Engineering Commons^™

Multimodal Deep Learning Architecture For Biomass Prediction Using Aerial Imagery, Sadikul Alim Toki

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Grape growers rely on knowing how much leaf area their vines have, since canopy size affects how much water a vine needs, how healthy it is, and how much fruit it will produce. Measuring this by hand, plant by plant, across an entire vineyard takes enormous time and labor, so researchers have turned to cameras mounted on drones and satellites as a faster alternative. Drones capture very detailed images but only over small areas per flight, while satellites can photograph an entire farming region at once but cannot make out individual plants. 

This thesis builds a computer vision model, a …

Physics-Data-Hybrid Modeling And Control For Vtol Aircraft, Samantha Dawn Burton

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft are hybrid aircraft having both a helicopter flight mode and a fixed-wing plane flight mode. The objective of this dissertation is to examine and evaluate a new approach, physics-data-hybrid (PDH), for VTOL aircraft modeling and control. The PDH approach combines traditional, physics-based methods (Newtonian mechanics) with data driven methods (a machine learning technique called a Koopman operator model) to create an efficient and accurate modeling and control framework—mitigating the disadvantages of the purely physics-based and purely data-driven methods. The PDH approach is used to model scenarios when the VTOL aircraft transitions between helicopter mode …

Flight System Development For A Bio-Inspired Rotating Empennage Experimental Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, Ashton Gilbert

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Unmanned aerial systems, commonly known as drones, are increasingly used for research, environmental monitoring, and testing new aircraft concepts. Many commercially available drone flight controllers work well for standard aircraft designs, but they can be difficult to adapt for experimental vehicles that use unconventional control methods or require detailed monitoring during testing. This creates challenges for researchers who need flexible and reliable tools to safely evaluate new flight technologies. This work presents the development of a custom drone flight control system designed specifically for experimental research. The system integrates custom electronics and software that allow researchers to easily modify control …

Scalable Quality Assessment Of Ground Motion Records Via Interpretable Deep Learning Architectures, Ali Montazeri Namin

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Earthquake engineers rely on accurate recordings of ground shaking to design safe and resilient buildings. However, sorting through thousands of these recordings to find the reliable ones and throwing out those ruined by sensor errors or background noise is traditionally done by hand. Because modern seismic networks collect massive amounts of earthquake data every day, this manual checking process is much too slow. To fix this, researchers are turning to artificial intelligence to automatically check the quality of these recordings.

While artificial intelligence offers a fast solution, there are limitations. These computer models can become massive and expensive to run, …

Dataset For Integrity Attacks On Time Synchronized Synchrophasor Data, Taylah Griffiths, Mohiuddin Ahmed, Chadni Islam

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Phasor measurement units, also known as synchrophasors, are a vital component within smart grids to determine the stability of the grid. These devices send synchrophasor data to phasor data concentrators that collate and analyse the data. Recently, synchrophasor communication data has become beneficial for the research community. However, datasets covering cyberattacks on synchrophasor data are not public. Having access to this data would aid in investigating mitigations against cyberattacks. This paper describes a public specialized dataset, known as ECU-PMU-FDI/TSA. The dataset contains synchrophasor communication data for cybersecurity mitigation testing. Three hours of communication data was captured, from a simulated testbed. …

Trace Pfoa Synergistically Intensifies Nanoplastic-Humic Acid Fouling In Forward Osmosis: Mitigation Using A Mxene-Tio2 Substrate And A Ta/Fe3+ Interlayer, Roham Ghanbari, Javad Farahbakhsh, Mohadeseh Najafi Arani, Ratish Permala, Stefan Iglauer, Masoumeh Zargar

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Multicomponent fouling arising from the coexistence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), nanoplastics (NPs), and natural organic matter (NOM) remains poorly understood and limits membrane-based water treatment. Here, these interactions and their mitigation are examined through coordinated substrate-interlayer engineering in forward osmosis membranes. A hydrogen-bonded MXene-TiO2 (HMT) composite is incorporated into the polysulfone substrate to improve pore structure, hydrophilicity, and mass transfer, while a tannic acid/Fe3+ interlayer regulates interfacial polymerization and surface chemistry. Control membranes are employed to decouple the individual and combined effects of these modifications. Fouling experiments under single, binary, and ternary conditions reveal that trace PFAS cause …

Aluminium Based Hydrotalcite Like Compounds For Direct Lithium Extraction: A Critical Review On Crystallography And Structure Selectivity Design, Amin Sarmadi, Yasaman Boroumand, Mohammad Mahdi A. Shirazi, Magdalena Wajrak, Shayan Abrishami, Matthew Myers, Muhammad Rizwan Azhar, Amir Razmjou

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The accelerating demand for lithium is intensifying interest in direct lithium extraction (DLE) technologies that minimise the environmental footprint of conventional solar evaporation ponds. Among sorbent-based DLE concepts, aluminium based hydrotalcite like compounds (Al-HTlc), particularly lithium aluminium layered double hydroxide (LiAl-LDH), are considered the most mature sorbent options, offering facile lithium (Li+) recovery and high selectivity in highly saline chloride based solutions. Both properties arise from a distinct intercalation mechanism wherein Li+ and its counter-anions (e.g. Cl− or SO42−) are co-intercalated into the crystal structure upon brine exposure. Li+ selectivity arises partly from a steric match between Li+ (ionic radius …

Scalable And Interpretable Fraud Detection In Fintech: Evidence From A Hybrid Tabnet–Graph Neural Network Framework, Haseeb Ahmad, Istiaque Bhuiyan, Tanvir Bhuiyan, Ariful Hoque

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This study proposes a fraud detection framework for FinTech that integrates tabular deep learning with relational graph reasoning. We address a key limitation of state-of-the-art tabular fraud models: their assumption that transactions are independent, despite evidence that modern fraud often arises from coordinated infrastructure reuse (e.g., shared devices, email domains, accounts, and addresses). Using the IEEE-CIS Fraud Detection dataset (≈590,540 e-commerce transactions), we develop a hybrid architecture that combines TabNet, chosen for its built-in interpretability on tabular data, with a GraphSAGE encoder trained on a leakage-free heterogeneous entity graph constructed strictly from historical training transactions. Unseen entities in validation and …

Enhancing Agricultural Sustainability Under Climate Change: A Multi-Scale Framework Integrating Climate Extremes, Resource Efficiency, And Data-Driven Modeling, Shahryar Fazli

Computational and Data Sciences (PhD) Dissertations

Agricultural systems are increasingly challenged by climate variability, where shifting temperature regimes, hydrological variability, and the rising frequency of compound and cascading extremes threaten global food security and resource sustainability. Addressing these challenges requires integrated frameworks that bridge biophysical monitoring, predictive modeling, and adaptive decision-making. This dissertation develops a data-driven, multi-scale framework to quantify and enhance agricultural resilience by integrating remote sensing, climate analytics, and machine learning across the United States, with a focus on California and the Western U.S.

First, hyperspectral and thermal remote sensing data from EMIT and OpenET are integrated to characterize crop nitrogen–water interactions and assess …

Comparative Evaluation Of Abs And Paraffin Wax As Fuels For Commercial Hybrid Rocket Thrusters, Logan J. Mecham

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Hybrid rockets store solid fuel and fluid oxidizer separately, mixing only upon entry to the combustion chamber. This arrangement is generally safer to handle than a mixed solid propellant and simpler than a fully liquid engine, presenting an alternative for tactical rocket motors currently dominated by solid-propellant systems. Two commonly studied solid-phase hybrid fuels are three-dimensionally printed acrylonitrile butadiene styrene and paraffin wax. Paraffin is known for its high regression rate, which has been suggested to enable shorter grains and more compact overall systems, while the printed polymer is stronger, prints directly to shape, and retains structural integrity under military …

Nanofluid-Assisted Enhanced Sealing Containment Of Caprocks For Efficient Geological Co2 Storage, Muhammad Ali, Nurudeen Yekeen, Mujahid Ali, Nilanjan Pal, Mohammed Al Kobaisi, Alireza Keshavarz, Hussein Hoteit

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Millions of tons of CO2 are stored annually in geological formations in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, relying on caprock as a seal to prevent CO2 leakage. The wettability of caprock is crucial for its effectiveness, and can be altered by organic acids present in the storage media. The present study investigates the impact of stearic acid on the CO2 wettability of shale, along with the potential of alumina nanofluids to reverse this effect. Using contact angle measurements, X-ray diffraction, and other analytical methods, the study reveals that stearic acid increases the CO2 wettability of shale, making it more …

Natural Gas Hydrate Production And Co2 Storage Via Clathrate Hydrates: Challenges And Opportunities, Abdirahman Hassan Mohamed, Aliyu Adebayo Sulaimon, Haylay Tsegab, Bhajan Lal, Stefan Iglauer, Muhammad Ali

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

One of the most demanding environmental and economic challenges of this era is that of supplying the increasing global energy demand while reducing and neutralizing the CO2 footprint. In this regard, the provision of a secure and diversified energy supply and the sequestration of CO2 into geological formations are currently of great significance. However, the buoyant nature of CO2 under the temperature and pressure conditions of typical geological sites leads to the risk of CO2 leakage, and thus necessitates long-term monitoring. Therefore, the hydrate-based sequestration of CO2 beneath oceanic sediments has become a desirable alternative to conventional geologic sequestration in …

Switching Configurations For Reconfigurable Battery Packs: A Review, Kenneth Tetteh Akiti, Quoc Viet Phung, Iftekhar Ahmad, Daryoush Habibi

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Conventional Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are designed with fixed cell topologies, where the electrical connection between cells remains unchanged throughout their life. Although Battery Management Systems (BMS) and conventional cell-balancing techniques are employed to monitor and maintain performance, they often fail to address key challenges such as uneven cell aging, capacity mismatch, and fault isolation that arise especially during the second life of a battery pack. These limitations can result in reduced efficiency, reduced reliability, and shortened battery life. As large-scale battery packs become increasingly common in Electric Vehicles (EVs), smart grids, robotics, and renewable energy systems, the limitations …

Annual Conference 2024 Workshop Report, Rahat Ullah, Adhban Farea, Joe Harrington, Ted Mc Kenna

Reports

This report presents the findings from industry workshops held during the Build Digital Annual Conference on 17 October 2024 in Cork.

The workshops brought together stakeholders from national infrastructure, local authority infrastructure and housing to discuss challenges, priorities and opportunities associated with digital transformation in the Irish construction sector.

The report identifies common themes including leadership and organisational support, digital skills and training, information exchange, resource allocation and the management of asset information.

The findings provide insights into the practical supports required to advance digital adoption across public sector organisations.

Effect Of Preheating Palm Oil Biodiesel Fuel On The Performance And Emissions Of Diesel Engine Common Rail Direct Injection, Nanang Romandoni, Achmad Aminudin, Hari Setiapraja, Bima Randi Wardiasaputra, Kelvin Dwi Wardana, Ahmad Yusril Aminullah, Deni Nur Fauzi, Kholis Nur Faizin, Nur Ihda Farikhatin Nisa

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

Fossil fuel consumption continues to increase while its reserves continue to decrease and produce high emissions that trigger global warming. Therefore, more environmentally friendly alternative energy is needed. Biodiesel is a sustainable choice because it is biodegradable, low in sulphur, and can replace fossil fuels. This study investigates the influence of biodiesel fuel preheating temperature on engine performance, fuel consumption, and emissions in a Common Rail Direct Injection (CRDI) diesel engine. The experimental method was carried out by heating B40 and B50 fuels at temperatures of 40°C to 60°C at intervals of 10 °C. Engine performance was evaluated using a …

Structural And Electrochemical Characterization Of Na2co3/ Γ- Al2o3 Electrodes For Supercapacitor, Wiwin Dwiana, Jeniva Dinta Nanda Fahreza, Anissa Chairani Alfin Nadhira, Fatimatuz Zahra, Erma Surya Yuliana, Muhammad Safwan Abd Aziz, Nandang Mufti

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

The development of electrode materials with suitable structural and surface properties is crucial for improving electrochemical energy storage systems. Gamma alumina (𝛾-Al₂O₃) has attracted considerable interest in electrochemical research due to its unique structural and surface properties. However, its charge-storage capacity is still limited, highlighting the need for structural and compositional modifications to improve its electrochemical performance. In this study, Na₂CO₃ was introduced into 𝛾-Al₂O₃ as a sodium precursor to induce phase modification and enhance the electrochemical activity. The systematic incorporation of Na₂CO₃ also provides an opportunity …

A Systematic Review Of Alkali-Treated Polylactic Acid Biocomposites Relevant To Pineapple Leaf And Water Hyacinth Hybrid Design, Muhammad Rizky Adrianto Subandi, Tri Hartutuk Ningsih, Hanna Zakiyya

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

The increasing demand for sustainable materials has accelerated the development of biodegradable polymer composites. Polylactic acid (PLA)-based natural fiber composites have attracted significant attention due to their renewable characteristics; however, their performance remains limited by weak fiber–matrix compatibility, moisture sensitivity, and inconsistent interfacial behavior. Alkali treatment has been widely applied to modify lignocellulosic fibers by removing non-cellulosic components and improving surface characteristics, although its effectiveness remains dependent on treatment conditions and fiber properties. This systematic review evaluates the influence of alkali treatment on PLA-based natural fiber composites and assesses the available evidence supporting future pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) and water …

International Best Practice In Digital Construction Adoption - 2026 Upate (Version 2), Ted Mckenna, Davitt Lamon

Reports

In order to inform the Digital Leadership and Cultural Change pillar of the Build Digital, a study of international best practice in digital adoption within the built environment sector globally was undertaken and is presented here-in. In order to identify key learnings for Ireland in the context of digital transformation, eight countries were included in this study, namely, Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, Germany, United Kingdom (UK), New Zealand, Australia and Singapore. These countries were selected for various reasons, including the level of digital maturity, the scale of the built environment sector and geographic spread. Key data for each country is included …

Engineers Without Borders Lunch & Learn Presentation, Brian Roth, Ruben Yoder, Phoenix Professional Chapter

International Education Week

Discover how engineering can help address challenges and improve lives around the world. Learn from Engineers Without Borders students and professionals about their global work, community partnerships, and opportunities to get involved.

Ncf Sensor Coated With Cofe1.96la0.04o4/Lafeo3 Heterostructures For Room-Temperature Detection Of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Concentration, Ziqiang Liu, Fujian Tang, Yufang He, Jie Huang

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is a highly flammable fuel widely used for cooking, heating and transportation, making real-time leak detection essential for preventing fire, explosion, and suffocation hazards. In this study, a room-temperature no-core fiber (NCF) sensor coated with CoFe_1.96La_0.04O₄/LaFeO₃ heterostructures was developed for LPG detection. The heterostructures were characterized using XRD, Raman spectroscopy, SEM, TEM, XPS, PL spectroscopy, and UV–vis spectroscopy. Experimental results showed that La incorporation and heterostructure formation refined the particles size, improved surface accessibility, and modulated the electronic structure and band gap, thereby enhancing LPG adsorption, carrier redistribution, and …

Lithium Titanate-Functionalized Mixed Matrix Polymer Membrane For High-Performance Osmotic Energy Conversion, Rockson Kwesi Tonnah, Yasaman Boroumand, Milad Razbin, Mostafa Vahdani, Amir Razmjou, Mohsen Asadnia

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Reverse electrodialysis (RED) offers a promising route to harvest osmotic energy from salinity gradients, yet practical implementation is hindered by the lack of scalable, high-performance ion-selective membranes that combine efficient ion transport with mechanical robustness and environmental sustainability. Here, we report a mixed matrix membrane composed of polyethersulfone (PES), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and lithium titanium oxide (Li₂TiO₃, LTO) that addresses these challenges through biomimetic ion transport channels. The strategic integration of LTO nanoparticles introduces ion-exchange sites and oxygen-rich PES ether linkages to create preferential cation transport pathways that mimic biological ion channels. This mixed matrix design delivers over three-fold cation conduction, …

The Mechanical Actor: Meyerhold’S Biomechanics And The Birth Of The Analyzable Body, Margaret R. Davisson

Caroliniana Undergraduate Research Journal

This paper analyzes Vsevolod Meyerhold’s system of biomechanics, an actor-training system, as a theatrical framework that participated in the broader cultural consolidation of an analytical conception of human movement also taking place within modern scientific biomechanics. Situating Meyerhold’s work within the industrial and ideological context of early twentieth-century Soviet modernity, the study examines how theatrical training methods operationalized emerging assumptions about the mechanization, decomposition, and optimization of human movement. Through comparative analysis of Meyerholdian performance theory and scientific biomechanics, the paper demonstrates a structural correspondence between theatrical movement segmentation and biomechanical concepts such as kinematics, force distribution, and mechanical equilibrium. …

Effect Of Dislocation Density On The Carrier Mobility Of Gan/Algan Hemt, Kelsey M. Colglazier

Caroliniana Undergraduate Research Journal

Gallium nitride (GaN) and aluminum gallium nitride (AlGaN) heterostructures are used in high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) due to their performance in high-frequency and high-power applications. However, dislocation density in GaN significantly impacts electron mobility and overall device efficiency. In this study, the relationship between dislocation density and electron mobility was investigated using two samples of GaN with thicknesses of 2 µm and 11 µm grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD), and HEMTs produced using these samples. Data concerning dislocation density was collected and analyzed using atomic force microscopy and X-ray diffraction, while electrical properties were evaluated through capacitance-voltage, …

Securing Reconfigurable Systems: Real-Time Ml-Based Hardware Trojan Detection Via Binary Fpga Bitstream Analysis, Rye C. Stahle-Smith Mr.

Caroliniana Undergraduate Research Journal

Reconfigurable computing platforms such as Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) are widely deployed in high-performance embedded systems and AI acceleration workloads. Their post-deployment reconfigurability, however, introduces a critical attack surface: maliciously crafted configuration bitstreams can embed hardware Trojans capable of leaking sensitive data, degrading system reliability, or silently altering computation. This paper presents an AI-based predictive modeling framework for detecting malicious FPGA configurations directly from binary bitstreams, without reliance on source code or netlists. Bitstreams sourced from state-of-the-art (SOTA) Trust-Hub benchmarks were re-engineered for the Xilinx PYNQ-Z1 platform and labeled as benign, malicious, or empty. A 256-dimensional byte-frequency feature vector is …

Comparing The Predictions Of Convolutional Neural Networks, Random Forest Transfer Learning, And Support Vector Machines In The Image Processing Of Neoplasms, Ali A. Wallam

Caroliniana Undergraduate Research Journal

This study investigated the efficacy of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), Support Vector Machines (SVMs), and Random Forest Transfer Learning (RFTL) in the image processing of lung neoplasms for enhanced diagnostic accuracy. Leveraging the Lung Image Database Consortium Image Database Resource Initiative (LIDC-IDRI), chest CT images were analyzed to compare the three models' performance. It was hypothesized that the most accurate predictions would result from the RFTL model because it would have the most efficient data processing. Results indicated that all three models demonstrated high accuracy, with CNNs excelling in precision, SVMs in recall, and RFTL showing a balanced performance. Precision-recall …

Alkali-Activated By-Products In Clayey Soil Stabilization – A Laboratory Study, Önder Akçakal, Mustafa Hatipoğlu

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

Clayey soil stabilization is one of the important topics of the geotechnical engineering where binder stabilization is widely used to increase the bearing capacity and reduce the settlements of the soil layers. However mechanical performance of the binder stabilized clays is generally lower than sands and more dependent on soil properties. Utilization of the alkali-activated by-products, such as fly-ash (FA) and ground granulated blast furnace-slag (GGBS) as a binder in clays is an emerging topic where traditional cement can be replaced with these industrial waste materials. Recycling these materials provides advantages in reduction of the carbon footprint and construction costs …

Friction Coefficients Characteristic Of Biodegradable Lubricants Based On Coconut Oil With The Addition Of Beeswax, Munirul Islam Dwi Suwari, Aminnudin Aminnudin, Ahmad Atif Fikri

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

Coconut oil-based lubricants are currently commonly used as an alternative to environmentally friendly lubricants because they are biodegradable and have a low environmental pollution impact. However, coconut oil has less than optimal lubrication capabilities compared to mineral lubricants, so the addition of beeswax additives is needed to improve its tribological characteristics. This study specifically aims to analyze the direct effect of adding varying amounts of beeswax on the performance and efficiency of coconut oil lubricants. The friction coefficient tested using pin on disc methods according to ASM G99 with the pin-on-disc tribological testing were 7075 aluminium pins with a standard …

Reusing Destruction Debris For Urban Resilience In The Reconstruction Of Gaza, Aseel Z. Abutaha, Sherief A. Sheta, Lamiaa Gamal

Mansoura Engineering Journal

This study addresses the challenge of managing quantities of war-generated debris and transforming it from an environmental and security liability into a strategic resource that strengthens urban resilience. Drawing on experiences from Bosnia, Iraq, and Ukraine, the research employs a comparative analytical methodology to develop a strategic framework for reusing war debris in sustainable reconstruction within conflict-affected areas. The framework comprises 15 actionable components under four dimensions: governance and financing, environmental and health safety, technological and digital localization, and community empowerment. Field testing in the Gaza involved surveys with 282 participants, including experts and community members. Findings reveal that limited …

Simulating Diesel And Battery-Electric Haulage In Underground Mines: Productivity, Heat Load, And Energy Usage, Aaron Swift, Jason M. Porter, Alexandra M. Newman

Journal of Sustainable Mining

Battery-electric vehicles can improve ambient conditions in underground mines by reducing the amount of heat and diesel exhaust produced during the execution of mining activities (e.g., hauling fragmented rock). Literature comparing diesel- and battery-powered vehicles considers differences in cost, productivity, and heat load between individual vehicles or one type of vehicle (e.g., only trucks or only loaders); this paper determines the effect of electrifying an entire haulage fleet on the productivity, heat load, energy usage, and emissions of an underground mine using discrete-event simulation. Battery-electric loaders and haul trucks reduce heat load by 76 to 82%, CO₂ emissions by …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Building Information Modeling (7d Bim) In Enhancing Facility Management And Maintenance Of Heritage Buildings, Hasnaa M. Taye, Yasmine S. Hegazy, Mohamed A .Abu Ashour, Hesham Hendawy

Mansoura Engineering Journal

Heritage buildings continue to face persistent challenges in documentation, fragmented data management, and limited integration of digital technologies in post-restoration facility management. Building Information Modelling (BIM), particularly 7D BIM, provides a framework for managing heritage assets throughout their operational lifecycle. Yet, despite increasing interest in BIM for construction and conservation, empirical evidence on its contribution to facility management efficiency in heritage settings, especially in Arabic-speaking contexts, remains limited. This study investigates the extent to which BIM adoption enhances facility management performance, with attention to operational efficiency, risk reduction, maintenance quality, and decision support. A mixed-methods explanatory sequential design was employed. …