Engineering Commons^™

A Critical Analysis Of Integrated Coastal And Ocean Management In Bangladesh With Lessons From Global Practices, Syed Mamtajul Islam

World Maritime University Dissertations

The coast of Bangladesh is highly dynamic, unique and diverse, the south-western part of which hosts the world’s largest single mangrove forest; the south-central part receives the world’s second largest river system (Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna system), contributing to form the world’s largest delta in Bangladesh; and the south-eastern part provides room for major industrial and economic activities such as ports and shipping, ship recycling (2nd in global ranking), ship building, fisheries and tourism (Beaches in Cox’s Bazar – the world’s longest). The earlier land-side coastal management initiatives, which totally ignore ocean issues, have failed to bring a remarkable outcome mainly due to …

Vessel Traffic Service As A Maritime Security Tool : Vessel Traffic Management Information Systems (Vtmis) In Ghana, Joseph Akwasi Kuma

World Maritime University Dissertations

The dissertation is an assessment of the role of the VTMIS in enhancing efforts to bring down maritime security in the threats in the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa focusing on Ghana. According to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) is implemented by a Competent Authority to improve the safety and efficiency of vessel traffic and to protect the environment. Technological development today has led to significant improvements in vessel traffic service. Vessel Traffic Management Information Service is the integration of Management information systems to improve the quality of vessel traffic services. Vessel traffic services essentially …

Development Of An Intelligent Energy Saving Heat Pump For Water Heater With Fuzzy Logic Controller, Cong-Hui Huang

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

There is a growing awareness of the importance of using clean and environmentally friendly sources of energy. This paper presents the development of an intelligent energy saving heat pump for a water heater with a fuzzy logic controller that analyzes the heating efficiency of the heat pump heater. The fuzzy logic controller is employed for developing a heating algorithm to raise the efficiency of the heat pump heater and suppress unnecessary heating at high temperatures. Experimental results show that our heat pump heater produces an energy saving of 60% of total energy input, compared to the 23% for a gas …

Process Improvements Of Cilantro Harvesting With Ergonomic Considerations, Eric Penningroth, Branden Shimamoto

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

The problems presented by Talley Farms to the team were a lower than desired cilantro harvesting capacity and work health pertaining to lower back problems. The project objectives were to address and improve upon both of these objectives. To increase harvesting capacity, a simulation model was created using standard times from time studies. The simulation model helped to compare the different harvesting methods as well as the effect of the utilization of the on-site manager. The throughputs between each of the models were analyzed. To address ergonomic concerns, a work sampling study was conducted and it was determined that kneeling …

Ole Miss Engineer 2014-2015

Ole Miss Engineer

No abstract provided.

Ua66 Ogden College Of Science & Engineering Newsletter, Cheryl Stevens, Dean

Ogden College of Science & Engineering Publications

No abstract provided.

Cal Poly India Project, Derek Babine, Austen Hibler, Alex Hernandez

Mechanical Engineering

This report documents the research, ideation, and development of a solution, implemented by the Cal Poly India Sanitation Team per the request of Mr. Harish Bhutani, to solve the problem of hazardous human waste management in poor villages in India. The sponsor envisioned a universal design that would give each household in those villages access to a private toilet system because the current solution is open defecation in water sources and farming fields. The initial constraints required the project be low cost, not use of electricity or water, have the ability to cater to an 8-10 person household, and be …

Latin American Data Drought: An Assessment Of Available River Observation Data In Select Latin American Countries And Development Of A Web-Based Application For A Hydrometerological Database System In Spanish, Stephen Joseph Bolster

Theses and Dissertations

The demand and collection of hydrometeorological data is growing to support hydrologic and hydraulic analyses, and other studies. These data can amount to extensive information that requires sound data management to enable efficient storage, access, and use. While much of the globe is using technology to efficiently collect and store hydrometeorological data, other parts, such as developing countries, are unable to do so. This thesis presents an assessment of available river observations data in Latin American countries in Central America and the Caribbean. The assessment analyzes 1) access to available data, 2) spatial density of data, and 3) the temporal …

Comparative Analysis Of Clavicular Tunnel Confìguration For Coracoclavicular Ligament Reconstruction, Mark Omwansa

Masters Theses

A number of coracoclavicular ligament reconstructions are carried out each year and post surgical fractures of the clavicle have been reported. The primary objective of this research is to develop a comparative metrics that compares clavicular tunnel configurations used in coracoclavicular reconstruction techniques. The goal of this comparison is to reduce post surgical failures due to clavicle fractures. The present analysis compared two techniques { a single 3 mm clavicular tunnel and the other double 6 mm tunnels { experimentally, using Four-point bending testing and Finite Element Analysis (FEA). A unique method, slicing, was used to create an FE clavicle …

Analysis And Optimization Of The Scheffler Solar Concentrator, Simone Alberti

Master's Theses

The Scheffler reflector is a new solar concentrator design which maintains a fixed focus while only having a single axis tracking mechanism. This design makes the construction and operation of high temperature solar concentrators accessible to developing nations. In this project, I wrote computer simulation codes to better understand the dynamics and the effect of deformation or deviations from ideal conditions in order to define necessary manufacturing and operational tolerances. These tools and knowledge drove the prototyping of new reflector concepts by myself and other students on my team. A fiberglass prototype was able to drive the cost of a …

Retrieval Of Spectral Reflectance Of High Resolution Multispectral Imagery Acquired With An Autonomous Unmanned Aerial Vehicle: Aggieair™, Bushra Zaman, Austin Jensen, Shannon R. Clemens, Mac Mckee

AggieAir Publications

This research presents a new semi-automatic model for converting raw AggieAir™ footprints in visible and near-infrared (NIR) bands into reflectance images. AggieAir, a new unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) platform, is flown autonomously using pre-programmed flight plans at low altitudes to limit atmospheric effects. The UAV acquires high-resolution, multispectral images and has a flight duration of about 30 minutes. The sensors on board are twin cameras with duplicate settings and automatic mode disabled. A white Barium Sulfate (BaSO4) panel is used for reflectance calibration and in situ irradiance measurements. The spatial resolution of the imagery is 25 cm; the radiometric resolution …

A Comprehensive Assessment Methodology Based On Life Cycle Analysis For On-Board Photovoltaic Solar Modules In Vehicles, Mahmoud Abdelhamid

All Dissertations

This dissertation presents a novel comprehensive assessment methodology for using on-board photovoltaic (PV) solar technologies in vehicle applications. A well-to-wheels life cycle analysis based on a unique energy, greenhouse gas (GHG) emission, and economic perspective is carried out in the context of meeting corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards through 2025 along with providing an alternative energy path for the purpose of sustainable transportation. The study includes 14 different vehicles, 3 different travel patterns, in 12 U.S. states and 16 nations using 19 different cost analysis scenarios for determining the challenges and benefits of using on-board photovoltaic (PV) solar technologies …

Vulnerability Functions For Seismic Loss Assessment Of The Modern Multi-Story Buildings In Dubai, Abdul Rahman Abdul Aziz Ashri Hassan

Theses

The rapid developments in the United Arab Emirates along with the repeated seismic activity confirm the significance of planning for the possible damage that may hit earthquake-prone areas in order to mitigate earthquake losses. The contemporary buildings are the most important when estimating the potential losses from earthquakes since they represent concentrated economic and human assets. This study aims at developing vulnerability functions for a wide range of modern building inventory in a highly-populated and earthquake-prone area in the UAE. Ten reference buildings with varying heights from 2 to 100 stories and three different lateral force resisting systems are selected …

Carbon Black Mediated Conductive Polymer Composite, Mohamed Hussein Faris Ali

Theses

The central goal of this thesis is to produce electrically conductive nanocomposites made out of carbon black obtained from waste tires as filler into a polymeric matrix. Waste tires are discarded in substantial numbers on a daily basis, posing a significant environmental concern. By weight, about 25-35% of a tire is carbon black. Pyrolysis is a convenient and environmental friendly process to produce carbon black from tires. Due to carbon black’s low density, high electrical conductivity and economic feasibility, this thesis investigates the electrical conductivity of nanocomposites that utilizes carbon black particles as fillers. As a result of its modified …

Development Of A Heart Rate Variability Measurement System Using Embedded Electronics, Naresh Kumar Velmurugan

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Recent advances in embedded electronics have a remarkable influence on the health care system. One of the most important applications is to monitor the health care of the patients at anytime and anyplace. In the last two decades, many researchers have focused mainly on heart rate variability (HRV) measurements. Patient's heart rate variability should be continuously monitored to help them in case of emergency. Under these circumstances, patients are required to have a HRV measuring kit for a constant observation.

The proposed project focuses on the development of a heart rate variability measurement system with the use of embedded electronics. …

Integration Of Energy Storage Into A Future Energy System With A High Penetration Of Distributed Photovoltaic Generation, Arthur K. Barnes

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Energy storage units (ESU) are increasingly used in electrical distribution systems because they can perform many functions compared with traditional equipment. These include peak shaving, voltage regulation, frequency regulation, provision of spinning reserve, and aiding integration of renewable generation by mitigating the effects of intermittency.

As is the case with other equipment on electric distribution systems, it is necessary to follow appropriate methodologies in order to ensure that ESU are installed in a cost-effective manner and their benefits are realized. However, the necessary methodologies for integration of ESU have not kept pace with developments in both ESU and distribution systems. …

Catechol Oxidation By Ozone And Hydroxyl Radicals At The Air-Water Interface, Elizabeth A. Pillar, Robert C. Camm, Marcelo I. Guzman

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Anthropogenic emissions of aromatic hydrocarbons promptly react with hydroxyl radicals undergoing oxidation to form phenols and polyphenols (e.g., catechol) typically identified in the complex mixture of humic-like substances (HULIS). Because further processing of polyphenols in secondary organic aerosols (SOA) can continue mediated by a mechanism of ozonolysis at interfaces, a better understanding about how these reactions proceed at the air–water interface is needed. This work shows how catechol, a molecular probe of the oxygenated aromatic hydrocarbons present in SOA, can contribute interfacial reactive species that enhance the production of HULIS under atmospheric conditions. Reactive semiquinone radicals are quickly produced upon …

Achieving Global Range In Future Subsonic And Supersonic Airplanes, Nihad E. Daidzic Ph.D., Sc.D.

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

No commercial airplane in service today is able to fly half great-circle distances over the globe and achieve the non-stop or the global range to any antipodal location on Earth. A subsonic jetliner has the optimum cruising speed at Mach numbers approaching the drag divergence Mach number while still preserving relatively high aerodynamic efficiency. Various fuel-flow laws were used to investigate the cruise performance of subsonic and supersonic aircraft. The effect of wind and aircraft weight and how it affects the optimal cruising airspeed was investigated. Of all different operational cruising techniques, the cruise-climb at high Mach numbers is the …

University Professors’ Perceptions About The Impact Of Integrating Google Applications On Students’ Communication And Collaboration Skills, Jacqueline L. Cahill

Journal of Research Initiatives

A qualitative research study was conducted and data were collected by interviewing university professors on their perceptions about the impact of integrating Google Apps, as a means of classroom instructional delivery, on students’ communication and collaboration skills. The participants consisted of eight university professors from a major university, who integrate, or had previously integrated at least two Google Apps Education Edition collaborative tools into their instructional strategies. The result of this study has the potential to benefit universities that are debating on whether utilizing teaching collaborative technology skills, as an instruction tool, would engage students and enhance their communication skills. …

A Low-Power Compact Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance (Nqr) Based Explosive Detection System, Xinwang Zhang

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Abandoned landmines and terrorist bomb attacks are severe issues threatening our society. These issues necessitate the development of prompt and accurate explosive detection systems. The detection mechanisms commonly-used nowadays usually search for explosive containers, which suffer numerous false alarms caused by external detection circumstance changes. Alternatively, explosive substances inside the bombs and landmines can be detected by means of biology, chemistry and physics techniques. Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance (NQR) detection technology has proven to be a highly effective solution for detecting explosives unambiguously.

In this work, a portable NQR-based explosive detection system that employs state-of-the-art semiconductor technologies is presented. This system …

Development Of A Reusable Nutrient Recovery System To Sustainably Integrate Small-Scale Sanitation And Agriculture, Jorge Luis Calabria

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Emerging technologies in sanitation and food production foster the potential to advance progress towards key sustainable development goals of ensuring adequate sanitation and food security to all. Non-Sewered Sanitation Systems (NSSSs), as detailed by the recent International Organization for Standardization’s (ISO) 30500 standard, are being developed to overcome challenges of lacking sanitation infrastructure and resource scarcity by providing autonomous, off-grid wastewater treatment (WWT) service in a much smaller footprints than large centralized treatment facilities. A promising NSSS platform is the anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) that can achieve high (WWT) throughput in a small footprint using ultrafiltration (UF) membrane filtration to …

A Review Of Combined Advanced Oxidation Technologies For The Removal Of Organic Pollutants From Water, Jimoh O. Tijani, Ojo O. Fatoba, Godfrey Madzivire, Leslie F. Petrik

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Water pollution through natural and anthropogenic activities has become a global problem causing short-and long-term impact on human and ecosystems. Substantial quantity of individual or mixtures of organic pollutants enter the surface water via point and nonpoint sources and thus affect the quality of freshwater. These pollutants are known to be toxic and difficult to remove by mere biological treatment. To date, most research on the removal of organic pollutants from wastewater were based on the exploitation of individual treatment process. This single-treatment technology has inherent challenges and shortcomings with respect to efficiency and economics. Thus, application of two advanced …

Faculty Research Interest Database, David Owerbach

Office of Research Institutional Research and Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Tsu Faculty Publication Database, David Owerbach

Office of Research Institutional Research and Scholarship

No abstract provided.

A Game-Theoretic Analysis Of The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Peter Revesz

School of Computing: Conference and Workshop Papers

Although nuclear non-proliferation is an almost universal human desire, in practice, the negotiated treaties appear unable to prevent the steady growth of the number of states that have nuclear weapons. We propose a computational model for understanding the complex issues behind nuclear arms negotiations, the motivations of various states to enter a nuclear weapons program and the ways to diffuse crisis situations.

Solar Power Deployment: Forecasting And Planning, Mohana Shandal Alanazi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The rapid growth of Photovoltaic (PV) technology has been very visible over the past decade. Recently, the penetration of PV plants to the existing grid has significantly increased. Such increase in the integration of solar energy has brought attention to the solar irradiance forecasting. This thesis presents a thorough research of PV technology, how solar power can be forecasted, and PV planning under uncertainty.

Over the last decade, the PV was one of the fastest growing renewable energy technologies. However, the PV system output varies based on weather conditions. Due to the variability and the uncertainty of solar power, the …

Preparation Of Active, Stable Supported Iron Catalysts And Deactivation By Carbon Of Cobalt Catalysts For Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis, Kamyar Keyvanloo

Theses and Dissertations

The first half of this dissertation reports the development of supported Fe FT catalysts including the effects of various, carefully chosen preparation methods on the performance of alumina-supported iron/copper/potassium (FeCuK/Al2O3); it was determined that non-aqueous slurry impregnation and co-impregnation yielded catalysts with activities as high as any reported in the literature. Furthermore, the effects of support properties including pore size, hydroxyl group concentration, and support stabilizer were investigated for FeCuK/Al2O3 catalysts containing 20 or 40% Fe. For the first time, we report the performance of a supported Fe FT catalyst that is not only more active and stable than any …

Wastewater Nutrient Recovery Using Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactor Permeate For Hydroponic Fertigation, Jorge Luis Calabria

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The imbalance between global population growth and resource consumption is indicative of unsustainable practices and foreshadows a grim future of continued resource depletion, food and water scarcity, social inequality, and deteriorating public and environmental health. Meanwhile, the urban centers of the world continue to experience exponential growth resulting in overwhelmed food, water, and sanitation infrastructure. Decentralized and satellite wastewater treatment technologies capable of resource recovery, such as anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBR), foster synergistic opportunities to help manage the food, energy, and water sectors of urban environments. Specifically, the nutrient concentration and high effluent quality of permeate produced by AnMBR systems …

Reply To ‘Co2 Emissions From Crop Residue-Derived Biofuels’, Adam Liska, Haishun Yang, Matthew P. Pelton, Andrew E. Suyker

Adam Liska Papers

The soil organic carbon (SOC) model that we used was parameterized with data from arable land under normal farming conditions in North America, Europe, Africa and Asia, but the equation is insensitive to changes in tillage, soil texture and moisture. The model has reasonable accuracy, however, in predicting changes in SOC, residue remaining and CO₂ emissions from initial SOC, carbon inputs from residue, and daily temperature; the shoot-to-root ratio used in the geospatial simulation was 0.29 (that is, root carbon is 29% of total aboveground carbon), which did not underestimate carbon input to soil (Supplementary Figure 2 in Ref. …

The Santa Clara, 2014-10-23, Santa Clara University

The Santa Clara

No abstract provided.