Engineering Commons^™

Review Study On Promoting Diversity And Inclusion In Engineering Education Through Digital Twins, Devon Bountry

College of Engineering Summer Undergraduate Research Program

This study investigates the effect of digital twins in engineering education. This research was based on published research papers, conference papers, and case studies. Throughout a large range of studies, it was shown that digital twins can increase learning motivation and retainment through uses such as game-centered learning, personalized learning, and virtual prototyping. Particularly in engineering laboratory classes, digital twins can increase the variety of laboratory options while not increasing the cost due to equipment. This results in less barriers for students as there are more learning tools available at no additional cost or other requirements.

How Governmental Greenhouse Gas Science Has Been Weathered Through Time And Why It Matters, Christopher Apple

STAR Program Research Presentations

Global consumption of materials and energy is accelerating. The rate of plant and animal species extinction is accelerating. On a finite Earth with a growing population, current consumption cannot continue sustainably. Greenhouse gases (GHGs) tell us an important part of this story. The Global Greenhouse Gas Reference Network, managed by scientists at NOAA’s Earth System Research Laboratory, is the largest greenhouse gas analysis network in the world. It has been shaped by scientific questions, stagnant funding despite rises in research costs, and the task of understanding how the Earth system will respond to a changing climate. The Network began by …

Weights And Balances: Integrating Models For Prevention And Response To Southern California Offshore Oil Spills, Carmen Watts Clayton, Amoret Bunn

STAR Program Research Presentations

Licensing offshore oil and gas reserves in the United States waters are overseen by the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Safety and Enforcement (BSEE). The licensing application includes planning for any worst-case oil spill scenario between BSEE and the applicant based on lessons learned from historic offshore spills such as the Deepwater Horizon (2010), Exxon Valdez (1989), and the Union Oil Platform Blowout (1969). The process for planning to respond to oil spills involves coordination with multiple agencies, trustees, and stakeholders to ensure that oil spill responses consider multiple factors, including ecologically sensitive species, commercial transportation and fisheries, …

Calpoly 2015 Transportation Survey Report, William Riggs

City and Regional Planning Studios and Projects

In the spring of 2015, City & Regional Planning faculty conducted a campus-wide transportation survey as part of work on the campus Climate Action Plan. The survey represented spring 2014 commutes and was issued to a sample of full and part-time CalPoly faculty, staff, students and auxiliaries with assistance from Facilities Services and the Vice President for Administration and Finance.

The total number of responses was 3,961, roughly 17% of the entire campus population of roughly 23,000. Unsurprisingly, the majority of respondents were students, totaling 68.6%, while the rest were made up of faculty, staff, and visitors. Results are significant …

Velocity Contour Weighting Method. Ii: Evaluation In Trapezoidal Channels And Roughness Sensitivity, Daniel Howes, Brett F. Sanders

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

The Velocity Contour Weighting Method (VCWM) was developed in Part I to accurately estimate the cross-sectional average velocity of a prismatic channel flow using acoustic Doppler velocity meter (ADVM) measurements of centerline velocity. Here, the VCWM is validated by its successful application to 25 different concrete-lined trapezoidal channels used for irrigation water delivery. At each site, the cross-sectional distribution of velocity is measured by an acoustic Doppler velocimeter (ADV), which is moved horizontally and vertically through a sampling grid. Multiple tests at some sites led to a total of 51 sets of cross-sectional measurements. ADVM measurements are simulated by interpolating …

Velocity Contour Weighting Method. I: Algorithm Development And Laboratory Testing, Daniel J. Howes, Brett F. Sanders

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

An algorithm is developed for real-time estimation of the cross-sectional average velocity of a channel flow by using an upward-looking pulsed wave acoustic Doppler velocity meters (ADVM). The Velocity Contour Weighting Method (VCWM) is applicable to gradually varied flows in prismatic channels and requires little to no calibration. VCWM estimates the average velocity as a weighted average of ADVM bin velocities. Weights are based on the velocity distribution sampled by the ADVM. Collectively, the VCWM is able to adapt to a wide range of channel geometry and roughness features. Expressions for the velocity weights are developed by first applying a …

Subcritical Contraction For Improved Open-Channel Flow Measurement Accuracy With An Upward-Looking Advm, Daniel Howes, Charles M. Burt, Brett F. Sanders

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Acoustic Doppler velocity meters (ADVMs) provide an alternative to more traditional flow measurement devices and procedures such as flumes, weirs, and stage rating for irrigation and drainage canals. However, the requirements for correct calibration are extensive and complex. A three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model was used to design a subcritical rapidly varied flow contraction that provides a consistent linear relationship between the upward-looking ADVM sample velocity and the cross-sectional average velocity in order to improve ADVM accuracy without the need for in situ calibration. CFD simulations validated the subcritical contraction in a rectangular and trapezoidal cross section by showing …

Non-Standard Structure Flow Measurement Evaluation Using The Flow Rate Indexing Procedure - Qip, Stuart W. Styles, Bryan Busch, Daniel J. Howes, Marcus Cardenas

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This report details the proper installation and calibration techniques for hydroacoustic meters. The calibration procedure developed as part of this study is called the Flow Rate Indexing Procedure (QIP). The QIP can be competed by a professional technician with a boat-mounted Acoustic Doppler Profiler (ADP) or a standard current meter. Once the QIP has been used to properly calibrate a hydroacoustic flow meter, the device can then measure and record the flow rate and volume in a channel to within +/- 6% of actual values.

California Agricultural Water Electrical Energy Requirements, Charles M. Burt, Daniel J. Howes, Gary Wilson

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

The Irrigation Training and Research Center, working under agreement with the California Energy Commission as part of its Public Interest Energy Research Program, conducted an analysis of the energy used to supply water to California's agriculture and examined potential future trends in the agriculture water community to predict future energy requirements.

Benchmarking Of Flexibility And Needs 2002: Survey Of Non-Federal Irrigation Districts (California Department Of Water Resources), Stuart W. Styles, Daniel Howes

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

ITRC interviewed irrigation district personnel from 17 agricultural districts throughout California. Data were analyzed to determine the degree of water delivery flexibility provided to farmers and the extent of existing and planned district modernization. This report did not include irrigation districts with long-term federal contracts.

Evaporation From Irrigated Agricultural Land In California, Charles M. Burt, Andrew Mutziger, Daniel Howes, Kenneth H. Solomon

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

No abstract provided.

Evaporation Estimates For Irrigated Agriculture In California, Charles M. Burt, Daniel J. Howes, Andrew Mutziger

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

All California irrigation districts that receive either federal or state water are now required to prepare Water Conservation Plans. For the first time in the history of most districts, they are developing an elementary water balance. The term "elementary" should be emphasized, because there are significant weaknesses in our knowledge of subsurface flows and some components of Evapotranspiration (ET). Irrigation districts generally use published "typical" values of ET for their water balance computations.

Water Balance-Related Performance Indicators For International Projects, Charles M. Burt, Stuart W. Styles

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

A unique study to examine the impacts of irrigation project modernization was funded by the Research Committee of the World Bank and managed by the International Program for Technology Research in Irrigation and Drainage (IPTRID). The project examined 16 irrigation projects in 10 developing countries, 15 of which have been partially modernized in some aspects of hardware and/or management. Besides developing specific recommendations for donor agencies interested in irrigation project modernization, this project also accomplished the following: 1. A Rapid Appraisal Process (RAP) was developed to quickly (within a week) evaluate an irrigation project to assess what type of modernization …

Evaluation Of Subsurface Drip Irrigation On Peppers, Stuart W. Styles, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This paper is a summary of two farms that utilized the California Energy Commission's low-interest loan program to facilitate their entry into drip irrigation. One farm is located near Oxnard, California, USA and the other is located near Gilroy, California, USA. Both of these growers farm about 162 hectares (400 acres) in their overall operations and used the loans to purchase subsurface drip irrigation systems for Peppers. Over $4 million in low-interest loans have been made available to California growers from the California Energy Commission (CEC) since 1986. The CEC initiated the loan program for growers to help implement energy …

Improving Water Properties To Increase Infiltration Characteristics, Richard W. O. Soppe, Stuart W. Styles

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Water properties, such as the viscosity and surface tension, can be affected by temperature and surfactants to Increase infiltration rates into soils. Specifically, they will change the hydraulic conductivity of the soil. A simple soap solution and the new material PAM (inexpensive polymer chemical) were evaluated as surfactants. Laboratory experiments and field tests on a site in Davis, California were done to quantify the effects of changing the water properties. Additional effects, like the improved soil structure during infiltration and less soil particles in tailwater (reduced erosion due to runoff) were observed and are described in this paper. The conclusions …

Drip Irrigation Technology: A Resource Management Tool For Farmers, John C. Roberts, Stuart W. Styles

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

No abstract provided.

Sizing Of Header And Flushing Manifolds For Row Crop Drip, Charles M. Burt, Stuart W. Styles

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

No abstract provided.

Incorporation Of Reservoirs Into Irrigation Supply Systems To Simplify Flexible Operations, John L. Merriam, Stuart W. Styles

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

No abstract provided.

Grassland Basin Irrigation And Drainage Study, Stuart W. Styles, Dennis Westcot, Dr. Charles M. Burt, Ross Steensen

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This paper summarizes a project that analyzed the district irrigation efficiency for six subareas of the Grassland Basin roughly representing 80,000 acres on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley near Firebaugh, California. The objectives of this project were to: • Determine the district irrigation efficiency for the six subareas. • Update district drainage policies and water reuse. • Update the geographical information system (GIS). • Perform a pre-plant irrigation efficiency analysis. • Establish a relationship between the drainage volumes and the district irrigation efficiency. • Determine the maximum district irrigation efficiency attainable. • Determine the impact of optimizing …

Evaluating Strength & Energy Requirements For Workers Picking Vegetables, R. A. Cavaletto, J. Miles, J. Meyers, J. Mehlschau

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

The paper discusses the need to obtain field data to evaluate the strength and energy requirements for workers picking a variety of vegetables. This information is central to the evaluation of hazards related to repetitive motion, excessive stress, and fatigue. Results can be used to select activities which should be targeted for future engineering design projects. Preliminary data from a commercial broccoli harvesting operation is included.

Irrigation Methods For Drainage Reduction Subsurface Drip Vs. Furrow Irrigation, J.. D. Oster, R. B. Smith, C. Phene, A. Fulton, S. W. Styles, T. Fernandes

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

No abstract provided.

Broad-Crested Weir Application On 15,000-Acre Farm, Stuart W. Styles

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Growers in California have been subjected to increasing pressure to account for water used on the farm due to limited water supplies and increasing energy costs. Water measurement capability provides for equitable distribution of assigned costs and enables effective water management to be accomplished. Broad-crested weirs are proven water measurement devices, especially when applied to on-farm applications. The broad-crested weirs and published data were developed by the USDA Agricultural Research Service in Phoenix, Arizona. This paper is a discussion of an application of these weirs.

Tailwater Recovery Demonstration Program Study, Doug Welch, Tim O'Halloran, Stuart Styles

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

No abstract provided.

Spray Drift Reduction With Shrouded Boom Sprayers, Ronald J. Fehringer, Richard Cavaletto

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Downwind drift was measured from a standard boom sprayer and a shrouded boom sprayer. Using 8002 flat fan nozzles, the hooded sprayer provided a 180 to 275% reduction in drift. The effectiveness of the shroud is dependent upon the spray droplet spectrum.

Water Seepage From Unlined Ditches And Reservoirs, Nigel W.T. Quinn, Richard B. Smith, Charles M. Burt, Tracy S. Slavin, Stuart W. Styles, Amir Mansoubi

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Seepage losses in the San Joaquin Valley's Westlands Water Districts were estimated at 27,000 acre-feet a year, or about 2% of the district's water supply. Ditch configuration and construction techniques appear to influence seepage rates.

Guarding Against Machine Hazards, R. A. Cavaletto

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Successful guarding strategies requires knowledge of machine functions, the physical and psychological characteristics of man, and the their interactions. Machine hazards are identified along with recognized guarding methods. Material is included that could be used to teach this subject (case study, prob!em set, glossary}.

Evaluation Of Two Models For Light Transmission In Biological Materials, R. A. Cavaletto, S. Upadhyaya, M. O'Brien, T. Cahill

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Two light transmission models for biological materials are developed and evaluated. The energy balance model showed promise. It's developed as a 3 coefficient model permitting varied sample absorption and scattering properties. The second model performed unsatisfactorily.

Evaluation Of Micro Irrigation Systems, Charles M. Burt, Robert E. Walker, Stuart W. Styles

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

No abstract provided.

A Light Transmission Model For Biological Materials, R. A. Cavaletto, Shrinivasa Upadhyaya, Michael O'Brien

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This paper describes a model to predict light transmission in biological materials. The model can be used for any shaped sample. Scattering and absorption coefficients are used in the model and may be varied throughout the sample, thus allowing both uniformly distributed and concentrated defects to be modelled.

Guarding Of Table Saws With Light Beams: The Light Guard Concept, R. A. Cavaletto, M. S. Kaminaka, C. M. Zahner

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This paper describes a unique type of psychological safety guard for hazardous tools such as table saws, presses. and other tools with areas and components which are dangerous to human fingers, hands, and limbs. It is not a piece of hardware but rather a shalt of light which defines a danger zone around the saw blade or cutting area.