Engineering Commons^™

Simulation-Based Assessment Of Operational And Retrofit Solutions For Effluent Compliance Of A Capacity-Limited Oxidation Ditch Wwtp, Ahmed Sameh Harash

Theses and Dissertations

Oxidation-ditch wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) across Egypt's Nile Delta are increasingly carrying hydraulic and organic loads beyond what they were designed for. This work can be considered pioneering as this work compared operational and structural retrofit alternatives for such a plant within a single verified simulation framework. The present study fills that gap by building a digital twin of the Qaha WWTP, a dual-train Carrousel oxidation ditch in Qalyubia Governorate, calibrated to a baseline flow of 7,420 m³/day in the SUMO24 platform (a third-generation, open-source wastewater treatment process simulation software) using the SUMO2c biokinetic model (a simplified variant of Activated …

Education Before Electricity: Ai-Facilitated Capability Formation As A Pre-Condition For Productive Energy Use In Off-Grid Communities, Kevin Hallinan, Lu Hao, Bennywhite Davidson, Divinegift Morris, Confidence Onuahu, Silas Clergy

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Working Papers

Solar microgrids in sub-Saharan Africa routinely fail to generate the productive demand needed to service their investment, because the capability to convert electricity into economic activity does not exist at electrification. We report a 15-month deployment in Oloibiri, Nigeria, a community whose productive base was displaced by oil extraction, testing whether AI-facilitated learning can build that capability at a cost compatible with microgrid investment.

The Davidson AI Innovation Center enrolled 104 learners (136 accounts) with zero prior computer access. They recorded 4,134 learning sessions, and 25 individuals earned 90 certifications on unscaffolded work, for just over $20,000 in cumulative investment, …

50 Years Of Irrigation District Modernization In The Usa -- Then And Now, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Irrigation district modernization in the USA has seen changes in management attitudes, hardware, software, and the shouldering of responsibilities for environmental issues that were never envisioned fifty years ago. The pace of modernization is quite variable depending upon the state and location within the state. This paper provides some insights into the evolution of several aspects of modernization over that fifty year time span.

Building Services Engineering September/October 2026

Building Services Engineering

This issue of Building Services Engineering explores Ireland's net-zero transition, highlighting AI data centre liquid-cooling innovations, critical energy infrastructure updates, ASHRAE and CIBSE safety insights, commercial heat pump selections, decarbonising elevators, and examples of engineering innovation and leadership across the building services sector.

A Tool For Assessing The Effectiveness Of Speed Humps As Traffic Calming Measure, Abdulrazak Mzamiru Kachwamba, Enock W. Nshama

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Urban population growth and increasing motor vehicle usage continue to raise concerns regarding road safety in rapidly developing cities. Although previous studies have assessed traffic-calming effectiveness using multiple criteria, they have analysed the criteria separately and have not developed a composite tool for classifying overall effectiveness. This study develops a quantitative assessment tool designed to compute a weighted composite score for evaluating the effectiveness of speed humps as a traffic calming measure. Stakeholder questionnaire responses, complemented by descriptive analysis and exploratory factor analysis, were used to identify key indicators of effectiveness and the variables influencing them. Findings indicate that speed …

Artificial Neural Network-Based Modelling And Prediction Of Key Performance Indicators In Road Construction Projects, Hussein Mativila, John M. Kafuku, Beatus A. T. Kundi

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Road construction projects in developing countries including Tanzania experience several challenges including cost overruns, schedule delays and poor quality. The causes of these challenges include complex interdependencies project’s uncertainty factors. This makes traditional methods for predicting Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) less effective. This study has developed a robust Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model for accurate modelling and predicting KPIs for road construction projects in Tanzania. The analysis was based on data obtained from 281 projects implemented by TANROADS in 11 regions from 2015 to 2025. Fourteen uncertainty factors were measured on a five-point Likert scale and screened using Principal Component …

Feasibility Of Acetylated Icacina Trichantha Oliv. Tuber Starch As Viscosity And Fluid Loss Control Agents In Water-Based Drilling Mud. A Comparative Assessment With Commercial Starch, Kennedy I. Ogunwa, Theresa O. Uchechukwu, Ozioma Achugasim, Leo C. Osuji, Onyewuchi Akaranta

Tanzania Journal of Science

The need for sustainable, non-food drilling fluid additives has prompted the feasibility assessment of acetylated Icacina trichantha tuber starch as a viscosity modifier and fluid loss control agent in water-based muds. Native starch was acetylated to obtain two derivatives (Degree of Substitution DS = 0.38 and 0.68) and characterized using FTIR, swelling power, and physicochemical analyses. Drilling mud performance was assessed through rheology, gel strength, filtration loss, sorptivity, and model fitting. Acetylation improved swelling and reduced gelatinization temperature. The optimal formulation, Mud-ITO-ACS2 (DS = 0.68), exhibited the most favorable performance, combining low plastic viscosity (6 cP vs 9 cP for …

Thermo-Entropic Analysis Of Unsteady Mhd Nanofluid Couette Flow: A Classical Spectral Approach With An Exploratory Quantum Linear-Solver Application, Serai Israel Mosala, Oluwole Daniel Makinde, Azwinndini Muronga

Mathematical Modelling and Numerical Simulation with Applications

This study presents a thermo-entropic analysis of unsteady MHD nanofluid Couette flow, combining a classical bivariate spectral quasilinearisation (BI-SQLM) and Crank--Nicolson solution with an exploratory application of quantum linear solvers. An incompressible, electrically conducting nanofluid flows between parallel plates under partial slip and convective heat exchange; the discretised linear systems are additionally solved via the Harrow--Hassidim--Lloyd (HHL) algorithm and the Variational Quantum Linear Solver (VQLS). Results are presented for Pure Water, Cu-Water, and Al₂O₃-Water across seven parameter variations. The Hartmann number dominates velocity suppression and entropy amplification, while velocity slip reduces upper-wall entropy generation more than …

Biosensor Development In East Africa: A Systematic Review Of Technologies, Applications, Challenges, And Future Directions, Ally Mahadhy

Tanzania Journal of Science

Biosensors integrate biological recognition elements with signal transduction systems to generate quantitative or semi-quantitative analytical information and have applications across healthcare, food safety, agriculture, environmental monitoring, and wildlife health. Despite substantial global advances, biosensor development in East Africa remains poorly characterized. This systematic review, conducted according to PRISMA 2020 guidelines, evaluated published evidence from 1995 to 2025 within a predefined East African Community geographical scope. Eligibility was based on IUPAC-aligned operational criteria requiring an integrated biological recognition element, transduction mechanism, and quantitative or semi-quantitative signal output. Three locally developed biosensors met the criteria: an electrochemical nano-biosensor for schistosomiasis diagnosis in …

Geotechnical Enhancement Of Noncohesive Coal Mine Overburden Using Microbially Induced Calcite Precipitation And Fly Ash Stabilization For Sustainable Pavement Applications, Atul Gautam, Laxmikant Yadu

Journal of Sustainable Mining

The majority of the waste generated from opencast mining, termed as overburden (OB), is dumped adjacent to the mine boundary and poses long-term stability issues. Various studies have been carried out to assess the risk of dump slope failure, and treatment strategies have been accordingly recommended to strengthen this OB dump. However, scant works are reported to sustainably utilize this OB for construction works. This study aims to quantify the performance of stabilized noncohesive coal mine OB collected from Gondegaon opencast mine (OCM) in India. Stabilization was achieved using two techniques, namely microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP) through Sporosarcina pasteurii …

Modeling Urban Heat Island Mitigation Strategies In Egyptian Cities Using Envi-Met, Islam M. Gaber, Abbas M. Hassan, Tarek Elkashef, Ola A. Gad, Ahmed M. Abdo, Abdelrazek Elkomy

HBRC Journal

Mitigation techniques for urban heat islands (UHI) have emerged as a critical concern for global urban environmental sustainability. Passive cooling employing cool materials and/or urban greening has shown to be the most effective strategy for mitigating the impacts of UHI. This latter method, however, is relatively new in the literature of urban environmental studies, and research on it is still limited, particularly for cities in hot-dry climatic zones. This study aims to investigate the possibility of improving albedo rates and adopting urban greening measures, such as greening building roofs, roadways, and walkways, in several Egyptian cities located in various climatic …

Harnessing Nigeria’S Aquaculture And Fisheries Component Of The Blue Economy, B. S. Awe, O. Adeoti

Blue Economy

Nigeria aims to diversify from carbon to blue economy. Target 7 of Goal 14 of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the creation of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, and the passage of the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy (2025 -2034) in May 2025 are the three frameworks driving this ambition. However, water pollution and changes in climate are central to harnessing the aquaculture and fisheries component of the blue economy. With increasing waste disposal in waterways and waterbodies and decreasing river water flow due to changes in climate, these have implications for …

Comparison Of Gravity Separation And Flotation For Pyrite Recovery From Tailings, Gülay Bulut, Gönül Göksu Gökçe, Dilruba Karamanlı, Oğuzhan Mert Gürkan, Ergin Sarp Zenzirci, Binnur Kırım, Alim Gül

Journal of Sustainable Mining

Tailings generated during the production of lead, zinc, and copper concentrates contain significant amounts of sulfide minerals, particularly pyrite. Pyrite, which remains in tailings after the recovery of other metals, is one of the main contributors to acid mine drainage (AMD). Therefore, recovering pyrite from tailings is environmentally and economically an important issue. In this study, pyrite recovery from tailings was investigated using flotation and gravity separation methods. Mineralogical characterization and liberation analyses were conducted by Mineral Liberation Analysis (MLA), indicating that pyrite is the major sulfide mineral with over 76% liberation degree even in the coarsest fractions. Flotation tests …

Recent Advances In Bioethanol Production From Water Hyacinth: A Critical Review, Umuamina A. Matola, Mahir Mohammed Said, Olga-Ioanna Kalantzi, Abraham K. Temu

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Water hyacinth (WH) is a highly invasive tropical aquatic weed with high holocellulose and low lignin content, making it a promising lignocellulosic feedstock for second-generation bioethanol production. Producing bioethanol from WH offers a sustainable approach to simultaneously managing invasive biomass and producing renewable energy. This review critically evaluates recent advancements in bioethanol production from WH by examining pretreatment, hydrolysis, and fermentation technologies reported between 2014 and 2024. A PRISMA-guided literature search was conducted using the Scopus and Web of Science databases, and fifty-nine original research articles were selected for analysis. The reviewed studies were comparatively assessed based on pretreatment strategies, …

Urban Spatial Development Control In Tanzania: Analysis Of Factors Influencing Gis Application Using Structural Equation Modelling (Sem)., Happiness Protas Mmanda, Nestory Yamungu

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Rapid urbanization in developing countries has intensified urban expansion, creating challenges for sustainable development. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) enhance spatial planning, but empirical evidence on factors influencing their effectiveness remains limited. This study examines determinants of GIS application in Urban Spatial Development Control (USDC). The objectives are to (1) identify and categorize factors affecting GIS use, (2) assess relative strength, and (3) develop a validated structural model explaining GIS adoption in USDC. Data were collected from 103 LGAs by a mixed sampling method. Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis classified influencing factors into technology-related (α = 0.869, CR = 0.881), process-related …

Decision Support Tool For The Maintenance Of Meter Gauge Railway Permanent-Way Infrastructures: A Concept Paper, Hamisi J. Maulid, Beatus A.T Kundi, Juma M. Matindana, Ismail W. R. Taifa Dr

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

A Decision Support Tool (DST) represents a transformative way of modernising maintenance practice on the permanent-way infrastructure of Meter Gauge Railway (MGR). Maintenance practice remains largely reactive, as the MGR plays a strategic role in transporting both freight and passengers, resulting in inefficient resource allocation, high operational risk, and growing Lifecycle expenses. This concept paper explores the potential and the design challenges for a DST that combines fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (Fuzzy-AHP) modelling, multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA), Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and predictive machine learning (ML) analytics for evidence-based, future-oriented maintenance management. The paper draws on peer-reviewed studies from …

Between Blockchain And Black Markets: South Africa's Legal Readiness For Crypto-Driven Cyberfraud, Sagwadi Mabunda, Yassin Chande

Communications of the IIMA

This paper examines whether the proliferation of cryptocurrency-facilitated fraud warrants a reclassification of the terrestrial crime of fraud into the distinct statutory offence of cyberfraud under South African law. Engaging with established fraud typologies — exit scams, Initial Coin Offering (ICO) scams, Ponzi schemes, pump-and-dump schemes, and market manipulation — the article tests their definitional fit against both the common law of fraud and section 8 of the Cybercrimes Act 19 of 2020. Through a hypothetical composite scenario combining multiple fraud typologies, the article demonstrates that whilst cryptocurrency significantly amplifies the reach and complexity of fraudulent schemes, it functions primarily …

Hydrothermal Alteration Mapping Of The Northern Coongan Greenstone Belt Using Remote Sensing Imagery, Meaza Bogale, Elias Woldeyohanis

Journal of Sustainable Mining

Archean greenstone belts are well known for their ore deposits, diverse lithostratigraphy, and well-preserved evidence from the early Earth. The Northern Coongan Greenstone Belt is an Archean greenstone belt that is part of the Eastern Pilbara Craton of Western Australia. The rock units of this area have the potential to be sources of valuable mineral deposits, which could be economically beneficial for extraction. Studies have been conducted in the northern Coongan greenstone belt, mostly using geological field methods and geophysical interpretations, excluding remote sensing methods for mapping mineral indices. Therefore, this study aims at providing surface mineral distribution maps and …

Impacts Of Land Use Change On Streamflow, Sediment Yield, And Nitrate Loading In A Small Philippine Catchment With Lake Subbasins, Francis Victor T. Panoga, Clarissa Ileana L. Ilao, Maurice A. Duka

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

This study assessed the impacts of land use changes on streamflow, sediment yield, and nitrate loading in the Macopa River Basin and 2 connected lake subbasins, Sampaloc and Bunot, in San Pablo City, Laguna, Philippines. A Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT+) model was developed using topographic, soil, climate, and land use data from 1997 to 2022, incorporating land use layers for 2003, 2010, 2015, and 2020. Calibration for streamflow (2006 to 2007) showed good agreement with data (NSE = 0.73, R² = 0.80), while validation (2017 to 2018) yielded lower accuracy, reflecting limitations in available observed data. Hindcasting results …

Geometric And Operational Design Principles For Autonomous Haulage Systems In Open-Pit Mining: A Systematic Review, Justina Senam Lotsu, Samuel Frimpong, Muhammad Azeem Raza

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The rapid deployment of autonomous haulage systems (AHSs) in open-pit mining has significantly altered haul road geometric design requirements, as autonomous trucks operate under strict kinematic constraints related to turning radius, gradient, and braking performance. Since haulage accounts for 50–60% of total mining costs, optimizing haul road geometry is critical for improving operational efficiency, energy consumption, and safety. This study presents a systematic review of 50 highly relevant studies selected from 81 candidate publications published between 2003 and 2025 through structured database searches and citation chaining. The review synthesizes current developments in haul road layout optimization, turning radius accommodation, gradient …

Application Of Tailings From Aluminium, Copper, And Iron Extraction As Asphalt Mixture Materials: A Review, Daniel Oguntayo, Temitope Awolusi, Samuel Gboyega Arowolo, Paul Terkumbur Adeke

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The increasing global demand for pavement infrastructure has intensified the consumption of non-renewable construction materials, particularly natural aggregates and soils, raising significant environmental and resource sustainability concerns. In response, there is a growing need to explore alternative materials that can reduce reliance on these finite resources. Mine tailings, generated in large volumes from mining operations, have emerged as a promising substitute due to their potential to enhance asphalt concrete performance while mitigating environmental impacts associated with their disposal. This study presents a comprehensive review of the application of selected mine tailings in asphalt mixtures. It critically examines their physicochemical properties …

Spot: A Cubesat Mission For High-Resolution Monitorig Of Anthropogenic Sulfur Emissions, Carla Roesch, Colleen Golja, James Custer, Catherine Ember, Jerome Woodwark, Andrew Matheson, Joshua Vande Hey, Sonymol Vk, Steven Heer, Zixuan Gao, Tim Trent

Small Satellite Conference

Resolving individual industrial sources of SO₂ to constrain aerosol forcing — one of the largest remaining uncertainties in Earth's energy budget.

Improving The Concrete Compressive And Flexural Strength With A Low Fraction Addition Of Carboxylated Nitro-Oxidized Cellulose Nanofibrils From Banana Rachis, Ngesa Ezekiel Mushi, Emmanuel Kagya

Tanzania Journal of Science

Conventionally, concrete strength depends on the bonding interface, especially in hydrated products such as calcium silicate hydrate (CSH). As a result, concrete is sensitive to tensile load. With its unique properties, a low fraction of carboxylated nitro-oxidized cellulose nanofibrils (NOCNF) from the banana rachis is employed to improve the mechanical performance of the concrete nanostructurally. Compressive and flexural strength using the NOCNF content at 0, 0.05, and 0.1 wt.%, cured for 7 and 28 days, were evaluated. Notably, the compressive strength increased by 16 % and the flexural strength by 13 % at 0.1 wt.% NOCNF compared to plain concrete …

Assessment Of The Radionuclide Concentration Levels Of Water And Sediments Along The Mara River, Gasper Kachenge, Abubakary Salama, Abdalah Kileo, Furaha Chuma

Tanzania Journal of Science

For many years, several factors have impacted the water quality of the Mara River, including population growth, agricultural expansion, livestock keeping, mining, and industrial activities. These factors have intensified water pollution and climate change effects around the river. While previous studies have mainly focused on assessing heavy metal pollution risks on the Mara River, this study evaluates the concentration levels of radionuclides in boreholes, water, and sediments along the river and its tributaries. Naturally occurring radioactive materials, including 226Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K, were evaluated. A high-purity germanium radiation detector (HPGe) with a coaxial detector system coupled with Gamma Vision software …

Research Status And Prospects Of Monitoring Technology For Large-Span Cable-Stayed Bridges Based On Machine Learning, Liu Guoliang, Liu Guokun, Yan Donghuang, Wang Wenxi, Wang Qishun

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

Machine learning and intelligent optimization algorithms have been increasingly applied to construction and health monitoring of long-span cable-stayed bridges. Based on the construction history of cable-stayed bridges both domestically and internationally, an overview of the origin and development process of cable-stayed bridges was provided. Firstly, from the perspective of the entire life cycle of bridges, bridge monitoring was divided into construction period monitoring and operation period monitoring. The applications of mainstream construction monitoring methods in large cable-stayed bridge projects were elaborated, and the specific composition of bridge health monitoring systems was clarified. Secondly, the basic principles of several machine learning …

Rickettsia Africae Discovered In A Short-Term Urban Traveller To South Africa: A Case Report, Zunairah Sikder

Binghamton University Undergraduate Journal

Rickettsia Africae is a pathogen that causes African tick-bite fever (ATBF). Transmission typically occurs from ticks within the Central and South African regions. Previous studies suggested that ATBF is not uncommon amongst travelers to rural sub-Saharan Africa, especially during the rainy months of November through April. However, this case report highlights a woman who contracted ATBF in novel conditions. The 70-year-old woman reported travelling strictly to and from the local church and hotel for her four-day stay in July. After returning to America, the patient experienced extreme irritation on her arm, as well as complaints of headaches. She presented to …

Effects Of Ab Mix Hydroponic Solution And Ameliorant Mixtures On Cayenne Pepper Growth And Yield In An Inceptisols, Tien Turmuktini, Betty Natalie Fitriatin, Tualar Simarmata, Firda Widayanti, Nuryanti, Lia Amalia, Elly Roosma Ria, Linlin Parlinah

Jurnal Kultivasi

Cayenne pepper (Capsicum frustescens L.) cultivation faces several problems, including acidic pH and inadequate nutrient management. These problems can be addressed by using a mixture of various ameliorants and AB mix nutrient solutions. This study aimed to determine the effect of ameliorant mixture dosage and AB mix solution concentration on soil chemical properties, growth, and yield of cayenne pepper. The experiment used a randomized block design, consisting of two factors: nutrient solution concentration and ameliorant dosage. The factor of nutrient solution concentration consisted of four levels, i.e., 700, 1000, 1300, and 1600 ppm, while the factor of ameliorant dosage also …

Dual-Polymer Concrete With Recycled Pet And Hdpe Aggregates: Mechanical And Durability Performance Assessment, Omar Abd El Mageed Hammouda

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the fresh, mechanical, durability, thermal, performance as well as preliminary financial aspects of dual-polymer concrete incorporating recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) as a partial replacement for fine aggregate and recycled high-density polyethylene (HDPE) as a partial replacement for coarse aggregate, with silica fume as a supplementary cementitious material held constant at 10% by weight of cement. The study responds to the convergence of two pressing challenges in the Egyptian context: the scale of plastic waste mismanagement, which results in widespread informal open burning and environmental contamination, and the high operational energy demand of residential buildings in Egypt's hot …

Mountain Development In Nepal: Settlements, Infrastructure, And Economic Transformation, Keshav Bhattarai, Ambika P. Adhikari

Himalayan Research Papers Archive

As Nepal urbanizes, expands infrastructure, strengthens local governments, and explores deeper connectivity with India and China, climate change is increasing floods, landslides, heat, and water insecurity. Rapid internal migration, rising disaster risks, youth outmigration, and dependence on remittances are also revealing the limits of conventional urban development, especially in the mountainous region. The central challenge for Nepal is no longer just to accommodate growing towns and cities, but to build settlements that are safe, productive, environmentally resilient, and capable of sustaining long-term prosperity.

This paper argues that Nepal's urban future must be guided by a new development paradigm centered on …

Balancing Innovation And Integrity: Ethical Implications Of Ai Use In Higher Education, Petronella Muziti, Ntando S. Sibanda

African Conference on Information Systems and Technology

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming higher education, creating opportunities while raising ethical concerns such as bias, privacy violations, academic misconduct and reduced human-centred teaching. This study examined how institutions can balance AI innovation with academic integrity and equity, focusing on lecturers’ ethical dilemmas and institutional readiness. A triangulation design incorporating quantitative and qualitative methods was used. Twelve semi-structured interviews and two focus group discussions involving eighteen participants were conducted across five universities, while 150 questionnaires were distributed, yielding 128 valid responses. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were applied. Findings showed that lecturers reported student misuse and plagiarism (78%), AI …