Engineering Commons^™

08.18.2025 Ored Connect, Liz Williamson

ORED Newsletter

ORED on-demand training, Tableau training, Research Reception 2025

Development Of An Access Charge Framework For High-Speed Rail Incorporating Rail Replacement Costs And Dynamic Train Characteristics, Nitesh Kumar Yadav

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This thesis develops a framework to determine track access charges for shared high-speed rail corridors, with a focus on rail replacement cost driven by train-induced loads. The method explicitly accounts for both static loads, resulting from axle weights, and dynamic loads that arise from train speed and track geometry, particularly curvature. Train characteristics such as axle load, operating speed, frequency of service, and number of wheels are integrated with track parameters, including curve radius, to calculate the total vertical load. These loads are used to estimate the cumulative tonnage threshold for rail replacement and the resulting service life of the …

Exploring The Role Of Accessibility In Enhancing User Experience: Trends, Challenges, And Opportunities Across Digital Platforms, Adiba Khan

Harrisburg University Dissertations and Theses

Accessibility was a fundamental aspect of enhancing user experience (UX) across digital platforms, ensuring equitable access to information and services for a diverse range of users, including individuals with visual, auditory, cognitive, or motor impairments. As digital products became increasingly central to education, commerce, and communication, the need for inclusive design grew. This study explored the intersection of accessibility and UX, with a specific focus on how accessibility-driven design improved usability, user satisfaction, engagement, and the overall quality of digital interactions. Grounded in Agile project management principles, the research examined how early integration of accessibility into the software development lifecycle …

Emergence Of Norms In The Presence Of Social Network Structure In A Stochastic Evolutionary Game Theory Model, Parker Foresman

Dissertations and Theses

In their 2000 paper, The Emergence of Classes in a Multi-Agent Bargaining Model, Axtell, Epstein, and Young introduced an agent-based bargaining model to study how social norms can emerge and persist from the decentralized, asynchronous interactions of individual agents in the presence of noise, even when these agents have no predefined preferences or advantages. This thesis extends their model by incorporating structured interaction networks, allowing us to investigate how the topology of agent interactions influences long-run dynamics and norm formation. Using a custom simulation package built in the Julia programming language, we replicate the original results under a complete …

08.04.2025 Ored Connect, Liz Williamson

ORED Newsletter

NIH limits AI use and annual proposals accepted per PI

Revealing Building Operating Carbon Dynamics For Multiple Cities, Winston Yap, Abraham Noah Wu, Clayton Miller, Filip Biljecki

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

Achieving carbon neutrality is a critical yet elusive goal for many cities, hindered by limited understanding of the relationship between building emissions and their surroundings. To address this challenge, we present a generalizable open science framework that integrates building energy-consumption data, multi-modal geospatial inputs and graph deep learning to quantify building operating emissions and their links to urban form and socio-economic factors. Applying this approach to five cities with diverse climates and planning contexts—Melbourne, New York City (Manhattan), Seattle, Singapore and Washington DC—we demonstrate that our models explain 78.4% of the variation in building operating carbon emissions across cities, achieving …

Navigating Transportation Barriers: Older Adults’ Familiarity With New Mobility Options And Perceptions Toward Autonomous Vehicles In Arkansas, Arna Nishita Nithila, Suman Kumar Mitra, Michelle Gray, Alishia Juanelle Ferguson, Jennifer D. Webb

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

The objective of this study is to analyze older adults’ familiarity with new transportation options (ride-hailing services, bike-share services, and shared e-scooter services) and their perception towards autonomous vehicles (fully autonomous cars), as well as how transportation barriers influence their familiarity and perceptions, in Arkansas, a predominantly rural state. Data from 775 older adults aged 60 years or older were collected between October 2021 and October 2022. To fulfill the study objective, the study used Latent Class Cluster Analysis to segment older adults into classes based on their familiarity with new transportation options and their perceptions of autonomous vehicles. The …

Constructing A State: Canals And The Transformation Of The Economy, Politics, And Finance In Nineteenth-Century New York, Youwei Xing

All Dissertations

This dissertation consists of three essays in economic history, unified by a focus on one of America's earliest transportation infrastructures, the canal system, in nineteenth-century New York. Each chapter explores a different aspect of the state's transformation: its economy, politics, and finance, each of which helped construct New York as the Empire State.

The first chapter studies the economic impact of canals on economic modernization from three aspects: sectoral transition, urbanization, and banking development. Contrary to much of the modern literature finds transportation infrastructure leads to decentralization, I find the opposite-evidence of centralization. Specially: (1) canal towns experienced a transition …

Resilience Of Interdependent Transportation And Healthcare Systems: A Simulation-Driven Framework Incorporating Social Equity And Facility Optimization, S. Yasaman Ahmadi

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

The overarching goal of this dissertation is to develop an integrated, simulation-driven framework to assess and enhance the resilience of interdependent transportation and healthcare systems before, during, and after natural hazards. By examining how spatial disruptions, social vulnerability, operational constraints, and infrastructure interdependencies affect access to and functionality of hospitals, this research offers a multifaceted evaluation of system performance under stress. This dissertation examines the impact of natural hazards, particularly floods, on the interdependent transportation and healthcare systems. The proposed approach combines and advances GIS-based network analysis, graph-theoretical modeling, and discrete-event simulation to evaluate system performance under different scenarios. The …

Application Of Distributed Fiber Optic Sensing (Dfos) For Monitoring Asphalt Pavement Strains Under Accelerated Loading Conditions, Sebastian Morales

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This thesis presents a study on the application of Distributed Fiber Optic Sensing (DFOS) technology for detecting pavement's strain response with high spatial resolution. Using a Rayleigh-based optical frequency domain reflectometry (OFDR) system, DFOS sensors were calibrated and embedded in full-scale asphalt slabs subjected to accelerated loading using a Model Mobile Load Simulator 3 (MMLS3). Calibration of the DFOS sensors was conducted using a three-point bending flexural test with known load conditions and reference strain gauges to validate theoretical and numerical models. The results demonstrate DFOS's capability to detect pavement response under static and dynamic loading, as well as changes …

Decision Field Theory For Human-Multi-Robot Collaboration: Human-Centric Decision-Making For Multi-Robot Systems, Ryan Mbagna Nanko

All Theses

At first glance, choosing between an apple and an orange appears to be a straightforward matter of personal taste; however, this seemingly simple preference opens a window into the multifaceted world of decision-making, revealing the complex interplay of cognitive processes, psychological, and behavioral-economic principles that guide our choices \cite{bandyopadhyayRoleAffectDecision2013}. By unpacking these nuanced perspectives, we uncover insights that can drive more effective human-robot interaction and collaboration.

Modeling human cognition requires understanding the evolution of choice utility and the influence of emotions. Decision Field Theory (DFT) stands out by capturing the fluctuating nature in human preferences over time, explaining why choices …

International Comparison Of Weather And Emission Predictive Building Control, Christian Hepf, Ben Gottkehaskamp, Clayton Miller, Thomas Auer

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

Building operational energy alone accounts for 28% of global carbon emissions. A sustainable building operation promises enormous savings, especially under the increasing concern of climate change and the rising trends of the digitalization and electrification of buildings. Intelligent control strategies play a crucial role in building systems and electrical energy grids to reach the EU goal of carbon neutrality in 2050 and to manage the rising availability of regenerative energy. This study aims to prove that one can create energy and emission savings with simple weather and emission predictive control (WEPC). Furthermore, this should prove that the simplicity of this …

Genwriter: Reducing Gender Cues In Biographies Through Text Rewriting, Shweta Soundararajan, Sarah Jane Delany

Conference papers

Gendered language is the use of words that indicate an individual’s gender. Though useful in certain context, it can reinforce gender stereotypes and introduce bias, particularly in machine learning models used for tasks like occupation classification. When textual content such as biographies contains gender cues, it can influence model predictions, leading to unfair outcomes such as reduced hiring opportunities for women. To address this issue, we propose GenWriter, an approach that integrates Case-Based Reasoning (CBR) with Large Language Models (LLMs) to rewrite biographies in a way that obfuscates gender while preserving semantic content. We evaluate GenWriter by measuring gender bias …

Developing An Integrated Risk Assessment Framework To Quantify The Resilience Of Critical Railway Infrastructure: Characterization Of Risks And Hazards To The U.S. Rail Network Through Empirical Data And Past Events, Haizhong Wang, Brian M. Staes, Benyamin Ghoreishi

Mineta Transportation Institute

To improve understanding of the impact of natural hazards on the U.S. railway system, this project developed a comprehensive, geospatially precise dataset that maps historical hazard events to specific rail segments. The project provides insight into when, where, and how much damage natural hazards have inflicted on rail infrastructure across the country. While a rail-specific hazard database did not previously exist, this research combines data from the Geological Survey (USGS) Flood Events Database, Hydrologic Unit Codes (HUC), the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the National Weather Service (NWS) forecast zones. …

07.28.2025 Ored Connect, Liz Williamson

ORED Newsletter

On-demand training courses released

• Mentoring
• My Project Was Funded, Now What?

Notice of Funding Opportunity SMART Act Accelerate Initiative

Memo Regarding Contact from Federal Agencies

The Operational Performance Of Buildings In A Humid Subtropical Climate: Insights From Empirical Data And Assessment Models, Oluwafemi Awolesi

LSU Master's Theses

This thesis evaluates the operational performance of residential and non-residential buildings in a humid subtropical climate, emphasizing Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) and energy performance through empirical data and assessment models. Motivated by the increasing need for integrated sustainability evaluations, this study combines a systematic review with multi-method field investigations to advance understanding in this domain. The systematic review critically analyzed 99 case study articles, identifying dominant IEQ assessment methodologies and highlighting methodological inconsistencies that hinder cross-study comparability. Emerging computational approaches, although promising, remain underutilized. The review advocates for standardized, climate-responsive, and feedback-oriented evaluation frameworks. Field investigations assessed IEQ and energy …

A Descriptive Case Study On How Suburban Texas Police Department Drone Use Conforms To Public Opinion, Terrill Brett Spell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to describe the use of drones by suburban police departments in Texas, and its central research question asked how that drone use aligns with what prior research found the public supports. The research design used a holistic multiple-case approach that involved interviewing police officers who use drones as part of their law enforcement responsibilities. Relevant theoretical frameworks were social contract theory, Packer’s theory on law enforcement, and evidence-based policing theory. Data collection involved semistructured interviews of 13 officers representing the same number of Texas suburban police departments. The data collected and analyzed …

Collaborative Class Zine: Weekly Reflection Assignment With Powerpoint Template, Brett Whysel

Open Educational Resources

Abstract

This collaborative class zine assignment uses a shared PowerPoint format to deepen student learning while building community. Students contribute visual reflections (graphics, diagrams, quotes, or doodles) weekly or periodically throughout the semester. Faculty provide reflection prompts about key takeaways and unclear concepts (sample prompts included). The resource includes both sample LMS instructions and a ready-to-use PowerPoint zine template that works across all disciplines. By combining metacognitive reflection with creative expression, students consolidate learning by finding new connections and applications. The collaborative format creates community connections and joy while students learn from peers' diverse perspectives.

Rethinking Green Building Development Through Policy And Operational Metrics: Insights From Baton Rouge And Beyond, Oluwafemi Awolesi

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation explores the challenges and opportunities associated with the development, adoption, and performance of green buildings in regions with relatively low certification uptake, drawing insights from Baton Rouge and its parish system as a case study. It addresses three primary research questions: (1) How can the adoption rate of green buildings be enhanced? (2) How do certified buildings perform compared to their non-certified counterparts? (3) What operational metrics can be applied to better evaluate building performance in the future?

Using a mixed-methods approach, the study examines stakeholder perceptions in East Baton Rouge, Louisiana, investigates energy performance, indoor environmental quality, …

The Impact Of Clean Energy Technology Incentives On Mineral Demand: An Economic Framework For Measuring Response, Hamdiya Orleans-Boham, Mahelet G. Fikru, Kwame Awuah-Offei

Economics Faculty Research & Creative Works

The existing literature establishes the link between clean energy technology (CET) expansion and rising mineral demand but lacks a comprehensive analysis of the transmission mechanisms through which CET policy incentives particularly production and consumption subsidies affect mineral markets. This study addresses the gap by developing an economic model where a CET producer optimally determines mineral input demand and production volume, where the concept of elasticity is used to measure the response of mineral demand to policy incentives. Analytical results demonstrate that the elasticity of mineral demand with respect to CET policies is highly sensitive to returns to scale of CET …

Towards Leveraging Social Media Data For Fostering Collaborations Among Non-Profits, Monazil Chowdhury

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Nonprofit organizations serve a crucial role in tackling a wide range of significant social, environmental, and economic issues. But it is often hard to get a clear picture of their work because their information is spread out and it is difficult to see how they are collaborating. To address this issue we developed a web-based tool to collect scattered data—from a variety of sources, such as the IRS, social media, and the Census, into one easy-to-use resource. The tool begins by taking IRS records and geocoding each nonprofit’s physical address With its coordinates. It then retrieves census tract information from …

Book Review: Building A God, Carl Lee Tolbert

The Journal of Values-Based Leadership

No abstract provided.

Tripping The Telematic Fantastic: Adventures In Presenting Telematic Musicing At In-Person Conferences In 2024, Tom Zlabinger

Journal of Network Music and Arts

This article documents my challenges, successes, and what I learned while demonstrating what I describe as telematic musicing at six academic conferences in the U.S., Scotland, Finland, and Lithuania in 2024. Through personal narrative, autoethnography, and audience reactions, I share observations and conclusions I drew as a result of demoing telematic musicing to different audiences. I outline the technological and attitudinal challenges I encountered at the conferences and assess whether I was able to resolve them. I also discuss the need to strike and maintain a balance between hardware, software, and what Peter Neumann calls “peopleware.” Finally, I reflect on …

Transmission: Works Of Sarah Rose Weaver And Collaborations (2022–2024), Sarah Rose Weaver

Journal of Network Music and Arts

The Transmission Series took place between 2022 and 2024, primarily in a virtual network music setting. The series consists of my compositions and collaborations for solo, chamber, and large ensemble performance, building on my works and essays since 1998 that engage in-person, hybrid, and virtual spaces. This essay details the artistic and technological strategies employed in the Transmission Series, including audio, video, and score excerpts. The technologies discussed include networked audio and video, along with streaming and recording methods. The works featured in the discussion are “Transcendence Transmission” (2022) for large ensemble, “Sub Way” (2022) for chamber ensemble, “Here Mirror” …

Reconceptualizing The Organ Through Networked Spaces: Interviews With Participants Of The 2023 Global Hyperorgan Concert, Daniil Pilchen, Rebekah Wilson

Journal of Network Music and Arts

This paper examines the Global Hyperorgan concert held at the 16th annual Orgelpark Symposium in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in June 2023. The Symposium aims to reimagine the historically significant yet underused pipe organs. As part of meeting this aim, the concert featured performances linking Amsterdam and Vancouver using the Global Hyperorgan, a system that connects pipe organs via network technology. Interviews were conducted with the participating musicians to explore their experiences with this musical platform. Three key themes of primary interest to these musicians are revealed: alternative control interfaces, space and acoustics, and latency as a creative tool that drives innovations …

Traces Of Presence: Remembering Daniel Pinheiro, Billy Clark

Journal of Network Music and Arts

A tribute article in memory of artist Daniel Pinheiro (1982–2025).

The Zone: Hyperintimacy In Telemersive Performance, Benjamin Burger, Patrick Muller, Joel De Giovanni, Martin Frölich, Eric Larrieux, Hannah Walter

Journal of Network Music and Arts

This article explores how immersive technologies can create intimate connections between physically separated people through the telematic performance titled The Zone. The project links two stage spaces—one for a performer and one for an audience member—using advanced technologies including volumetric video, 3D scanning, spatial audio, motion capture, and augmented reality. Developed at the Institute of Computer Music and Sound Technology at the Zurich University of the Arts, these Extended Reality (XR) tools enable what we call hyperintimacy—an enhanced form of connection that transcends physical distance through immersive telepresence. Despite the artificial technological context, participants experience genuine encounters that balance digital …

Mediating The Exquisite: Aesthetic Affordances Of The Network Arts, Seth Adams

Journal of Network Music and Arts

This paper argues that the Network Arts afford uniquely nuanced aesthetic interactions among humans and between humans and machines. After defining these moments under a new concept I call exquisite musicking, I investigate how distributed networks of human and nonhuman actors create experiences that challenge or complicate traditional notions of agency, ensemble, aesthetics, and synchrony. Using Actor-Network Theory as a lens of inquiry, I explore the exquisite affordances of network-based musicking, discussing how pitch, timbre, and texture are co-created in networked performances. I also examine how exquisite musicking could serve as a fruitful concept in music education, particularly in pedagogical …

Editorial, Sarah Rose Weaver

Journal of Network Music and Arts

No abstract provided.

Visionarium, July 2025, Full Issue

International Journal of Emerging and Disruptive Innovation in Education : VISIONARIUM

No abstract provided.