Engineering Commons^™

Estimating Depth Of Roadway Flooding Using Data From Lidar And Surveillance Cameras, Mahta Zamanizadeh, Mecit Cetin

Graduate Student Government Association Research Conference

In this study, we fuse data from a 3D LIDAR mounted on a vehicle and images from an external traffic surveillance camera to create a 3D representation of a segment of a roadway that experiences frequent flooding. The point cloud data from the LiDAR in this study is collected from a road segment of W 49^th Street in Norfolk, near the ODU campus. The traffic surveillance camera is mounted on a public parking building in the same area. The LiDAR collects continuous point cloud frames as the vehicle traverses the section. Multiple LIDAR frames related to the respective segment …

Rapid Prediction Of Coastal Flooding With Deep Neural Networks, Ali Shahabi, Navid Tahvildari

Graduate Student Government Association Research Conference

With the increasing impact of climate change and relative sea level rise, low-lying coastal communities face growing risks from extreme storm tides and recurrent nuisance flooding. Thus, timely and reliable predictions of coastal water levels are critical to resilience in vulnerable coastal areas. Over the past decade, enormous efforts have been made to utilize machine learning (ML) based data-driven models for the emulation and prediction of storm tides. However, flood advisory systems still rely on running computationally demanding real-time hydrodynamic models. because developing highly reliable ML-based models suitable for real-time forecasting and capable of capturing any surge levels is challenging. …

Advancing Prosthetic Technology: 3d-Printed Robotic Arm With Micro Linear Actuators, Vu Tran, Nathan Reed, Mahdi Yazdanpour

Posters-at-the-Capitol

The increasing demand for affordable and accessible prosthetic solutions has driven innovation in the field of robotics. In this project, we present the design and development of a 3D-printed robotic prosthetic arm aimed at addressing the challenges faced by individuals with upper limb amputations. Our prosthetic arm utilizes five micro linear actuators to achieve precise and naturalistic movement. The design of the prosthetic arm prioritizes affordability and accessibility, with a focus on leveraging 3D printing technology to reduce manufacturing costs and enable customization. The use of micro linear actuators offers advantages in terms of compactness, lightweight construction, and efficient power …

Predicting Hazardous Near-Earth Objects Using Machine Learning For Planetary Defense, John Costa (Student), Lily Popova Zhuhadar (Mentor)

Posters-at-the-Capitol

Predicting Hazardous Near-Earth Objects Using Machine Learning for Planetary Defense

This research develops a machine learning model to classify Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) as hazardous or non-hazardous based on their physical and orbital characteristics, leveraging NASA's dataset of certified NEOs. NEOs, including asteroids and comets, often pass within close proximity to Earth, and while most pose no threat, some have the potential for catastrophic impacts. By using predictive models such as decision trees and random forests, this study aims to prioritize resources for monitoring and mitigation of high-risk objects. The model incorporates key features like velocity, diameter, and proximity to Earth …

Finding The Worst Case Time Scenario For Messages Being Sent And Received To Two Arduinos, Seniya Baig

Undergraduate Symposium

To characterize the theoretical behavior, we analyzed the worst-case-timing communication between 4 nodes using Arduino Minima. The project focused on understanding the message transmission and reception via CAN Bus, with 4 Arduino R4 Minima and a Level Voltage Converter to shift from 3.3V to 5V. After trials and errors, we successfully measured the worst-case timing for sending and receiving messages across the 4 Arduino R4 Minima nodes. These findings provided valuable insights into the effectiveness of CAN communication.

Embrace The Journey: Exploring Induction Experiences Of Teachers In Ohio Independent Stem Schools, Laura Sass

Indiana STEM Education Conference

The beginning years of a new teacher are a critical period. This study investigated perceptions of induction activities of new teachers in Ohio Independent STEM schools. STEM-based pedagogies such as problem-based learning and inquiry are core strategies in STEM schools but can be new for beginning teachers. Through a Q-sort, thirteen participants from three Independent STEM Schools ranked statements on a +5 to -5 scale of agreement. This along with a post-sort survey resulted in themes. Positive school culture and colleague collaboration and the impact of the mentoring were found to be the most impactful. This research aligns with literature …

Indiana Stem Teachers’ Perceptions Of The Shift From In-Person To Virtual Training During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Steve Heinold

Indiana STEM Education Conference

The COVID-19 pandemic brought uncertainty to Indiana teachers in 2020. School closings caused disruptions to teachers’ classroom settings, ongoing training, and social and mental well-being (Pozo-Rico et al., 2020). Indiana GEAR UP’s commitment to teacher professional development for STEM educators led to a shift from their in-person summer teacher training sessions to virtual, just months after the school shutdowns in spring 2020. Participant evaluations showed that teachers appreciated the virtual training options and were able to learn new strategies to apply to their new virtual learning spaces. The online training sessions also had drawbacks. This research brief describes recommendations to …

Spatio-Visual Reasoning And Teamwork Through Hands-On Stem Construction Activities, Comfort Temitope Aje, Maria Eloisa C. Nuguid, Melihan Ünlü, Humphrey Chinenye Ochulor

Indiana STEM Education Conference

This study examined a STEM activity in which students in grades K-6 designed and built a model of Snoopy’s doghouse with considerations for constraints, teamwork, and iterative design. By combining spatial reasoning with imagination and visualization, students collaborated to create 3-D structures from 2-D plans, demonstrating enhanced spatial visualization and the ability to connect geometry to a tangible engineering task. The findings highlight the value of spatio-visual design activities in promoting skills like spatial reasoning, critical thinking, and problem-solving.

Leveraging Undergraduate Expertise For Effective Stem Instruction: Insights From A Forensic Science Teaching Partnership, Swagata Sarkar, Hui-Hui Wang, Austin R. Jenkins, Mariah K. Stollar

Indiana STEM Education Conference

Although integrated science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) instruction has been cited as a viable instructional approach to increasing the number of students interested and prepared to enter the STEM workforce, teacher content knowledge can be a limiting factor to effective implementation (Ejiwale, 2013). To address this limitation, college STEM majors can use their content expertise to support the development and implementation of integrated STEM experiences for K-12 students (Ferrara et al., 2018). This research brief reports on a university-high school partnership where undergraduate students in a university forensic science club created and implemented integrated STEM lessons in a local …

The Aftermath Of An Earthquake: Healing Power Of Engineering For Turkish Elementary School Children, Pinar Fettahlioglu, Senay Purzer, Cagan Findikkiran

Indiana STEM Education Conference

The February 6th, 2023, earthquake significantly impacted children in Turkey, causing both physical and emotional challenges. To help students enhance their understanding of earthquakes and their impact, we have integrated engineering-based STEM activities in a 5th-grade classroom. Students designed earthquake-proof structures and tested their strength. The research involved 15 students from the earthquake-affected region of Adana. Data included a conceptual understanding scale using a single-group pre-test and post-test design. Analysis indicated that students had limited prior knowledge about the causes of and safety measures for earthquakes before the intervention. Post-test results revealed statistically significant improvements in their learning.

Stem Education In Indiana: Analyzing The Availability Of Stem-Certified Schools For Underrepresented Communities, Bryan J. Duarte

Indiana STEM Education Conference

This study examines the equity of access to STEM-certified schools in Indiana, focusing on differences in student demographics between STEM-certified and non-STEM-certified schools. The results show no statistically significant differences in the percentage of female, non-White, or lower socio-economic students between the two groups. However, significant differences were found in the percentages of Latiné/a/o/x, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and Asian students, with these groups being underrepresented in STEM-certified schools compared to non-STEM-certified schools.

Boosting Computational Thinking In Integrated Stem Education With Cad, Hyeong Kyun Park, Jung Han, Yunjin Lim

Indiana STEM Education Conference

Integrated STEM education offers a powerful approach to enhancing students’ learning. By integrating science inquiry, technological literacy, engineering design, and mathematical thinking, integrated STEM fosters students’ 21st-century competencies, such as creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and computational thinking. Drawing from a national integrated STEM project, this research uses a classroom case study to investigate the integration of Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and 3D printing into a STEM learning activity. It examines the use of mathematical computation to determine the best solution for a prototype that meet functional criteria. This research highlights how introducing CAD instruction enhances computational thinking within a conceptual framework …

Integrating Turtle Graphics And Engineering Design: Enhancing Problem-Solving And Critical Thinking Through Digital And Physical Prototyping, Abigail Erskine

Indiana STEM Education Conference

This research brief is a review of literature on integrating Turtle Graphics and engineering design to enhance students' problem-solving and critical thinking through prototyping. Integrating Turtle Graphics with digital and physical prototyping engages students in the engineering design process, helping them bridge abstract mathematical concepts with real-world applications. By combining programming and engineering design, Turtle Graphics supports complex tasks like visualization and design modeling, which improves students’ critical thinking, design thinking, and problem-solving skills. Through iterative testing and refinement, students gain practical insights into engineering concepts such as modeling and creating prototypes.

Rebuilding The Spatial Visualization Test, Maerianna Artang, Maia Catterall, Yagmur Onder, Nrupaja Bhide, Dhinesh Balaji Radhakrishnan, Jennifer J. Deboer

Indiana STEM Education Conference

Literature demonstrates that spatial visualization skills are crucial for students entering engineering and are used as early indicators of success. Historically, studies stated that students of gender or cultural minorities in engineering scored lower than their White, male counterparts. However, recent studies critically question the research approaches used in such studies (Bartlet, 2023; Önder et. al, 2023). We investigate the possible reasons for this score discrepancy and explore the construction of an asset-based spatial visualization assessment. Our work expands the area of spatial visualization development as applied in engineering design, specifically for the scope of marginalized learner contexts. We incorporated …

Proceedings Of The Tenth Annual Indiana Stem Education Conference: Generational Advances Through Stem Education, William S. Walker Iii, Lynn A. Bryan, S Selcen Guzey

Indiana STEM Education Conference

The Proceedings of the Tenth Annual Indiana STEM Education Conference are edited by the Center for Advancing the Teaching and Learning of STEM (CATALYST, https://www.education.purdue.edu/catalyst/) at Purdue University. The theme for the 2025 conference is Generational Advances through STEM Education. This year’s conference provides opportunities to learn about effective STEM education strategies, curriculum, and resources to engage students by considering the advances and impact of STEM.

Ginger: The Effect Of Illustrated Storybooks On Children’S Response And Teachers’ Facilitation In Stem Education, Defne Yabas, Tugba Abanoz, M. Sencer Corlu

Indiana STEM Education Conference

This study aims to explore children’s and teachers’ responses to the integration of illustrated storybook content into STEM activities in early childhood. The correlation between STEM content and illustrations in children's storybooks conveying scientific information is a crucial aspect that can impact children's learning of STEM. Studies have reported the utilization of storybooks in STEM education for young children (Abanoz & Yabaş, 2022; Pantoya et al., 2015), yet an absence of research has been noted regarding the impact of illustrated storybooks on children's engagement in STEM education. There is substantial research evidence that early childhood teachers have low self-efficacy beliefs …

Informal Education Experiences: Why Stem Camps Matter, Jeffrey A. Nowak, Dale Ruppert

Indiana STEM Education Conference

This research brief details some of the positive impacts of student participation in after-school STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) camps provided by universities and informal education centers as described in published literature. In addition, the authors reviewed 2,841 anonymous participant surveys of 1^st-12^th grade students involved in nineteen STEM camps held at Purdue University Fort Wayne from 2019-2024 for related findings. Findings indicate that providing an enjoyable and enriching learning environment for STEM camps can foster a mindset of curiosity and a love for learning. Students who attend STEM camps likewise often experience a range of …

Mathematical Modeling For Interdisciplinary Stem Problem-Solving, Dayat Hidayat, Signe Kastberg

Indiana STEM Education Conference

STEM education supports students’ real-world problem solving by utilizing connections between STEM disciplines. Yet teachers have questions about how to provide such support. Mathematical modeling involves the use of mathematics content and processes to solve problems in integrated STEM contexts. In this research brief we illustrate how mathematical modeling can support students’ integrated STEM problem solving.

Ripples Of Change: Middle School Students Navigating The Future Of Our Watershed Through Eco-Stem, Elizabeth Andrew Thiel

Indiana STEM Education Conference

Ripples of Change is an eco-STEM unit designed to address Indiana’s environmental education goals by fostering environmental literacy and informed decision-making among middle school students. By engaging students in community-based learning activities that empower students to address watershed issues, this eco-STEM unit promotes culturally sustaining integrated STEM education. Preliminary findings indicate increased student awareness and responsibility for their impact on local ecosystems using evidence-based reasoning, highlighting the potential for Ripples of Change to inspire global citizenship in students and scalable eco-STEM approaches.

Leveraging Algebraic Thinking In Stem Education To Equip The Next Generation Of Problem Solvers, Asenath Odondi, Comfort Temitope Aje

Indiana STEM Education Conference

Algebraic thinking is a critical skill in mathematics education, involving pattern recognition, generalization, symbolic manipulation, and problem-solving. It is essential for success in STEM fields and should be developed throughout education, starting in early grades. This literature review synthesizes research on algebraic thinking, focusing on problem-based learning. The review indicates that incorporating algebraic thinking into problem-based learning with non-routine activities enhances students' understanding and real-world problem-solving in STEM.

Observing Evidence Of Fixation During K-12 Engineering Design Challenges Using Variables Adapted From Post-Secondary Research, Sopheak Seng, William S. Walker Iii

Indiana STEM Education Conference

Design fixation is a phenomenon impacting students when they generate ideas for an engineering challenge and subsequently hesitate to consider alternative ideas throughout the design activity. Research into fixation with post-secondary students has shown that fixation can limit the quantity and the quality of design solutions. This research brief will describe how fixation has been measured at the post-secondary level and suggest the need for complementing quantitative with qualitative analyses.

Impacts Of Informal Stem Summer Camps On Middle School Student Stem Identity, Austin R. Jenkins, Joshua Faith, Steve Heinold

Indiana STEM Education Conference

Informal or out of school STEM spaces have been documented as sites of positive STEM identity development for youth historically marginalized in formal STEM spaces (Çolakoğlu et al., 2023). To increase the number of students who develop positive STEM identities during the critical juncture of middle school, Indiana GEAR UP offered summer camps to rising 7th and 8th grade students at selected middle schools across the state. Longitudinal interviews with students indicate the importance of informal STEM spaces, like summer camps, in fostering positive STEM identity development.

Innovative Stem Learning Through Solar Oven Design: Promoting Creativity And Teamwork In Stem Education, Humphrey Chinenye Ochulor, Abigail Erskine, Comfort Temitope Aje

Indiana STEM Education Conference

STEM education benefits significantly from integrating design-based learning (DBL) which fosters student creativity and teamwork. This research brief examines how solar oven design projects for K-12 students that involve DBL promote students' creative skills and teamwork. A literature review was done to investigate how solar oven design activities impacted student learning. Research has shown that students improve creativity and teamwork when these activities are carried out using DBL strategies.

Disturbance Observer-Based Control Schemes For Off-Grid Renewable Energy-Based Distributed Generation Systems Feeding Unbalanced And Nonlinear Loads, Samantha Sasi Stephen

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

This thesis addresses two critical issues in Renewable Energy-based Distributed Generation (REDG) systems that operate autonomously to supply unbalanced and nonlinear loads. The first issue concerns voltage regulation in grid-forming three-phase Pulse Width Modulation Voltage Source Inverters (PWM VSIs), which convert DC power generated by Distributed Generators (DGs) into three-phase AC power. These inverters often face challenges when feeding unbalanced and nonlinear loads, leading to poor voltage quality. To address this, a voltage controller was developed for grid-forming three-phase PWM VSIs to deliver symmetrical and high-quality voltage to such loads. The proposed controller integrates a Disturbance Observer (DO) into a …

Investigating The Effect Of Active Living Wall On Indoor Air Quality And Energy Consumption: Case Study In Uaeu Closed Offices, Atina Ghunaim

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Extreme hot climates can significantly affect indoor air quality (IAQ) and ventilation, resulting in higher energy demands. Numerous studies have demonstrated that outdoor greening, such as trees and landscaped areas, can reduce a building’s energy consumption. However, less research has been conducted on the impact of indoor vegetation on energy use and air quality. Indoor vegetation decreases carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentration by absorbing and releasing oxygen (O₂), while the evapotranspiration process further enhances (IAQ) and reduces energy expenditure. The United Arab Emirates has dry arid climate and summers with high humidity levels, causing individuals to stay longer indoors, which is …

Durability Of Basalt Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Bars In Moist Geopolymer Concrete, Mouaz Chkhachirou

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

The rapid growth of infrastructure projects in the Gulf region has significantly increased the demand for construction in the urban coastal areas of the Arabian Gulf. This harsh coastal environment accelerates the corrosion of steel reinforcement in structural concrete, which leads to severe safety hazards as well as considerable financial losses. The utilization of non-corrodible materials as reinforcement bars in concrete structures would extend their service life and reduce the operation and maintenance expenditure. Basalt fiber-reinforced polymer (BFRP) bars have great potential to replace traditional steel reinforcement and eliminate corrosion-related problems. At the same time, the construction industry is responsible …

Developing A New Method For Brine Purification And Reducing Salinity Using Recycled Carbon Fiber, Fatemeh Bahaeddin

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Brine water, defined as hot and high salt content water, can be produced in large amounts from water desalination. The potential environmental impacts of brine disposal were evaluated in several studies. Minor variations in water salinity and temperature can significantly influence marine ecosystems. Elevated salinity levels disrupt the osmotic equilibrium between aquatic organisms and their surroundings, which leads to cell dehydration. Various disposal techniques have been implemented recently, including surface water discharge, sewage discharge, deep-well injection, evaporation ponds, and land application. However, these brine disposal techniques are unviable due to their high capital costs and limited applicability. In recent years, …

Dynamic Resource Allocation For Beyond 5g Networks Through Uav-Assisted Communication, Iman Adel Sami

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

In response to the surging demand for cellular services, driven partly by the post-COVID-19 era, network operators are grappling with the challenge of enhancing network capacity and throughput. Fifth-generation mobile technology and beyond (6G) with techniques like network slicing are emerging as promising solutions for faster data speeds and improved network performance across various devices. In network slicing, distributing radio resources between different virtual operators (slices) is often performed in a static manner. Therefore, due to the dynamic user demand, the users of one virtual operator could suffer from a lack of resources, whereas another virtual operator with overlapping cells …

Development Of Novel Nanobiocatalysts For Enhancing Carbon Dioxide Capture, Merna Tarek Farag

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

The emissions of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere cause a climate change that has devastating impacts. Therefore, reaching the net zero goal, which is the balance between the amount of greenhouse gas emitted to the atmosphere and that removed from it, is critical for the future of our planet unless the net-zero goal is achieved soon, the impacts of climate change will continue to worsen, with severe consequences for ecosystems, human health, and global security. Achieving this goal requires a fundamental shift in the way we produce and consume energy, including the rapid transition to renewable energy sources with improvements …

Performance Of Geopolymer Concrete Incorporating Recycled Aggregates And Glass Fibers, Mohammed Abughali

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

This study aims to investigate the potential use of geopolymer concrete (GC) incorporating recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) and glass fibers (GF) as a sustainable alternative to traditional cement-based concrete. It comprehensively evaluated the impact of RCA and GF on the fresh, physical, mechanical, and durability properties. A blended precursor binder consisting of ground granulated blast furnace slag and fly ash was utilized. To mitigate the challenges associated with the brittle behavior and low crack resistance of GC, mainly when incorporating RCA, two types of GF were used. Type A had a length of 24 mm, while Type B exhibited a …