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Articles 31 - 60 of 157
Full-Text Articles in Engineering
Schematic Design And Peer Review Of Gayaza Medical Center And Walk-In Clinic, Abigail Coffing, Alexis Buhr
Schematic Design And Peer Review Of Gayaza Medical Center And Walk-In Clinic, Abigail Coffing, Alexis Buhr
Architectural Engineering
This report outlines the structural portion of the work done for the Gayaza Medical Center in Kampala, Uganda. This project was funded by HIINGA, an impact fund doing work in Eastern Africa, who tasked an interdisciplinary group of Cal Poly students with developing a preliminary design for the the medical center. The team consisted of Annebel van der Meulen (architecture), Abigail Coffing and Alexis Buhr (structural), and Arley Landis and Brett Shank (construction management). After completing the initial design, the structural team at Cal Poly rejoined the project the following quarter to do a peer analysis of the finalized structural …
Hiinga Hospital Project - Uganda, Africa, Arley W. Landis
Hiinga Hospital Project - Uganda, Africa, Arley W. Landis
Construction Management
This paper outlines the role of a construction management student in the interdisciplinary development of an urgent care clinic and hospital in Kampala, Uganda. This interdisciplinary team was composed of five students all belonging to the College of Architecture and Environmental Design at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. The team was tasked by Hiinga Inc., a capital investment company, to provide a preliminary design and construction resources to aid with development of these facilities. Two construction management students worked on this project at different stages. The first student was tasked with constructability research and a preliminary estimate …
An Inexpensive Maximum Power Point Tracking System For An Insulated Solar Electric Cooker Using An Off-The-Shelf Buck Converter, Andrew A. Perez
An Inexpensive Maximum Power Point Tracking System For An Insulated Solar Electric Cooker Using An Off-The-Shelf Buck Converter, Andrew A. Perez
Physics
A specialized control circuit using an off-the-shelf buck converter is built for an Insulated Solar Electric Cooker (ISEC). Cost and efficient power delivery are the focus. An ISEC is synonymous to a direct load heat resistor, allowing a specific maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm and fewer components. Only a microcontroller, voltage sensor, and digital-to-analog converter are used with the buck converter to maximize the power delivered by a 100W solar panel for the 3.3Ω load.
Solid Thermal Storage As An Energy Storage Device In Insulated Solar Electric Cookers: Thermal Modeling And Experiment, Michael Antonio Fernandez
Solid Thermal Storage As An Energy Storage Device In Insulated Solar Electric Cookers: Thermal Modeling And Experiment, Michael Antonio Fernandez
Physics
The use of solid thermal storage (STS) as an energy storage device in insulated solar electric cookers (ISEC) was explored using a thermal simulation before retrofitting an existing cooker without energy storage and testing it under several conditions. STS sizing, material selection, and geometry were examined from both theoretical and practical perspectives and re-examined following experimental results. Characterization of the system’s thermal interfaces and methods to improve their thermal conductivities were investigated resulting in several performance enhancements to the system.
Soil Degradation Of A Plastic Blend Of Opuntia Ficusindica Juice, Animal Protein And Beeswax, Isabel A. Gamez, Daniel R. Kava
Soil Degradation Of A Plastic Blend Of Opuntia Ficusindica Juice, Animal Protein And Beeswax, Isabel A. Gamez, Daniel R. Kava
Materials Engineering
Since the introduction of single use plastics in the early 1900s, their usage has increased exponentially. Unfortunately, due to this exponential increase there are negative environmental implications of their production, which requires further consideration. Currently, there are various waste disposal practices for SUPs, including landfilling, incineration, and recycling. Recent data revealed that only 14 % of plastic waste was recycled, with 40% of plastic waste being landfilled, while the rest of the plastic waste was incinerated or released to the environment at 14 % and 32 %, respectively. A potential solution to the plastic waste issue is developing a polymer …
Journeyman International: The Well Rusororo Project, Maranda F. Maliska
Journeyman International: The Well Rusororo Project, Maranda F. Maliska
Construction Management
The Well Rusororo Project is based in Kigali, Rwanda on the same property of the Light Church of Kabuga. The non-profit organization, Journeyman International has teamed up with the Africa Mission Alliance in an effort to create a community campus available to the public. This project has been broken up into two stages; the first is a renovation of two existing buildings totaling 500 square meters, and the second is a ground-up construction of a 3,000 square meter multipurpose center. For their project-based senior project, this student volunteered with Journeyman International to assist in the creation of the following deliverables …
Preconstruction Services For Hiinga Hospital Kampala, Uganda, Brett Robert Shank
Preconstruction Services For Hiinga Hospital Kampala, Uganda, Brett Robert Shank
Construction Management
This project outlines the role of a construction management student in the interdisciplinary development of a hospital in Kampala, Uganda. The Hiinga Organization, an investment fund in Eastern Africa, tasked a team of students to develop a preliminary design and put together construction resources for a new hospital. Hiinga will use these documents, with the preliminary drawings, to gather funding for the actual construction of the building. The interdisciplinary team consisted of an architecture student (Annebel van der Meulen), two architectural engineering students (Abbie Coffing and Lexi Buhr), and two construction management students (Arley Landis and Brett Shank). Van der …
The Preconstruction Of Sustainable Housing In Muhanga, Rwanda, Rachael Worstman
The Preconstruction Of Sustainable Housing In Muhanga, Rwanda, Rachael Worstman
Construction Management
This project involved the designing and building process of a sustainable, environmentally sound housing option designed for the people of Muhanga, Rwanda. This project was initially inspired by the Earthships built in New Mexico. During the design process the Earthships' design and materials used was evaluated, then altered to better suit Rwanda based on the available natural resources and needs of the people. Rwandans have endured a traumatic history and still experiences struggle today. An example of this is the anti-thatching campaign in 2011 that left thousands of people homeless as they were forced out of their unsafe homes. One …
Subnational Map Of Poverty Generated From Remote-Sensing Data In Africa: Using Machine Learning Models And Advanced Regression Methods For Poverty Estimation, Lionel N. Hanke
Master's Theses
According to the 2020 poverty estimates from the World Bank, it is estimated that 9.1% - 9.4% of the global population lived on less than $1.90 per day. It is estimated that the Covid-19 pandemic further aggravated the issue by pushing more than 1% of the global population below the international poverty line of $1.90 per day (WorldBank, 2020). To provide help and formulate effective measures, poverty needs to be located as exact as possible. For this purpose, it was investigated whether regression methods with aggregated remote-sensing data could be used to estimate poverty in Africa. Therefore, five distinct regression …
Leveraging Intermediate Artifacts To Improve Automated Trace Link Retrieval, Alberto D. Rodriguez
Leveraging Intermediate Artifacts To Improve Automated Trace Link Retrieval, Alberto D. Rodriguez
Master's Theses
Software traceability establishes a network of connections between diverse artifacts such as requirements, design, and code. However, given the cost and effort of creating and maintaining trace links manually, researchers have proposed automated approaches using information retrieval techniques. Current approaches focus almost entirely upon generating links between pairs of artifacts and have not leveraged the broader network of interconnected artifacts. In this paper we investigate the use of intermediate artifacts to enhance the accuracy of the generated trace links – focus- ing on paths consisting of source, target, and intermediate artifacts. We propose and evaluate combinations of techniques for computing …
Structural Calculations For Salvation Academy School For Disadvantaged Children, Emma Constance Lambert
Structural Calculations For Salvation Academy School For Disadvantaged Children, Emma Constance Lambert
Architectural Engineering
Journeyman International is a non-profit organization who partners with students and professionals to provide architectural design, architectural engineering, and construction management work for developing countries in order to combat poverty and ecological destruction on a global scale. The Salvation Academy for Disadvantaged Children is sponsored by Journeyman International and a private client to provide a school campus with a safe and productive environment for children and staff with disabilities. The campus is equipped with classrooms, outdoor gymnasiums, residences for both students and faculty, as well as computer labs and conference areas. The site is located in the Western Area of …
Analyzing The Causes Of Labor Shortage In The Commercial Carpentry Trades In The San Francisco Bay Area, Jack Crayne
Analyzing The Causes Of Labor Shortage In The Commercial Carpentry Trades In The San Francisco Bay Area, Jack Crayne
Construction Management
Skilled labor is vital to the success of any construction project, and no contractor would be able to operate without the skilled laborers that they employ. The construction industry has been subject to a shortage of skilled labor for the last two decades for many reasons, including the poor image of construction workers among the public, inadequate training measures, and an aging workforce. Reviewing the literature on the matter shows that the leading cause of shortage is low pay and increasing age of the workforce overall, while the demand for labor grows at a faster rate than the supply of …
Learn By Giving: Non-Profit Information For Future Senior Projects, Ryan H. Proctor
Learn By Giving: Non-Profit Information For Future Senior Projects, Ryan H. Proctor
Construction Management
This report details the processes, deliverables, and partnerships between various non-profit construction organizations to provide students with accessible information about non-profit construction companies for future senior projects. The information and deliverables of this senior project also to be found in the portal for the construction management preliminary senior project class (CM 460). One of the main goals of this senior project is to encourage students to sharpen construction skills while helping communities in need. This project consists of interviewing local, national, and international non-profit companies to compile information so students understand the different opportunities they have. The first deliverable that …
Journeyman International: Canopy Life School, Housing & Training Complex In Kenya, Spencer P. Mishky
Journeyman International: Canopy Life School, Housing & Training Complex In Kenya, Spencer P. Mishky
Construction Management
The purpose of this project was to provide a master plan for a primary school complex in a rural village in Migori County, Kenya. This facility aims to eliminate any issues for students growing up in the area. The master plan includes a primary school, housing accommodations, a training center, and a dining hall to cultivate success through all stages of these children’s lives. The project is headed by a non-profit organization, Journeyman International in conjunction with Canopy Life International and Take Heart Africa. The project was interdisciplinary involving a construction manager, an architect, and two architectural engineers all working …
Risk Management In Response To Covid-19: Comparative Case Study, Justin Hong
Risk Management In Response To Covid-19: Comparative Case Study, Justin Hong
Construction Management
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected many aspects of the construction industry. Construction industry members such as owners, developers, subcontractors have experienced varying degrees of impacts because of COVID-19. It is important for companies to adopt risk management strategies to mitigate risk and reduce potential injuries. Due to new rules and regulations mandated by the government, companies had to change the way they operate. This comparative case study focuses on how the pandemic has affected large and small residential companies and compare the risk management strategies set in place by different companies. It was determined that most residential companies were not …
Cooking Systems Using Aluminum Foam, Ryan Tetsuo Mizukami
Cooking Systems Using Aluminum Foam, Ryan Tetsuo Mizukami
Physics
In developing countries, the use of wood burning fires for cooking is cause for illness and death. With this in mind, research was conducted to develop a solar cooking device capable of cooking of soup within 15 mins in order to reduce the negative impacts of cooking with wood. Current methods of solar-based cooking, such as solar concentrators and solar tube ovens, are impractical. A small solar panel is a cost-effective way to produce energy but will not produce enough power to cook within a reasonable amount of time. Even if it is assumed that all of the energy produced …
Energy And Economic Losses Due To Soiling On Utility Scale Pv Systems To Guide Timing Of Cost Effective Cleaning, Jackson P. Puckett, Maximilian M. Sosa, Brandon F. Grossman
Energy And Economic Losses Due To Soiling On Utility Scale Pv Systems To Guide Timing Of Cost Effective Cleaning, Jackson P. Puckett, Maximilian M. Sosa, Brandon F. Grossman
Electrical Engineering
The energy and associated economic losses due to soiling on both residential and utility scale PV (photovoltaic) systems can be both significant and avoidable. Losses from 1.2% up to 6% have been reported, which is of interest to system operators [1]. Modules may be cleaned to reduce losses, but this comes with an offsetting economic cost. A quantification of energy losses, and the corresponding economic loss, will allow a determination of a closer to optimal cleaning schedule depending on the level of soiling and corresponding energy loss. Two methods are proposed and compared. Method 1 uses an ARES Soiling Measurement …
Quantitative And Qualitative Error Re-Analysis Of Tidal Datasets, Ernesto Andrew Ledezma
Quantitative And Qualitative Error Re-Analysis Of Tidal Datasets, Ernesto Andrew Ledezma
Master's Theses
Tidal data forms the basis for understanding and quantifying sea-level rise and tidal statistics. While quality assurance methods based upon spectral and harmonic analysis have been applied to individual tidal records, these methods have not been used to assess global tidal datasets. In this thesis, four west coast tidal records were examined using harmonic analysis methods to investigate uncertainty on a monthly averaged basis. Uncertainty was identified using a method that quantifies time lag as a linear regression of height difference between a predicted and measured tidal height and the predicted rate of change of tidal height. Errors identified through …
Atmospheric Water Harvester, Adam C. Goldstein, Scott Seno, Kristen E. Dentici
Atmospheric Water Harvester, Adam C. Goldstein, Scott Seno, Kristen E. Dentici
Mechanical Engineering
Access to potable water is a global issue that has yet to be adequately solved. In regions with limited access to electricity and ground or surface water, it is not always possible to provide clean water requiring external power or extensive infrastructure to implement. This Final Design Report document will outline the background, design and manufacturing plan involved in the development of a passive atmospheric water harvester. This report builds on the earlier Preliminary Design Review and Critical Design Review documents to reflect further research, analysis, comments from reviewers, and detailed design documentation. While a final design was decided on …
Wind/Hydro Power Generation Simulator, Justin Shaun Otus, Nicholas Joseph Steele, Patrick Daniel Murphy
Wind/Hydro Power Generation Simulator, Justin Shaun Otus, Nicholas Joseph Steele, Patrick Daniel Murphy
Electrical Engineering
This project aims to design a wind or hydro power generation simulator. The original scope of this project was to construct a physical simulation apparatus in which wind/water speed data is fed to a microcontroller that adjusts the control voltage of a motor drive. The spinning DC motor would generate power via a coupled generator whose power output would be a scaled down version of wind/hydroelectric generator power output given the same wind/water speed input. Due to Covid-19, the project was altered to be entirely virtual and was made through Simulink in MATLAB. The virtual simulator attempts to mimic physical …
Insulated Solar Electric Cooker, Paige Camacho, Ahmed Gouda, Caroline Hodes, Wyatt Johnson
Insulated Solar Electric Cooker, Paige Camacho, Ahmed Gouda, Caroline Hodes, Wyatt Johnson
General Engineering
The purpose of this Final Project Report is to highlight the work completed by the interdisciplinary engineering capstone project for the Insulated Solar Electric Cooker (ISEC) at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo under the supervision of Professor Jim Widmann (Mechanical Engineering) and Dr. Peter Schwartz (Physics). Dr. Schwartz, better known as Pete, has been working on the project with a team of students for the past five years and is working to integrate the ISEC in Ghanaian communities. This project focuses on making the ISEC mass-manufacturable and making the transition from biomass cooking to solar cooking as familiar …
Analysis And Design Of An Off-Grid Residential Power System, Christopher Rotsios
Analysis And Design Of An Off-Grid Residential Power System, Christopher Rotsios
Master's Theses
This thesis aims to provide a recommended power system design for optimal efficiency, reliability, and cost in off-grid applications. The power system examined in this project is a residence in an off-grid community called Quail Springs that generates its energy from roof mounted solar panels. The existing system was analyzed to see what equipment can remain, what needs to be upsized, and what needs to be added to the system. Two power systems are considered for the residence: a fully AC power system and a hybrid AC/DC power system. Simulations were run in PSCAD to compare the efficiencies of the …
Slo Botanical Garden - Greenhouse Propagation Tables, Garrett William Henley
Slo Botanical Garden - Greenhouse Propagation Tables, Garrett William Henley
Construction Management
This paper describes the planning and construction involved in retrofitting the San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden propagation greenhouse. When trying to determine a senior project, the author of this paper met with multiple non-profit organizations. After interviewing with them, the author determined that the San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden was the organization he wanted to work with. After meeting with the facility director, Chenda Lor, many potential projects were identified but the organization determined this would be of the most use immediately. Upon selection, the scope of work was determined as helping refurbish the propagation greenhouse by removal and/or demolition …
Supply Chain Management: Fragmented Adoption In Practice, Tayler J. Yoshimura
Supply Chain Management: Fragmented Adoption In Practice, Tayler J. Yoshimura
Construction Management
Every day the construction industry develops new ideas and theories toward innovation in increased efficiency and quality for its projects. One method is supply chain management, which focuses on the relationships between partnerships along the supply chain. The theory was first developed in the manufacturing industry and this paper will highlight the reasons behind its fragmented adoption in the construction industry. The overall supply chain typically contains short supply chains that are dismissed upon project completion. Some companies have partially adopted the theory into their work practices but has been unable to fully adopt the theory as a whole. There …
Multiple Input Single Output Converter With Maximum Power Point Tracking For Renewable Energy Applications, Kenneth K. Nguyen, Taufik Taufik
Multiple Input Single Output Converter With Maximum Power Point Tracking For Renewable Energy Applications, Kenneth K. Nguyen, Taufik Taufik
Master's Theses
In this thesis, a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) for multiple input single output (MISO) converter is presented such that power generated from multiple individual energy sources can be combined to deliver the maximum amount of power to a common resistive load. Typically, MISO converters will employ techniques that yield equal current sharing from each energy source. However, this may not be desirable since each source may be rated at different power ratings and/or may experience different operating conditions, preventing the system MISO converter to acquire the most available total power from the sources. Utilizing MPPT control would therefore be …
An Investigation Of Diode Failure, Nicholas James Adams
An Investigation Of Diode Failure, Nicholas James Adams
Physics
Solar electricity can be used to cheaply cook food and charge electronic devices. We investigate the viability of using diodes as heating elements for insulated solar electric cooking (ISEC). In addition, information on designing and constructing ISEC compatible phone chargers and rechargeable LED lighting systems is included.
Neca Ghana Project, Michael T. Klee
Neca Ghana Project, Michael T. Klee
Construction Management
Cal Poly’s motto is, “Learn by Doing" and for Cal Poly’s NECA Chapter, this isn’t simply a motto, but a directive for proactive change. For my senior project I will be leading the Cal Poly NECA chapter in the design, pre- fabrication and construction of a 5-7kw solar array, community center, ice production room and technology room in the remote fishing village of Agbokpa, Ghana. The solar array will power multiple industrial DC freezers, high efficiency LED lighting and charging stations while additionally powering water filtration and irrigation systems. Like many other fishing villages around the world, Agbokpa has no …
On-Site Design Of A Water Filtration System In Rural Ghana, Donald Eugene Long
On-Site Design Of A Water Filtration System In Rural Ghana, Donald Eugene Long
Construction Management
Agbokpa is a rural community in southern Ghana with no access to clean or running water. Villages without access to water face significant hurdles in obtaining an education and developing their communities’ infrastructure and economy. In August of 2019 Cal Poly students Eugene Long, Fletcher Podosek, and Mason Nolan traveled with professors Paul Redden and Dr. Nathan Heston to Agbokpa to fix this problem. The team spent three weeks living in the village and constructing a water tower, pumping system, and filtration system that communally serves the village. The team worked with local craftsmen and sourced nearly all equipment and …
Insulated Solar Electric Cooker Immersion Heater, Emily Burnside, Kaeley Dicks, Joshua R. Stevens, Brady Banks
Insulated Solar Electric Cooker Immersion Heater, Emily Burnside, Kaeley Dicks, Joshua R. Stevens, Brady Banks
Mechanical Engineering
This report is the final design review (FDR) report for our team completing the Insulated Solar Electric Cooker (ISEC) Immersion Heater mechanical engineering senior project. The goal of this project is to standardize and perform analysis on a preexisting, inexpensive solar-powered immersion heater for cooking use in developing countries, reducing the adverse effects presented by traditional biomass cooking fires. We also designed a manufacturing process to improve repeatability and to reduce labor investment of heater production. The ISEC research team from the California Polytechnic State University Physics Department have been working on the development of this immersion heater and have …
Reduce, Reuse, Reengineer, Neil Ryan Robertson, Anthony James Beers
Reduce, Reuse, Reengineer, Neil Ryan Robertson, Anthony James Beers
Architectural Engineering
Our senior project is a research exploration of renewable energy. We recognized there is a major need in the world for the advancement of green power sources. For our project, we wanted to go beyond what we have learned in our Cal Poly architectural engineering classes and to use some of our own creativity to investigate the possibilities of renewable energy from a structural perspective. The guiding question we asked ourselves was, “as architectural engineering students, how could we shift our world to use more renewable energy?” To start our journey off, was the original inspiration from the work of …