Engineering Commons^™

Hybrid Stol Aircraft Designed For Short Urban Operations, Toby Emch

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Modern aircraft transportation requires security checkpoints, large terminals, and expansive runways to move people. However, what if we could place an airport anywhere, reducing land area, noise, and cost? Our design takes advantage of distributed electric propulsion powered by a hybrid engine to take off and land a STOL transport aircraft in a short distance. Our design process includes calculation of constraints, lift calculation using a blown lift takeoff, and verification of stability coefficients. Using a high-lift wing design, the aircraft supports a battery and fuel weight while keeping the required thrust low. It supports up to 7 passengers and …

Asteroid Mining: The Next Big Thing Or A Gimmick?, Aashman Gupta

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Asteroid mining, a sci-fi concept that is rapidly emerging as a potential cornerstone for humanity's expansion into space. This paper explores the economic, technological, and legal challenges of asteroid mining, by examining its feasibility, potential benefits, and other challenges that could hinder its development. Some argue that mining asteroids could provide essential resources and reduce dependency on Earth leading to sustainable space colonization, but critical challenges still remain. Through a review and rational comparison of recent advancements and setbacks, this paper presents an analysis of the potential of asteroid mining; findings suggest that while asteroid mining holds significant potential for …

Boeing 787 Freighter Conversion: Structural Redesign And Enhanced Cargo Operation, Darien Lopez

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

With the continued expansion of global supply chains, demand for airfreight is rapidly increasing. As older cargo aircraft approach the end of their service life, the Boeing 787 freighter variant emerges as an ideal candidate to address this growing market demand. To facilitate its conversion from passenger to freighter configuration, modifications included the addition of a cargo door and adjustments to the cabin floor, allowing for efficient cargo loading operations. The structural components, including stringers and longerons, were specifically sized and strategically positioned in both the cargo door section and throughout the rest of the fuselage to accommodate the anticipated …

Measurement Uncertainty, Barton L. Smith, Douglas R. Neal

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Textbooks

This text is based on the graduate Measurements course notes from BLS at Utah State University. It is intended as a textbook for graduate students in engineering or physics or as a reference text.

If one collects several texts on measurement uncertainty, it quickly becomes clear that the measurement uncertainty community lacks a consistent language or nomenclature. This can be confusing to a new reader who may view measurement uncertainty as a very old and settled topic. The lack of consensus on nomenclature likely stems from the lack of a clear winner–a paradigm and nomenclature set sufficiently superior to be …

From The Editors, Rully Karim Dr.

Journal of Project Management & Construction

The Journal of Project Management and Construction (JPMC) is a peer-reviewed publication dedicated to advancing the field of project management and construction, grounded in the principles outlined in the PMBOK 6th Edition. Our focus encompasses the ten knowledge areas essential to successful project management: Integration, Scope, Schedule, Cost, Quality, Resource, Communications, Risk, Procurement, and Stakeholder Management.

JPMC publishes original research papers written in English that provide deeper insights into these knowledge areas and contribute to the development of best practices in project management and construction. Submissions may include theoretical analyses, computational models, experimental observations, or a combination of both theoretical …

Critical Success Factors Of Lean Construction Implementation To Improve Construction Project Efficiency In Indonesia, Onal Putra, Rossy Armyn Machfudiyanto

Journal of Project Management & Construction

Inefficiency is still a problem in the construction industry in Indonesia and in the world. Inefficiency leads to delayed deadlines, budget overruns, and inappropriate quality. It is caused by a lot of waste in the form of activities that use resources but do not produce the expected value. Lean construction is one approach to address this problem by eliminating waste and maximizing value for users or customers. This research aims to identify and determine the critical success factors that most influence the implementation of lean construction to improve the efficiency of construction projects in Indonesia as well as the development …

Development Of Knowledge Base Of Audit Process In High-Rise Building Works With Design-Build Contract Based On Iso 19011:2018 And Regulation Of The Minister Of Public Works And Housing No. 10 Of 2021, Zafira Alysha Fadli, Danang Budi Nugroho

Journal of Project Management & Construction

In achieving the long-term development goal of Advanced Indonesia, the Government continues to accelerate the completion of infrastructure development, such as strategic and priority projects that support economic transformation. Infrastructure development is still one of the main focuses of the Indonesian government, the 2024 state revenue and expenditure budget (APBN) is allocated to the infrastructure budget. The massive construction of high-rise buildings in Indonesia, the number of accidents is getting higher, so it is necessary to implement an audit process on construction work. The audit process is to know and monitor directly the procedures that have been applied optimally. Therefore, …

Dam Construction Project Planning: A Case Study Of Watershed Management In Poncol District, Fikrian Fajar Muhammad, Audy Christian Rayvano Kalalo

Journal of Project Management & Construction

Despite the rapid growth of infrastructure development in Indonesia, water resource management remains a major concern, especially in regions with high climate variability like Poncol District. This study aimed to identify and analyze the Watershed (DAS) in Poncol District, East Java, using a comprehensive approach integrating GIS technology and hydrology software. The Poncol watershed, covering 19,637 km², was mapped using DEMNAS maps and analyzed with flow direction and flow accumulation. Hydrological analysis via WinTR-20 included verification, sub-area identification, cross-sectional analysis, and storm analysis. Calibration results showed consistency between manual and digital methods, while land use analysis revealed significant impacts on …

Development Of Work Breakdown Structure (Wbs) Dictionary And Checklist Integrated With Building Information Modelling (Bim) On Concrete Bridge’S Care And Maintenance Work To Improve Maintenance Performance, Dina Benua Lalitya, Yusuf Latief

Journal of Project Management & Construction

According to The Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing of Republic of Indonesia (Kementerian PUPR), there was a significant decrease in national bridge condition in year 2021 compared to year 2018. One of the crucial factors that led to the collapse of the bridge was the lack of bridge management and maintenance to ensure the bridge’s serviceability. To cope with this condition, the solution needed is to carry out effective, efficient, and economical care and maintenance works. In bridge’s care and maintenance works, good project management can be improved with Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) and the use of integrated …

Great Lakes Water Levels: Curve Fitting, Statistics, And The Unacceptable-Value Statistical Approach, Brian Barkdoll

Michigan Tech Publications

Water levels in the Great Lakes fluctuate over time. Excessively high levels can cause flooding, erosion, property damage, and loss of human life. Excessively low values inhibit shipping since boats cannot reach the ports and docks due to low draft, thereby causing loss of economic resources. Water level prediction has proven elusive, thereby requiring a new approach to analyzing the historical record of water level values. Methods attempted here include curve fitting, conventional statistics, and a newly introduced Unacceptable-Value Statistical Approach (UVSA). The UVSA comprises only analyzing flooding and drought events. All remaining values are acceptable and, therefore, are not …

Novel Electroactive Polymer Actuators Using All-Polyelectrolyte Poly(Ionic Liquid) Ionogels, Kayla Foley, Iwei Chu, Keisha B. Walters

Chemical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Poly(ionic liquid)-based ionogels are excellent all-poly(electrolyte) candidates for electroactive actuation applications, but investigation of their actuation behavior and ionogel properties has largely been limited to styrenic block copolymers. In this work, ionogels were prepared from a novel poly(ionic liquid) (PIL) block copolymer, poly[(2-dimethyl amino) ethyl methacrylate)]-block-poly[4-vinylbenzyl-3-butyl imidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide] (PDMAEMA-b-PVBBImTf(2)N) combined with an ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborate (C(4)C(1)ImBF(4)), at weight percentages between 0 to 40 wt%. Under a low applied voltage (4 V DC) microscale actuation was achieved for films prepared from the neat PDMAEMA-b-PVBBImTf(2)N block copolymer, as well as its corresponding 10 wt% ionogel; this result critically expands the …

Wildfire Impact Analysis On Power System Operation: A Framework Leveraging Physics-Based Wildfire Simulation And Dynamic Line Rating, Saeed Nematshahi, Behrouz Sohrabi, Amin Khodaei, Ali Arabnya, Rui Fan

Electrical and Computer Engineering: Faculty Scholarship

The growing frequency and intensity of wildfires is significantly impacting power grid operations. Specifically, wildfires spreading to power lines can induce thermal stress, leading to a restriction in line capacity. This reduction imposes a challenge for electric utilities as they must supply electric demand while experiencing reduced transmission capacity. This paper introduces a model that simulates wildfire behavior in proximity to a transmission line, evaluates the impact on conductor temperature and capacity constraints, and subsequently analyzes the impact on grid operation from economic and reliability perspectives. The numerical studies conducted on the IEEE 14-bus test system assess both economic and …

Semiconductors & Microelectronics In Middle School Technology & Engineering: Integrating Emerging Stem Workforce Contexts Into The Classroom, Greg J. Strimel, Deana Lucas, Yubin Lee, Victoria Constantine, Tamara J. Moore, Morgan Hynes, Selcen Guzey

School of Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

This case study explores the integration of microelectronics contexts and content into middle school classrooms as part of a workforce development initiative intended to address national labor force needs arising from increased investments in the semiconductor industry. The study follows four middle school technology and engineering teachers as they develop, implement, and refine an instructional unit designed to introduce students to microelectronics production and semiconductor-related careers. Through classroom observations and iterative curriculum development, this exploratory case study reviewed how emerging STEM workforce contexts, such as semiconductors and microelectronics, can be integrated into middle school instruction. The results provide a practical …

On The Derivation Of The Ungerboeck Observation Model For Offset Qpsk, Michael Rice

Faculty Publications

This report derives maximum likelihood sequence estimator for Offset QPSK (OQPSK) operating over frequency selective channel. The maximum likelihood sequence estimator takes the form of the Viterbi Algorithm operating on a trellis defined intersymbol interference caused by the frequency selective channel. Because the distorted pulse shape does not satisfy the Nyquist no-ISI criterion, the matched filter output samples contain correleted noise. The derivation uses Ungerboeck’s method to create a recursive causal metric suitable for use with the Viterbi Algorithm.

A Robust And Energy-Efficient Federated Ids For Iiot Using Spiking Neural Networks And Differential Evolution With Adversarial Resilience, Mohammad Othman Nassar

Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics

The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is faced with increasing cybersecurity threats that require lightweight, fast, and resilient intrusion detection systems (IDS). This study presents a novel federated IDS framework that integrates federated learning (FL), Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs), and differential evolution (DE). The use of SNNs within a federated context is a rare and innovative contribution that enables effective temporal feature extraction from IIoT traffic. DE is employed as a global optimization mechanism, enhancing robustness and generalization beyond conventional federated aggregation. To further strengthen resilience, synthetic adversarial noise is injected during training, allowing evaluation in realistic poisoning scenarios. The …

Deep Reinforcement Learning Based Control For Enhanced Frequency Response With Multi-Energy Storage Systems, Abu Shouaib Hasan, Rui Fan, Wei Gao, Di Wu

Electrical and Computer Engineering: Faculty Scholarship

This paper proposes an advanced strategy for managing multiple battery energy storage systems (BESS) to enhance frequency support during contingencies. A novel deep reinforcement learning (DRL) framework based on a guided surrogate-gradient-based evolutionary strategy (GSES) was developed to dynamically regulate BESS outputs for rapid power injection or absorption. This approach effectively mitigates the rate of change of frequency (ROCOF) and stabilizes the system frequency under varying operating conditions. Parallel computing techniques are employed to accelerate training and ensure robust performance. In addition, a genetic algorithm is implemented to determine the placement of BESS within the grid network, strategically minimizing ROCOF …

New Collaborative Water Accounting Proposals To Protect Lake Powell And Lake Mead During Extreme Low Reservoir Storage And River Flow (Protect And Flexible During Crisis), David Rosenberg, Anabelle Myers, Brittany Fager, Erik Porse

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Low Colorado River flows threaten to draw down Lake Powell and Lake Mead below their minimum power pool elevations. Additionally, the U.S. Federal Government through its Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) has set a new deadline for November 11, 2025 for new proposals to operate Lake Powell and Lake Mead after existing operations expire at the end of 2026. In a prior April 2025 post, we shared 13 reasons why we have hope for consensus on new operations (Rosenberg et al., 2026). One reason was that during crisis, rapid changes in policies and operations are possible. More recently, we asked the …

Thermal Properties Of Novel Materials, Wilarachchige D.C. Bhagya Gunatilleke

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Thermal properties play an important role in various aspects of applications of technology startingfrom the materials property determinations to device performance improvements and their safety and stability. Measurements of the thermal properties of such materials of interest pose challenges due to the demands of these measurements for determination of intrinsic materials properties. The research included in this dissertation involved both synthesis of novel materials and their measurement of thermal properties. Solid-state materials synthesis involves various synthesis and processing techniques, while specific technological applications demand synthesis of defect-free single crystals. Such synthesis techniques were explored for the research included in this …

Site Specific Reliability-Targeted Snow Loads And Winter Wind Parameters Across The World, Brennan Bean, Nicholas Brimhall, Bikram Bhusal, Marc Maguire, Maha Moussa

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Publications

This report presents a framework for estimating Reliability Targeted Snow Loads (RTSLs) and Winter Wind Parameters (WWPs) at locations outside the Conterminous United States (OCONUS). The methodology integrates ground-based in-situmeasurements with gridded global climate products to generate spatially continuous RTSL estimates for nearly any location in OCONUS. RTSLs are computed at qualifying in-situ stations, and predictive models relating gridded climate products to in-situRTSLs enable estimation at locations lacking direct measurements. This report describes the development of the in-situ annual maximum snow load database, the construction of global gridded climate summaries, the estimation of site-specific RTSLs and Service Targeted …

Experimental Investigation: Performance Of Ranque-Hilsch Vortex Tubes Under Various Surface Boundary Conditions, Ahmad Al-Najjar

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

The Ranque–Hilsch vortex tube (RHVT) is a passive thermos-fluid device that splits compressed gas into simultaneous cold and hot streams through strong swirling flow inside a slender tube, without moving parts. This study experimentally examines how external boundary conditions applied to the tube wall influence RHVT performance. Three wall conditions were imposed: (i) externally cooled (cooling), (ii) externally heated (heating), and (iii) adiabatic (insulated). Tests were conducted with air over an inlet pressure range of 2–6 bar. The primary objective was to understand the extent to which wall thermal condition modifies temperature separation and energy efficiency. Performance was quantified using …

Evaluating Tire-Pavement Noise Reduction Of Porous Asphalt Using Close Proximity Tests: Comparative Performance And Long-Term Effectiveness, Jin Hwan Kim, Kyungnam Kim, Oh Sun Kwon, Woo Young Cho, Youngguk Seo

Faculty Articles

The objective of this study was to understand the long-term noise reduction effect of Porous Asphalt (PA) in an expressway environment. To this end, PA was compared with that of Stone Mastic Asphalt (SMA), tined concrete, and Next-Generation Concrete Surface (NGCS) at the time of construction. Then, the evolution of PA’s acoustic performance was characterized on 82 pavement sections over the period of 1–18 years. The Close Proximity (CPX) method was used to measure tire-pavement noise at three cruising speeds: 80, 100, and 120 km/h. Mean Profile Depth (MPD) and permeability time were considered as key functional measures of PA …

Elucidating The Effects Of Water Activity On The Hydration Kinetics And Thermodynamics Of Ye’Elimite–Calcium Sulfate Hydrate Systems, Godwin I. Ogbuehi, Rupack R. Halder, Aditya Kumar, Gaurav Sant, Monday U. Okoronkwo

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Relative humidity and water activity (aH) reductions have been known to suppress the hydration of anhydrous cement clinker phases. However, the relationship between ye'elimite (C4A3$) hydration kinetics and water activity remain unclear. This study employs experimental and thermodynamic modeling approaches to investigate the influence of water activity on ye'elimite hydration in the "C4A3$ + water", and "C4A3$ + gypsum + water" systems. Experimental findings indicate that as water activity decreases, C4A3$ hydration diminishes until the reaction is brought to a halt at a threshold aH. The critical aHand corresponding solubility constant of C4A3$ (KC4A3S¯) estimated from thermodynamic analysis are 0.46 …

A Hybrid Data Assimilation Approach For Parameter Estimation In Dynamical Systems, Xuejian Li

Math Department Colloquium Series

In this talk, we present a hybrid data assimilation (DA) method that integrates continuous data assimilation (CDA) with particle filtering to estimate parameters in dynamical systems. Parameter estimation in such systems is particularly challenging because it involves both determining the parameters and estimating the often high-dimensional physical state. To address this difficulty, we decouple the estimation of states and parameters by employing CDA for state estimation and particle filtering for parameter estimation, with information exchanged alternately between the two. This hybrid framework leverages the strengths of CDA in handling high-dimensional state estimation and the efficiency of particle filters in estimating …

A Fully Automated Drilling Machine For Printed Circuit Boards With Superior Path Optimization, Mohamed Mammdouh, Ahmed Khaled, Reem Mahmoud, Osama Desouki, Sameh O. Abdellatif

Electrical Engineering

This paper addresses a critical challenge in Printed Circuit Board (PCB) manufacturing by proposing an AI-driven, fully automated drilling machine that employs sophisticated path-planning techniques. Current methodologies often fail to adequately assess designs with varying hole sizes, diverse component placements, and complex geometries, leading to compromised precision and increased manufacturing times. Our innovative approach leverages advanced algorithms to intelligently analyze PCB designs and optimize drilling paths, significantly reducing production time and minimizing errors. By automating the drilling process, we enhance overall productivity while ensuring precise hole placement, essential for maintaining high-quality circuit boards. Utilizing KiCAD EDA software, we automate the …

Toward Autonomous Pavement Inspection: An End-To-End Vision-Based Framework For Pci Computation And Robotic Deployment, Nada El Desouky, Ahmed Torky, Mohamed Elbheiri, Mohamed Eid, Mohamed Ibrahim

Civil Engineering

Advancements in robotics and computer vision are transforming how infrastructure is monitored and maintained. This paper presents a novel, fully automated pipeline for pavement condition assessment that integrates real-time image analysis with PCI (Pavement Condition Index) computation, which is specifically designed for deployment on mobile and robotic platforms. Unlike traditional methods that rely on costly equipment or manual input, the proposed system uses deep learning-based object detection and ensemble segmentation to identify and measure multiple types of road distress directly from 2D imagery, including surface weathering, a key precursor to pothole formation often overlooked in previous studies. Depth estimation is …

Preparing Tomorrow’S Professionals: Industry-Informed Ai Integration, Brent A. Terwilliger Ph.D, John Faraca

Publications

As AI reshapes operations across aviation and aerospace, organizations are investing in ways to preserve data integrity, safeguard proprietary knowledge, and uphold critical professional competencies. This presentation shares emerging findings from a study that surveys and interviews industry professionals about their use of AI tools, their concerns about misuse, and the importance of secure, enterprise-controlled “walled garden” environments. The work explores how employers define appropriate, effective, and innovative AI adoption, particularly in roles requiring high-stakes decision-making, compliance, and technical acumen.

By analyzing organizational expectations around AI-related knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs), this research offers practical guidance for academic programs seeking …

Student Perspectives On Ai-Enabled Tools For Adaptive Learning, John Faraca

Publications

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly influencing the delivery of higher education, especially in aviation technical disciplines. From AI-assisted gimbals and video production tools to generative AI platforms, these technologies are helping learners to engage with course material, accomplish objectives, and connect academic concepts with professional applications. By offering pathways for personalization, streamlining resource access, and supporting interactive instruction, AI tools expand opportunities for effective learning. This work builds on a current collaborative research project with a faculty researcher to explore the student perspective in the active review and application of these tools to highlight their potential to improve usability, address …

“How Can Ai Data Centers In The U.S. Meet Projected Electricity Demands By 2030?, Aiden M. Matano

Sustainable Supply Chain Management

The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence is driving a sharp increase in U.S. electricity demand, with AI-driven data centers emerging as a central contributor through 2030. This paper asks how U.S. AI data centers can meet projected electricity needs while simultaneously reducing carbon emissions. Using a supply-chain and systems perspective, it analyzes the full energy chain of AI data centers: upstream electricity supply and grid deliverability, midstream facility design and grid interaction, and downstream operational practices, waste management, and disclosure. Drawing on recent projections from the International Energy Agency, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and U.S. federal guidance, the paper shows …

A Fragility Framework For Surface Erosion With Application To Earthen Dam Breaching, Ege C. Kurter, Ayman Mokhtar Nemnem, M. Hanif Chaudhry, Jasim Imran

Faculty Publications

Overtopping failures of earthen dams are a growing concern under intensifying extreme rainfall. This study introduces a probabilistic fragility framework that combines hydrologic modeling, hydraulic analysis, and soil erodibility to assess erosion risk under uncertain load and resistance. Fragility curves derived from Monte Carlo simulations quantify erosion initiation and severity as functions of rainfall depth and excess shear stress. Application to multiple dams affected during the 2015 South Carolina floods reproduces observed outcomes ranging from complete breach to no damage. The framework also captures cascading effects, where failure of an upstream structure increases downstream loading and erosion potential. Compared with …

A Study Of Nonlinear Duffing Equations Using The Haar Wavelet Method, Kumbinarasaiah S., Yeshwanth R., Nandeesh K C.

Mansoura Engineering Journal

The main goal of this study is to solve Duffing equations, which are nonlinear differential equations (DEs), using the Haar wavelet technique. The solutions to this equation for an externally pushed and damped oscillator show intriguing dynamic behavior. Mathematicians have recently become more interested in wavelet analysis because of its real-world applications. A few real-world problems have been considered to assess the current methodology. Here, the (OMI) Operational Matrix of Integration and collocation points transform the non-linear ODEs into a system of nonlinear algebraic equations. The resulting system of algebraic equations is then solved using the Newton-Raphson technique to retrieve …