Engineering Commons^™

The Feasibility Of Using A Phenomenological Approach To Explicate The Experience Of Being-In-Community: Experience Of Reviving The Marine Heritage In Bahrain, Islam Hamdy Elghonaimy, Layal Tahsine Ahmed Channaa

BAU Journal - Creative Sustainable Development

The strategic location of Bahrain and its wealthy marine and coastal environment were the main drivers for the country’s flourishment before the discovery of oil. For a long time, Bahrain has functioned as a pioneer maritime trade center and represented a significant trade transit route between the east and west that transfers the affluent marine productions. This mainly formed an eminent cultural heritage for the country reflected within its inveterate maritime history and the authentic bond between the Bahraini grandparents and the sea. Unfortunately, along with the life evolution, this bond became weak and the biodiversity of the country’s marine …

The Role Of Theme Parks In Creating Sustainable Development, Islam Hamdy Elghonaimy, Salma Alsaeed

BAU Journal - Creative Sustainable Development

Theme parks offer various types of entertainment that compete in both local and international markets. They include attractions, rides, arcade games, souvenir shops, and restaurants. Over the years, the industry has been growing due to the increasing tourism rates. Designing a project like an indoor theme park would increase tourism rates, leading to a boost in the country’s economic status. The success of a theme park depends highly on the demand and user’s selection of the theme. The setting and location also play a vital role in the success of the park. The purpose of this research is to introduce …

Intelligent Sensors For Sustainable Food And Drink Manufacturing, Nicholas J. Watson, Alexander L. Bowler, Ahmed Rady, Oliver J. Fisher, Alessandro Simeone, Josep Escrig, Elliot Woolley, Akinbode A. Adedeji

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Food and drink is the largest manufacturing sector worldwide and has significant environmental impact in terms of resource use, emissions, and waste. However, food and drink manufacturers are restricted in addressing these issues due to the tight profit margins they operate within. The advances of two industrial digital technologies, sensors and machine learning, present manufacturers with affordable methods to collect and analyse manufacturing data and enable enhanced, evidence-based decision making. These technologies will enable manufacturers to reduce their environmental impact by making processes more flexible and efficient in terms of how they manage their resources. In this article, a methodology …

Environmental Sustainability Of Precast And Cast-In-Situ Concrete Structures: A Case-Study Comparison Based On Built Supermarket Facilities, Bruno Dal Lago, Davide Visconti, Visar Krelani

UBT International Conference

Environmental sustainability is assuming a growing role in the strategic plans of several countries worldwide. In order to switch to more sustainable solutions in the construction field, many researchers and efforts are focusing on the material level, mainly concerning solutions aimed at partially or fully replacing the most impacting components with alternative or recycled solutions characterised by a lower carbon footprint or a higher durability, in view of a life-cycle assessment. Alongside these positive efforts, another instrument to reduce the environmental impact of construction materials, often less tackled by researchers, is reduction of material consumption by structural optimisation, often ensured …

Report On The Methodological Framework Of New Pedagogical Approaches – Scenarios Of Future Engneering Education, Bente Nørgaard, Claus Spliid, Una Beagon, Klara Kövesi, Brad Tabas, Riitta Lehtinen, Jenni Koponen, Johannes Spaas

Reports

This report summarises the methodology used to create scenarios as part of the innovative teaching pedagogies proposed in the A-STEP 2030 (Attracting diverSe Talent to the Engineering Professions of 2030) project. This project is an EU Erasmus+ project funded under call number 2018-1-FR01-KA203- 047854. The report begins by describing the overall project and the organisation of the learning and teaching activity. The scenarios were co-created with student participants and academic staff in the learning and teaching activity - A-STEP 2030 Summer School which was held in August 2021. The specific scenarios created by participants are described in this report and …

The A-Step 2030 Summer School, Una Beagon, Johannes Spaas, Klara Kövesi, Brad Tabas, Bente Nørgaard, Claus Spliid, Riitta Lehtinen, Jenni Koponen

Reports

This report outlines the design and evaluation of the Learning and Teaching Activity which forms part of the A-STEP 2030 (Attracting diverSe Talent to the Engineering Professions of 2030) project. This project is an EU Erasmus+ project funded under call number 2018-1-FR01-KA203-047854. The document begins by explaining the purpose and aims of the overall research project and more specifically, the background to the design of the Learning and Teaching Activity. The report provides a detailed description of the organisation of the learning and teaching activity and a summary of the feedback received from participants. Exemplars of the future scenarios co-created …

Arise (Certcoin)- Inspiring Demand For Sustainable Energy Skills, Barry Mcauley, Paul Mccormack, Andrew Hamilton, Eduardo Rebelo

Conference papers

The European AEC Sector now faces impending challenges over the next decade concerning escalating climate targets. To reach these targets, it vital that the green economy deliver a better-skilled workforce and develops new competencies and methods of working. Training in the domain of digital construction technologies and processes, such as Building Information Modelling (BIM), are now seen as essential upskilling vehicles that must be embraced if the sector is to transition towards a greener agenda. To assist in meeting these training needs a selection of partners from the BIM EPA will partake in the Horizon 2020 ARISE project, aiming to …

Guidelines For Structural Optimization And Sustainable Retrofitting Of Re-Purposed Buildings Using Bim, Mariam Ehab, Mina Maxi, Gehan Nagy

Civil Engineering

Nowadays energy problems resulting from the building industry become very polluting along with the high expenses of the building operation. Designers tend to propose another solution which is the refurbishment of old buildings to be energy-optimized and more efficient. As a result, some solutions are addressed to prioritize keeping the architectural theme of the city as well as reducing land use. An extensive investigation is conducted to review past research approaches regarding energy optimization requirements as well as scoping on structural optimization through building refurbishment. Structural optimization resulting from structural repurposing is not studied in depth recently, as a result, …

Simulation Modeling Of A Photovoltaic-Green Roof System For Energy Cost Reduction Of A Building: Texas Case Study, Sojung Kim, Burchan Aydin, Sumin Kim

Faculty Publications

This study aims at introducing a modeling and simulation approach for a green roof system which can reduce energy cost of a building exposed to high temperatures throughout the summer season. First, to understand thermal impact of a green roof system on a building surface, a field-based study has been conducted in Commerce, Texas, U.S., where the average maximum temperature in summer is 104 F (40 C). Two types of analyses were conducted: (1) comparison of temperature between different plant type via Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and (2) polynomial regression analysis to develop thermal impact estimation model based on air …

Evaluation Of Guayule Resin As An Innovative Bio-Based Asphalt Alternative In Mix Performance -- Preprint, Ahmed Hemida, Magdy Abdelrahman

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Literature revealed the potential of using guayule resin for asphalt cement replacement from the binder’s perspective. However, monitoring guayule resin through binder-aggregate mixture could disclose its performance through field. In this study, designated binders were employed to investigate the applicability of such an innovative replacer through mixture, which were neat asphalt and guayule-based binders (neat guayule, asphalt-rubber-guayule, guayule-rubber binders). Consecutively, field-simulated lab mixtures were prepared to investigate the major distresses. Moisture damage, rutting, fatigue cracking, and thermal cracking resistances were investigated using the modified Lottman (TSR) test, rut test by asphalt pavement analyzer (APA), semi-circular bending (SCB) test, and disk-shaped …

Evaluation Of Sustainable And Environmentally Friendly Stabilization Of Cohesionless Sandy Soil For Transportation Infrastructure, Miladin Radovic, Anand Puppala, Surya Sarat Chandra Congress, Jungyeon Jang, Oscar Huang

Data

Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) is generally used to stabilize cohesionless sandy soils that are often found in coastal areas. Due to its high carbon footprint, many studies are being conducted to identify a suitable green alternative for stabilizing cohesionless soils. Previous studies have shown that partially replacing OPC with waste materials such as nano-silica and coal waste reduces the overall carbon footprint without significantly impacting the performance. Geopolymer (GP) received a lot of attention in the past few decades owing to its similar properties to that of OPC yet with a lower carbon footprint. This study investigated the feasibility of …

Decision Support System To Select The Most Effective Strategies For Mitigating The Urban Heat Island Effect Using Sustainability And Resilience Performance Measures, Bahareh Bathaei

Theses and Dissertations

As climate change continues to alter the temperature of the cities, various urban heat island mitigation strategies (UHIMSs) are now needed to be employed to mitigate the effects of increasing temperatures. However, to ensure their resilience and sustainability, the effectiveness of such strategies should be evaluated using a set of criteria. According to a review of the literature, there is a need for a comprehensive model and performance assessment tool that considers the various characteristics and features that are significant in assessing whether the chosen strategies are viable candidates for minimizing the effects of urban heat island (UHI). As a …

Evaluation Of Sustainable And Environmentally Friendly Stabilization Of Cohesionless Sandy Soil For Transportation Infrastructure, Miladin Radovic, Anand Puppala, Surya Sarat Chandra Congress, Jungyeon Jang, Oscar Huang

Publications

Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) is generally used to stabilize cohesionless sandy soils that are often found in coastal areas. Due to its high carbon footprint, many studies are being conducted to identify a suitable green alternative for stabilizing cohesionless soils. Previous studies have shown that partially replacing OPC with waste materials such as nano-silica and coal waste reduces the overall carbon footprint without significantly impacting the performance. Geopolymer (GP) received a lot of attention in the past few decades owing to its similar properties to that of OPC yet with a lower carbon footprint. This study investigated the feasibility of …

Performance Evaluation Of A Prestressed Belitic Calcium Sulfoaluminate Cement (Bcsa) Concrete Bridge Girder, Nick Markosian, Raed Tawadrous, Mohammad Mastali, Robert J. Thomas, Marc Maguire

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

Belitic calcium sulfoaluminate (BCSA) cement is a sustainable alternative to Portland cement that offers rapid setting characteristics that could accelerate throughput in precast concrete operations. BCSA cements have lower carbon footprint, embodied energy, and natural resource consumption than Portland cement. However, these benefits are not often utilized in structural members due to lack of specifications and perceived logistical challenges. This paper evaluates the performance of a full-scale precast, prestressed voided deck slab bridge girder made with BCSA cement concrete. The rapid-set properties of BCSA cement allowed the initial concrete compressive strength to reach the required 4300 psi release strength at …

Analysis Of The Use Of Waste Material In 3d Printing, Alexander Laurence

Materials Engineering

Globally, only 9% of plastic by mass is recycled. Allowing consumers to directly convert polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste into 3D filament can increase the recycling rate by reducing contamination and costs from traditional large-scale recycling methods. This was tested by heating strips of PET to various temperatures within its glass transition region and pressing a roller with a 1.75 mm indentation against it to observe strip deformation. PET was also placed in a hemispherical well with a 1.75 mm diameter hole at the bottom and heated above its melting temperature to determine the mass of PET required to extrude 3D …

A Practical Framework To Assess The Sustainability And Resiliency Of Civil Infrastructure, Thomas Adam Robbins, Bhaskar C. S. Chittoori

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Research within civil engineering is focusing on newer ideas and philosophies such as sustainability and resiliency (S&R). This is evident in the development of frameworks for assessing the sustainability or the resiliency of civil infrastructures. Several frameworks have been developed by researchers to quantify the S&R of civil infrastructures. It is evident that the S&R are not mutually exclusive, and it is important to assess these aspects at the same time and that frameworks are able to accommodate simultaneous assessments. While there are other frameworks that follow a unified approach to S&R assessments, they do not account for the risk …

Development Of A Decision Support System For Sustainable Water Planning In Abu Dhabi, Uae, Mohamed Ibrahim Kizhisseri

Dissertations

One of the main challenges for water managers is to foresee the future accurately; then, design appropriate policies and infrastructure plans accordingly. The use of decision support systems in the field of water resource management and planning is now widely implemented, but its use in sustainable water planning of a nation or state in arid and semi-arid areas, such as Middle East countries, remains limited. The main objective of this dissertation is to present a graphical software tool that can assist water planners and decision-makers in long-term water management and planning. Sustainable planning for Abu Dhabi’s future water supply is …

Sustainability In Residential Construction: Homeowner Input On Sustainable Features, Samuel Bina

Construction Management

Recently, sustainability has become extremely popular in construction, and in particular residential construction. Regulations for sustainable construction have increased over the years and have begun to increase in popularity amongst homeowners. This report dives further into the importance of sustainability in residential construction, in particular working with homeowners to identify the best methods of increasing sustainability in their homes. Currently, little information has been published regarding homeowners’ perspectives on sustainability and the types of features they would be likely to incorporate into their homes that are not mandated by codes. This report serves to provide information to both the construction …

Waste Management Relating To Sustainable Practices In Construction Management Today, Danielle Grace Moody

Construction Management

This study is a combination of research from previous studies as well as interview to evaluate the effects of the various sustainable systems and rating systems, how they are working to improve waste management, and how this has plays into the current and future practices of construction. Construction and demolition (C&D) waste is one of the largest waste flows in the world, reaching 30–40% of the total solid waste because of the large-scale construction and demolition activities resulting from accelerated urbanization and city rebuilding (Islam, 2019). To evaluate the difference between LEED certified construction in comparison to non-LEED certified construction, …

A Holistic Analysis Of Energy Storage Systems Applied To Single-Family Residences In California, David Anthony Russian

Construction Management

The technology this paper focuses on is energy storage systems applied to single-family residences in California. This relatively new technology consists of a stationary battery that is connected to a power source, most notably photovoltaic panels on the roof. The holistic nature of this research paper is meant to incorporate the principle aspects surrounding the current state and affordability of these systems such as the type of batteries used, government incentives, the predominant benefits, and emerging trends that will dictate the future of these systems. The information was gathered by conducting an extensive literature review and interviewing ten energy storage …

Improving Logistics Efficiency Through Collaborative Truck Routing, Patrick Dougherty

Industrial Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

The logistics industry is among the world’s largest and most essential. Specifically, trucking is a massive component of the modern logistics system. In 2012, truck transportation carried 68% of all freight tonnage in the U.S. However, trucking currently faces significant problems with efficiency and sustainability. Of all miles driven by trucks yearly in the U.S., 25% are driven with empty loads and 36% are driven with underutilized loads. In addition to this economic inefficiency, the industry faces social and environmental challenges. Driver turnover rates are near 100%, and trucking accounts for a significant level of greenhouse gas emissions. One potential …

Evaluation Of Conventional Energy Conservation Strategies And Active Thermal Insulation Wall System And Economic Analyses., Li Liu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

For the past few decades, the importance and the technology of building energy conservation is increasing. In support of this research into energy efficiency, the Department of Energy has developed simulation models of sixteen buildings representing most commercial buildings in the US. In this research, four of these sixteen prototype models were used in energy conservation analyses variety of energy conservation strategies in the seven US Climate Zones. To estimate the effectiveness of several common energy conservation measures on yearly building energy use, holistic analyses were conducted using software that accounts for the interactions of the building systems, occupants and …

International Sustainability Trends In Construction And Potential Applications In The American Market, Dante De Mayo

Construction Management

The construction industry evolves everyday as it attempts to stay up to date on current technologies, meet the needs of consumers, and take action on the ever-pressing topic of sustainability. Sustainability is one of the main ways the industry continues to advance. The United States is one of the world leaders in sustainable construction, however with limited research and restrained interest there is only so much progress that can be made when solely relying on domestic resources. By studying and collaborating with foreign construction institutions, the American construction industry has the potential to improve its sustainability performance significantly. By performing …

Design And Assembly Of High-Temperature Signal Conditioning System On Ltcc With Silicon Carbide Cmos Circuits, Sajib Roy

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The objective of the work described in this dissertation paper is to develop a prototype electronic module on a low-temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) material. The electronic module would perform signal conditioning of sensor signals (thermocouples) operating under extreme conditions for applications like gas turbines to collect data on the health of the turbine blades during operation so that the turbines do not require shutdown for inspection to determine if maintenance is required. The collected data can indicate when such shutdowns, which cost $1M per day, should be scheduled and maintenance actually performed. The circuits for the signal conditioning system within …

A Systems Approach For Improving The Performance Of Rural Community-Managed Water Systems Using Siasar: Case Studies In Bolivia And Colombia, Rachel A. Cannon

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Globally, the focus of environmental engineers and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) professionals in the rural water sector has shifted from building new technology to ensuring long-term functionality of water systems and closing the access gap between urban and rural residents. In Latin America and the Caribbean, the main challenges to ensuring clean water for all rural residents is poor service delivery quality and limited sustainability over time. A common management strategy in the region, and globally, is community-management, where community members manage, operate, and maintain the water system through cost sharing and financial management. The failure of community-managed water …

Optimizing Cost And Performance Of Infrastrucure Alternatives At Contingency Bases In A Hub-And-Spoke Network, Kyle J. Rodriguez

Theses and Dissertations

Military contingency bases require substantial resources and funding sustain and are often not connected to an infrastructure grid. Infrastructure assets produce the required outputs for sustainment, but are often expensive and inefficient, producing a significant logistical burden. With the increasing near-peer threats of opposing military forces, there is a need for more self-sufficient contingency bases with alternatives that reduce resources usage and the cost of sustainment. Accordingly, the goal of this research is to develop an optimization model capable of selecting infrastructure alternative combinations that minimize the overall resource usage and cost of sustainment at the contingency base level.

The Effects Of Waste Marble Powder On Sustainable Concrete, Jeremy S. Tennesen

Construction Management

Sustainability has been growing consistently more popular in construction, with projects introducing innovative ideas to build greener every year. One material that has not experienced many innovations since emerging in building use is concrete. The reason behind this could be the chemical process of curing concrete being unique compared to most materials. While concrete can be broken down into some of its original components, water, cement, and admixtures used are not retainable. This makes it difficult to recycle the material, and the aggregates recovered from recycling also experience a loss in strength. With admixtures being involved in most concrete mixes …

Quantifying Materials Waste In The Egyptian Construction Industry: A Critical Analysis Of Rates And Factors, Ayman Ahmed Ezzat Othman, Ahmed Osama Daoud Dr., Obas John Ebohon, Ali Bayyati

Architectural Engineering

Construction and demolition waste (CDW) is a critical challenge facing the construction industry. It leads to deterioration of the triple bottom line of sustainability. Unfortunately, the CDW management research in Egypt lacks studies investigating (1) the variations in CDW generation (CDWG) among different types of construction projects, and (2) the factors affecting CDW reduction (CDWR). Based on a benchmarking approach, this research (1) quantifies CDW in terms of generation rates and costs among different construction project types in Egypt, and (2) investigates the relationship between CDWG and different adopted CDWR factors. Using structured interviews, a comparative case study was conducted …

Pedagogical Considerations And Challenges For Sociotechnical Integration Within A Materials Science Class, Laura A. Gelles, Susan M. Lord

School of Engineering: Faculty Scholarship

This paper describes the development and refinement of sociotechnical content within an introductory Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) course by incorporating principles of sustainability (i.e., social and environmental context), interdisciplinary collaboration, and best pedagogical practices. The study draws on student data from focus groups, interviews, final exam responses, and researcher and instructor reflections on the practical realities of teaching sociotechnical modules.

Our results show that students demonstrated greater awareness of social and environmental issues. However, they also expressed a need to engage beyond surface-level awareness to better understand the direct impact of engineering decisions on people and the environment. While …

Momentum Towards Incorporating Global Responsibility In Engineering Education And Accreditation In The Uk, Jonathan Truslove, Emma Crichton, Shannon Chance, Katie Cresswell-Maynard

Conference papers

CONTEXT Engineering is uniquely placed to help address global challenges such as those surrounding the climate crisis, and the sustainable use and management of resources. However, studies have found UK engineering companies that have adopted sustainability strategies do not have enough staff with the skills to achieve them. There is an urgent need to upskill the current workforce and prepare future generations to operate in a responsible and ethical manner in tackling today's challenges. Recent updates to the standard of engineering accreditation in the UK provide notable opportunities to transform university curricula to create globally responsible engineers.

PURPOSE This preliminary …