Engineering Commons^™

Unconventional Energy, Fall/Winter 2015, Issue 31

Sustain Magazine

No abstract provided.

Our Envirome, Spring/Summer 2019, Issue 40

Sustain Magazine

No abstract provided.

Plastic Pollution, Fall/Winter 2019, Issue 39.3

Sustain Magazine

No abstract provided.

Plastic Pollution, Fall/Winter 2019, Issue 39.2

Sustain Magazine

No abstract provided.

Plastic Pollution, Fall/Winter 2019, Issue 39

Sustain Magazine

No abstract provided.

9th International Conference On Structural Health Monitoring Of Intelligent Infrastructure (Smhii-9) Conference Program, Smhii-9

INSPIRE-UTC Annual Meetings

No abstract provided.

Chemical Stabilization Of Expansive Soils Using Liquid Ionic Soil Stabilizers (Liss), Shi He

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Traditional soil stabilizers such as lime and cement are widely used to reduce swell and shrinkage behavior and enhance strength properties of expansive soils through the formation of cementitious products. However, the manufacturing process of these calcium-based stabilizers, such as lime and cement, need large amounts of water and emit gases such as CO, CO2, NOx, and SO2 that are harmful to the environment. Hence, environmentally-friendly techniques are often sought out by the civil infrastructure industry (Puppala et al. 2018a, 2019b, George et al. 2019a, Congress and Puppala 2019). In this research, an alternative stabilizer termed as liquid ionic soil …

Evaluation And Enhancement Of Carbon Sequestration Potential Of Existing Vegetation Along Roadsides, Vikram Kapoor, Jeffrey Hutchinson, Samer Dessouky

Publications

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the vegetative composition and carbon sequestration potential of vegetation along a major roadway in Texas. Soil and vegetation were evaluated along IH-35 within Bexar County for composition and carbon content. Three 20 m transects were placed at each site and percent vegetative cover was estimated and above ground plant biomass, and soil was collected from three 0.25 m2 subplots along each transect. Plant and soil samples were analyzed for carbon content. Two non-native grasses, bermudagrass and King Ranch bluestem, were the dominant cover at all sites accounting for > 90% coverage at several …

Investigation Of Efficiency Loss Of Distributed Solar Power Due To Soiling And Efficiency Recovery By Rainfall, Amanda Mayumi Tanaka

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

As the concern with global warming increases causing the need for CO2 reduction, renewable energy is of great interest as it has lower carbon footprint when compared to conventional sources (natural gas, coal, oil and nuclear). Solar energy has been drawing worldwide attention since it can transform sunlight directly into electricity with the use of photovoltaic (PV) cells. However, this technology has some drawbacks that need to be addressed including dust deposition on solar panels, also known as soiling. Soiling can decrease PV panel’s efficiency thereby resulting in less energy production. The soiling rates are very site specific and depend …

Twenty-Three Unsolved Problems In Hydrology (Uph) – A Community Perspective, Günter Blöschl, Marc F.P. Bierkens, Antonio Chambel, Christophe Cudennec, Georgia Destouni, Aldo Fiori, James W. Kirchner, Jeffrey J. Mcdonnell, Hubert H.G. Savenije, Murugesu Sivapalan, Christine Stumpp, Elena Toth, Elena Volpi, Gemma Carr, David G. Tarboton, Et. Al

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

This paper is the outcome of a community initiative to identify major unsolved scientific problems in hydrology motivated by a need for stronger harmonisation of research efforts. The procedure involved a public consultation through online media, followed by two workshops through which a large number of potential science questions were collated, prioritised, and synthesised. In spite of the diversity of the participants (230 scientists in total), the process revealed much about community priorities and the state of our science: a preference for continuity in research questions rather than radical departures or redirections from past and current work. Questions remain focused …

Potential Use Of High Rate Algae Ponds For Resource Recovery In The Water-Food-Energy Nexus For Tanzania: A Review, Mary Kayombo

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

The use of High Rate Algal Ponds (HRAPs) for the treatment of wastewater and resource recovery has raised interest in recent years. Treatment of wastewater through this technology has proved to have high efficiency in reducing the level of pollution, nutrients, dissolved solids as well as pathogens. HRAPs are more efficient than conventional Wastewater Stabilization Ponds (WSPs) due to their design approach that provides room for high rate bio-chemical processes, which increase the mechanisms of nutrients and pathogens removal as well as the rate of micro-algae production for purposes of resource recovery. This paper reviews the upgrading potential of existing …

Assessment Of Surface Water Resources In Great Ruaha River Sub-Basin Tanzania: Application Of Weap Model For Water Allocation And Utilization Impacts Analysis, Deogratias Mulungu

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

The Great Ruaha River (GRR) sub-basin is one of the most important waterways in Tanzania as it supports important economic activities. The sub-basin is progressively faced with an inevitable situation of increasing water demand among competing users while the quantity and quality of water is diminishing. The focus of this study was to assess allocation of existing (2012) and future (up to 2025) quantities of surface water in the GRR sub-basin with consideration of priorities given in the Tanzania Water Resources Management Act, 2009 in the order: domestic, environment, agriculture, livestock and non-domestic. Simulation of water allocation scenarios of irrigation …

Morphology And Detection Of Corrosion On Stainless Steel Reinforcement In Concrete, Julio J. Saire Yanez

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Stainless steel (SS) has emerged as an alternative corrosion-resistant reinforcement in concrete instead of the commonly used carbon steel (CS). The biggest advantage of SS is that it takes more time for corrosion to initiate than for CS. An additional benefit from the use of SS in concrete may be derived from the period after the corrosion started until the concrete structure reaches a limit state. This period is called corrosion propagation stage (CPS) and it has been hardly studied in SS reinforced structures. The duration of this period could be related, among other factors, to the morphology of corrosion …

Atmospheric Deposition Of Nitrogen And Sulfur In China: Current Status And Future Changes, Cheng Shi

LSU Master's Theses

Dry and wet deposition of nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) has detrimental impacts on the health of both human and ecosystems. Intensive human activities are responsible for elevating emissions and deposition of N and S species. Large population and fast industrial development led China to one of the countries with highest acid deposition. The large fluxes of N and S deposition have caused acidification of surface water and soil, which damages plant growth and biodiversity in China. N and S deposition has been investigated using ground-based monitoring networks and satellite-based sensors. The limitation of location of monitoring sites and performance …

Management Of Global Reservoir Sedimentation: Evaluating Rescon 2 For Sediment Management Alternatives, Christopher Jacob Garcia

Theses and Dissertations

Reservoir sedimentation occurs as dams impound streams and rivers, preventing the delivery of sediments downstream. Globally, reservoirs lose approximately 40 million acre-ft of storage to sediments each year. Several methods for managing reservoir sedimentation have been developed to help extend project life. In 2017, the World Bank sponsored REServoir CONservation (RESCON) 2, a pre-feasibility program aimed to help users select sediment management practices to consider for more detailed studies.There are two main objectives to this research: 1) perform a sensitivity analysis to understand which parameters require greater precision and which can be roughly approximated, and 2) evaluate RESCON 2 suggested …

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 …

Improved Reliability Of Stormwater Detention Basin Performance Through Water Quality Data-Informed Real-Time Control, Sazzad Sharior, Walter M. Mcdonald, Anthony J. Parolari

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Stormwater detentions basins are designed to capture stormwater to reduce and delay peak flows and to improve water quality. A novel technology proposed to improve basin performance is real-time, active control of the basin outflow, in so-called “smart” stormwater systems. Existing studies demonstrate the performance of active controls that respond in real-time to basin water level, detention time, and rainfall forecast for one or a small number of rainfall events. We hypothesize that the performance of these active controls can be improved by incorporating real-time water quality data into the control algorithm. In addition, we hypothesize that active control performance …

Journeyman International - Kilimbi Community Center And Eco-Lodge - Rwanda, Africa, Chris Audi

Construction Management

This project based senior project is an interdisciplinary partnership with a non-profit called Journeyman International (JI) and students from the College of Architecture and Environmental Design (CAED) at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly). Journeyman International worked Empowering Villages and our design team to design a community center, eco-lodge, and guest houses to enable the local population to take advantage of a tourism heavy area creating jobs and income. Empowering Villages objective is to empower, train, and build up the people they work with and hope to someday see Villages around the world become self-sufficient by working with locals …

Journeyman International: Bihongora Library In Rwanda, Africa, Sarah N. Nelson

Construction Management

My senior project is an interdisciplinary effort between students from the College of Architecture and Environmental Design at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and Journeyman International. Our team was given the task to design, engineer, and produce preconstruction services for a library in Bihongora, Rwanda. My main deliverables as the construction manager consist of a construction estimate with quantity take-offs, a construction schedule, and a project site plan. There is a great need for literacy in Rwanda, among both children and adults, so by building a library we are hoping to provide the locals in the community with …

Journeyman International - Rubagabaga Evc And Ace - Rwanda, Africa, Jake M. Stom

Construction Management

Rubagabaga EVC and ACE, or Empowering Villages Center and Agricultural Center of Excellence, is an interdisciplinary project based senior project completed by California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo students. College of Architecture and Environmental Design students Jake Stom, Mackenzie Diaz, Julia De Hart, and Jenna Williams completed the design and preconstruction services with the help of non-profit humanitarian organization, Journeyman International. The deliverable aims to serve the client, Empowering Villages, by providing the complete design of a community center and agricultural training facility near Kaseke Village in Rwanda. The goal is to provide the local community with development efforts …

Mitigating Carbon Dioxide Emissions In The Cement Industry Through Carbon Capture And Storage, Nicholas J. Cramer

Construction Management

The cement industry is responsible for 7% of industrial energy use, the third largest energy consumer in the world. The industry is also responsible for 7% of global carbon dioxide emissions, the second largest industrial emitter. With current trends continuing, global cement usage will rise with population and urbanization. The low-carbon transition of the cement industry requires innovative technologies and producer cooperation. Carbon capture and storage, known as CCS, is a safe and sustainable solution to significantly reduce the amount being released into the atmosphere. Through CCS, carbon dioxide reacts with natural alkaline minerals, such as fly ash, to create …

Metrics For Assessing Overall Performance Of Inland Waterway Ports: A Bayesian Network Based Approach, Niamat Ullah Ibne Hossain, Farjana Nur, Raed Jaradat, Seyedmohsen Hosseini, Mohammad Marufuzzaman, Stephen M. Puryear, Randy K. Buchanan

Faculty Publications

Because ports are considered to be the heart of the maritime transportation system, thereby assessing port performance is necessary for a nation’s development and economic success. This study proposes a novel metric, namely, “port performance index (PPI)”, to determine the overall performance and utilization of inland waterway ports based on six criteria, port facility, port availability, port economics, port service, port connectivity, and port environment. Unlike existing literature, which mainly ranks ports based on quantitative factors, this study utilizes a Bayesian Network (BN) model that focuses on both quantitative and qualitative factors to rank a port. The …

Ole Miss Engineer 2019

Ole Miss Engineer

No abstract provided.

Economical Design Of Cold-Resistant Biogas Digesters For Degrading Household Waste In Mountainous Areas Of Developing Countries, Sunita Baniya

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Energy is a basic tool for social and economic development. However, approximately 90% of rural households in low-income countries still rely on unprocessed traditional biomass fuel as the major source of daily energy. These biomass fuels are typically burned indoors, which leads to exposures to high levels of indoor smoke and associated health risks. Sustainable management of household waste is another environmental problem for rural peoples of developing countries. Currently, 90-95% of total generated wastes in most of developing countries is disposed of in open areas and street curbs.Anaerobic decomposition of waste to produce methane is a cost-effective way of …

Identification Of The Manageable Construction Rework Indicators And Related Successful Strategies, Piyush Taneja

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

In construction projects whether small or large scale, in the design and construction phases, contractors and owners face numerous reworks which finally leads to schedule delays and cost overruns. Although studying the causes of the rework has been of interest of many scholars and researchers, they have mainly focused on identifying the entity-based rework indicators. It is pivotal to identify the key project, organizational, and human factors that lead to the rework. Therefore, this study investigated, identified, and prioritized the human, organization, and project-based manageable indicators of rework. In addition, successful strategies which lead to overcoming rework challenges were evaluated. …

Streamflow Prediction In Ungauged Basins Located Within Data-Scarce Regions, Mohammadhossein Alipour

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Preservation and or restoration of riverine ecosystem requires quantification of alterations inflicted by water resources development projects. Long records of streamflow data are the first piece of information required in order to enable this analysis. Ungauged catchments located within data-scarce regions lack long records of streamflow data. In this dissertation, a multi-objective framework named Streamflow Prediction under Extreme Data-scarcity (SPED) is proposed for streamflow prediction in ungauged catchments located within large-scale regions of minimal hydrometeorologic observation. Multi-objective nature of SPED allows for balancing runoff efficiency with selection of parameter values that resemble catchment physical characteristics. Uncertain and low-resolution information are …

Comparison Of Zero Valent Iron (Zvi) And Zvi+Sludge For The Removal Of High Levels Of Hexavalent Chromium And Chlorate From Waters, Kenneth R. Greenhalgh

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Remediation of contaminated groundwater is becoming increasingly more

important as much of the U.S. population relies on groundwater for their drinking water.

Contaminates such as Chromium, common pollutant at industrial waste sites, and

Hexavalent chromium which is toxic to humans, animals, and plants are major

concerns. Chlorate, another contaminate of concern, has been widely detected in

ground and surface water in the United States and even locally in Henderson Nevada at

the Nevada Environmental Response Trust (NERT) sites. To assist in mitigating this

issue, this research focuses on the removal of high levels of hexavalent chromium (ppm

range) (Cr(VI)) and …

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 …

Recovery Of Water And Salts From Hyper-Saline Mine Water Using Freeze Crystallization, Miriam Gonzalez

Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

In the mining industry, usage of large volumes of water enables mines to conduct multiple processes within one location. Hypersaline brine waters exit the processes of the mine to be utilized for other roles; some of these roles include leaching, recirculation, and extraction operations. These waters are highly concentrated with salt components and are released to different sections of the mine. The salts of highest concentration in the brine are aluminum sulfate and magnesium sulfate heptahydrate, along with low concentrations of many other elements. There are multiple ways to recover purified water from the brine solution: freeze crystallization, evaporative processes, …

Influence Of Fly Ash Fineness And High Replacement Ratios On Concrete Properties, Shihwen Hsu, Maochieh Chi, Ran Huang

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

The influence of fly ash (FA) fineness and a high cement replacement ratio on concrete properties was investigated. Class F FA with an original fineness of 3,150 cm2 /g (3F) and a high fineness of 5,690 cm2 /g (5F) was used; high cement replacement ratios of 30%, 40%, 50%, and 60% by FA with different levels of fineness (two groups: 3F30, 3F40, 3F50, 3F60, and 5F30, 5F40, 5F50, 5F60 by weight of cement) were selected to produce the blended cement concrete. Tests regarding the heat of hydration, compressive strength, water absorption, rapid chloride penetration, and Mercury intrusion porosimetry were performed. …