Engineering Commons^™

Surface Water Hydrology Within The Great Salt Lake Basin, Madeline F. Merck

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

The Great Salt Lake (GSL) and its tributaries are ecologically and economically important resources for Utah. It is a highly saline lake, with salinity that is several times saltier than the ocean. Lake uses are heavily influenced by its salinity and lake level and, similarly, river uses by its streamflow quantity. Currently, the GSL Basin is experiencing changes that affect tributary inflows, lake level, and salinity. For my dissertation and in support of better lake management, I addressed important gaps in our understanding of the lake and the changes it is undergoing.

Chapter 2 is an examination of the distribution …

Engineering Students’ Perceptions Of Mathematical Modeling In A Learning Module Centered On A Hydrologic Design Case Study, Madeline F. Merck, Melissa A. Gallagher, Emad Habib, David G. Tarboton

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Engineering students need to spend time engaging in mathematical modeling tasks to reinforce their learning of mathematics through its application to authentic problems and real world design situations. Technological tools and resources can support this kind of learning engagement. We produced an online module that develops students‚Äô mathematical modeling skills while developing knowledge of the fundamentals of rainfall-runoff processes and engineering design. This study examined how 251 students at two United States universities perceived mathematical modeling as implemented through the online module over a 5-year period. We found, subject to the limitation that these are perceptions from not all students, …

Developing A Framework To Analyze The Effect Of Mobile Technology Within A Department Of Transportation, Devin Squire

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Mobile technology has the potential to have a substantial impact on governmental agencies. In order to understand the effects of mobile technology within an agency, an analysis has to be performed. This thesis presents two mobile applications that were developed to address specific areas of concern within the Utah Department of Transportation. It then, using mobile-technology specific surveys, provides a framework for effect analysis following application implementation. This framework employs both user and developer surveys to obtain data necessary to, through statistical methods, determine either a positive or a negative application induced effect. The analysis process and survey development used …