Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons^™

2009 Safety Belt Usage Survey In Kentucky, Kenneth R. Agent, Eric R. Green

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objective of this study was to establish 2009 safety belt and child safety seat usage rates in Kentucky. The 2009 survey continues to document the results after enactment of the original “secondary enforcement” statewide mandatory safety belt law in 1994 and the subsequent change to “primary enforcement” which was enacted in 2006. Data were collected at 160 randomly selected sites in 18 counties across Kentucky. Data from the individual sites were combined into a statewide percentage considering roadway functional classification, county, and vehicle miles traveled.

The data show that the usage rate in 2009 (79.7 percent) increased several percentage …

Reverse Transcription Of 16s Rrna To Monitor Ribosome-Synthesizing Bacterial Populations In The Environment, Ting Lu, Peter George Stroot, Daniel B. Oerther

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Identification and quantification of phylogenetically defined bacterial populations in the environment are often performed using molecular tools targeting 16S rRNA. Fluorescence in situ hybridization has been used to monitor the expression and processing of rRNA by targeting the 3' tail of precursor 16S rRNA. To expand this approach, we employed reverse transcription of total RNA using primer S-D-Bact-0338-a-A-18. Length heterogeneity detected by slab gel analysis, denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) was used to differentiate the 5' tail of the precursor from mature 16S rRNA, and the relative abundance of the precursor compared to the abundance of mature 16S rRNA was …

Conference Review - 4th International Phytotechnologies Conference, Denver, Co, September 24-26, 2007, Jason C. White, Joel G. (Gerard) Burken

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

The North American Transportation Security Center – Serri Analysis Update, Steven Douglas Kreis, Michael M. Barclay

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Executive Summary

There are over 800,000 hazardous materials (hazmat) shipments over the nation’s roads each day. According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), terrorist activity related to the transportation of hazardous materials represents a significant threat to public safety and the nation’s critical infrastructure. Specifically, the federal government has identified the government’s inability to track hazmat shipments on a real-time basis as a significant security vulnerability.

In 2004, the U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) completed a study to determine if “smart truck” technology such as GPS tracking, wireless modems, panic buttons, and on-board computers could be …

Assessment Of The Embodied Co2eq In Buildings Towards A Sustainable Building Design And Construction, Adolf Acquaye, Aidan Duffy, Biswajit Basu

Conference Papers

Research studies have shown that the initial energy embodied in a building can be as much as 67% of the operational energy over a 25 year period. With growing global concerns over material and resource consumption and the emissions of CO2 into the atmosphere, the energy embodied in buildings constructed in town and cities becomes important and one of the key issues that needs to be tackled in the design stages in order to strive towards sustainable buildings design. In this paper, a hybrid embodied carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2eq) methodology used to assess the CO2eq embodied in buildings is presented. …

The North American Transportation Security Center – Fedtrak Specifications And Release Plan, Steven Douglas Kreis, Michael M. Barclay

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Executive Summary

In April 2008, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) completed work on the TSA Hazmat Truck Security Pilot (HTSP). This congressionally mandated pilot program was undertaken to prove that a hazmat truck tracking center was feasible from a technology and systems perspective. The HTSP project team built a technology prototype of a hazmat truck tracking system to show that “smart truck” technology could be crafted into an effective and efficient system for tracking hazmat shipments. The HTSP project team also built the Universal Communications Interface – the XML gateway for hazmat carriers to use to provide data to …

Using Geographically Weighted Regression Models To Analyze Crash Harm, Libin Zheng

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Society pays a high cost for collisions in terms of property damage, injuries and loss of life. This paper has two objectives. One is to examine various factors associated with harm caused by highway collisions. Both global OLS and local GWR models are provided to identify specific variables influencing crash harm. Another objective is to demonstrate the use of a Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) method in this complex safety problem, which can estimate models for each crash location and show spatial variation. The results show that the GWR model is a significant improvement on the OLS model; the test for …

3d Numerical Modeling Of Hydrodynamic Flow, Sediment Deposition And Transport In Stormwater Ponds And Alluvial Channels, Leying Zhang

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Prediction of flow and sediment transport is an important and challenging problem for stormwater management and river engineering applications. This thesis concerns primarily the computation of flow, sediment deposition and transport processes in stormwater ponds and alluvial channels based on a multiphase flow approach in modeling sediment transport. Starting from an existing hydrodynamic Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes flow solver, numerical models are developed to predict flow, sediment deposition and transport under the FLUENT software package. Two types of sediment transport models are formulated to consider quantities of present sediment phase volume fractions: a Discrete Phase Model in a Lagrangian frame where …

Geometrically Nonlinear Arc Length Sparse Finite Element Analysis And Optimal Design Of Truss Structures, Glenn A. Hrinda

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

A technique for the optimization of stability-constrained geometrically nonlinear shallow trusses with snap-through behavior is demonstrated using the arc length method and a strain energy density approach within a discrete finite element formulation. The optimization method uses an iterative scheme that evaluates the performance of the design variables and then updates them according to a recursive formula that is controlled by the arc length method. A minimum weight design is achieved when a uniform nonlinear strain energy density is found in all members. This minimal condition places the design load just below the critical-limit load that causes snap-through of the …

Towards The Efficient Probabilistic Characterization Of Tropical Cyclone-Generated Storm Surge Hazards Under Stationary And Nonstationary Conditions, Senanu Kudjo Agbley

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The scarcity of observations at any single location confounds the probabilistic characterization of tropical cyclone-generated storm surge hazards using annual maxima and peaks-over-threshold methods. The EST and the JPM are indirect approaches aimed at estimating the probability distribution of the response variable of interest (i.e. storm surge) using the probability distributions of predictor variables (e.g. storm size, storm intensity etc.). In the first part of this work, the relative performance of the empirical simulation technique (EST; Borgman et al., 1992) and the joint probability method (JPM; Myers, 1970) is evaluated via stochastic simulation methods. It is shown that the JPM …

Creation Of A Committed Johnsongrass Area And Implementation Study, D. James Morre

JTRP Technical Reports

This project was to develop a committed roadside Johnson grass research area with controlled mowing and date of spraying adjacent to US 63 from I 74 south to JCT US 36 and to continue studies of a cold-adapted Johnson grass ecotype identified in the Northern-most tier counties in Indiana in an area adjacent to IN 23 between South Bend and New Liberty, IN. The cold-adapted Johnson grass provides a further threat of encroachment of roadside-established Johnson grass onto adjacent cropland of considerable potential economic consequence.

Completed was a 3-year study with Roundup alone and in combination with Outrider either as …

The Impacts Of Biofuels On Transportation And Logistics In Indiana, Frank Dooley, Wallace Tyner, Kumares C. Sinha, Justin Quear, Lydia Cox, Maria Cox

JTRP Technical Reports

Like the rest of the US, the ethanol industry in Indiana has rapidly expanded, growing from one plant in 2006 to a projected 13 by 2010. One result of this expansion is that truck and rail traffic flows in Indiana are shifting, as more corn and beans are processed in state. Most of the change in transportation requirements will likely be concentrated in regions of Indiana where the ethanol plants are constructed.

The goal of this work was to determine how the entry of ethanol and biodiesel plants changes the inbound and outbound transportation flows of corn, soybeans, DDGS, and …

Bs News

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Real-Time Socio-Economic Data For Travel Demand Modeling And Project Evaluation, Kevin M. Ford, Jon D. Fricker

JTRP Technical Reports

Small and medium-sized communities often lack data that are complete, current, representative of the community, and appropriate for the travel demand models/software to be applied. To aid such communities, this research was conducted to meet the following objectives:

(1) Identify and facilitate the communication of data that is updated more frequently than the Decennial Census for Indiana Travel Demand Models;

(2) Allow the use of cross-classification techniques within trip generation for planning organizations that lack the time and resources to conduct travel demand/household surveys;

(3) Evaluate the sensitivity of travel demand model outputs to varied parameters and inputs so as …

Construction Costs - Using Federal Vs. Local Funds, Varun Kishore, Dulcy M. Abraham

JTRP Technical Reports

Costs of highway construction projects have been rising with rising prices of construction materials such as asphalt, concrete and steel. Identifying cost saving strategies is one of the ways of efficient utilization of available funds (federal and local) by the state Department of Transportations (DOTs) and Local Public Agencies (LPAs). A case study comprising of a sample pair of projects (a federal-aid project and a 100% locally funded project) constructed in Elkhart County, Indiana was undertaken to compare construction costs when sources of funding vary. Based on analysis of cost details from these two projects and discussions with the general …

Land Conservation And Land Use In New England: Trends, Challenges & Opportunities, Amanda Loomis, Tom Devine, Andrea Small, Brittany Howard, Brett Richardson, Stephanie Dulac

Land Conservation

Sprawling development patterns accelerated across the New England landscape in the last three decades and consumed the region‘s forests, farms, and open spaces at an unprecedented rate. New England‘ers in all six states formed land trusts, supported statewide conservation organizations, and collaborated with state and federal partners to protect some of their most-prized recreation lands, wildlife habitats, and working lands. The current economic recession has slowed development pressures across the region and offers an opportunity to build on recent successes. The time is right to plan a coordinated New England conservation strategy that protects and links the region‘s natural assets. …

Auditing Of Traffic Signs And Road Markings In Dar Es Salaam City, Hannibal Bwire

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

This study examines the efficacy of the traffic signs and road markings in Dar es Salaam City. The study focuses on the availability and conditions of traffic signs and road markings in some selected roads in the city. Auditing of traffic signs and road markings is carried out as one of the means of promoting road safety and improving road capacity in the city. The auditing procedure involved field studies through the use of traffic signs/markings checklists and ranking of road stretches according to the availability and conditions of traffic signs observed for improvement prioritization in case of financial constraints. …

The “Tea Cup Effect” And Removal Of Suspended Solids From Water, D.A. Mashauri

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Suspended solids problem in water is an issue as old as water treatment itself. Suspended solids can be causative to eroding through abrasion of impellers, pump casings, pipes and other water works related appurtenances. It is therefore appropriate that suspended solids must be removed as early as possible in the water works treatment facilities. It is usually done at the river/lake intakes to reduce the coarse particulate matter that would otherwise adversely affect the water works thereafter. The fine particles that will escape the entrapment at the intake works would therefore require further and more effective system that would remove …

Energy Losses In Cross Junctions, Zachary B. Sharp, Michael C. Johnson, Steven L. Barfuss, William J. Rahmeyer

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Energy losses occurring in pipe junctions have been studied for many years. Head loss coefficients (KK) are commonly used to characterize losses across elbows, tees, crosses, valves, and other pipe fittings. When accurate values of KK are used, the flow rate and corresponding total head at any location in a pipe network can be calculated. While KK is well defined for most pipe junctions and fittings, the literature has limited documentations of KK for crosses. This study was commissioned to determine KK for a wide range of flow combinations in a pipe cross with equal diameter pipes and varied flow …

East Bay Energy Consortium Legal Subcommittee Meeting Minutes, June 15, 2009, East Bay Energy Consortium

East Bay Energy Consortium Meeting Minutes

No abstract provided.

Studies Of Tumbling Motion Generated During Intake In A Bowl-In-Piston Engine, Wen-Cheng Huang

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

Approaching flood can be likened to a oncoming missile, and flood routing is viewed as to build an anti-missile system. The applications of the Kalman filter to hydrologic models are not suitable. The Kalman filter fails to yield totally effective predictions in the hydrologic routing by the fact that any specific objective (peakflow) cannot be designated in advance. Without predetermined objectives, the predicted flows cannot catch the real values but follow the traces of the real hydrograph.

Analysis Of Maximum Wind Force For Offshore Structure Design, Jing-Jong Jang, Guo Jyh-Shinn

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

This paper presents the results of a study in which a method is developed for estimating maximum turbulent wind drag force acting on a floating offshore structure with low natural frequency. In evaluating the drag force, forces associated with turbulent wind speeds are considered using both the linear and nonlinear reliability analysis approaches. A mathematical wind spectral density formulation is employed. The probability density function applied for the maximum turbulent wind-induced drag force analysis is considered as a random process. The maximum wind force is analytically developed by using an approximate single term expression for the functional relationship between the …

Evaluation Of Highway Maintenance Performance Using Data Envelopment Analysis (Dea) In Taiwan, Lung-Chuang Wang, Hsiu-Yu Tsai

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is utilized in this study to evaluate the performance of 31 highway maintenance sections belonging to the Directorate General of Highways (DGH). The input data are total amount of budget, manpower, and machines, and the output data are length of highway, routine expenditure on maintenance, budget for salvage, and the revenue from helping digging and mending roads. In order to make the analysis fit to the goals of highway maintenance sections, the weights of some inputs and outputs are restricted. The analytical models of CCR and BCC are used to estimate productive efficiency, technical efficiency, and …

Investigation Of Longitudinal Elastic Wave Propagation Through Intersecting Welded Bars, Ming-Te Liang, Chiou-Jenn Chen

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

The main purpose of this paper is to express a general formulation for the theoretical analysis of longitudinal elastic wave propagation through a general and in particular the T and ┼ junctions. The bar joint is modeled as a rigid block. The bars are assumed to be all of the same thickness but may differ in width and may be of different materials. Elementary theory is applied to investigate the propagation of longitudinal wave. The present study indicates that for a T junction there would be no transmission of the longitudinal elastic wave. For a ┼ junction there would be …

Wave Forces On A Large Structure In The Presence Of A Current, Sung-Shan Hsiao, Ming-Chung Lin

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

The wave forces acting on a large structure in the presence of a current have been investigated numerically. It is noted that the velocity potential in a wave-current coexisting field can be separated into an unsteady wave potential and a steady current potential. The unsteady wave potential with effects of both a uniform current and a large structure was calculated by using boundary element method. The steady current potential can be expressed as the sum of a uniform current and a steady disturbance due to the existence of the structure. This means that current velocity will be changed in the …

Decision Analysis For Construction Contract Risk-Sharing, Teh-Chang Lee, Ta-Hsing Lee, Ching-Hwang Wang

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

As the risk-sharing provisions in domestic public construction contracts are not completely fair and reasonable, contract disputes often arise as a result which in turn cause delays, quality impacts, and other problems that urgently need improvement. Introduced in this article is the development of a decision system for risk-sharing in public construction contracts. Said system was developed through literature review, questionnaire and interviews of experts, fuzzy synthetic evaluation in conjunction of analytic hierarchy process, definition of risks in public construction contracts, and establishment of decision models for risk-sharing. Subsequently, the “escalation” risk was employed as an example to select suitable …

Video Technology For Interuniversity Collaboration In A Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory, James Hanson

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Advanced video technology was used to incorporate multi-component (inter-university and university-industry) collaborations in geotechnical engineering laboratory courses. The project was conducted between California Polytechnic State University (California), Auburn University (Alabama), and Nippon Koei Co., Ltd. (Japan). Synchronous video conferencing and asynchronous video communications were used between the partners. The conferencing activities included guest lectures and exchange of assignments. New assignments developed in the study included role-playing whereby one class acted as a client on a project that was ordering geotechnical testing to be completed by the students at the other university acting as a consulting firm. New assignments also included …

Successes Of An Engineering Residential College Program Within An Emerging Residential Culture, Sondra Miller, Pat Pyke, Amy Moll, Melissa Wintrow, Cheryl Schrader, Janet Callahan

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Boise State University is in the process of transforming from a historically "commuter" campus into a metropolitan research university which includes a growing residential culture (currently 8% of students live in residence halls). First time, full time freshmen age 18 or younger have increased from 61% of the incoming class in 2000 to 72% of the incoming class in 2008. To support our growing residential culture, University Housing, in cooperation with six academic colleges, began the Residential College (RC) program in 2004. Key among the five current RC communities is the College of Engineering. The Engineering Residential College (ERC) admits …

Slip Lined Culvert Retrofit And Fish Passage, Joseph Ray Webb

Theses and Dissertations

Culverts throughout the country are approaching or are past their original design lives. These ‘baby boomer’ culverts will need to be repaired, rehabilitated, or replaced. Because entire culvert replacement is so expensive and intrusive, alternate measures to extend the culvert project life are growing increasingly popular. One such method is slip lining, where a ‘sleeve’ is installed within an existing culvert barrel and stabilized. Plastic pipe sleeves are very popular for slip lining primarily because the plastic material's lower Manning's roughness values allow for the culvert capacity to be maintained despite a reduction in culvert size. Unfortunately, the reduced friction …

Early-Age Re-Entry Under Fresh Fibre Reinforced Shotcrete, E. Stefan Bernard

Shotcrete for Underground Support XI

Fibre Reinforced Shotcrete (FRS) is now used together with bolts for ground support in almost every underground metalliferous mine in Australia. Safety and economy have been the primary factors driving the widespread adoption of this system of ground support. Thickness, strength, and toughness requirements for long-term stabilization of hard rock ground are relatively well understood for the majority of ground conditions, but minimum safe re-entry times following spraying remain unclear. This issue has therefore been addressed through a series of experimental and theoretical investigations that have assessed common ground conditions in metalliferous mines and compared this to the local load …