Engineering Commons^™

Water-Energy-Food Linkages In Community Smallholder Irrigation Schemes: Center Pivot Irrigation In Rwanda, Ankit Chandra, Derek M. Heeren, Lameck O. Odhiambo, N. Brozovic

Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute: Faculty Publications

Water, energy, and food are linked in intricate ways in irrigated agriculture and understanding the interplay of these components is crucial for sustainable and profitable crop production, particularly in smallholder setting such as in sub-Saharan Africa. This study evaluates water-energy-food linkages, engineering and economic performance, irrigation decision making, and challenges faced around water management in a community-based mechanized irrigation scheme in Rwanda. The research is the first to analyze such as scheme, which uses technology typically used by large farmers in a smallholder setting. The study investigates the variation in water requirements and the relationship and impacts of this variability …

Analysis Of Factors Affecting Construction And Demolition Waste Reduction In Egypt, Ayman Ahmed Ezzat Othman, Ahmed Osama Daoud, Obas John Ebohon, Ali Bayyati

Architectural Engineering

Construction projects are associated with construction and demolition waste (CDW) generated at different stages. In Egypt’s case, the CDW problem has become a significant challenge, and the need to find sustainable solutions is overwhelming. Based on recent investigations in the literature, it was found that six main factors are affecting CDW reduction (CDWR) as follows: (1) waste-efficient materials procurement measures; (2) waste-efficient materials procurement models; (3) green materials procurement approach; (4) legislation; (5) culture & behaviour; and (6) awareness. In this study, a representative sample of Egyptian construction firms was screened to (1) investigate the applicability and effectiveness of CDWR …

Comparison Of A Bottom-Up Gnss Radio Occultation Method To Measure D- And E-Region Electron Densities With Ionosondes And Firi, Dylan J. Shaver, Dong L. Wu, Nimalan Swarnalingam, Anthony L. Franz, Eugene V. Dao, Daniel J. Emmons

Faculty Publications

High-frequency skywave propagation can be heavily impacted by D- and E-region dynamics requiring accurate global measurements to optimize performance. A standard measurement technique is to use ionosondes, but they are unable to measure below 1 MHz and are only available at a limited number of land-locked sites around the globe. In contrast, the Global Navigation Satellite System radio occultation (GNSS-RO) bottom-up method is a new approach specifically designed to generate electron density profiles in the D- and E- region ionosphere. It takes advantage of satellite constellations that currently provide over 20,000 daily measurements and global coverage. In this paper, GNSS-RO …

Forecasting Economic Growth And Movements With Wavelet Transform And Arima Model, Omar Alsinglawi, Omar Alsinglawi, Mohammad Aladwan, Mohammad Aladwan, Saddam Alwadi, Saddam Alwadi

Applied Mathematics & Information Sciences

This study uses historical data and modern statistical models to forecast future Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Jordan. The Wavelet Transformation model (WT) and Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model were applied to the time series data and yielded a best-fitting result of (2,1,1) for estimating GDP between 2022-2031. The study concludes that GDP is expected to increase with a positive growth rate of around 3.22%, and recommends government agencies to monitor GDP, strengthen existing policies, and adopt necessary economic reforms to support growth. Additionally, the private sector is encouraged to enhance production tools to achieve economic growth that benefits …

The Effect Of System Quality And User Quality Of Information Technology On Internal Audit Effectiveness In Jordan, And The Moderating Effect Of Management Support, Ahmad Yahiya Ahmad Bani Ahmad (Ayassrah), Anas Ahmad Mahmoud Bani Atta, Hanan Ali Alawawdeh, Nawaf Abdallah Aljundi, Amer Morshed, Saleh Amin Dahbour

Applied Mathematics & Information Sciences

The goal of this study is to ascertain the moderating role that management support has in internal audit effectiveness in Jordan, as well as the impact of system quality and user quality of information technology. There were 172 responders in all, and they were split across Jordanian auditors. In the data analysis process, the quantitative analysis test— which consists of the validity test, reliability test, test of conventional assumptions, and hypothesis test—is applied. Information technology system and user quality are independent variables in this study. The dependent variable in this study is internal audit effectiveness, and the moderating variable is …

Optimal Control Analysis Of The Dynamics Of Covid-19 With Application To Ethiopian Data, Temesgen Duresa Keno, Fekadu Mosisa Legesse, Ebisa Olana Bajira

Applied Mathematics & Information Sciences

In this paper, we proposed an optimal control of the COVID-19 transmission dynamics. First, we investigated system features such as solution boundedness, positivity, disease-free and endemic equilibrium, and the local and global stability of equilibrium points. Besides, a disease-free equilibrium point is globally asymptotically stable if the basic reproduction number is less than one, and an endemic equilibrium point exists otherwise. Secondly, we have shown the sensitivity analysis of the basic reproduction number. Also the model is then fitted using COVID-19 infected reported in Ethiopia from February 1,2023 to March 2,2023. The values of model parameters are then estimated from …

Generalization Of Renyi’S Entropy And Its Application In Source Coding, Ashiq Hussain Bhat, Niyamat Ali Siddiqui, Ismail A Mageed, Shawkat Alkhazaleh, Vidyanand Rabi Das, M. A. K Baig

Applied Mathematics & Information Sciences

In this paper, we introduce a new generalization of Renyis entropy β(P) and the most important feature of this generalized entropy Rαβ (P) is that it derives most important entropies that are well known and influence information theory and applied mathematics. Some significant properties of Rαβ (P) has been undertaken in this article. In addition, we introduce a new generalized exponentiated mean codeword length Lβα (P) in this article then determine how Rβα (P) and Lβα (P) are related in terms of source coding theorem.

Development Of The Computer Model Of The Waste Water Treatment Process Using Ion-Exchange Resins In The Matlab Program, Jaloliddin Abdurazzakovich Eshbobaev, Bakhodir Tajiddinovich Khamidov, Adham Tilovovich Norkobilov, Orifjon Sharipovich Kodirov

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

In this work, a mathematical model of industrial wastewater treatment technology was formed. First, wastewater treatment technologies were analyzed and the technology of ion-exchange resin treatment was selected. A water purification device using ion-exchange resins was made, and tested on the Kungrad soda plant and the results were obtained. According to these results, it was determined that the cleaning coefficient of the device is up to 98-99%. In this article, a mathematical model of a wastewater treatment device using ion-exchange resins was developed using the stoichiometric matrix method. After the mathematical model of the process was found, a graph of …

Reaction Pathways, Kinetic Modelling And Parameter Estimation Of Heterogeneous Catalytic Trans-Esterificationprocess, Owolabi,R. U, Aderinsola A. P

Mansoura Engineering Journal

The kinetics of heterogeneous catalyzed trans-esterification between castor oil and methanol was studied and modeled. Kinetic data was obtained from a perfectly mixed slurry batch reactor. The modeling was conducted via the modified-hattori mechanism to determine the exact rate controlling step for the reaction. A total of five rate expressions were formed, which were as a result of; methanol adsorption, Triglyceride adsorption, Formation of the complex, Surface reaction and Glycerol desorption. Evaluation of best fitting model and parameter estimation was done using the nealder simplex least square optimization algorithm with the aid MATLAB software. The result from the regression analysis …

Toward An Interoperable And Scalable Iot-Driven Smart City Solution Using Blockchain, Nada Abdulaziz A Alasbali

Student Works (2020-2029)

A smart city is primarily an urban region that makes effective use of contemporary technology to manage its resources, assets, and services. Internet of Things (IoT) devices and sensors are installed throughout the smart city in order to facilitate remote monitoring and data collection in relation to a variety of key infrastructures. The data is then utilised to plan the necessary maintenance tasks to ensure that citizens receive high-quality services. Even though IoT devices make it possible to collect data in real-time in a smart city, most sensors and IoT devices do not have a lot of storage space or …

On Digital Productivity Base Of Policies For Cross-Border Data Flows Between Rcep Parties And Its Influences—Taking Digital Integration Index As A Reference, Gui Huang, Ru Tao

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

This study reviews the newest legislation and policies of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) participating countries on cross-border data flow, and then categorized them according to the ban on data transfer, local storage of data, permission-based regulation, and standards-based regulation. By referring to the indexes in the ASEAN Digital Integration Index, the subject and object factors of digital productivity in RCEP parities are sorted out, as well as the status quo of digital economy. Through the introduction of data value chain theory, the decisive impact of digital productivity factors on the policy formulation of cross-border data flow is expounded; by …

Extreme Cooling Via Sweeping Gas Membrane Distillation, David M. Warsinger

School of Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

Thermal desalination processes like membrane distillation (MD) aim to have rapid evaporation rates to provide large quantities of fresh water. These processes, which resemble counterflow-heat exchangers with membranes in the middle, conventionally seek to maximize vapor mass transfer while minimizing all other modes of heat transfer as “thermal losses.” However, we can reverse this fundamental design need to make an exceptionally high throughput heat dissipation device. By using thin thermally conductive membranes and extremely rapid air flow rates, membrane heat exchangers inspired by MD can dissipate heat several times faster than conventional air-cooled heat exchangers. We demonstrate this new approach …

On The Design And Power Output Response Of Hydraulic Wind Turbines, Helber Antonio Esquivel-Puentes, Andrea Vacca, Venkatesh Pulletikurthi, Ali Doosttalab, Jose Garcia-Bravo, David M. Warsinger, Leonardo P. Chamorro, Luciano Castillo

School of Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

Standard horizontal axis wind turbines typically use gearboxes for large-scale applications and direct coupling for small-scale designs to connect the rotor to the generator. However, gearboxes pose challenges due to their weight, cost, and exposure to dynamic loads and vibrations within the nacelle. A promising alternative is replacing mechanical transmission with a hydrostatic counterpart, offering advantages such as reduced nacelle mass, generator placement at the tower base, and elimination of the gearbox. It can potentially lead to cost savings of up to 20% in the levelized cost of electricity for offshore wind turbines. This study compares regulated hydrostatic transmission with …

Groundwater Resource Assessment For West Africa Using Earth Observations And Groundwater Modeling, Sergio Armando Barbosa Casas

Theses and Dissertations

Groundwater is a crucial global resource, particularly in semiarid regions where surface water is scarce. As a result, effective groundwater management is essential. However, the challenge lies in a lack of data and information for proper decision-making. This dissertation present studies related to groundwater storage changes and recharge in West Africa, using data from NASA's Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) mission. In Niger, this research reveals little change in groundwater storage from 2002 to 2010 but a steep rise from 2010 to 2021, attributed partially to increased precipitation. Groundwater resources in Niger are found to be underutilized, with estimated …

Transportation Electrification In Interdependent Power And Transportation Systems - Analysis, Planning, And Operation, Sina Baghali

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Electric vehicles (EVs) are one of the eminent alternatives to decarbonize the transportation sector. However, large-scale EV adoption brings new challenges and opportunities to both transportation and power systems (TPSs). The challenges include the lack of understanding of EV driving behaviors and the associated charging demand (CD) distribution, the complex interaction of the decentralized decision-makers from TPSs, and the insufficient infrastructure from TPSs to accommodate the growing CD of EVs. On the other hand, the opportunities include benefiting the power systems by leveraging vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technologies and improving transportation mobility by incorporating strategic infrastructure planning. The goal of this dissertation …

Enhancing Local Hydrological Services With The Geoglows Ecmwf Global Hydrologic Model, Jorge Luis Sanchez Lozano

Theses and Dissertations

Global hydrological models can fill crucial gaps for providing essential information on water resources management, flood and drought forecasting, and assessing the impacts of climate change. However, these models face several challenges that must be addressed to ensure their applicability at local scales. These challenges include effectively managing Big Data, proper communication, adoption, and achieving accuracy in their results. Achieving accuracy in global hydrological models is critical for acceptance in decision-making, but poses the most significant challenge due to the extensive amount of observed data required and the complexity of obtaining and preparing such data for model evaluation. In this …

Ranking And Analysis The Strategies Of Crowd Management To Reduce The Risks Of Crushes And Stampedes In Crowded Environments And Ensure The Safety Of Passengers, Waleed Tawfiq Al-Nami

Neutrosophic Systems with Applications

Public gatherings, transit hubs, stadiums, and crowded retail malls are just a few examples of places where crowd management has become an urgent issue in recent years. Effective crowd management strategies have been required due to the increasing population, urbanization, and frequency of large-scale meetings. These strategies are used in dynamic, sometimes chaotic, circumstances to protect people and facilitate their free movement. The purpose of this study is to analyze and rank various strategies for crowd management to reduce the risks of crushes and stampedes, improve security, and facilitate smoother traffic flow. This study used the single-valued neutrosophic set to …

Assessment Of Light Weight Deflectometer For Low Volume Roads Experiencing Rapidly Increased Traffic Levels, Margarita Ordaz

Theses and Dissertations

When evaluating low volume roads (LVRs), structural capacity emphasis is minimal since deterioration typically results from environmental factors. However, in cases where LVR’s experience rapidly increased traffic loading, structural condition becomes important. The research objective was to determine whether the Light Weight Deflectometer (LWD) can be used as a structural evaluation tool for LVRs in the aforementioned conditions. This study explored the capability of LWD equipment in evaluating major factors that influence flexible pavement structural capacity: load induced deterioration, soil moisture, and asphalt temperature. Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) and LWD tests were performed to measure pavement structural condition. LWD was …

Performance Of Geopolymer Mortar Using Developed Dry Geopolymer-Cement By A Combination Of Alkaline Solid Activators, Mariam Farouk Ghazy, Metwally Abd-Allah Abd-Elaty, Sara Mohamed Mostafa

Mansoura Engineering Journal

This experimental study investigates the possibility of using a combination of solid activators to produce dry powder geopolymer cement. Fly ash (FA) and/or ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) were employed as precursors. Sodium metasilicate pentahydrate (NSP), calcium hydroxide (CH) and sodium carbonate (NC) were used as alkaline solid activators. Meanwhile, the effect of using a combination of solid activators to prepare one-part geopolymer mortars was studied by using three different curing methods and compared with the traditional corrosive alkali solutions that are used as activators in two-part geopolymer mortar, and also compared with Portland cement (PC) mortar mix. Fresh …

A Method For Economic Expansion Planning Of Transmission Networks Using Heuristic Rules And Non-Linear Optimization Model, Maged Gamal Lotfy, Mahmoud Ali Farrag, Mohamed Shibl Albags, Ahmed Hamdy Khalil

Mansoura Engineering Journal

This paper presents a method for economic planning of transmission networks in an iterative manner. The method is capable of solving large scale networks where the most "worst" new lines are deleted iteratively using heuristic rules. In each iteration, a relatively small size non-linear mathematical Programming model is built to enhance the deletion process. The non-linear model is based on full AC load flow where only the reactive power injected from different available reactive power sources are controlled plus the reference bus voltage magnitude. The deletion process is stopped when the deleting of any line from the rest set of …

The Impact Of Improper Solid Waste Management On Public Health Of African Cities. The Case Of Addis Ababa City, Ethiopia., Tesfaye Abebe Alemu

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Many African cities are generating an ever-increasing amount of waste and the effectiveness of their solid waste collection and disposal systems is currently declining. Therefore, research has been striving to develop a sustainable and integrated solid waste management system that fits the current challenges facing the local environment. The objective of this study is to analyze the impact of improper solid waste management that affects the air and water quality of the near Koshe open dump site and around the Addis Ababa City, and their adverse effect on the public health living around them. The rapid increase of population in …

The Road Map For Sustainable Waste Management In The Federal Democratic Republic Of Ethiopia, Assegid Yimenu

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Solid Waste Management (SWM) is a global issue from its social, environmental, and economic aspects. Poor SWM is one of the significant causes of resource degradation, environmental pollution, and public health problems. In this study, households’ solid waste generation and characterization were determined for selected cities in Ethiopia. Quantitative and qualitative study methods were applied to collect primary and secondary data to assess the household’s MSW generation rate and characterize the waste type's physical composition. The households’ daily MSW generation rates in Bole and Kirkos sub-cities, Addis Ababa, were found to be 0.54 and 0.26 Kg/capita/day, respectively, and the average …

The Influence Of Diversity Dimensions On Student’S Collaboration Success: What It Means For Workforce Development In Manufacturing, Oyinkansola Adeite

All Theses

Manufacturing productivity is measured by labor productivity which is the hourly output of the manufacturing economy. The recent reduction in productivity numbers by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics emphasizes the need for workforce development. With globalization and technological advancements, diversity has emerged as a critical aspect for the workplace. By encompassing dimensions such as education, race, and age, diversity creates a tapestry of unique perspectives and experiences. This study’s aim is to figure out the effect of a diversity dimension on team performance using intelligent systems, and in addition, if extra dimensions of diversity further impact team performance. …

The Effect Of Package Types On Fresh Peaches In The Direct-To-Consumer Distribution Environment, Brennan Lytle

All Theses

The direct-to-consumer (DTC) shipping mode presents new opportunity for fresh peach sales in North America where demand over the past four decades has steadily declined. The hazards in this distribution mode are severe, and fresh peaches are fragile emphasizing the need for proper protection. A full analysis that not only encompasses the effects of the direct-to-consumer distribution environment, but also incorporates analyses of the environmental and economic impact of the packages utilized for transit of peaches is necessary. In this study, we use the metrics of peach grade, firmness, soluble solids concentration, and percent softness before and after the distribution …

Non-Energy Circular Economy Potential Of Rice Husks: A Techno-Eco-Environmental Assessment, Winfred Oppong Yeboah

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The non-energy circular bioeconomy potential of rice husks was examined via sustainability assessments, namely life cycle assessment (LCA), life cycle impact cost assessment (LCICA), and techno-economic assessment (TEA). The study was conducted with three objectives. The first objective was to review previous studies on the non-energy utilization potential of rice husks by the method of meta-analysis. This review followed a systematic approach where research papers were collected following a defined set of criteria. The study revealed 16 key utilization pathways, all of which showed promising results. However, a comprehensive sustainability assessment was lacking in all of the pathways. The second …

Analysis Of The Impact Of Covid-19 On Construction Cost And Schedule Overruns, Nikhitha Adepu

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

The construction industry, renowned for its dynamic nature, encountered unprecedented uncertainties throughout its history. However, the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic served as a powerful catalyst, underscoring the urgent need for a deeper comprehension of the challenges it introduced and their potential implications for the industry's future. While numerous studies have explored this topic, a comprehensive understanding of the specific factors that disrupted the construction sector during the pandemic remains elusive. To bridge this knowledge gap, this study identifies, categorizes, and ranks these challenges, while also proposing effective management strategies to mitigate their detrimental impact on construction projects. To lay …

Low Internal Air Space In Plants With Crassulacean Acid Metabolism May Be An Anatomical Spandrel, Alistair Leverett, Anne Borland, Emma Inge, Samantha Hartzell

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM) is a photosynthetic adaptation found in at least 38 plant families. Typically, the anatomy of CAM plants is characterised by large photosynthetic cells and a low percentage of leaf volume comprised of internal air space (% IAS). It has been suggested that reduced mesophyll conductance (g_m) arising from low % IAS benefits CAM plants by preventing the movement of CO₂ out of cells and ultimately minimising leakage of CO₂ from leaves into the atmosphere during day-time decarboxylation. Here, we propose that low % IAS does not provide any adaptive benefit to …

Cislunar Navigation Techniques And Navigation Performance Optimization, Quinn P. Moon

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Nova-C is a lunar lander developed by the private company Intuitive Machines to deliver commercial payloads to the Moon. The IM-1 mission set for 2023 will launch and land the Nova-C near the Moon's south pole. In this research, various navigation techniques are explored to determine the lander's position and velocity during key segments. This process is studied for key mission events including trajectory correction maneuvers (TCMs), lunar orbit insertion (LOI), and descent orbit insertion (DOI). Each mission segment, referred to as an Orbit Determination Segment (OD), is analyzed with three different navigation techniques: Monte Carlo Analysis, Linear Covariance Analysis, …

How Active Rainwater Harvesting May Help Reduce Nuisance Flooding: Flood Analysis And Social Barriers To Adoption, Isabel Lopez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

As urbanization continues to expand, fewer pervious surfaces are available to help reduce stormwater runoff from rainfall. The impacts of urbanization are becoming evident through sunny day flooding - flooding that occurs in areas not designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as flood zones. Nevertheless, water accumulates in low-lying areas and compromises street intersections and other parts of neighborhoods. Some methods can help alleviate the impacts of unexpected heavy rains, such as passive and active rainwater harvesting. As a pilot study, in a selected area in the northeast of El Paso, the level of adoption (e.g., what percentage …

European Feedback On Post-Mining Seismicity, Isabelle Contrucci, Dalija Namjesnik, Peter Niemz, Paloma Primo, Andrzej Kotyrba, Grzegorz Mutke, Petr Konicek, Pascal Dominique, Tobias Rudolph, Stefan Möllerherm, Jannes Kinscher, Emmanuelle Klein, Simone Cesca

Journal of Sustainable Mining

Following the Paris Agreement adopted in 2015, Europe has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions. In this context, the abandonment of coal as an energy source, both in terms of consumption and production, will lead to the closure of many mines in the years to come.

Mine closure guidelines to manage residual mining risks already exist in European countries. However, they do not include post-mining seismic risk management due to a lack of sufficient studies and knowledge on this subject. After mining closure, the flooding of the mining works leads to hydromechanical loading of the underground and, in the …