Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons^™

The Impact Of Pac-Loaded Polymer Membrane Thickness On Chloroform Removal And Comparison Of Solvent And Thermal Membrane Regeneration Methods, Yizhi Hou, Brooke K. Mayer

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Powdered activated carbon (PAC) has better adsorption performance than granular activated carbon (GAC) and is widely used in water purification. In most cases, PAC is dosed into water directly, then precipitated as sludge, and landfilled. In this study, PAC was mixed with a polymer and dissolved in dimethylformamide (DMF) solvent to form a PAC-loaded membrane, which was then tested for chloroform removal. The chloroform adsorption capacity of the PAC membrane increased with increasing membrane thickness because of higher carbon loading. However, regardless of membrane thickness, the flux of the PAC membranes was similar since flux resistance predominantly occurred at the …

Hydrologic Modeling Of The Lower Chesapeake Bay Watershed Using Hecc-Hms With Implications For Future Coupled Coastal Modeling, Christopher Leonard Frost

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

This study explores the hydrological methodology for modeling a coastal watershed basin using the US Army Corps of Engineers hydrologic software, HEC-HMS with an objective of being able to create riverine boundary conditions that could be applied to a coupled compound flood model. Compound flooding is defined as high water inundation event that occurs due to the simultaneous occurrence of multiple flooding drivers. The Atlantic Seaboard and the Gulf of Mexico regions of the United States account for most of the compound events observed in the United States with a higher occurrence caused by hurricanes from July to November. In …

Building Sevices Engineering July/August 2024

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Performance Evaluation Of Asphalt Binder Modified With Recycled Plastics, Abeeb G. Oyelere

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

The surge in the production of plastic waste has become a pressing global environmental issue. To address this, repurposing plastic waste to modify asphalt binders in asphalt pavement is being explored This study investigates the potential of recycled high-density polyethylene (rHDPE) and recycled polypropylene (rPP) as asphalt binder modifies to improve pavement performance and sustainability while mitigating plastic waste's adverse environmental impacts. Laboratory investigations were conducted to assess the rheological performances as well as the compatibility of rHDPE and rPP-modified asphalt. Additionally, the impact of aging and mixing temperature on rheological performance was investigated. Experimental results indicated that adding these …

An Experimental Study On The Effect Of Salt And Sugar Combination On Mortar Properties, Lelian Elkhatib, Jamal Khatib, Abbas Hassan, Mohammad Kassem, Adel Elkordi

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

The most important engineering material nowadays, used in construction is concrete. Concrete consists mainly of sand, cement and aggregates. However, weather conditions play a crucial role in affecting concrete characteristics and its serviceability. Weather conditions could be the reason to delay or accelerate the setting time of the concrete. As a result, and in order to deal with weather conditions and its effect on the setting time of concrete, accelerators and retarders must be added to the concrete mix. This research paper focuses on the impact of the use of salt and sugar on the setting time of concrete. Accelerators, …

An In – Depth Analysis Of Natural Fibers :A Comprehensive Review Of Properties And Performance Characteristics, Abbas Chour, Jamal Khatib

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

The purpose of this research is to investigate the usage of natural fibers in plant-based natural fiber-reinforced cement-based composites for sustainable construction materials. It summarizes research on various fiber kinds, their properties, and their impact on cement-based products, with a focus on renewable possibilities such as flax, jute, ramie, hemp, cotton, sisal, and kenaf. Due to their hydrophilic nature, plant fibers and polymers present compatibility concerns and moisture damage when combined. The paper examines ways for improving durability, such as physical and chemical treatments to improve aging resistance, optimizing binder components, and modifying curing regimens to reduce alkalinity in the …

The Role Of Stakeholder Involvement In Enhancing Safe Drinking Water Infrastructure: An Interpretative Structural Modeling Approach, Awlya Rahmanea, Ayomi Dita Rarasati

CSID Journal of Infrastructure Development

One of the primary goals listed in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is to “Achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all,” as stated in SDG 6.1. To obtain this goal, the Government of Indonesia has developed the 2020-2024 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN), which has set specific targets including achieving 100% access to decent drinking water, 15% access to safe drinking water, and establishing 10 million house connections. The Ministry of National Development Planning has established a goal of achieving 45% access to safe drinking water by 2030 as part of the SDGs. However, …

Investigating The Relationship Among The Construction Safety Plan, Knowledge Management, Audit Process, Information System, Web, And Bim With Construction Safety Performance, Zafira Alysha Fadli, Yusuf Latief, Danang Budi Nugroho

CSID Journal of Infrastructure Development

The rapid growth of high-rise building construction in Indonesia has led to a significant increase in accidents, necessitating a robust audit process for construction safety. This research investigates the relationship between construction safety plans (CSPs), audit processes, knowledge management (KM), information systems, the web, and BIM on construction safety performance, aiming to develop a BIM-based KM audit process. To analyze the significance level of various indicators for each variable considerable importance, a mixed-methods approach was employed, combining qualitative insights from expert interviews with quantitative analysis using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) via SmartPLS. The findings in the study reveal that the …

Assessing The Social, Economic, And Environmental Impacts Of A Multifunctional Crop: The Case Of Moringa Oleifera, Yoel Gebrai

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Multifunctional crops have the potential to support societal goals toward more sustainable production of food, feed, and fuel. The production and processing of multifunctional crops, with their numerous uses and coproducts, is accompanied by social, economic, and environmental impacts that need to be systematically evaluated to avoid unintended consequences from widespread adoption. Complexity emerges in the presence of multifunctionality, and counterintuitive system responses can occur. As a result, this dissertation has sought to enhance and apply frameworks to assess multifunctional crop sustainability holistically. Systems thinking and life cycle approaches are applied to a multifunctional crop case study, Moringa oleifera (MO). …

Enhancing The Performance Of Interdependent Stormwater Drainage And Roadway Systems Under Future Conditions, Chao Ye

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Flooding can cause extensive and devastating damage to human properties, including damage to homes, businesses, infrastructure systems, and personal belongings and it has become a threatening challenge during the past decades due to the massive damage brought to communities, infrastructures, and ecosystems. As climate change intensifies, the frequency and severity of flooding issues are expected to increase, exacerbating the existing flooding risks for vulnerable communities. Various approaches of modeling, optimizing, and designing for multiple levels of flooding problems have been adopted to deal with flooding control studies and research to alleviate the flooding risks on multiple levels of communities. This …

Success Factors Analysis In Sorong-Manokwari Railway Infrastructure's Project Evaluation With Fuzzy Ahp Method, Flora Tresia Wehelmina Kambuaya, Ayomi Dita Rarasati

Smart City

An infrastructure project is a long-term project that has two consequences in the form of uncertainty related to risk and expansive costs. Are infrastructure projects a good long-run stimulus to growth economy? Particularly for new developing areas like Papua island where project preparation evaluation has to be established in order to implement the project. Railway infrastructure is a project initiated in 2018 by Indonesia President and is currently still under administration processing. As a new incubator project, the first train project in Papua Land contains several factors that may be essential to drive project success. The critical success factors as …

Evaluation Of Coal Transport Route In Jambi City (Talang Duku Port-East Ring Road Ii), Dwi Angella, Sutanto Soehodho, Nahry Nahry

Smart City

In its implementation, the role of coal transportation infrastructure is important in supporting the mining industry in Jambi City. However, it also causes various complex problems; one of them is traffic congestion on arterial roads in Jambi City. In May 2023, the Jambi Regional Police of the Republic of Indonesia issued a notification letter to stop the mobilization of coal transportation in Jambi Province. The policy caused several coal companies to switch their transportation method to shipping in order to continue operating, while several other companies stopped operating until an indeterminate time. Therefore, this study aims to compare traffic performance …

Analysis Of Cost And Time Efficiency In Container Distribution Between Container Truck And Freight Train From Industrial Area To Port, Indah Imayanti, Sutanto Soehodho, Nahry Yusuf

Smart City

Jakarta International Container Terminal (JICT) in Tanjung Priok Port , which serves export and import containers, can serve up to 5500 TEUs daily. However, no more than 1% of the total containers are transported by freight trains, meaning that 99% of container distribution from industrial areas is carried by trailer trucks. This condition causes a long queue at the container terminal entrance, resulting in delays in the services as well. Currently, Tanjung Priok Port is connected to rail transportation from Cikarang dry port with the frequency of twice a day with 30 flatcars (FC) for each trip. The capacity of …

Understanding Social Impacts Of Major Disruptions From The Perspective Of Destination Access, Manika Rana Bhat

LSU Master's Theses

Major disruptions (like public health crises and extreme weather events) significantly impact human mobility and travel patterns. This study investigates the social impacts of major disruptions on human mobility from the perspective of accessing destinations. This study used a large-scale dataset from SafeGraph and focused on analyzing the impacts of COVID-19 and Hurricane Ida on destination access in Louisiana. The findings of the temporal plots indicated that the impact magnitude of Hurricane Ida was much smaller than that of the COVID-19 pandemic but still resulted in hardship on destination access. During COVID-19, it was found that parishes with limited active …

Ai-Enabled Vibration Sensing System For Early Detection Of Trains At Active Highway-Rail Grade Crossings, Mohsen Amjadian, Md. Masnun Rahman, Constantine Tarawneh, Valik Villarreal, Dylan Rocha

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

Highway-rail grade crossings (HRGCs) play an essential role in ensuring the secure traversal of road users across railway tracks. However, despite their significance, they present safety challenges, particularly when trains go undetected, heightening the risk of potential collisions between the road user and train. This paper aims to explore the viability of employing vibration sensors for detection and characterization of an approaching train’s speed at HRGCs. The methodology involves analyzing rail vibrations and developing a time series predictive machine learning (ML) model. To accomplish this, a Finite Element (FE) model of a ballasted track railway is created in SAP2000, consisting …

Remote Vibration Based Monitoring Of Bridge Scour, Alan Kazemian

Dissertations

The gradual erosion of the sediment around a bridge foundation is called Scour. This erosion is caused by water flow and increases during times of high-water flow such as flooding. The scour leaves the bridges structurally unsound over time and jeopardizes the safety of the structure. Approximately 60 percent of bridge failures in the United States are caused by scour. A variety of types of devices have been used to detect scour. Most of these devices only observe the scour and not the structural integrity of the bridge. The typical approach has relied on visual inspections of the bridges after …

Implications Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On The Management Of Municipal Solid Waste And Medical Waste: A Comparative Review Of Selected Countries, Ahmed Osama Daoud Dr., Hoda Elattar Eng., Gaber Abdelatif Eng., Karim M. Morsy, Robert W. Peters, Mohamed K. Mostafa Dr.

Civil Engineering

No abstract provided.

The Distribution Of Schools Not Served By Brt Trans Semarang In Semarang City, Nanda Iryani Intan Sari, Sutanto Soehodho, R. Jachrizal Sumabrata

Smart City

For developing countries, the implementation of sustainable transportation systems is crucial to involve substantial investments. Mobility in Indonesia can have an impact on both origin and destination areas. This research aims to determine the distribution of schools that are not served in the city of Semarang. Consequently, an identification can be made to formulate a recommendation for the development of operational routes for the BRT Trans Semarang to enhance connectivity between other transportation modes on routes with high demand. A quantitative descriptive analysis was performed to assess BRT Trans Semarang through utilizing government documents, news, and official websites, followed by …

Predicting Flexural-Creep Stiffness In Bending Beam Rheometer (Bbr) Experiments Using Advanced Super Learner Machine Learning Techniques, Alireza Roshan, Magdy Abdelrahman

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

BBR test is commonly used to assess the low-temperature performance grade (PG) of asphalt binders, with the flexural-creep stiffness being a critical parameter calculated through this test. However, it has notable limitations that demand attention. The significant amount of asphalt binder needed for test specimens increases costs and resource consumption. Additionally, the complex and time-consuming specimen preparation process hinders testing efficiency and introduces result variability, affecting the accuracy and reliability of PG determinations. In recent years, machine learning (ML) has emerged as a promising substitute for predicting various engineering values. In this study, the primary focus was on harnessing super …

Cost Modeling Of Provision C.3 Green Stormwater Infrastructure Requirements For Residential Development In Concord, California, James Henry Mizutani

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

To assist the city of Concord in achieving its housing goals as presented in its general plan, while still meeting the stormwater discharge requirements laid out in the city’s municipal discharge permit, I worked with local developers and consultants to create a spreadsheet modeling tool that allows housing developers to estimate the total cost of green stormwater infrastructure needed to comply with local regulations.

This report contains a summary of the conditions leading to the necessity of this tool, the steps the tool takes that go beyond existing models, a description of how the model operates, instructions on how to …

The Effects Of Lead, Copper, And Iron Corrosion Products On Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria And Antibiotic Resistance Genes, Veronika Folvarska, San Marie Thomson, Zihao Lu, Maya Adelgren, Adam Schmidt, Ryan J. Newton, Yin Wang, Patrick J. Mcnamara

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Antibiotic resistance is a public health crisis. Antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are present in drinking water distribution systems. Metals are known selective pressures for antibiotic resistance, and metallic corrosion products are found within drinking water distribution systems due to the corrosion of metal pipes. While corrosion products are a source of metals, the impact of specific corrosion products on antibiotic resistance has not been investigated. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of six corrosion products—CuO, Cu₂O, Pb₅(PO₄)₃OH, β-PbO₂, Fe₃O …

Sustainable And Cost-Effective Work Zone Scheduling On Two-Lane Highways With Managed Lanes, Ahmed Z. Edrees

Dissertations

Roadway maintenance projects greatly influence the roadway capacity, resulting in potential traffic disturbances captured by delays. Additionally, costs associated with these projects tend to be exorbitantly extensive. Most agencies and planners try to find a solution that minimizes roadway maintenance costs, traffic delays, crash risks, and environmental impact.

Work zones on two-way two-lane roadway typically avoids high-demand periods. Lane-closure scenario is commonly used and converts the open lane into a phantom intersection, alternating two-direction movements on one lane with the help of a flagger or a temporary signal. Alternatively, using shoulders as temporarily managed lanes allows for simultaneous two-way movements …

A Molecular Dynamics Study On The Destruction Mechanism Of Per And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Due To Ultrasound Technology, Bruno Bezerra De Souza

Dissertations

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of stable synthetic chemicals that are highly persistent and harmful pollutants to the environment and human health. PFAS have caused a strong public and regulatory response due to their ubiquitous presence in the environment and toxicity to humans. The application of ultrasound is one of the most effective treatment technologies for the mineralization of PFAS in contaminated water. However, this technology is treated as a black box causing the inability to be optimized. Therefore, there is a pressing need to investigate the intricate dynamics of PFAS degradation under ultrasound to unlock its …

Microplastic Abundance And Removal In Stormwater Using Green Infrastructure, Meghana Parameswarappa Jayalakshmamma

Dissertations

Microplastics (MPs) are increasingly recognized as a pervasive environmental contaminant, conveying other contaminants, accumulating in aquatic organisms, and posing ecological risks. The existing research has primarily focused on MPs in wastewater treatment plant effluents in surface waters. However, the role of stormwater systems in MP transport has been less explored. Given the rise in MPs from urban sources, stormwater runoff from urban areas may serve as a critical conduit for transporting land-based MPs into aquatic environments. Green infrastructures (GIs) have been recognized for mitigating flooding and improving water quality from minor storms by trapping stormwater pollutants. Yet, the capability of …

Machine Learning Based Analysis Of Civil Infrastructure In The Presence Of Sparse Data, Megan Butcher

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

The high computational cost of estimating engineering demand parameters (EDPs) via finite element (FE) models, which incorporate uncertainties in earthquake events and material properties, limits the application of the Performance-Based Earthquake Engineering (PBEE) framework. Previous efforts to replace FE models with surrogate models have typically focused only on building parameters, necessitating re-training for new, unseen earthquakes. This paper introduces a machine learning-based surrogate model framework that addresses both earthquake and material parameter uncertainties to predict responses for unseen seismic events. Earthquakes are characterized by their projections on an orthonormal basis, computed using Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) of a representative ground …

Pltl Develops Scholars For Majors In The Built-Environment​, Shpat Halili, Calvin O. Walters Jr.

Publications and Research

The National Science Foundation S-STEM program at NYC College of Technology (City Tech), Developing an Ecosystem of STEM success for Built Environment Scholars (Award Number 2150432), focuses on supporting and developing scholars in the majors relating to the Built Environment. The proposed project includes the expansion of Peer-Led Team Learning (PLTL) at City Tech. The PLTL model creates a supportive learning environment and supplements the faculty-centered classroom with student-led and student-oriented workshops. At City Tech, existing workshops provide curricular support in statics and mathematics. The PLTL program benefits promising first-year STEM students, and the S-STEM program utilizes the PLTL model …

Modeling And Forecasting Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms (Cyanohabs) In Lake Pontchartrain, Shekhar Mahat

LSU Master's Theses

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) frequently occur in coastal waters worldwide, adversely affecting economies, human health, aquatic ecosystems, and recreational activities. Lake Pontchartrain, an oligohaline estuary, experienced frequent HABs from 2018 to 2023. While NOAA’s NCCOS and USEPA’s CyAN currently monitor cyanobacteria harmful algal blooms (CyanoHABs) in coastal, freshwater, and riverine systems, there is a notable lack of systems monitoring phycocyanin concentrations in the lake. This thesis utilizes satellite remote sensing environmental stressors to model and predict CyanoHABs in Lake Pontchartrain using machine learning techniques. A key focus of this study is assessing the forecasting capabilities of the random forest method …

Revealing Long Vehicle Dynamics: A Comprehensive Journey From Visualization Tools For Heavy Vehicles To Conversion Factors And Public Transit Performance Analysis, Eren Yuksel

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Over the past few decades, there has been an increasing fascination with Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) and Connected and Autonomous Vehicle (CAV) technology, particularly in the realm of data collection and traffic management. Thanks to the possibilities unlocked by ITS and CAV technology, traffic data collection now serves a diverse array of safety and mobility applications, delivering real-time or near-real-time information for both road users and transportation professionals.

The integration of ITS and CAV technology is crucial for the creation of safer, more reliable, and sustainable transportation environments. As traffic-related data collection, analysis, and visualization form essential components of this …

Synthesis Of Geopolymer Using Coal Fly Ash And Corn Stover, Anu Paneru

Master's Theses

The development of each nation is dependent on its infrastructure, and nations are competing with others in infrastructure, especially in the construction of roadways, since they play a vital role in the economic and social development of the nation. The conventional materials used for road construction are cement and asphalt, which pose significant environmental challenges. This thesis explores the potential of fly ash (FA) and corn stover (CS) in synthesizing geopolymer, as an alternative material for the construction of roads. The study examines the impact of FA and CS percentages and the particle sizes of CS on the compressive strength, …

Structural Fiber Mesh Reinforcement Of A Polymeric Heart Valve: Improving Valve Durability And Leaflet Closure Effectiveness, Peter J. Choi, Hugo Zazueta, John A. Acevedo, Philip Park

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

Objective: Bioprosthetic valves using either porcine or bovine pericardium have been widely used for transcatheter heart valve replacements. However, producing bioprosthetic valves is not a sustainable solution. Acquiring animal tissue is often not readily available and costly and requires time-consuming modifications. Moreover, its primary tissue failure requires reoperation after roughly 15 years. The suggested replacement of porcine and bovine leaflets with biocompatible polymers appears to be an attractive alternative to bioprosthetic valves. In this study, engineered fiber-reinforced polymers were developed, which are less degenerative and offer greater hemocompatibility in relation to mechanical valves.
Methods: Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) polymer reduces calcification significantly …