Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons^™

Northern Utah Gaging And Measurement Infrastructure Needs And Updates, Beth Neilson

Spring Runoff Conference

We can’t manage what we don’t MEASURE. We can’t manage what we don’t UNDERSTAND.

Great Salt Lake: What’S Next?, Brian Steed

Spring Runoff Conference

Water security is key to living in the West.

Snowpack And Water Supply Outlook, Jordan Clayton

Spring Runoff Conference

>95% of the water we use in Northern Utah comes from snow. Therefore, it’s critically important to quantify how much water is stored in our snowpack.

An Experimental And Numerical Investigation On The Flexural Behavior Of Two-Way Slabs Reinforced By Hybrid Reinforcement Schemes, Mahmoud A. Zidan, Mohamed H. Makhlouf, A. S. Debaiky, Gamal I. K.

Mansoura Engineering Journal

This study examines the Characteristics of flexural behavior in a two-way slab reinforced with a hybrid combination of Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer. (GFRP) and steel reinforcement. It determines the effectiveness of hybrid reinforcement and fiber addition in enhancing the flexural resistance of two-way reinforced concrete slabs. Researchers tested twelve reinforced concrete slabs and divided them into four groups. There were two control specimens: one steel-reinforced and one glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP)-reinforced, for comparison with the hybrid specimens. The remaining specimens were reinforced using a combination of steel bars and GFRP bars, The study focused on three-parameter categories: reinforcement type (steel …

Coastal Environments: Lidar Mapping Of Copper Tailings Impacts, Particle Retention Of Copper, Leaching, And Toxicity, W. Charles Kerfoot, Gary Swain, Robert Regis, Varsha K. Raman, Colin N. Brooks, Chris Cook, Et. Al.

Michigan Tech Publications

Tailings generated by mining account for the largest world-wide waste from industrial activities. As an element, copper is relatively uncommon, with low concentrations in sediments and waters, yet is very elevated around mining operations. On the Keweenaw Peninsula of Michigan, USA, jutting out into Lake Superior, 140 mines extracted native copper from the Portage Lake Volcanic Series, part of an intercontinental rift system. Between 1901 and 1932, two mills at Gay (Mohawk, Wolverine) sluiced 22.7 million metric tonnes (MMT) of copper-rich tailings (stamp sands) into Grand (Big) Traverse Bay. About 10 MMT formed a beach that has migrated 7 km …

Change Detection Analysis Using Remote Sensing And Gis Approaches For Lake Manzala, Egypt, Mohamed Eraki, Rasha Abd El Ghany, Sameh El Kafrawy, Mostafa Rabah

Mansoura Engineering Journal

Manzala Lake, the largest natural freshwater body in Egypt, is situated in the northeastern part of the Nile Delta. It faces major environmental challenges, largely due to pollution from untreated industrial effluents, sewage, and agricultural runoff. As part of Egypt's national initiative to rehabilitate its lakes, a development project was launched in 2017 and concluded in June 2022. The project aimed to purify the lake by eliminating contaminants, clearing invasive vegetation, deepening the canals, the study focuses on assessing land cover changes using remote sensing and GIS, and offers some recommendations for sustainable lake use following the development efforts. The …

Salinity Effects On Cu(Ii) Bioremediation By Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii Microalgae, Jennifer Hughes

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Microalgae offer a sustainable approach to wastewater treatment by removing pollutants such as excess nutrients, CO₂, and heavy metals. Among various species, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii shows strong potential in removing Cu(II) ions from wastewater. In addition, salinity stress in C. reinhardtii has been linked to morphological and metabolic changes that enhance lipid and phytochemical production. While salinity stress has been studied for enhancing biofuel production, its impact on microalgal removal of heavy metals, particularly Cu(II), remains largely unexplored. Understanding how varying salinity conditions affect both algal growth and the efficiency of Cu(II) remediation could provide critical insights for improving integrated wastewater …

Florida Statewide Coastal Restoration Guide, Melinda J. Donnelly, Matthew Martin, Christen Fleming, Kelly Kibler, Linda Walters, Patrick Shearer, Lauren Jennison, Erika Lin, George Zaragoza

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

The Statewide Coastal Restoration Guide (SCRG) is a comprehensive planning resource developed through a collaboration between Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), University of Central Florida (UCF), and Resource Environmental Solutions (RES) to strengthen and unify shoreline restoration efforts across Florida. With over 4,500 miles of estuarine shoreline, Florida’s coasts are vital to the state’s ecological health, economic prosperity, and community resilience. However, they face increasing threats from sea level rise, stronger storms, erosion, habitat degradation, and development. The SCRG responds to these challenges by providing science-based, non-regulatory guidance for implementing resilient, nature-based restoration strategies that protect both ecosystems and …

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. …

Every Publication Needs An Author Verified Tl;Dr Statement, Sarah Oerther, Daniel B. Oerther

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Lead Bioaccessibility And Commonly Measured Soil Characteristics (Detroit, Mi, Usa) Phase Ii, Conor T. Gowan, Sabrina R. Good, Allison R. Harris, Patrick Crouch, Shawn P. Mcelmurry

Open Data at Wayne State

Urban soil contaminated with anthropogenic sources of Pb is a major contributor to child Pb exposure. To assess the Pb risk in urban areas, composite samples were collected from 142 voluntary privately owned 142 residential parcels in Detroit, Hamtramck, and Highland Park, Michigan. Samples were collected at two time periods, before and after treatment applied for those denoted as treatment sites. Samples were collected from areas covered with turf grass on the parcels from the front, middle and rear sections. Soils were collected with a bulb planter at approximately 10cm depth and were cleaned with a tap water-Liquinox detergent solution …

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.

The Bioremediation Of Nutrients And Heavy Metals In Watersheds: The Role Of Floating Treatment Wetlands, Nirmal Kumar, Bhupinder Singh, Yuanze Chen, Abishek Kafle, Ram L. Ray, Sandeep Kumar, Xiaonan Shan, Venkatesh Balan

Civil & Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Floating treatment wetlands (FTWs) are engineered systems that utilize floating platforms planted with aquatic vegetation to treat polluted water such as stormwater, agricultural runoff, and wastewater. FTWs have emerged as promising and environmentally sustainable solutions for water purification. This review synthesizes the current knowledge on FTW design, plant selection, and performance evaluation. It highlights key factors influencing nutrient and heavy metal removal, including the hydraulic retention time, mat thickness, and types of plant species. Recent findings on the roles of root architecture, microbial interactions, and seasonal variability in treatment efficiency are also discussed. Additionally, the review explores advanced analytical methods …

A Blueprint To Greener Shorelines: Advancing The Effectiveness, Sustainability, And Widespread Adoption Of Coastal Nature-Based Solutions Through Transdisciplinary Research, Taylor M. Sloey, Sierra Hildebrandt, Rebecca L. Morris, Matthew V. Bilskie, Aaron Bland, David Bushek, Gabriella Dipetto, Daniel Elefant, Vincent Encomio, Ramin Familkhalili, Christine Hladik, Danielle Kreeger, Avery B. Paxton, Cindy M. Palinkas, Latina Steele, Andrew Scheld, Daisuke Taira, Jason D. Toft, Armando J. Ubeda, Christine Whitcraft, Donna Marie Bilkovic

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Coastal nature-based solutions (NbS) have emerged as powerful tools to enhance sustainable development and ecological restoration goals. As a rapidly growing field spanning across social, political, ecological, economic, and engineering disciplines, it is critical that researchers working in coastal NbS regularly attempt to identify emerging focal areas for scientific inquiry. Following the 27th Biennial meeting of the Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation, we provide a transdisciplinary perspective (including biologists, engineers, oceanographers, geoscientists, economists, and facilitators of workforce training programs) of pertinent research questions that, if answered, will advance the effectiveness, sustainability, and widespread adoption of coastal NbS. These suggestions for …

Green Chelation Strategy For Deashing Of Algal Biomass, Agyare Asante, George Daramola, Ryan W. Davis, Sandeep Kumar

Civil & Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

This study investigated a green chelation strategy for deashing algal biomass using nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) and deionized water (DI) to enhance its suitability for biofuel and bioproduct applications. Solid-state algal turf scrubber (SS ATS), green algal turf scrubber (ATS), and Scenedesmus were analyzed, with Scenedesmus selected for detailed evaluation due to its high ash removal efficiency. The objective was to optimize a purification process that minimizes ash and heavy metal content while preserving biochemical integrity. Algal biomass underwent sequential washing with DI, NTA, and NTA+DI under varying temperatures (90-130 °C). Analytical techniques including Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Inductively Coupled …

The Pluralistic Natural Capital Values Of A Tropical City, Adrienne Grêt-Regamey, Justine Saunders, Peter Edwards, Daniel Richards, Jahson I. Alemu, Natasha Bhatia, Roman Carrasco, Zuzana Drillet, Tze Kwan Fung, Yan Feng Leon Gaw, Wanggi Jaung, Andrea Law, Rachel Ai Ting Leong, Aikeen Youu Ming Lim, Mahyar Masoudi, Yudhishthra Nathan, Rachel Rui Ying Oh, Wen Ting Ooi, Fairul Edros Ahmad Shaikh Shaikh, Xiao Ping Song, Claudia L.Y. Tan, Puay Yok Tan, Sergio Wicki, Lynn-Wei Wong, Yanyun Yan, Erik Yando, Alex Thiam Koon Yee, Jingyuan Zhang, Daniel A. Friess

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Nature in cities is essential for human well-being. Quantifying and valuing the goods and services provided by nature to city dwellers is missing in tropical contexts. Yet, as cities worldwide face similar challenges, understanding the services provided by tropical urban ecosystems becomes imperative for effective management. Here, we present the first Natural Capital Assessment of a tropical city, unveiling three critical insights. Firstly, we demonstrate the vital reliance of a developed tropical city on nature, particularly for climate change mitigation through regulating services. Secondly, we identify intact natural areas as Singapore’s most valuable assets, stressing the significance of the quality …

Firelog: An Open-Source, Low-Cost System For Temperature Logging During Wildland Fires With High Spatial And Temporal Resolution, Nipuna Chamara, Yufeng Ge, Sabrina E. Russo

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Measuring flame, air, and soil temperatures during wildland fires, including wildfires and controlled burns in land management contexts, is crucial for research and applications in fire ecology, safety, and management in a wide array of ecosystems, from grasslands to forests. However, open-source and commercial systems are needed for measuring and logging flame and air temperatures that are user-friendly, economical, modular, and customizable. This paper details the design, development, and validation of the FireLog system. Laboratory validation experiments demonstrated high measurement accuracy, with a minimum coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.98 and the highest observed root mean square error (RMSE) of …

Scalable Machine Learning Framework For Adaptive Irrigation Management Of Maize And Soybean In The U.S. Midwest, Precious N. Amori, Derek M. Heeren, Yeyin Shi, Eric Wilkening, Ivo Z. Goncalves, Guillermo R. Balboa, Daran R. Rudnick, Abia Katimbo, Randall S. Ritzema

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Conventional soil water balance (SWB) irrigation scheduling tools, such as FAO-56-based Spreadsheets and the Spatial Evapotranspiration Modeling Interface (SETMI), rely heavily on manual inputs and periodic field measurements, leading to delayed recommendations and missed opportunities to prevent crop stress. More critically, these tools lack the computational scalability and adaptability to leverage the high-frequency, high-volume datasets now available through modern sensing technologies. As precision irrigation increasingly depends on integrating spatially and temporally nuanced field information, there is a pressing need for decision-support systems that can process Big Data efficiently and respond in real-time. To overcome these limitations, we developed and validated …

Impact Of Automated Controlled Tile Drainage On Field Discharge Water, Soil Moisture, And Crop Yield In Southeastern South Dakota, Joshua Becker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Automated controlled tile drainage is an innovative approach to water management, using dynamic weir settings programmed to drain water out of the tile system if it encroaches into the root zone at pre-programmed depths and duration. While past studies have indicated potential yield and water quality benefits of controlled drainage, there has been very little research into the performance of automated controlled drainage. In addition to overall performance, there is a gap in knowledge of management settings to optimize yield and water quality benefits. Two experiments, one plot-scale and one modeling, were conducted to assess the impact of automated controlled …

Watershed-Level Survey Of Antimicrobial Resistance From Onsite Wastewater Systems, Trey Franklin Clark

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has quickly become one of the largest global health and development threats. Research related to environmental modes of transmission of AMR has accelerated in recent years, and the US Environmental Protection Agency is particularly interested in this emerging contaminant. Knowledge of how onsite (decentralized) wastewater treatment systems contribute to this issue is lacking, so this research serves to analyze and quantify the environmental dissemination of AMR and fecal contamination from these sources at a watershed level while using statistical analysis to assess relationships between physiochemical, spatial, and sampling parameters. This research surveyed four watersheds …

Dam It All: A Multi-Scalar Investigation Into The Ecological Role And Function Of Beaver Dams, Kenneth Larsen

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

The central theme of this dissertation is ecological scaling, which examines how small, localized features, such as beaver ponds, contribute to large-scale watershed processes and how different modeling approaches at various scales reveal distinct insights. Through a combination of probabilistic modeling and high-resolution empirical research, this work demonstrates that small ponded systems, particularly those created by beavers (Castor canadensis), serve as critical biogeochemical control points, whose contributions to sediment and nutrient dynamics have been historically underestimated.

In Chapter 1, I contextualize this research within the broader fields of freshwater ecology, watershed modeling, and ecological restoration. I introduce the …

Modeling Neighborhoods As Fuel For Wildfire, Bryce Alan Young

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Wildfire models drive billions of dollars in risk mitigation efforts. However, the modeling community currently lacks a representative fuelscape on which to base simulations of fire spread in the built environment and the wildland-urban interface (WUI) where vegetation and structures act together as fuel for wildfire. This thesis advances wildfire risk modeling by addressing the underdeveloped representation of the built environment in existing frameworks. By identifying inconsistencies in how structure and defensible space features are defined and used across empirical studies, predictive indices, and fire spread models, this research lays the groundwork for standardized modeling approaches and feature selection (Chapter …

Environmentally Friendly Chelation For Enhanced Algal Biomass Deashing, Agyare Asante, George Daramola, Ryan W. Davis, Sandeep Kumar

Civil & Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

High ash content in algal biomass limits its suitability for biofuel production by reducing combustion efficiency and increasing fouling. This study presents a green deashing strategy using nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) and deionized (DI) water to purify Scenedesmus algae, which was selected for its high ash removal potential. The optimized sequential treatment (DI, NTA chelation, and DI+NTA treatment at 90–130 °C) achieved up to 83.07% ash removal, reducing ash content from 15.2% to 3.8%. Elevated temperatures enhanced the removal of calcium, magnesium, and potassium, while heavy metals like lead and copper were reduced below detection limits. CHN analysis confirmed minimal …

Revealing Rainfall Partitioning Characteristics Of Shrubs In Semi-Arid Sandy Land: Based On In-Situ Measurement Data, Hu Liu, Limin Duan, Yongzhi Bao, Xin Tong, Huimin Lei, Zhiming Han, Wenrui Zhang, Xixi Wang, V. P. Singh, Tingxi Liu

Civil & Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Rainfall is partitioned by the vegetation canopy into three components: throughfall, stemflow, and canopy interception, which profoundly influence key hydrological processes, including vegetation growth, groundwater recharge, water cycling, and regional water balance. However, research comparing the applicability of throughfall measurement methods in semi-arid shrub communities remains scarce, and quantitative analyses of rainfall partitioning processes based on in-situ observations are still inadequate. This study focuses on the sand-fixing pioneer vegetation of semi-arid sandy land, Caragana microphylla, and conducts simultaneous throughfall measurements using the rain gauge method and the trough method to compare the differences between the two approaches. Based on …

Black Soldier Fly Larvae (Bsfl) Bioconversion For Circular Economy: A Study In Polaman Village, Siswo Sumardiono, Rizka Amalia, Syaikha Butsaina Dhiya’Ulhaq, Nurika Nazilatul Ilmi, Hermawan Dwi Ariyanto

ASEAN Journal of Community Engagement

Conventional organic waste management methods often lead to environmental degradation and underutilization of valuable resources. In rural areas, such as Polaman Village, limited awareness and inefficient disposal systems exacerbate these issues, thus necessitating innovative and sustainable solutions. This study explores black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) bioconversion as a community-based solution for organic waste management, addresses environmental challenges, and promotes economic empowerment by converting waste into valuable by-products. The study employed a mixed-methods approach, beginning with baseline assessments of waste generation and existing management practices to identify community needs. Educational workshops and hands-on training sessions introduced BSFL bioconversion techniques to local …

Assessing The Environmental Impact Of Municipal Solid Waste, Ojo Oluwayinka Florence, Olaniyan Olatunji Sunday, Akolade Adebola Saheed, Alabi Oluwaseyi Omotayo, Olaomotito Precious Adesope, Adebayo Kehinde John

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

Municipal solid waste (MSW) management presents significant environmental challenges, especially with increasing urbanization and population growth. This study assesses the environmental impacts of MSW, focusing on waste composition, management practices, and their effects on air, water, and soil quality. The primary objective is to evaluate how MSW contributes to environmental degradation and to explore strategies for mitigating these impacts. A hypothesis was developed that optimizing waste composition through proper sorting and treatment can reduce the environmental footprint of MSW management by at least 10% in terms of leachate production and greenhouse gas emissions. Samples were collected using a randomized sampling …

Road Safety Assessment For Accident And Non-Accident Cases Supporting Sustainable Development Goals 2030, Brian Nararya Nugraha, Sekar Warangi Nurcahyati, Hizkia Adhikaratma, Martha Leni Siregar

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

Halving the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents is one target of the Sustainable Development Goals 2030, which is still a challenging problem in Indonesia. However, the majority of research on this topic uses accident-based methods, which limits the safety analysis. Two road safety assessment methods are used to close the gap, with the addition of non-accident-based methods such as Road Safety Audits (RSA). The Margonda Raya Road, which is categorised as a traffic accident blackspot, was selected for the case study. For this, a field survey of the road segment is carried out. To minimise …

Jovial Family Farm Facilitates Intergenerational Learning Opportunities Through Urban Farming, Maera Williams

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

Maera Williams is a sophomore in Environmental and Ecological Engineering at Purdue University. She joined the Engineering Projects in Community Service (EPICS) Urban Farming team as a freshman and now serves as project manager of ten undergraduate students collaborating with Jovial Family Farm to design and develop three indoor hydroponics systems for a laboratory space on their property in Broad Ripple, IN. Jovial Family Farm is a nonprofit organization founded by Drs. Bobbie and Brian Jellison with the mission to provide senior citizens, their families, and their communities with meaningful engagement opportunities on an intergenerational scale through urban agricultural activities. …

Breaking The Yoke: A Systematic Unmasking Of Challenges To Sustainable Rural Development In South Sudan, Gai Chol Paul

Journal of Sustainable Social Impact

South Sudan, a young nation grappling with the legacy of protracted conflict, faces significant challenges in fostering sustainable rural development. While the immense potential of its vast agricultural lands remains largely untapped, the persistent triple threat of insecurity, deficient infrastructure, and the absence of robust government policy actively hinders progress. The ongoing armed conflict, characterized by inter-communal violence and sporadic attacks, casts a long shadow over rural areas in South Sudan. Thus, I developed this mixed-method multiple-case study, grounded in the sustainable livelihoods framework, to explore challenges that hinder sustainable rural development in South Sudan. I collected data through document …

Minimizing Take Of Threatened Rattlesnakes And Optimizing Project Review In Se Nebraska, Shaun Dunn, Dan Fogell, Colleen Rothe-Groleau

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

The western massasauga (Sistrurus tergeminus) and the timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) are protected under Nebraska Statute 37-801-811 and listed as threatened species. These species occur in the right-of-way (ROW) along several roads in Jefferson, Gage, Pawnee, and Richardson Counties which necessitates the need for added Environmental Review (ER) from Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) staff and onsite surveys prior and during maintenance and construction to roadways. This project sought to minimize ER time, staff time, and increase the knowledge of these species in southeast Nebraska by:

1. Identifying precise locations of western massasauga brumation sites;
2. Mapping travel …