Engineering Commons^™

Graduate School Blog - June 2025, Cynthia Haynes

UofM Grad School Blog

The June 2025 edition of the UofM Graduate School Blog helps prospective and current students make informed financial decisions with Part 1 of the Graduate School Cost Guide, breaking down tuition structures such as per-credit hour versus flat-rate models, highlighting UofM’s tuition cap for in-state students, and explaining key university fees and cost differences between online and on-campus formats. The blog also features Brianna Reilly, a Doctor of Musical Arts graduate from New York, who shares how a graduate assistantship and her passion for music education led her to continue at UofM through the pandemic. Additional resources include an …

R.A.C.E. Matters Precast Concrete Bench Construction, Jack Alexander Ritchie

Construction Management

This senior project details the collaborative design, fabrication, and installation of three precast concrete benches for the nonprofit organization R.A.C.E. Matters in partnership with the San Luis Obispo Conservancy. The benches were designed to act as platforms for public art, amplifying diverse racial narratives through murals. A multidisciplinary team of students from Construction Management, Architecture, and Architectural Engineering worked together, with each discipline contributing to distinct phases of the project. Bench installations took place at the Pismo Preserve, the Octagon Barn, and Kathleen’s Overlook. This paper reflects on the hands-on construction process, the challenges of interdisciplinary coordination, and the real-world …

War, Wounds, And Strategy: Patient Movement Lessons From The World Wars For Great Power Competition, Phillip R. Jenkins

Faculty Publications

This thesis examines the evolution of the U.S. military's patient movement system during World War I and World War II to evaluate how well it may perform under the conditions of future large-scale combat operations. It asks whether the United States can move, treat, and sustain wounded personnel at the scale and pace required to preserve combat power in a prolonged, high-intensity conflict. Using detailed case studies of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive and the Battle of the Bulge, the analysis focuses on how transportation platforms, organizational structure, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) shaped patient movement under conditions of attrition, disruption, and …

Ray Collection: Forging A New Fashion Genre, Olivia R. Cooper

Graphic Communication

This senior project addresses a gap in the fashion industry by creating a new genre through a unique collection and comprehensive branding. The "RAY" collection draws inspiration from the designer's artistic roots and is a deeply personal homage to influential female artists like Frida Kahlo, Louise Bourgeois, and Leonora Carrington, whose works have inspired the designer's creative journey. Each piece in the collection draws direct inspiration from these artists, reflecting the creator's vision and self-expression, a key element of the streetwear genre incorporated into the designs.

The project also heavily emphasizes fashion branding, encompassing a logo, brand identity, social and …

Hunting, Feiyang Zhuang

Masters Theses

This writing is about fragility and revelation of technological systems. It considers how brokenness, delay, and opacity are not flaws but openings—opportunities to reimagine our relationship to technology as something grounded, sensory, and continuous with the natural and material world.

Fire Fossils: Biomineral Infrastructures In Untangling Climates, Tanmayee More

Masters Theses

Diatoms drift, sediments sink, wildfires generate their own weather. Lightning strikes can blast sand into glass, and microscopic organisms do the same in the cold recesses of the ocean. What alchemies and metabolisms catalyze space, time, and energy? What are the thermodynamics of infrastructure in Climate Change?

Places, materials, and beings are afterimages. Through alchemical experiments, and multi-scalar imaging, I develop simulations of wildfires, and their profound, reverberating effects. In this thesis, a glass-meets-landscape experimental process enters these obscured conditions and renders new material relations for the built environment.

Designing Between Worlds, Levon Kostandyan

Masters Theses

This thesis reimagines design as a means of cultural continuity—an act of memory, resistance, and transformation. Rooted in the diasporic Armenian experience, it explores how identity is carried not only through storytelling, but through materials, rituals, and objects that evolve across time and place. Through the transformation of pomegranate skin from waste into a meaningful design material, the project navigates the space between symbolism and substance, honoring both the fruit’s ancestral weight and its potential as a living material language.


The work moves between personal narrative, historical research, and material experimentation, engaging with themes of displacement, hybridity, and embedded knowledge. …

Selected Artificial Intelligence Provisions In U.S. Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act, Bert Chapman

Libraries Faculty and Staff Presentations

The 2025 Fiscal Year National Defense Authorization Act contains multiple provisions relating to artificial intelligence (AI). These congressionally mandated provisions direct various sections of the Department of Defense (DOD) and individual U.S. armed service branches to execute congressional intent for AI policymaking. Examples of such intent include identifying and planning DOD's AI workforce, demonstrating AI biotechnology applications for national security, improving the human usability of AI systems, and establishing an AI security center. This presentation will note that reports on these initiatives must be prepared for relevant congressional oversight committees, and, in many cases, are in many cases, publicly released …

06.16.2025 Ored Connect, Liz Williamson

ORED Newsletter

Email address Matters with SPAN and ARC Forms

Participant Support Costs training for PIs available in Blackboard

Terraincraft: Automated Land-Cover–Driven Terrain Generation For Marine Robot Simulations, Xinyue Liang

Dartmouth College Master’s Theses

From self-driving cars navigating city streets to all-terrain vehicles tackling rugged landscapes, recent leaps in robotic autonomy due to fast pace development in deep learning are reshaping how machines interact with the real world. However, autonomy in the aquatic environment is still limited, due to difficulty in testing and unavailability of realistic simulation environments.

In this project, we aim to create an automated system that simplifies the processes of creating synthetic datasets for marine robots navigation training tasks. We achieved this through a land cover map controlled terrain generation. Our goal is to provide an automatic terrain generation system that …

Bell Telephone System’S Preeminent Role In The Growth Of Industrial Design, Ralph O. Meyer, Russell A. Flinchum

Purdue University Press Books

Histories of design pay scant attention to the corded telephone, which played an immeasurable role in early communication. Although the Bell System, with many Nobel Prizes, is justly acknowledged for its technical prowess, it should also be recognized for its early and considerable impact on the developing discipline of industrial design. In 1930, young Henry Dreyfuss, who would later become known as a pioneer of industrial design, was retained by the Bell System as a design consultant and matured in that environment. With substantial input from Bell System engineers, Dreyfuss and his staff produced attractive telephone designs that were manufactured …

05.05.2025 Ored Connect, Liz Williamson

ORED Newsletter

Research Showcase Photos

Showcase Raffle Winners

Chancellor's Award for Research and Creative Scholarship

Video of the ORED website

Using Scaffolding, Gamification, And Self Awareness To Create Responsive Ux/Ui In Cad Software To Nurture Metacognition In Novice Users, Obed Ibrahim Gonzalez

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Computer-aided Design (CAD) software represents a significant shift from manual and analog design processes to digital workflows, offering substantial utility, accuracy, and productivity benefits. However, CAD software often presents a steep learning curve, particularly for novice users who are new to the software or possess only basic knowledge. Traditional CAD curricula have predominantly focused on technical problem-solving—teaching tools and systems—while often neglecting strategic knowledge that encompasses reflection, planning, and refining, which are essential components of metacognition. Metacognition is crucial for transforming novices into experts who use fewer and more complex commands, employ sophisticated planning, and achieve their goals more efficiently. …

A System And Method For Measuring Spatially Varying Surface Appearances With A Study Of Feathers, Jessica Baron-Lis

All Dissertations

Real-world materials, particularly biological structures such as feathers exhibit complex appearances that vary spatially across their surfaces. The field of computer graphics provides a means of understanding such surfaces through material modeling which uses both analytical models and data acquired from light-surface interactions. There are many efforts within the past decade in measuring materials for graphics, but common limitations in these works include not accounting for spatially varying properties and reliance on neural networks and synthetic datasets.

Feathers from modern birds present diverse appearances due to how light interacts with their unique hierarchical microstructures. Variations in those structures lead to …

Humanités Numériques, Langue Et Culture Synthèse, Fatima Chnane-Davin

Dirassat

The Digital Humanities: Digitalization and Artistic and Cultural Expression conference, organized from May 2 to 4, 2024 at the FLSH in Agadir, invites you to explore the vast field of digital humanities, from the challenges of digitalization to the opportunities it offers for cultural creativity, while highlighting the importance of preserving a rich heritage in the face of digital transformations.

Netflix : D’Une Digitalisation Cinématographique Vers Une Déconstruction Du 7èMe Art, Karim El Mahjoubi

Dirassat

According to a study conducted by GroupM1, 76% of French people have gone to the cinema less since the 2018 health crisis. The first reason given is "the fear of being contaminated by Covid-19". This is how the streaming platform "Netflix" saw, here, a godsend to seize this market and innovate in cinematographic digitalization. It therefore decided to rent via a monthly subscription, through a Smartphone or Smart TV application, films and series to watch "without moderation" (unlike the old video clubs). The cinema then becomes "Smart or pocket" and accessible, at a low price, for any film buff because …

Le Numérique En Administration Pédagogique Des Écoles : État Des Lieux, Impacts Et Défis. Cas De La Direction Provinciale D’Ouarzazate, Mohamed Boukhch, Abdessamad Boulkhalil

Dirassat

This article attempts to explore the subject of the digitalization of school administration. The digitization of the sector was initiated by the Minister of Education already ten years ago through the implementation of digital systems available to school administrators. We are wondering here about the probable existence of a link between the digitalization of the school administration system and student’s learning. the question we asked is: To what extent does the digitalisation put in place relate to student’s learning ?

to answer this question, we have opted for a practical exploratory approach in order to provide elements of clarification on …

Les Droits D’Auteur À L’Ère De La Révolution Numérique : Enjeux Et Perspectives, Ismail Madani Alaoui, Said Ouhamou, Mohamed Boukhch

Dirassat

This article explores the challenges and issues associated with the development of digital technologies in the context of copyright law. The authors examine significant changes in the creation, distribution, and consumption of digital content, as well as the consequences for copyright holders. Our article focuses on different approaches to copyright protection in the digital environment, such as DRM licenses and Creative Commons. It also evaluates their effectiveness in protecting creators' rights while promoting access to works. The issue of piracy and illegal sharing of digital content is also addressed, as well as the measures taken by the government and industry …

Comment La Digitalisation Affecte-T-Elle Les Interactions Sociales, Culturelles Et Économiques Au Maroc ?, Redouane El Majdouli

Dirassat

This study explores the multidimensional impact of digitalization on social, cultural, and economic interactions in Morocco. By leveraging modernization and social network theories, the analysis reveals how digital technologies transform social dynamics, facilitate innovation, and pose challenges in terms of access inequalities and privacy protection. Using a mixed- method approach combining quantitative surveys and qualitative analyses, the results show a growing adoption of digital technologies and their varied effects on Moroccan society. The proposed recommendations aim to maximize the benefits of digitalization while minimizing its risks, contributing to sustainable and inclusive development.

Impact Des Plateformes De Streaming Sur Les Métiers De La Scène, Ismail Madani Alaoui, Mourad Oumzi, Abdessamad Boulkhalil

Dirassat

This article examines the impact of streaming platforms, particularly Netflix, on performing arts professions. It explores how Netflix has transformed production practices, distribution methods, and modes of reception for artistic performances. By redefining accessibility, integrating advanced technologies, and offering alternative financing models, Netflix has created a dynamic and inclusive environment for artists and audiences. The challenges and opportunities related to these transformations are also analyzed, including the emergence of new economic models and their long- term viability for the entertainment industry. The article highlights the profound implications of these changes for artists, cultural institutions, and global audiences

L'Utilisation Des Technologies Numériques Dans Les Musées Contemporains Au Maroc : Les Défis De La Préservation Culturelle, De L'Accès Et De La Justice Dans L'Utilisation De La Réalité Virtuelle Et Augmentée, Fadma Fangach

Dirassat

This study investigates the impact of immersive technologies, particularly Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR), on visitor experiences at two distinct museums: the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Mohamed the Sixth and the Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Biography and Islamic Civilization. Employing a qualitative approach and a comparative case study methodology, the research examines the employment of VR and AR within each museum, focusing on their respective modes of projection and exhibition. While the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Mohamed the Sixth uses VR to establish a virtual space online, the Exhibition and Museum of …

L'Appel Du Rupestre Land : Revisiter L’Art Rupestre En Le Numérisant, Ghizlane Assif, Abdelkrim M’Hammed Oubella

Dirassat

This article attempts to explore the use of digital technology in preserving Moroccan rock art, emphasizing the significance of this art form in understanding the history and culture of our ancestors through digital tools such as 3D modeling, virtual reality, and others. This digitization effort aims to document and safeguard these cultural treasures while making them accessible to the public. The objective of the article is to examine the potential of digitizing rock art in our documentary film, "The call of the rupestre- land" We aimed to contribute to the digital conservation of heritage through audiovisual means. Indeed, this modest …

Numérisation Des Œuvres D’Art : L’Exemple Du Musée Numérique De La Micro-Folie, Meriem Benmhamed

Dirassat

Digitization refers to the creation of a digital copy of a text, image or other object. And if we make a copy of something, it's often to prevent its waste. It's a process which look like photocopying. We can digitize or scan silver photos, for example, to save them digitally or publish them online. In the art world, digitization makes it possible to save certain works of art from oblivion and deterioration. Paradoxically, it saves them, while at the same time falsifying them.

Until recently, the concept of an archive was something tangible and material, but now we're talking more …

La Mise En Visibilité Pratiquée Par/Sur Les Réseaux Socionumériques (Rsn) : Identité Numérique Et Motivations D’Usage Cas Des Jeunes Artistes En Développement D’Agadir En Art Visuel, Abderrahmane Ait Rahou, Nadia Bouaafia, Zohra Zemmit

Dirassat

The objective of this article is to present the results of a qualitative study conducted with around ten artists. The issue addressed is as follows: How are the practices of young artists affected by the visibility carried out by/on social networking sites (SNS)? We start from the premise that an artist's relationship with SNS should be viewed not as a given, but as a construct subject to the influence of factors both intrinsic and extrinsic to the artist. Theoretically, we consider that the sociology of uses provides a suitable analytical framework to frame the normativity of this digital environment alongside …

Design Et Intelligence Artificielle : Esquisse D’Une Logique De Créativité Générative Artificielle, Nada Ouerghi

Dirassat

This article questions the creative process in design compared with that of generative artificial intelligence (GAI), and attempts to define a relationship between creative and generative logic.

As a result, a resonance between the design mindset and AGI is identified, thanks to the poetics and use of the design toolbox borrowed to GAI .

Creative cogeneration reconciles human and machine. But the logic of artificial imagination led to question the future of the designer's profession and calls for a mandatory updating of the designer's profile!

04.21.2025 Ored Connect, Liz Williamson

ORED Newsletter

ORED Stakeholder Meetings

SEC Travel Grants

Research Week 2025, Michael Schueth

Research Week

Welcome to Undergraduate Research Week at Collin College!

This week celebrates the innovative research and scholarly work of our undergraduate students across all disciplines. From our informative webinars to Cultivating Scholars, our student poster presentation, the week offers opportunities to explore new ideas, share discoveries, and connect with fellow researchers and faculty mentors.

We invite all students, faculty, and staff to participate in these events designed to highlight the importance of undergraduate research in academic and professional development. Whether you're presenting your work or simply curious about your peers' projects, your engagement helps foster our college's culture of inquiry and …

04.14.2025 Ored Connect, Liz Williamson

ORED Newsletter

Updated CITI Training Courses

Science Celebration

IHL Prepayment Approval

04.07.2025 Ored Connect, Liz Williamson

ORED Newsletter

New ORED Website Goes Live

Oxford Pitch Competition

Hughes Miller, Strategic Partnerships

2025- The Twenty-Ninth Annual Symposium Of Student Scholars

Symposium of Student Scholars Program Books

The full program book from the 29th Annual Symposium of Student Scholars, held on April 16-18, 2025. Includes abstracts from the presentations and posters.