Engineering Commons^™

An Automated Integrated Web-Based Smart Tool For Open Stope Design, Yerkezhan Madenova, Fidelis Suorineni, Shuai Xu

Journal of Sustainable Mining

The Stability Graph is a widely used tool for the design of open stopes in underground mining. Many users of the Stability Graph still apply this design method manually. Although the manual approach has benefits, using multiple graphs and stability number computation charts for each stope surface is time-consuming, even for the experienced mining engineer. Current practice in the use of the method also limits data sharing. This paper presents a StopeSoft web-based tool for open stope stability prediction that is developed on the basis of the Stability Graph method and is available at openstope.com. StopeSoft incorporates flexibility in terms …

Crime Theory Informed Agent-Based Modeling For Crime Prediction And Patrolling Route Optimization, Shohreh Moradi

Industrial, Manufacturing, and Systems Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Crime reduction remains a global priority, demanding both accurate modeling of criminal dynamics and efficient allocation of scarce policing resources. To address these needs, this study presents a two‐fold framework that (1) simulates street‐level crime patterns using an agent‐based model (ABM) grounded in Routine Activity Theory (RAT), Rational Choice Theory (RCT), and Crime Pattern Theory (CPT), and (2) optimizes patrol routing through a time-dependent, multi‐visit mixed‐integer linear programming (MILP) formulation.

In the first component, we integrate real‐world crime, environmental, and census data to reproduce realistic offender, citizen, and Police behaviors, capturing where and when robbery, burglary, and larceny occur across …

Vision Of Nuclear Power Deployment In Latin America And The Caribbean: A Focus On Small Modular Reactors And The Regional Experience Of Central Argentina De Elementos Modulares, Alejandra Loreto Alfaro, Florencia Rentería, Camila Araujo

International Journal of Nuclear Security

Increasing the number of nuclear power reactors in the Latin American and Caribbean region presents technical, financial, regulatory, and environmental challenges. Focused on fostering economic stability, growth, and human capacity development, the deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs) emerges as a key aspect in the region’s energy landscape. The emergence of SMRs represents an opportunity for multidisciplinary cooperation among different sectors. To comprehensively address the challenges related to the protection of nuclear facilities in the region, the Tlatelolco Treaty and the Non-Proliferation Treaty should be strengthened as legally binding instruments to enforce the safety and safeguarding principles integral to the …

Comparative Life Cycle Assessment Of Conventional Open-Cut Pipeline Replacement With Trenchless Cured-In-Place Pipe Renewal Method For Wastewater Applications Using Midpoint Approach, Eesha Nilesh Karkhanis

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

Underground infrastructure development has a significant impact on society, leading to continuous technological advancements. With the rising environmental concerns, novel technology is leaning towards adapting to sustainable practices for pipeline rehabilitation. Conducting a comparative study of environmental impacts produced by pipe renewal and replacement processes is a vital step towards sustainable development of underground infrastructure. Open-cut Pipeline Replacement (OCPR) is the conventional method used for pipeline rehabilitation, which involves the excavation of the ground surface to place a new pipe underground or replace an existing one. This process includes the trenching of ground, followed by surface reinstatement through backfill. The …

Assessment Of Metal Contamination And Potential Health Risk Of Roadside Vegetables Along The Sayre Highway, Province Of Bukidnon, Philippines, John R.N. Labajo, Junesa U. Cristobal, Myrna G. Pabiona

Applied Environmental Research

This study assessed heavy metal contamination in roadside vegetables (Ipomoea batatas and Moringa oleifera) across five urbanized localities in Bukidnon, Philippines, and evaluated potential human health risks. Metal concentrations (Cd, Cr, Cu, Co, Fe, Mn, and Zn) were analyzed via atomic absorption spectro-photometry and compared against FAO/WHO maximum permissible limits. The results revealed severe contamination, with Mn (575.27–862.17 mg kg-1) and Fe (256.46–706.68 mg kg-1) dominating natural soil mineralogy (Adtuyon series) and anthropogenic inputs. Toxic Cr (16.20–21.93 mg kg-1) exceeded permissible limits by nine and a half times in Quezon. Health risk assessments revealed negligible noncarcinogenic risks (THQ …

Spatial Distribution And Potential Ecological Risk Of Microplastics In Surface Sediments Of The Inner Gulf Of Thailand, Sarayut Suanluang, Pathompong Vibhatabandhu, Sarawut Srithongouthai

Applied Environmental Research

The global surge in plastic usage during the COVID–19 pandemic raised concerns about increased microplastic (MP) contamination in aquatic environments. This study assessed the abundance, characteristics, and ecological risk of MPs in surface sediments of the inner Gulf of Thailand during the post–COVID–19 period (April 2021). The sediment samples were analyzed via density separation, stereomicroscopic examination, and polymer identification via micro–FTIR. The mean MP abundance was 196.07 ± 85.60 pieces kg-1, with concentrations ranging from 73.08 to 351.19 pieces kg-1. PTFE and PP were the dominant polymer types, comprising 50% and 32% of all the MPs, respectively. Fibers (34%) and …

Health Risk Assessment Of Copper Exposure Through Hand-To-Mouth Activities In The Lithium-Ion Battery Manufacturing Industry, Adisorn Phungkum, Worawat Meevasana, Khanidtha Marungrueang

Applied Environmental Research

This study aims to evaluate the occupational exposure levels of copper (Cu) among workers in a battery manufacturing facility by analyzing the Cu concentrations on hand surfaces at three distinct time periods: before work (BW), before lunch (BL), and after work (AW). A total of 30 workers involved in 13 different workstations or tasks—such as battery cell preparation, spot welding, soldering, and labeling—were included in the study to reflect diverse exposure scenarios. Surface wipe sampling was conducted according to NIOSH Method 9102, and the Cu concentrations were quantified via inductively coupled plasma‒mass spectrometry (ICP‒MS). Additionally, the hazard quotient (HQ) was …

Spatial Estimation Of Trophic State For Reservoir Using Ground Monitoring And Remote Sensing Data, Thong Nguyen Hoang, Van Tran Thi

Applied Environmental Research

Nutrient pollution, also known as eutrophication, is a severe environmental problem that leads to harmful algal blooms in water bodies and affects water supplies for human use. This study aims to determine the trophic state of the reservoir based on the trophic state index (TSI) calculated from ground monitoring data of Secchi depth (SD), total phosphorus (TP), and chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) obtained from 35 points in 2 survey periods during the late rainy season to early dry season 2012–2013 and May 2023. In addition, we combined remote sensing data to spatially estimate the eutrophication situation across the reservoir through correlation analysis …

Assessment Of The Carbon Stock Of Trees In Selected Urban Green Spaces Of Davao City, Philippines, Daiseree Cuabo, Yves P.M. Montero, Daryl S. Salas, John P.M. Viernes

Applied Environmental Research

The combined impacts of deforestation, tree cover loss, and urbanization in urban and suburban areas significantly reduce the capacity of natural carbon sinks to sequester and store carbon. Hence, this study assessed the aboveground biomass (AGB) and carbon stock of trees in the selected green spaces of Davao City. A purposive sampling technique was employed in placing quadrats, with data collected from 27 plots categorized by size. AGB was estimated via an allometric equation, and aboveground carbon (AGC) was derived from the AGB values. A total of 358 individual trees from 25 species, 24 genera, and 13 families were documented. …

Investigation And Health Risk Assessment Of Indoor And Outdoor Nitrogen Dioxide At Preschools In Haze Areas Of Lampang Province And Industrial Areas Of Rayong Province, Thailand, Susira Bootdee, Sawaeng Kawichai, Suganya Phantu, Sopittaporn Sillapapiromsuk

Applied Environmental Research

Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is a major indoor air pollutant and a significant ambient air contaminant associated with health effects, especially for students and teachers who attend schools in the areas of traffic, roads and industry. This study aims to assess the impacts of NO2 exposure on the health of students in haze and industrial areas from November 2023 to March 2024. Researchers utilized tube-type passive samplers to collect indoor and outdoor NO2 samples, which were subsequently analyzed via spectrophotometry. The results revealed that the weekly mean indoor and outdoor NO2 concentrations in the haze areas (HA1–HA5) ranged between 4.4–29.0 and …

Drone Medical Package Delivery For Improved Transportation And Better Patient Outcomes Final Implementation Report, Amro El-Adle, Madeline Alden, Yin-Hsuen Chen, Melissa Davidson

Information Technology & Decision Sciences Faculty Publications

The Drone Medical Package Delivery for Improved Transportation and Better Patient Outcomes planning and prototyping grant involves five partners, including Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission (A-NPDC), Riverside Health System, Old Dominion University (ODU), Virginia Institute for Spaceflight & Autonomy (VISA), Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC), and DroneUp. The partners worked together to address access, safety, reliability and sustainability for medical and emergency response package delivery via drone, specifically, where the use of aerial drones could lead to better patient outcomes and improved safety and emergency response.

The goal of the project was to develop an operational prototype that woul evolve into …

Understanding The Determinants Of Blockchain Adoption: An Empirical Study, Amarpreet Kohli, Nihar Kumthekar, Piyush Shah, Rebecca Jauch

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

Blockchain technology (BT) has the potential to enhance security and robustness of transactions through a distributed ledger bookkeeping process. This study employs technology-organization-environment (TOE) framework and threat-rigidity theory (TRT) to examine whether perceived disruption caused by COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the adoption of BT, and inclination to adopt BT in the US. The COVID-19 pandemic provided a unique backdrop, as it affected businesses across all industries, sizes, and geographies. Results show a non-significant effect of perceived pandemic disruption on the current stage of BT adoption and intention to adopt BT. However, disruption readiness positively influences the current stage of BT …

Comparing Vr And Tv In Nigeria And The U.S.: Impacts On Empathy, Engagement, And Enjoyment, Jinhee Yoo, Eugene A. Ohu, Radosław Mącik

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

This study (N = 170), involving participants from Nigeria and the U.S., investigated how different technologies (TV and VR) affect users' empathy (α = .93), engagement (α = .93), enjoyment (α = .93), preferences, and likelihood of technology use. Participants watched an animated documentary titled “Is Anna OK?” at two different time points, utilizing VR (Oculus Rift S) and TV, following which they completed measuring empathy, engagement, enjoyment, device preference, and usage likelihood. Analysis via one-way ANOVA and chi-square tests revealed that VR users reported significantly higher empathy and enjoyment compared to TV viewers, particularly on second viewing. Combining both …

Effective Management Of Disused Sealed Radioactive Sources In Uganda, Susan Nalumansi

International Journal of Nuclear Security

Sealed radioactive sources are used in a wide range of applications in Uganda, such as medicine, agriculture, geology, industry, and other fields. After a given useful period, the sealed sources can no longer perform their intended purpose and are thus regarded as disused. However, depending on the activity of the source, the disused sources are highly active and can cause significant damage to human health and the environment when mismanaged. A regulatory body was established with the mandate to regulate peaceful applications of ionizing radiation in Uganda. Given the vulnerability of sealed sources at the end of their life cycle …

Evaluating Machine Learning Techniques For Breast Cancer Detection: A Comprehensive Review, Owen Kresse, Youssef Kamel Kamel Hassan Rezk, Alaaelddin Ibrahim Said, Rana Hossameldin Mousa, Merna Adel Abdelrahman Ibrahim, Ahmed Fathy Sweed, Tomas Pegorari, Pablo Nakasato, Ainhoa Osa-Sanchez, Itxasne Del Barrio, Francesc Serra Crespí, Keltse Santisteban Ortiz, Naiara Melián Eguia, Mohamed Elsharkawy, Ibrahim Abdelhalim, Begonya Garcia-Zapirain, Ayman El-Baz

Mansoura Engineering Journal

Breast cancer is considered one of the most common types of cancer among women. significant amount of effort done in early detection to increase survival chance since early detection is a challenging task especially in certain breast cancer conditions or using inefficient imaging modalities AI demonstrated significant potential in breast cancer detection algorithms including convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and Transformers, which have achieved highly accurate results but they have some limitations, such as the large amounts of data required for training as CNNs rely on local features, while Transformers focus on global features However, recent research has proposed hybrid models …

Conference Report Of Wmu Maritime Affairs Conference 2025 : Transforming A Maritime Future : Digitalization And Decarbonization, World Maritime University

Conference Papers

No abstract provided.

Implementing Wastewater-Based Epidemiology For Long-Read Metagenomic Sequencing Of Antimicrobial Resistance In Kampala, Uganda, William Strike, Temitope O. C. Faleye, Brian Lubega, Alexus Lori Rockward, Soroosh Torabi

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an emerging global threat that is expanding in many areas of the world. Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is uniquely suited for use in areas of the world where clinical surveillance is limited or logistically slow to identify emerging threats, such as in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Wastewater was analyzed from three urban areas of Kampala, including a local HIV research clinic and two informal settlements. Wastewater extraction was performed using a low-cost, magnetic bead-based protocol that minimizes consumable plastic consumption followed by sequencing on the Oxford Nanopore Technology MinION platform. The majority of the analysis was performed using …

Applying Transfer Learning For Street-Scale Nuisance Flood Forecasting In Coastal-Urban Cities, Binata Roy, Jonathan L. Goodall, Diana Mcspadden, Chetan Kumar, Steven Goldenberg, Yidi Wang, Malachi Schram

VMASC Publications

An important challenge with Machine Learning (ML) is its transferability; i.e., whether a ML model trained on one set of data can be applied to a second set of data without requiring full re-training of the model. Transfer Learning (TL) addresses this challenge by transferring knowledge learned in the source domain (the data it was trained on) to the target domain (a second set of data that is statistically different but related, which the model was not trained on). This study investigates the use of TL for street-scale nuisance flood forecasting by exploring whether a ML model trained for one …

The Study Of Knee And Ankle Sagittal Plane Angles For On-Court Versus Off-Court Cutting, Alexi Rebecca Hempe

Dissertations and Theses

Lower extremity injuries are common among basketball athletes. Majority of these injuries are non-contact and therefore preventable. While previous research has explored high-risk movements associated with lower extremity injuries, limited research has explored the influence of settings for these movement patterns, particularly on a basketball court. This study aims to examine the knee and ankle joint angles in the sagittal plane of a 90-degree cut for on-court versus off court. Thirteen (13) subjects, four males (19.5 ± 1.0 years of age; 198.8 ± 4.8 cm of height; 198.8 ± 13.8 lbs. of weight) and nine females (19.8 ± 1.5 years …

Pathogen Surveillance Of Viruses And Antimicrobial Resistance Through Wastewater Based Epidemiology, William Strike

Theses and Dissertations--Biomedical Engineering

Pandemic surveillance is a cornerstone in public health safety, as it enables identification of pathogens circulating within a community before they become widespread outbreaks. Wastewater based epidemiology has blossomed in recent years due to its success in the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, but this form of public health surveillance has a global equity problem. A large majority of the wastewater-based surveillance work has been done in large metropolitan cities with access to advanced testing infrastructure, which poses a challenge as we consider where pandemics have historically emerged. Therefore, there is a need to identify, adapt, and develop workflows to meet the needs …

Development Of Non-Destructive Methods For The Detection And Quantification Of Gluten Sources In Foods, Adewale Abiola Oloyede

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

Cross-contamination of food with gluten-rich grains such as wheat, barley, and rye remains a significant challenge in gluten-free food production, posing health risks to individuals with gluten-related disorders. Traditional detection methods are often time-consuming and labor-intensive, highlighting the need for rapid and reliable alternatives. This study investigates the use of hyperspectral imaging (HSI) combined with machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) techniques for the detection and quantification of gluten contamination in grain-based foods through three main approaches: (i) classification of gluten source contaminants in gluten-free flour, (ii) quantification of gluten content from wheat, rye, and barley flours, and …

Selective Recovery Of Critical Minerals (Ni, Zn, Co, And Mn) From Acid Mine Drainage Utilizing Ion Exchange And Selective Precipitation Processes, Esteban Albeiro Cardenas Restrepo

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Critical minerals (CMs) are essential for U.S. national security and technological development. The U.S. heavily depends on imports of these minerals from other countries, making supply chain disruptions a likely scenario. In consequence, finding alternative sources to conventional mining for these elements has become a topic of interest in recent years. Acid Mine Drainage (AMD), once solely viewed as an environmental problem, has emerged as a potential alternative source for CMs. AMD is a naturally occurring process where surface and underground water interact with sulfur-bearing minerals in the presence of oxygen and microorganisms. This interaction causes the water to become …

Implementation And Performance Evaluation Of Plastic Road Mix Design In Parking Lot, Ishraq Faruk

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

The uncontrolled proliferation of plastic waste has emerged as a global environmental crisis, with high-density polyethylene (HDPE) constituting a substantial fraction of the waste stream due to its extensive use in packaging and its resistance to degradation. In parallel, asphalt pavements particularly in urban infrastructure such as parking lots experience accelerated deterioration from raveling, rutting, and cracking as a result of thermal cycling, repetitive loading, and inadequate drainage. These converging challenges present an opportunity for innovative, circular-economy-based sustainable pavement technologies that simultaneously improve surface durability and mitigate plastic waste accumulation.

This research investigates the full-scale implementation and monitoring of HDPE …

An Educational Framework For The Disruptive Technologies And Their Integration In The Un Sdgs Curriculum, Tulsi Pawan Fowdur, Aishani Radhakeesoon

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

Disruptive technologies such as 5G, AI, IoT, cloud computing, and blockchain are revolutionizing life on our planet and at the same time contributing immensely towards sustainable development and the achievement of the UN SDGs. Nowadays, optimizing the management of resources in various fields such as manufacturing, education, health, transportation etc. in a much more efficient way is possible. This can be achieved by capturing a wealth of real-time data via IoT sensors with the ultra-reliable and low latency connections provided by 5G. Additionally, with cloud computing, blockchain, and AI, these real-time systems can securely transmit, store, and analyze a massive …

Leveraging Intrinsic Properties For Classification Of Coal Seams Towards Spontaneous Combustion Proclivity And Predicting Susceptibility Using Machine Learning: Smart And Sustainable Mining Approach, Siddhartha Agarwal, Pradeep K. Gautam, Yuhao Zou, Rishabh Dwivedi, Durga C. Panigrahi, Cihan H. Dagli, A. Singh

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Mine fires and other hazards caused by spontaneous coal combustion are a pervasive and longstanding issue in Jharia coalfields, India. This study proposes a novel approach to classify coal seams based on their propensity to spontaneous combustion using the intrinsic properties of 30 coal samples from different seams. This method eliminates the need for expensive and time-consuming experimental determinations of susceptibility indices (SI) such as crossing point temperature (CPT), critical air blast (CAB), and differential thermal analysis (DTA). All clustering models, viz. hierarchical, k-means, and multidimensional scaling, aptly classify coal seams into three categories: highly risky, medium risky, and low …

The Impact Of Urbanization On Water Scarcity And Waterborne Diseases In Eastern Africa: A Case Study Of Nairobi, Lucy N. Kamau

Open Access Master's Theses

Urbanization in Eastern African cities has rapidly accelerated, placing immense strain on existing water infrastructure and sanitation systems. In Nairobi, this has resulted in spatial disparities in access to clean water and heightened vulnerability to waterborne disease risks. The study aimed to (1) assess the impact of urbanization on water scarcity and waterborne diseases in Nairobi using geospatial analysis and remote sensing (2) quantify urbanization trends 1999–2024 (3) identify spatio-temporal water scarcity hotspots for the years 2019 and 2024 (4) model waterborne disease risk maps for 2019 and 2024 (5) Overlay disease risk map with hospitals. To quantify urbanization for …

Whipped Into Shape: Infrastructure As Punishment For The Unruly Citizen, Eliza Mortimer

Anthós

This article interrogates how inflexible designs and policies of airline seating, as well as critical socio-political rhetoric, discipline and marginalize bodies that do not conform to normative standards. Situating airline seating within fat and disability studies models, Mortimer argues that these punitive measures are not neutral, but rather reflective of cultural narratives of productivity, morality, and bodily discipline. Mortimer draws from ethnographic analyses of first-person accounts and policy reviews to demonstrate how shrinking seats, rigid policies, and moralized discourse construct a “space of calculability” that pressures fat individuals to monitor and minimize their bodies to justify their presence in public …

Global Spectral Clustering Of Temporally Stable Pixels For Epics Identification, Validation, And Hyperspectral Assignment For Satellite Calibration, Juliana Maria Fajardo Rueda

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Refinement Of Trend-To-Trend Cross Calibration Total Uncertainties Utilizing Extended Pseudo Invariant Calibration Sites (Epics) Global Temporally Stable Target, Minura Samaranayake

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cross-calibration is an essential technique for calibrating Earth Observation satellite sensors, which involves taking nearly simultaneous images of a ground target to compare uncalibrated sensor to a well-calibrated reference sensor. This study introduces the hyperspectral Trend-to-Trend (T2T) cross-calibration technique utilizing EPICS Cluster 13 Global Temporally Stable (Cluster 13-GTS) as the calibration target, offering better temporal stability than previous targets used in T2T cross-calibration by an absolute difference of 0.4%, between coefficients of variation across all bands excluding CA band. A multispectral sensor-specific normalized hyperspectral profile was developed using the EO-1 Hyperion hyperspectral profile over Cluster 13-GTS to improve Spectral Band …

Rare Earth Element Recovery From Acid Mine Drainage Using Ion Exchange And Selective Precipitation Processes, Paubla Andrea Gallego Lopez

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Rare earth elements (REEs) are used in high-tech applications due to their electromagnetic and optical properties. As global demand for REEs surges, the limitation of primary mineral deposits has increased interest in alternative sources. One such source is acid mine drainage (AMD), which, although typically low in REE concentration, offers a promising avenue for recovery. Among the emerging recovery methods, ion exchange has shown promise due to its effectiveness at low concentrations and lower operational cost than conventional techniques such as acid leaching and solvent extraction.

This research focused on developing a recovery process by combining ion exchange with selective …