Engineering Commons^™

Gathering Leadership Momentum Across Great Distances: Creating An Online Community Of Practice, Erin Dini-Davis, Danielle Theiss-White

Library Faculty & Staff Publications

At the 2007 Mountain Plains Library Association Leadership (MPLA) Institute, held in New Mexico, USA, eight academic librarians formed an online multi-state, multigenerational community of practice. MPLA is a twelve-state library association within the United States. Using Google Groups™, the members formed an online environment called the MPLA Community of Practice for continuing development of the leadership skills presented at the Institute. These early-career librarians represent diverse educational backgrounds and work in libraries serving varied populations with differing disciplinary emphases. The group meets monthly with each member preparing and facilitating online discussions, complete with personal assessments, topical readings, and questions. …

Formulating A Conceptual Base For Secondary Level Engineering: A Review And Synthesis, Rodney L. Custer, Jenny L. Daugherty, Joseph P. Meyer

Reports of Center Studies

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education across the K-16 spectrum. While much of this interest has concentrated on science and mathematics, technology and engineering are emerging as authentic educational problem solving contexts, as well as disciplines in their own right at the K-12 level. Over the past 20 years, the technology education field has concentrated on defining and implementing a set of content standards, the Standards for Technological Literacy (ITEA, 2000) (STL), with mixed results. On a national scale, the field continues to evolve from its historical industrial arts …

Delivering Core Engineering Concepts To Secondary Level Students, Chris Merrill, Rodney L. Custer, Jenny Daugherty, Martin Westrick, Yong Zeng

Publications

Within primary and secondary school technology education, engineering has been proposed as an avenue to bring about technological literacy (Lewis, 2005; Dearing & Daugherty, 2004). Different initiatives such as curriculum development projects (i.e., Project ProBase and Project Lead The Way) and National Science Foundation funded projects such as the National Center for Engineering and Technology Education (NCETE) have been developed to infuse engineering into primary and secondary education. For example, one key goal of the technology teacher education component of NCETE is to impact the focus and content of the technology education field at the secondary level (National Center for …

Resources - Thinking Small: Nano Small, David Stricker

Publications

The article provides information on the "Nanooze" magazine publication. It notes the significance of nanotechnology to the development of latest innovations that come from materials at smallest dimensions or at the nanoscale levels. It presents resources published within the publication that explore the emerging issues in nanotechnology.

Essential Concepts Of Engineering Design Curriculum In Secondary Technology Education, Robert G. Wicklein, Phillip C. Smith Jr., Soo Jung Kim

Publications

Technology education is a field of study that seeks to promote technological literacy for all students. According to a recent study, in the United States, technology education is part of the state framework for 38 states, there are approximately 35,909 middle or high school technology teachers, and technology education is most frequently an elective course (Meade & Dugger, 2004). Indeed, students have an opportunity to learn about the processes and knowledge related to technology that are needed to solve problems and extend human capabilities through technology education. Wright and Lauda (1993) defined technology education as a program designed to help …

Mechanistic-Empirical Modeling In Network-Level Pavement Management, Scott Schram, Magdy Abdelrahman

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Researchers and practitioners have long recognized the advantages of mechanistic modeling. As agencies implement the Guide for Mechanistic-Empirical Design of New and Rehabilitated Pavement Structures [referred to as the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG)] in the local project-level pavement management system (PMS), its potential as a planning tool in network-level analyses remains unrecognized. A unique, large-scale application of MEPDG is presented. The Nebraska Department of Roads uses a decision tree that systematically screens and identifies candidates for entry into a multiyear optimization program. The process uses linear deterioration rates that have been shown to provide an R² value as …

Analysis Of Wear Models For Advanced Coated Materials, Simon Montgomery, David Kennedy, Noel O'Dowd

Conference Papers

Tribological tests, mathematical modelling and simulations have been conducted over the last few decades to investigate the nature and effects of mechanical wear in coated and uncoated materials. Mathematical models have been developed and in unison with specifically designed empirical tests, the veracity/capability of these models has been investigated. In more recent cases advanced engineering analysis tools, such as FEA and DOE, are used to further compliment and refine experimental techniques.

Studies have focused on the various wear mechanisms: abrasion, adhesion, erosion, corrosion wear, fatigue wear and also on different combinations of these. The intrinsic importance of the material in …

Drive-By Shootings, John Alfred Heitmann

History Faculty Publications

Although often associated with Southern California and young gang behavior, the drive-by shooting became commonplace during the 1990s across America.

Fuzzy Optimal Swarm Of Autonomous Aircrafts For Target Determination And Convergence Control System, Zach D. Richards

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The thesis project proposes analytical and theoretical algorithms for a networked swarm of autonomous vehicles, such as those used in planet exploration, and to be used in target location determination and convergence, an algorithm of this type could be used in an Autonomous Stratospheric Aircraft (ASA), thus having the possibility of being used for the exploration of a planet as well as many other applications. Upon locating an unknown location of a specified target, the algorithm would then swarm and eventually converge upon the location. There are two similar, but fundamentally different algorithms proposed in this project. These algorithms are …

Biological Opinion On The Operation Of The Missouri River Main Stem System, Operation And Maintenance Of The Missouri River Bank Stabilization And Navigation Project, And Operation Of The Kansas River Reservoir System

United States Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) prepared this Annual Report for interested parties in accordance with reporting recommendations of the Biological Opinion on the Operation of the Missouri River Main Stem System (System), Operation and Maintenance of the Missouri River Bank Stabilization and Navigation Project and Operation of the Kansas River Reservoir System, prepared by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), dated November 30, 2000, and the Amendment thereto, dated December 16, 2003 (BiOp). This annual report also documents the Corps’ activities implemented under the Missouri River Bank Stabilization and Navigation Fish and Wildlife Mitigation Project, Iowa, Nebraska, …

Missouri River Recovery Program: Flood Risk Management

United States Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District

One of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ main responsibilities in managing the Missouri River is protecting property from flood damage. Historically, the dynamic river changed course during the spring and summer months, flooding some areas and eroding banks in other areas. Today, approximately 1.4 million acres of farmland and nearly $18 billion dollars of residential and other property are subject to flooding along the Missouri River. Agricultural lands, residential areas, business districts and navigation benefit from flood risk management measures provided by the Corps through the system of reservoirs on the Missouri River.

Missouri River Recovery Program: Water Supply And Water Quality

United States Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District

The Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) operates a system of six dams and reservoirs on the Missouri River to serve the multiple purposes authorized by Congress in the Flood Control Act of 1944. In addition to operating the system for flood control, navigation, hydropower, recreation, and fish and wildlife, the Corps is also authorized to use the system for irrigation, water supply and water quality. This fact sheet will discuss the Corps efforts regarding these three authorized project purposes.

Missouri River Recovery - Integrated Science Program

United States Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District

Book List

System-wide Status Reports, Guidance Documents & Standard Operating Plans

Pallid Sturgeon

Least Tern and Piping Plover

Flow Modifications

Adaptive Management

Cottonwoods

Biomedical Informatics Research Network (Birn) Data Repository, Laurence Jonathan Bouts Bohannan

Theses Digitization Project

The primary goal of this project was to streamline the submission process for researchers to categorize, approve, curate, and publish these data sets. By supporting the sharing and exchange of these data types in fulfillment of the National Institute of Health guidelines the BIRN Data Repository will have the ability to grow as the need develops for these researchers to easily share information.

Efficient Proton Computed Tomography Image Reconstruction Using General Purpose Graphics Processing Units, Scott Alan Mcallister

Theses Digitization Project

This thesis will investigate the use of general purpose graphics processing units (GPGPUs)for execution of parallel algorithms as well as exploiting the structure of the data being processed.

Examination Of Assessment Practices For Engineering Design Projects In Secondary Education (Part 2), Todd R. Kelley, Robert C. Wicklein

Publications

There is a growing interest in the topic of engineering design for technology education. At the 2007 and 2008 International Technology Education Association (ITEA) conference held in San Antonio, over 80 presentations were related to engineering topics. Further evidence of the influence and impact of engineering design content comes from the large number of well documented curriculum projects designed to infuse engineering content into technology education such as Engineering by Design; Project ProBase; Project Lead the Way, and Introduction to Engineering (Dearing & Daugherty, 2004). Likewise, state curriculum standards exist for the teaching of engineering design in technology education (Massachusetts …

A Theoretical Framework To Guide The Re-Engineering Of Technology Education, Todd R. Kelley, Nadia Kellam

Publications

Before leaders in technology education are able to identify a theoretical framework upon which a curriculum is to stand, they must first grapple with two opposing views of the purpose of technology education – education for all learners or career/technical education. Dakers (2006) identifies two opposing philosophies that can serve as a framework for technology education, both inspired by ancient Greece, with the works of Descartes and the birth of positivism. Later reappearing in Pascal’s writings of the mathematical mind, and finally with Rousseau in the mid 1700s, the theoretical arguments of academic verses vocational were established in education, and …

Integrating Engineering Design Into Technology Education: Georgia's Perspective, Cameron Denson, Todd Kelley, Robert C. Wicklein

Publications

This descriptive research study reported on Georgia’s secondary level (grades 6-12) technology education programs capability to incorporate engineering concepts and/or engineering design into their curriculum. Participants were middle school and high school teachers in the state of Georgia who currently teach technology education. Participants completed a Likert-type online-survey which reported on technology education teacher’s (a) current instructional practices to teach engineering-based instruction, (b) curricular value placed on engineering-based instruction, and (c) instructional needs to teach engineering-based topics. General demographic information was collected from all participants. The results from the study aided in informing the educational community on the perspective of …

Engineering Design Activity: Understanding How Different Design Activities Influence Students' Motivation In Grades 9-12, Oenardi Lawanto, Gary Stewardson

Reports of Center Studies

The objective of this study was to evaluate grade 9-12 students’ motivation while engaged in two different engineering design projects: marble-sorter and bridge designs. The motivation components measured in this study were focused on students’ intrinsic (IGO) and extrinsic (EGO) goal orientations, task value (TV), self-efficacy for learning and performance (SELP), and control belief (CB). After finishing each project, students were asked to complete an Engineering Design Questionnaire (EDQ) survey instrument. The instrument consisted of 26 items modified from motivational scales of the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ).Besides the motivational scales, five demographic and two open-ended questions exploring students’ …

Learning Effects And Attitudes Of Design Strategies On High School Students, Robert Wicklein, John Mativo

Reports of Center Studies

The purpose of this research project was to use an experimental design research methodology to compare learning and attitudinal effects of two different design instructional strategies on randomly selected and assigned 11th and 12th grade students. Through the use of a common technological based problem (see Appendix A), students were guided through a design sequence that utilized two different instructional approaches (a) predictive analysis and (b) trial & error. At the completion of a five-day (15 hour) learning activity a standardized engineering design test was administered to the students to evaluate differences in engineering design capabilities. Additionally, students completed an …

A Case Study Of The Implementation Of An Engineering Program Into A High School Technology Education Classroom, Steven Shumway, Geoff Wright

Reports of Center Studies

Using a case study format, our objective was to collect data related to the following research questions:

- What criteria do teachers and districts use when selecting engineering design experiences for infusion into high school classes and which of these criteria are most effective?

- What issues, opportunities, and constraints do teachers confront as they infuse engineering concepts into technology education?

Archetype Alignment: A Two-Level Driven Semantic Matching Approach To Interoperability In The Clinical Domain, Damon Berry, Jesus Bisbal

Conference Papers

Semantic interoperability between electronic health record systems and other information systems in the health domain implies agreement about the structure and the meaning of the information that is communicated. There are still a number of similar but different EHR system approaches. Some of the newer approaches adopt the two-layer model approach where a generic reference model is constrained by archetypes into valid clinical concepts which can be exchanged. The meaning of the concepts that are represented by an archetype can be conveyed by embedding codes from a commonly recognised terminology at appropriate points in the archetype. However, as the number …

Nebraska Summary: S695 Agco Rt155a, Nebraska Tractor Test Lab

Nebraska Tractor Tests

ABOUT THE TEST REPORT AND USE OF THE DATA The test data contained in this report are a tabulation of the results of a series of tests. Due to the restricted format of these pages, only a limited amount of data and not all of the tractor specifications are included. The full OECD report contains usually about 30 pages of data and specifications. The test data were obtained for each tractor under similar conditions and therefore, provide a means of comparison of performance based on a limited set of reported data. EXPLANATION OF THE TEST PROCEDURES Purpose The purpose of …

The Investigation Of Nano Silica In The Cement Hydration Pro, Jonathan Samuel Belkowitz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

With the advent of nano technology, materials have been developed that can be applied to high performance concrete mix designs. Nano silica reacts with calcium hydroxide (CH) to develop more of the strength carrying structure of cement: calcium silica hydrate (CSH). In this paper, relationships have been developed to distinguish the benefits when using different sizes of nano silica in cement paste. An extensive regime of experimental analysis was carried out to determine the effect of nano silica. Through these experiments the heat of hydration of multiple cement mix designs was measured. After that, the concentration of CH was recorded …

Heterogeneous Drive Mechanisms For Novel Locomotion In Rough Terrain, Roy Godzdanker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The smaller the robot the easier it is for it to access voids in a collapsed structure, however small size brings a host of other problems related to constrained resources. One of the primary constraints on small robots is limited motive power to surmount obstacles and navigate rough terrain. This thesis examines the addition of bulk motive force actuators to existing locomotion platforms and the impact of these heterogeneous actuators on conventional steering methods. The steering methods examined are those associated with skid steered vehicles and differential drive vehicles. In developing the Crabinator, a robot composed of a limbed crawler …

Application Of Lrfd Geotechnical Principles For Pile Supported Bridges In Oregon: Phase 1, Trevor D. Smith, Peter Dusicka

TREC Final Reports

Bridge foundations must be designed based on acceptable risks of failure. To secure rapid implementation of Load Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) principles for foundation design, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) are requiring their use through AASHTO code. The Bridge Section of the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) has responsibility for satisfactory design of all the bridge structures across the state’s highway system. The widespread geotechnical adoption of the LRFD code throughout state DOTs has been difficult in the case of deep foundations due to regional differences and in some …

Nitrogen Removal And Sustainability Of Vertical Flow Constructed Wetlands For Small Scale Wastewater Treatment, Valerie J. Fuchs

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

The challenge for wastewater professionals is to design and operate treatment processes that support human well being and are environmentally sensitive throughout the life-cycle. This research focuses on one technology for small-scale wastewater treatment: the vertical flow constructed wetland (VFCW), which is herein investigated for the capacity to remove ammonium and nitrate nitrogen from wastewater. Hydraulic regime and presence/absence of vegetation are the basis for a three-phase bench scale experiment to determine oxygen transfer and nitrogen fate in VFCWs. Results show that 90% NH4+-N removal is achieved in aerobic downflow columns, 60% NO3--N removal occurs in anaerobic upflow columns, and …

An Adaptive Adjacent Channel Interference Cancellation Technique, Robert H. Morelos-Zaragoza, Shobha Kuruba

Faculty Publications

In this paper, an adaptive adjacent channel interference (ACI) technique is proposed. Results for BPSK modulation with rectangular and square-root raised-cosine pulse shaping, under AWGN conditions, are obtained showing the proposed method to be effective in improving performance under high levels of interference. Basically, the idea is to send pilot signals and then to use them in estimating the amount of ACI in the frequency domain. The estimated spectral error is used to modify tap weights of an adaptive frequency-domain filter. Our simulation results reported suggest that ACI can be effectively reduced with the proposed technique. At the system level, …

Rembrant: Research On The Effects Of Microgravity On The Brazil Nut Problem, Getaway Special Team 2009

Reports and Proposals

No abstract provided.

Scalable And Efficient Outlier Detection In Large Distributed Data Sets With Mixed-Type Attributes, Anna Koufakou

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

An important problem that appears often when analyzing data involves identifying irregular or abnormal data points called outliers. This problem broadly arises under two scenarios: when outliers are to be removed from the data before analysis, and when useful information or knowledge can be extracted by the outliers themselves. Outlier Detection in the context of the second scenario is a research field that has attracted significant attention in a broad range of useful applications. For example, in credit card transaction data, outliers might indicate potential fraud; in network traffic data, outliers might represent potential intrusion attempts. The basis of deciding …