Engineering Commons^™

Seismic Vulnerability Assessment With Rapid Visual Screening Of Hospital Buildings In Maguindanao Province, Philippines, Ebrahim B. Kayog, Kristine S. Companion, Kenny B. Cantila, Elizabeth Edan M. Albiento

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

Hospitals are expected to maintain operations during and after earthquakes, yet many facilities in the Philippines remain structurally and non-structurally vulnerable. This study evaluates the seismic vulnerability of selected public hospitals in Maguindanao Province, located near the Cotabato Trench and the Western Mindanao Fault, using the FEMA P-154 (3rd ed.) Rapid Visual Screening (RVS) Level-1 procedure. Four government hospitals, comprising 53 buildings constructed between 1980 and 2025, were assessed through a systematic visual inspection and review of available secondary records. Basic structural hazard scores were adjusted using FEMA score modifiers (performance modification factors) to compute Final Level-1 scores (Sₗ₁) and …

Assessing The Probable Sources Affecting The Water Quality Index Of The Panch Prayag Belt Of Uttarakhand, India, Debasis Sau, Indranil Mukherjee, Wasim Akram, Kakali Ghosh, Rimi Paul, Reshmi Paul, Athar Akram

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

The Water Quality Index (WQI) is an essential metric for evaluating the usability of surface water resources, particularly in ecologically sensitive and high-demand areas like the Panch Prayag belt of Uttarakhand, India. This region, comprising five major pilgrimage towns—Devaprayag, Nandprayag, Vishnuprayag, Karnaprayag, and Rudraprayag—faces seasonal fluctuations in water quality due to both natural and anthropogenic pressures. In this study, water samples were collected from 2021 to 2023 across pre-monsoon, monsoon, and post-monsoon seasons, and the WQI was computed using the Canadian Water Quality Index (CWQI 1.0). Results revealed that WQI values ranged from 36 to 45 across locations and seasons, …

Artificial Intelligence To Transform Lifelong Learning And Workforce Development In Southeast Asia: A Call To Action, Shyh Poh Teo, Khadizah H. Abdul-Mumin

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

No abstract for this article type.

Classification Of Indonesian Sign Language (Sibi) Using Data Mining Algorithms K-Nearest Neighbor And Random Forest, Muhammad Zaki Wirawan, Achmad Afif, Anik Nur Handayani, Imanuel Hitipeuw, Osamu Fukuda

Knowledge Engineering and Data Science

This study aims to address the communication hallenges faced by the Indonesian deaf community by developing an automatic classification model for Sistem Bahasa Isyarat Indonesia (SIBI) using data mining techniques. The main objective is to identify a practical algorithm for recognizing SIBI hand gestures to enhance accessibility and inclusiveness in digital communication. A comprehensive dataset consisting of 32,850 gesture samples representing SIBI alphabet signs was collected and processed through feature extraction, data cleaning, and normalization using Z-Transform and Min-Max methods. Two classification algorithms, K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN) and Random Forest, were implemented and evaluated using metrics such as accuracy, precision, recall, …

Autonomous Vehicle Platooning, Tony Abelson

McNair Summer Research Program

This research investigates the construction and performance optimization of two autonomous vehicles with using "Platooning," a strategy aimed at reducing fuel consumption and enhancing transportation efficiency. Platooning allows one vehicle to follow another closely, minimizing aerodynamic drag and improving fuel economy. This study addresses the growing need for sustainable transportation solutions in the context of increasing urbanization and environmental concerns, emphasizing the importance of efficient autonomous vehicle operation. The primary objectives of this research are to assemble autonomous vehicles from scratch and to optimize their performance in both individual and platoon operations. The methodology involves using Traxxas Slash chassis and …

Application-Driven Materials Development Of Solid-State Conductive Composites Of Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene, Peder Solberg

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) is a linear long chain homopolymer valued for its toughness, wear resistance, and chemical inertness. In the medical field, these properties make it the material of choice for bearing surfaces despite recognized tradeoffs between wear resistance, toughness, and oxidation resistance. Electrically conductive composites of UHMWPE show promise to enable new types of smart and active load-bearing implants in a future of personalized medicine, if beneficial properties can be maintained with the addition of solid-state additives.

Clinical need-finding conducted through Dartmouth’s Training Program in Surgical Innovation revealed several potential applications for conductive, load-bearing polymers. These include: …

Improving The Figure Of Merit In Iron-Vanadium-Aluminium Thermoelectric Alloy System Guided By Computational Modeling, Tao Fang

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

Thermoelectric materials can convert a thermal gradient to electricity. Currently, commercialized Bi₂Te₃ is brittle and expensive, which restricts the usage of this material. Compared to other thermoelectric materials, Fe₂VAl is cost-effective, stable and more robust mechanically. However, the figure of merit (zT) had been much lower than Bi₂Te₃. In this thesis, our main goal is to improve the figure of merit in Fe₂VAl system guided by computational modeling. We will start the discussion by presenting the Ge doped Fe₂VAl sample with record thermoelectric figure of merit value. …

Development And Deployment Of In Situ Fiber Optic Distributed Temperature Sensing Systems And Data Processing Workflows For Oceanographic Observatories In Coastal And Deep-Sea Environments, Johann Sebastian Becker

Open Access Dissertations

Over the last two decades, fiber optic distributed temperature sensing (DTS) has emerged as a transformative technology capable of providing unprecedented spatiotemporal resolution observations of temperature in a broad range of environmental sensing, industrial, and civil engineering monitoring applications. DTS uses a single interrogator unit to measure temperature continuously along an optical fiber, effectively turning the fiber into the equivalent of an array of temperature probes that can be interrogated synoptically. Modern commercially-available DTS systems are capable of continuous sensing with sampling frequencies up 5 sec, spatial resolution of 0.25 m, and temperature precision up to 0.01 °C) observations, on …

Exploring The Benefits, Barriers, And Sustainability Of Community Stem Partnerships: A Qualitative Case Study On Stem Collaboration In Elementary Education, Katherine M. Blagden

Open Access Dissertations

In an era of increasing emphasis on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, elementary schools often face significant challenges in implementing high-quality, integrated STEM instruction. These challenges include limited resources, inconsistent professional development, and a lack of access to real-world, community-based learning experiences (Dorph et al., 2018; National Science Board, 2024). This dissertation explores how collaborative partnerships among elementary schools, community organizations, and industry professionals can overcome these barriers and foster meaningful, sustainable STEM learning opportunities for young students. Drawing on the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) model (Kretzmann & McKnight, 1993) and informed by a constructivist theoretical framework (Vygotsky, …

Democratizing Deep-Sea Technology Development Using Rapid Prototyping Techniques, Breanna Motsenbocker

Open Access Dissertations

Deep-sea research and exploration have consistently been inaccessible to a broader oceanographic community due to the lack of affordable technology and resources that are required for this type of work. Traditionally, to investigate the deep sea, large research vessels are required to operate the expensive and massive equipment that can withstand the intense pressure and harsh environment beyond 200 meters of water. Not only does this lessen the capacity for exploring the deep sea but it also introduces an extreme inequity for who can participate and lead these efforts. With a growing demand for the global Blue Economy and a …

Development And Characterization Of Polysaccharide-Based Controlled Drug Delivery Platforms, Amanda Pepler

Open Access Dissertations

Drug delivery research focuses on overcoming challenges in patient treatment. Most therapeutics are delivered systemically through oral or intravenous routes. However, these administration methods are often inefficient due to therapeutic hydrophobicity, poor bioavailability, and liver metabolic clearance, necessitating frequent dosing. When treatment plans require frequent dosing, patients experience significant fluctuations in therapeutic concentration in the bloodstream, which can increase adverse side effects. These factors contribute to low patient compliance. Therefore, the core focus of drug delivery research is to develop new administration routes for therapeutics. Drug delivery systems (DDS) that can target therapeutics to a localized region offer advantages over …

Comparison Of Dynamic Mode Decomposition With Other Data-Driven Models For Lung Cancer Incidence Rate Prediction, L. Raymond Guo, Jifu Tan, M. Courtney Hughes

Faculty Articles, Papers, and Other Scholarship

Introduction: Public health data analysis is critical to understanding disease trends. Existing analysis methods struggle with the complexity of public health data, which includes both location and time factors. Machine learning offers powerful tools but can be computationally expensive and require specialized knowledge. Dynamic mode decomposition (DMD) is an alternative that offers efficient analysis with fewer resources. This study explores applying DMD in public health using lung cancer data and compares it with other machine learning models.

Methods: We analyzed lung cancer incidence data (2000–2021) from 1,013 US counties. Machine learning models (random forest, gradient boosting machine, support vector machine) …

Predicting Biomechanical Risk Factors For Division - I Women’S Basketball Athletes, Aayushi Shah, Vanaja Agarwal, Dhairya Shah, Harman Jani, Sristi Sharma, Kaya Tolga, Christopher Taber, Mehul Raval

School of Computer Science & Engineering Faculty Publications

Collegiate basketball is characterized by high-impact movements such as jump landings, making athletes more susceptible to injuries. Critical biomechanical factors like knee flexion, lateral trunk flexion, and foot landing asymmetry are strongly associated with injury risk. This study aims to predict six biomechanical risk factors in the landing error scoring system (LESS). The dataset comprises 8600 video frames of counter-movement jumps (CMJs) from 17 NCAA Division I female basketball athletes, recorded from frontal and lateral perspectives and annotated using a customized error annotation algorithm. The study uses the You Only Look Once (YOLOv5nu) model to analyze the basketball athletes’ CMJ …

Lunar Refueling: Legal Issues And Suggested Solutions, Francesca Giannoni-Crystal

Journal of Law and Mobility

The establishment of settlements and economic activities on the Moon is expected to occur in the near future, positioning the Moon as a critical hub for continued exploration of the Solar System. Central to this development is the creation of a lunar refueling industry, which will play a pivotal role in supporting lunar activities and fostering further exploration.

Lunar refueling, which includes extracting local resources like lunar ice water to obtain hydrogen, offers key benefits, such as reducing the need for resupply missions from Earth, lowering launch costs, extending mission capabilities, and enabling launches from the Moon, which are more …

Development Of A Spss-Based Prediction Model To Evaluate ‎Volatile Organic Compounds During Trenchless Cured-In-Place Pipe Method, Salar Bavili Nezhad

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

The Cured-in-Place Pipe (CIPP) method is a widely implemented trenchless technology for the rehabilitation of deteriorated pipelines, offering benefits such as cost-effectiveness and reduced surface disruption. However, the CIPP installation process, particularly during curing, raises concerns over the emission of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), which can adversely impact worker safety, public health, and environmental standards. This dissertation aims to address these concerns by evaluating VOC emissions during CIPP installations and developing a predictive model to guide emission management practices.

A comprehensive field study was conducted, collecting air samples from 15 pipeline rehabilitation sites that utilized different site-specific conditions using non-Styrene …

Enhancing Operational Efficiency Of Paratransit Services Using Predictive Models, Troyee Saha

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Paratransit services play a vital role in supporting the mobility of older adults and individuals with disabilities, yet they experienced major disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic and continue to face ongoing operational issues such as trip cancellations. This dissertation explores these challenges through three distinct analyses using data from Arlington, TX. The first chapter investigates how COVID-19-related factors (policies, cases, and vaccination) and socio-demographics influenced paratransit usage from 2019 to 2021. Applying SARIMAX and Poisson regression models, the study finds a substantial drop in ridership—41% in 2020—and a shift toward essential medical travel. It also reveals that restrictive policies, such …

Development Of Supervised Machine Learning-Based Life-Cycle Cost Estimation And Prediction Models For Comparative Sewer System Rehabilitation Using Open-Cut And Trenchless Cured-In-Place Pipe Methods, Gayatri R. Thakre

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Aging wastewater infrastructure in the United States demands renewal strategies that balance cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and minimal social disruption. Conventional open-cut pipeline installation (OCPI) involves extensive excavation and restoration, whereas trenchless alternatives such as Cured-in-Place Pipe (CIPP) Renewal Technology offer reduced surface disturbance and environmental impacts. However, existing studies primarily focus on Construction Costs (CC), neglecting integrated life-cycle evaluations that also account for Environmental Costs (EC) and Social Costs (SC).

The primary objectives of this research are to develop supervised machine-learning (ML) models to estimate and predict CC in 2025 US dollars (USD) per linear foot of OCPI and CIPP Renewal …

Development Of A Drone-Assisted Pavement Management Framework Based On The Pavement Condition Index For University Parking Lots, Omesh Pasuluru

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

Efficient pavement management is essential for keeping university parking lots in good condition. At the University of Texas at Arlington, parking areas experience heavy use and environmental wear, which can cause damage if not addressed early. Traditional methods for assessing pavement conditions are time-consuming, interrupt daily activities, and are expensive. Hence, there is a need for better solutions. This study introduces a drone-based pavement management approach that uses the Pavement Condition Index (PCI) system. The PCI is a numerical scale from 0 to 100 that rates pavement quality based on surface condition. A high PCI score (85-100) indicates the pavement …

Structural Performance Of High-Rise Rc Buildings With Sfrc Columns And Shear Walls Subjected To Seismic Loading, Ali Azzawi

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

To investigate the seismic performance of high-rise RC buildings with steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) columns and shear walls, a detailed numerical analysis was established using RISA-3D software on twelve-story RC buildings subjected to earthquakes. The variables included in this research are steel fiber volume fraction (SFVF), number of stories with SFRC columns and shear walls, and concrete strength grade. The mechanical properties of the concrete for each mix are evaluated experimentally. Three types of concrete mix designs were performed in the Civil Engineering Laboratory Building (CELB) using different dosages of steel fibers (0, 25lb/cy, and 70lb/cy). The properties of …

Characterization Of Municipal Solid Waste Using Machine Learning Based Imaging And Chemical Analysis, Enyonam Ahadzi

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

According to the U.S. Department of Energy’s 2023-billion-ton report, the United States generates nearly 300 million tons of municipal solid waste every year. More than 50% of that waste is underutilized and ends up in landfills. This poses serious public health and environmental risks. But beyond the environmental and health implications, this is also a wasted opportunity. The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates that, for every 100 lbs of waste we throw away, about 85% can be used as fuel or for electricity generation. However, its complex and heterogeneous nature poses challenges for efficient sorting and valorization in waste to …

Valorizing Municipal Solid Waste For Sustainable Aviation Fuel And Polyhydroxyalkanoate Bioplastics: Pyrolysis And Microbial Pathways, Emon Das

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

The escalating global burden of municipal solid waste (MSW), projected to reach 3.88 billion tons annually by 2050, calls for innovative valorization strategies to mitigate environmental impacts and promote a circular bioeconomy. This thesis investigates the conversion of MSW into two high-value products: sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) bioplastics. Chapter one presents comprehensive physicochemical characterization and pyrolysis-GC/MS analysis of MSW feedstocks. The physicochemical results reveal that densification enhances handling and storage properties, while pyrolysis-GC/MS analysis indicates that plastic-rich MSW streams produce bio-oils with favorable hydrocarbon profiles suitable for SAF production, potentially contributing to decarbonization efforts in the aviation …

A Design And Analysis Of Computer Experiments Approach To Water Distribution Network Seismic Rehabilitation Optimization, Uthman Abiola Kareem

Industrial, Manufacturing, and Systems Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Water is an essential part of human life. However, there are critical infrastructures that enable water availability in communities and homes. One of such is a water distribution network. Water distribution network performance depends on its reliability, which could be threatened by external agents like earthquakes. When earthquakes occur, they cause damages on some pipes within the distribution network and this limits performance of water distribution network. While earthquakes cannot be prevented, effective maintenance intervention may reduce the impact of earthquakes on water distribution networks. In order to develop an effective maintenance plan, researchers approach it in different ways. However, …

Analysis Of Crowd Logistics Networks Using Agent-Based Models, Preetam Kulkarni

Industrial, Manufacturing, and Systems Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Crowd logistics is a system in which an online platform connects a group of non-professional couriers (crowd/carriers), who use their under-utilized resources to offer delivery service to other individuals or businesses (senders) for a fee. While crowd logistics platforms have the potential to offer more flexible and responsive delivery services for much lower rates than traditional logistics providers, it is difficult for platforms to be successful as it is challenging to meet carriers’ and senders’ expectations. Crowd logistics has been applied in the context of food and grocery delivery, parcel pickup and drop-off services and last-mile delivery, however, it has …

Updating Rainfall Zones And Intensities In Nebraska For Improved Design Of Non-Bridge-Sized Drainage Structures, Rezaul Mahmood, Tirthankar Roy, Chanchal Gupta, Kanak Kanti Kar, William Sorenson

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

This study assesses the effectiveness of precipitation zones and Intensity-Duration-Frequency (IDF) curves used by the Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) for designing drainage structures. Twenty stations were selected for the analysis of revised IDF curves out of forty-two stations. Datasets have been considered from the National Center for Environmental Information (NCEI). By Comparing the new curves with existing ones, the study efforts examine the frequency, duration and severe rainfall. The results show that the IDF curves for various zones and stations varied noticeably from one another. Also, noticed that Zone A and B shows lower rainfall intensities in short to …

Enhancement Of Mechanical, Structural, And Electrical Properties In Advanced Composites And Vat Photopolymerized 3d Printing Nanocomposites, Poom Narongdej

CGU Theses & Dissertations

Advanced composites have gained significant attention across various industries, including aerospace, automotive, clean energy, and healthcare, owing to their exceptional mechanical properties and versatility. Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites, particularly those reinforced with carbon fibers, are extensively used as structural materials in spacecraft, aircraft, high-performance vehicles, and wind turbines due to their high strength-to-weight ratios, stiffness, durability, and tailorable mechanical characteristics. In healthcare, the advent of additive manufacturing (3D printing) has expanded the utility of advanced composites, enabling precise customization of components to meet patient-specific needs while offering design flexibility and ease of fabrication. Despite these advantages, several challenges hinder the …

Investigation Of Aluminum Hollow Shapes Subject To Torsion, Nora Frederick

Honors Theses

This research investigates the torsional strength of hollow aluminum shapes, specifically fairly stocky square and circular cross-sections made from 6061-T6 alloy. A total of six cross-sections were tested, with six specimens for each cross-section, resulting in 36 tests. Torque and angular deformation data were recorded for each specimen to determine the torque corresponding to full- yield of the cross-section. Additionally, Strand7 finite element models were created to simulate the experimental results and assess whether the torsional behavior could be accurately replicated through numerical analysis. This allows for future research to be conducted using Strand7 or similar finite element software.

The …

How Many Passes Does It Take? An Investigation To Determine The Optimal Number Of Liposome Extrusion Cycles, Kasey Piper

Honors Theses

Liposomes are lipid-based nanoparticles with significant applications in drug delivery and membrane research. One of the most common methods for fabricating liposomes of specific sizes is membrane extrusion, where liposomes are passed through porous membranes to reduce their size. The precise number of passes needed and the factors influencing this process remain unclear. This thesis investigates the relationship between the number of passes through a track-etched polycarbonate membrane and size and lamellarity of extruded liposomes with a focus on lipid type (DOPC, DMPC, Soy PC), membrane pore size (50, 100, 200, 400 nm), and the effect of freeze-thaw cycling. To …

Qualitative Interview Coding, Caroline M. Moore

ENGS 15.11: Design and Education

This lesson introduces undergraduate students to rigorous thematic analysis as a tool for gaining insights from qualitative interviews. Aimed at students with some familiarity in Design Thinking, it emphasizes the role of interviewing in understanding user experiences and informing human-centered research. This might be the first lesson in a multi-lesson sequence, allowing the next lesson to go deeper into insights of what design researchers gather from their thematic coding. Through a mix of lecture, individual coding, and small-group coding, students learn to distinguish between inductive and deductive coding and apply these methods to sample interviews. The lesson fosters active learning …

Mangroves: A Lesson On Modeling Changing Shorelines, Willa Skye

ENGS 15.11: Design and Education

This lesson is an overview of storm barriers, specifically mangroves and how they maintain shorelines. It is meant to offer a visual experience of coastline protection and provide a background for deeper understanding about intertidal zones and their conservation. Students will spend time creating a solution to a flooding problem by making a mock coast and storm barrier. To wrap-up the lesson, students will pair up, then reflect on their model and then individually write or draw their takeaways.

Using Design Thinking To Upcycle, Lily Chabica

ENGS 15.11: Design and Education

This 60-minute lesson introduces the power of design thinking as a tool for sustainability. Through short discussions, visual examples, and a hands-on “Trash Island” design challenge, students will explore how creativity can transform waste into value. The session combines theory (understanding upcycling vs. recycling) with active practice (building prototypes from found materials). By the end, students will connect environmental responsibility to personal agency. They will realize that design can drive everyday impact.