Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons^™

Adaptation For Whom? Understanding The Impacts Of Dyke Policies On Small-Scale Farmers In Ca Mau Province Of Vietnam, Nguyen Minh Quang, Nguyen Van Minh, Nguyen Vo Chau Ngan, Martha B. Lerski

Publications and Research

Low-lying deltas worldwide are extremely vulnerable to sea-level rise. As the risks of climate-induced flooding become increasingly clear, the thirst for infrastructure-driven adaptation increases. This highlights a patent need to understand the impacts of engineering adaptation solutions, especially those targeting built structures such as dykes and sluices, on farmers from a bottom-up, farmer-centred perspective. The study addresses this call by examining cases where dyke policies, while successful in some dimensions, have undermined small-scale farmer livelihoods in Ca Mau ― Vietnam’s southernmost rural province. It identifies areas in need of attention and adds empirical data related to this group of farmers. …

Temporal Analysis Of Construction Safety Incidents In Southeastern U.S. Using Machine Learning Techniques, Mayowa O. Oladele

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Construction safety incidents remain a significant concern, particularly in the Southeastern U.S. due to the high-risk nature of the industry. Analyzing patterns in these incidents can help improve safety practices and reduce accidents. Machine learning (ML) techniques were employed in this study to identify temporal patterns in construction safety incidents, aiming to enhance proactive safety management. The machine learning methods used in this research included logistic regression, decision trees, random forest, support vector machine (SVM), and K nearest neighbors (KNN).

The objective of the study was to analyze temporal trends in safety incidents and identify the most effective machine learningtechnique …

A First Model Foundation Design Of Wood Pillar In Banjarmasin Swampland, Nursyarif Agusniansyah, Gusti Novi Sarbini, Akbar Rahman, Muhammad Tharziansyah

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

Banjarmasin's swampland presents distinct characteristics that make it suitable for constructing homes, but it also requires special attention, especially concerning the foundation. The soil in this area often has extremely low carrying capacity, which poses a significant challenge for construction. Mistakes in choosing construction materials, coupled with mismatched building loads and inadequate foundation functions, often result in foundation failures—a common cause of building collapses. As the complexity and functionality of buildings increase, the need for more thoughtful house design becomes more crucial. The commonly used wooden pile foundation, while popular, has limited load-bearing capacity, necessitating modifications to enhance its strength. …

An Infrared Thermography Assessment For Monitoring Aging Mse Walls, Charles Lawal

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) walls play a vital role in ensuring the stability of transportation infrastructure, yet traditional inspection techniques often struggle to detect subsurface defects and demand significant labor. This research explores the application of Infrared Thermography (IRT) as a non-destructive, cost-effective approach for inspecting MSE walls across Southeast Georgia. By capturing thermal images under diverse environmental and operational conditions, the study aims to identify potential issues, including cracks, voids, delamination, and honeycombing, which can undermine integrity over time. Utilizing advanced image processing tools, the research implements specialized software to enhance the accuracy of defect detection, facilitating the generation …

Developing Entrepreneurial Mindsets In Construction Management Through Experiential Projects, Dalya Ismael

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

Entrepreneurial Minded Learning (EML), a framework supported by the Kern Entrepreneurial Engineering Network (KEEN), promotes critical thinking and innovation by encouraging students to explore real-world problems through the 3Cs: Curiosity, Creating Value, and Connections. In construction management education, the focus often remains on technical skills and project execution, neglecting the development of entrepreneurial skills like adaptability, value creation, and stakeholder engagement, leaving a gap in preparing students for the challenges of the industry. To bridge this gap, micro-moment activities were introduced prior to the main project to prime students for EML-based thinking. These short, focused exercises encouraged students to solve …

From Equitable Access To Equitable Usage: Moving Towards Data-Driven, Evidence-Based Cycling Assets Management, Kewei Ren, Yunping Liang, Chun-Hsing Ho

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

Cycling is increasingly recognized for its wide range economic, environmental, and health benefits as a mobility option. However, disparities in the provision and the quality of bicycle infrastructure persists. Ensuring fair access and usage of these benefits for all presents a significant challenge. As a result, establishing effective methodologies to evaluate cycling equity is critically important. This paper synthesizes research on infrastructure asset management with a focus on equity considerations in bicycle infrastructure. A systematic review of 19 North American studies critically examines how existing research categorizes vulnerable populations and assesses fairness. The results reveal that most existing analyses focus …

Build Digital Annual Survey 2024 Results, Clare Eriksson, Robert Moore, Bilal Succar

Reports

The Build Digital Annual Survey 2024 presents a sector-wide snapshot of digital adoption and transformation across Ireland’s construction and built environment sector. Based on 137 responses, the report shows that most participating organisations have begun their digital transformation journey, with expected benefits including improved accuracy, operational efficiency, quality, cost reduction, and faster clash resolution. The findings indicate widespread use of common digital deliverables and increasing awareness of ISO 19650, CDEs, OpenBIM, and CWMF BIM requirements. However, the report also identifies persistent challenges, including skills gaps, uneven training provision, limited digital competence, and variable implementation of BIM requirements across public and …

Analyzing Reciprocating Piston Expander Performance In Small-Scale Caes Considering Expansion Mismatch And Residual Mass Losses, Mehrdad Poursadegh

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Energy storage (ES) has become an essential element of modern energy systems, particularly with the rapid growth of renewable energy sources. While these sources are central to global decarbonization efforts, their intermittent nature creates significant challenges for both grid operators and end users. To address these challenges, a wide range of storage technologies have been developed ranging from large utility-scale to small behind-the-meter units. Among these, Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) stands out for its long lifespan, low storage cost per unit of energy, and ability to provide both electricity and thermal energy. However, small- and micro-scale CAES systems, unlike …

Ansi Z97 Impact Testing Of Thin Glass, Justin P. Anthony

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

To determine whether thin glass constructions can pass Z97 impact test to qualify as safety glass an extensive protocol was performed. Constructions including monolithic, chemically strengthened, filmed, laminated, and triple pane insulated glass units comprised of thin glass ranging in thickness between 0.50 mm and 1.6mm were evaluated. Test results indicate annealed specimens, and laminated specimens performed similar to constructions with 3 mm and 6 mm glass. Specimens with 0.2 mm film consistently performed as safety glass for thicknesses between 0.7 mm and 1.6 mm and similar performance for specimens with 0.1 mm film with thickness of 1.1 mm and …

Building Obsolescence: Key Factors Influencing Demolition Decisions For Commercial Buildings, Azlan Shah Ali, Zakaria Norhanim, Zulkifly Umi-Kalsum, Zaki Faiz

Research Publications (2021 to 2025)

Buildings, while primarily serving to provide shelter, can deteriorate over time without proper maintenance and planning, leading to obsolescence, a significant threat to their functionality. This study investigates the factors contributing to building obsolescence and how they influence the selection of adaption strategies, focusing on commercial buildings as a case study. Questionnaire data were gathered from 386 business owners and occupants of obsolete buildings in Klang Valley, Malaysia, to capture their perspectives on the issue. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) were employed to rank obsolescence factors and solution options on strategies on obsolescence factors. PCA results …

2024 Scholarly Productivity Report, Missouri University Of Science And Technology

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Scholarly Productivity Reports

No abstract provided.

Citizen And Technology: The Core In Developing Human-Centric Smart Cities, Mohammed Ali Berawi, Mustika Sari, Perdana Miraj

CSID Journal of Infrastructure Development

As urbanization continues to grow, the development of smart cities has become a pivotal strategy for addressing the complex challenges of modern urban living. These cities harness advanced technologies like the artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and Digital Twin to optimize city operations, improve sustainability, and enhance the quality of life for their residents. However, the success of smart cities should not be measured by the sheer quantity of hardware and software implemented but rather by the quality of life they create for the people who live and work within them. In other words, smart cities must prioritize …

Assessment Of Parking Facilities In Public Areas: The Case Of Keffi Town, Ayodeji Solomon Olatunji, Enogela Ahmed John, Adeyemi Adewumi Adedeji, Muhammed Loko Mikaila

CSID Journal of Infrastructure Development

The absence of adequate parking facilities in residential and public areas remains a significant issue in developing countries, often disrupting economic activities and environmental quality. In Keffi town, the increasing demand for parking exceeds the available supply, leading to congestion and inefficiency. This study evaluates the current public parking facilities, focusing on provision levels, infrastructure conditions, and management frameworks. Primary data were gathered using structured questionnaires and direct observations, with 328 valid responses analyzed through descriptive statistics. Results indicate that prolonged vehicle stays exacerbate congestion, such as at Nasarawa State University (32.8%) and Federal Medical Centre (29.1%). Parallel parking dominates …

Analytical Study On The Intensity Of Surface Urban Heat Island (Suhi) In Kaduna State, Paul Onibaba, Kolade Victor Otokiti, Oluwabukola Grace Ademola, Temitope Mercy Akanle

CSID Journal of Infrastructure Development

Urbanization and climate change are significant drivers of rising Land Surface Temperature (LST) and the formation of Urban Heat Islands (UHIs), which have emerged as pressing environmental challenges in recent decades. This study examines the relationship between Land Use/Cover (LU/C) indices and LST in Kaduna, Nigeria, using multi-temporal Landsat imagery spanning five periods from 2001 to 2021. LST values were derived from the Landsat thermal bands, while LU/C dynamics were identified using the Maximum Likelihood Classifier algorithm. LU/C indices—including the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Normalized Difference Built-up Index (NDBI), Modified Normalized Difference Water Index (MNDWI), and Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index …

Assessment Of Project Risk Performance Of Selected Mass Housing Infrastructures In Northern Nigeria, Chinedu Chimdi Adindu, Abdulhaqq Onoruoyiza Muhammed, Emmanuel Ashem Egila, Musa Mohammed

CSID Journal of Infrastructure Development

Mass housing projects in Northern Nigeria often suffer from insufficient risk management, impacting timely delivery, budget adherence, and quality standards. This study assesses risk vulnerabilities in selected mass housing infrastructure projects, focusing on information risks related to roles, responsibilities, scope, requirements, and operations. A mixed-methods approach was employed, with data collected from 465 construction professionals across 20 states, with a 64.58% response rate. Analytical tools, including regression and Pearson correlation, identified critical risks such as underfunding, weak project monitoring and control, and the failure to deliver end-user value. Findings reveal that these risks significantly undermine project outcomes, highlighting the need …

Impact Of Logistics Factors On Procurement Of Construction Materials In Lokoja, Kogi State, Muhammed Etudaiye Ohida, Isa Imam, Araoye Olarinkoye Ajiboye

CSID Journal of Infrastructure Development

This study investigates the influence of logistics factors on the procurement of construction materials in Lokoja, Kogi State, aiming to identify and rank the critical elements affecting material procurement in building projects. A total of 250 questionnaires were distributed across nineteen neighborhoods in Lokoja using a random sampling technique. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while the T-test assessed the significance of identified logistics factors. The findings revealed that seventeen logistics factors influence material procurement, with seven factors emerging as the most significant: on-time delivery, transportation challenges, material misdelivery, delivery inaccuracies, order processing, storage capacity limitations, and ineffective information flow. …

Overview Of Nigeria’S Infrastructural Development, Muhammad Onoruiza Audu, Otu Muhammed Adeiza

CSID Journal of Infrastructure Development

This paper offers a comprehensive analysis of Nigeria’s infrastructural development from 2014 to 2023, focusing on significant achievements and recurring challenges. The study examines key projects in transportation, energy, and housing, such as the Abuja-Kaduna and Lagos-Ibadan railways, the Azura-Edo Power Plant, and urban road upgrades. Persistent issues, including insufficient funding, regulatory inefficiencies, regional disparities, and security challenges, are also assessed. Using a mixed-methods approach that incorporates a literature review, data analysis, and stakeholder perspectives, the research evaluates the social and economic effects of these initiatives. The findings provide strategic recommendations to improve infrastructure quality and accessibility, promote sustainable practices, …

The State Of The City's Bridges, Leo G. Miranda

Capstones

An analysis by NYCity News Service of 2024 federal bridge inspection found that 118 segments of city bridges are in poor condition, around 8% of all bridges citywide. Among these are segments of major highways and bridges like the Brooklyn Queens Expressway, FDR Drive, Harlem River Drive, Grand Central Parkway and even a part of the iconic Brooklyn Bridge. On a single stretch of highway, where the Grand Central Parkway and the Whitestone Expressway meet in Queens, there are seven parts of highway or ramps in poor condition.

Bridge segments can be any raised roadway that passes over another parkway, …

Increasing Drift Capacity Of Non-Ductile Concrete Shear Walls Through Confinement With Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Application, Andrew Duong, Sophia Maglabe, Sheyna Rongong

Architectural Engineering: Graduate Reports

The seismic response and laboratory testing of pre-1980s reinforced concrete (RC) shear walls commonly exhibit undesirable concrete crushing and rebar buckling in the wall end-zones leading to a flexural compressive failure. The lack of ductility of these walls is attributed to low reinforcement ratios and absence of special boundary elements (SBE) as required by modern design code. Thus, the authors are proposing a fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) retrofit method to provide confinement to the end-zones of pre-1980s walls equivalent to that of an SBE. Current industry applications of FRP have largely been for shear strengthening of RC beams, columns, and …

Harmonizing Vaccine And Infrastructure Development To Tame Cholera Outbreaks Across Africa, Amira Mohamed Taha, Hussam Mahmoud, Emad M. Hassan, Mohamed M. Ghonaim

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Vaccines and clean water shortages continue to give rise to cholera outbreaks in Africa. Coordinated efforts to increase vaccine distribution and improve physical infrastructure are needed while considering future outbreaks and water demands due to conflicts and climate events.

Comparative Analysis Of Design-Build And Design-Bid-Build Project Delivery Methods Through Cost, Schedule And Quality Performance For Warehousing And Storage Facilities, Vijaya Ravi Prasanth Reddi

All Theses

Storage facilities are essential for e-commerce operations, providing inventory, distribution, and delivery space. As per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of warehousing and storage businesses in the United States increased from 15,152 in 2010 to 21,287 in 2024, showing continuous growth over the decade. Given the recent surge, there is a need to understand the performance of these facilities better. This study aims to contrast the measure of quantitative performance of design-build (DB) versus traditional design-bid-build (DBB) project delivery methods (PDM) based on cost, schedule, and quality metrics for storage facilities. This research conducted a literature review to …

Sustainable And User-Driven Scope Development Framework For Engineering Design Services Of Transportation Infrastructure Projects, Ahmad Zaki Ghafari

All Dissertations

Rapid economic growth has led to a significant increase in transportation demands, exerting unprecedented pressure on infrastructure systems in the United States. State transportation agencies play a vital role in maintaining and developing transportation infrastructure networks within their regions. State transportation agencies face immense pressure from federal and state governments, elected officials, and the public to deliver projects efficiently and within budget. State transportation agencies rely on professional consultants for engineering design services. Engineering design services for transportation infrastructure projects are delayed due to incomplete inaccurate scope. For state Department of Transportation (DOTs), a streamlined scope development process is essential …

Energetics Of Mode-1 Internal Waves Interacting With Topographic Ridges Of Varying Height And Slope, Matthew R. Klema, Subhas K. Venayagamoorthy

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Energetics of mode-1 internal waves interacting with topographic ridges are investigated using high-resolution two-dimensional simulations at spatial scales of m that span between classical laboratory-scale (m) and field-scale simulations (m). This paper focuses on the energetics of wave-Topography interaction, with emphasis on systematically examining the partitioning of the incident wave energy as a function of wave forcing and topographic parameters. Partitioning of energy into the transmitted, reflected and dissipated components is quantified as a function of wave Froude number (velocity amplitude of forcing and internal wave celerity), slope criticality, where topographic slope and wave characteristic slope, and the ratio of …

Three-Dimensional Technique For Accurate Pavement Macrotexture Measurement Using Surface Volume Parameters, Alireza Pourhassan, Ahmed A. Gheni, Mohamed A. Elgawady

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This study introduces a novel three-dimensional (3D) pavement macrotexture measurement technique using ISO 25178 Surface Volume Parameters (SVP). The method calculates pavement material volume and texture height using cutoff thresholds based on the cumulative probability density function of measured heights. The research aims to optimize these cutoff thresholds for accurate 3D analysis of pavement macrotexture. The study evaluates the performance of various 3D and 2D parameters—assessing their repeatability, reliability, and accuracy—across thirty pavement samples with diverse macrotexture conditions. Findings show that the 3D SVP method, with optimized cutoff thresholds, strongly correlates with sand patch mean texture depth (MTD) and exhibits …

Human-Centered Approach For Resilience Assessment Of Healthcare Networks Subjected To Sequential Earthquakes, Emad Hassan, Hussam Mahmoud

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Healthcare services are critical for community resilience and stability as their role after disastrous events is indispensable to reducing casualties and returning the community to normalcy. Sequential mainshock-aftershock events can damage hospital components, reduce utility availability, and cause multiple patient surges. No studies have been conducted to evaluate the impact of mainshock-aftershock events on healthcare resilience. Accordingly, here we investigate the impact of multiple earthquakes on the healthcare network in Shelby County, Tennessee, and determine the optimal resources needed to enhance its functionality. The functionality is estimated by combining functionality quantity and quality terms. The quantity is calculated based on …

Anti-Corrosion Performance Of Magnesium Potassium Phosphate Cement Coating On Steel Reinforcement: The Effect Of Boric Acid, Fan Zhang, Jihui Qin, Kangyi Cai, John J. Myers, Hongyan Ma

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

It has recently been found that magnesium potassium phosphate cement (MKPC) paste coating applied on the surface of steel reinforcement can effectively retard the onset of corrosion and suppress corrosion reactions. However, the fast-setting nature of MKPC—which is a merit in repair—can be problematic in a practical engineering process of coating the steel reinforcement with MKPC paste. To address this problem, boric acid (H₃BO₃) was added as a retarder in an MKPC formulation to prolong the setting time. This work investigated the impact of boric acid (at 5% by weight of MgO) on the anti-corrosion performance …

Building Services Engineering November/December 2024

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Improving Mechanical Properties Of Magnesium Phosphate Cement-Based Ultra-High Performance Concrete By Ultrafine Fly Ash Incorporation, Jihui Qin, Zhichao Zhang, Hongyan Ma, Xiaobing Dai, Xing Cheng, Xingwen Jia, Jueshi Qian

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Magnesium phosphate cement-based ultra-high-performance concrete (MPC-UHPC) develops strength rapidly but shows unsatisfactory ultimate strength (<150 >MPa). In this study, ultrafine fly ash (UFA) was incorporated in MPC-UHPC to improve mechanical properties. The effect of UFA content, varying from 0 % to 15 %, by weight of binder, on microstructure, fiber pullout behavior, mechanical strengths, flexural and tensile properties of MPC-UHPC reinforced with 2 vol% steel fibers was investigated. Experimental results indicate that the incorporation of 10 %–15 % UFA with mean particle size of 1.4 µm was effective in reducing porosity and microcracks of binder matrix and fiber–matrix interface, thereby …

Novel Insights On The Setting Process, Hardened Properties, And Durability Of Sustainable Ultra-High-Performance Seawater Sea Sand Concrete, Wei Zhang, Dawei Ding, Jianxing Sun, Feng Guo, Haibao Feng, Hongyan Ma, Shuxian Hong, Biqin Dong, Dongshuai Hou

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Using seawater and sea sand to prepare concrete could effectively alleviate the shortage of freshwater and river sand resources and promote the sustainable development of concrete. However, the current research on the setting process, hardened properties, and sustainability of ultra-high-performance seawater sea sand concrete (UHPSSC) remain considerably limited. In this paper, the UHPSSC was designed to mitigate the autogenous shrinkage and enhance the sustainability, and the effect of seawater, untreated and desalinated sea sand on the setting process, mechanical properties, durability, and sustainability was explored by various tests. Results show that the abundant ions (e.g., Cl- and SO42-) in seawater …

Optimal Site Layout Planning For Construction Projects Over Waterways, Rana M. Azzam, Nashwa Mohamed Yossef Prof, Adel I. Eldosouky Prof

Journal of Engineering Research

Construction site layout planning is an important part of a project's success. An effective construction layout plan can enhance the performance of the construction process by improving productivity, ensuring safety, and reducing costs. Given the importance of bridges over a waterway and the lack of interest in previous research for planning a construction site over a waterway. This paper concentrates on the problems of site planning for such projects, including the problem of limited site space. The study indicated that constructing an offshore terminal is one of the primary requirements for projects with limited space being carried out on a …