interested in creating a solar-powered oven. As our society continues to innovate and increasingly relies on electricity, it is important to place more emphasis on how we can make our lives sustainable to take care of our environment without introducing excessive pollutants. Food preparation is a daily activity that typically involves significant energy consumption, making this …

A Scalable Iteration Of The Horizon Simulation Framework Using Multithreading Techniques, Jason E. Beals

Master's Theses

The Horizon Simulation Framework (HSF) occupies a unique space in the modern aerospace modeling landscape, enabling flexible, modular modeling of mission-level agent behavior through an object-oriented, hierarchical design. HSF's hallmark breadth-first search scheduling algorithm explores a "multiverse" of possible mission execution pathways, enabling exhaustive evaluation of schedule combinations against user-defined heuristics.

As aerospace systems become increasingly complex, HSF faces critical challenges in establishing verifiable, deterministic behavior. The framework's core scheduling algorithm had not undergone systematic validation, leaving questions about temporal consistency, state management correctness, and reproducibility across different program executions. Furthermore, the exponential growth of schedule combinations creates computational bottlenecks …

Empirical Comparisons Of Partial Dimension Reduction Algorithms In High-Dimensional Regression, Nathan Greenfield

Master's Theses

In high-dimensional regression problems, dimension reduction methods are often used to address the challenges of multicollinearity and estimation instability. Partial dimension reduction extends these ideas by applying dimension reduction to a subset of the predictors, while the remaining predictors are modeled without compression. This approach is particularly useful when it is important to retain variability and interpretability in certain predictors.

This thesis investigates the empirical performance of partial dimension reduction algorithms and introduces a novel algorithm, Iterative Partial Residual (IPR). Two algorithms are considered: a baseline algorithm, Marginal Residual (MR), and the proposed IPR method. Their predictive performance is evaluated …