Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons^™

Path Clearance For Emergency Vehicles Through The Use Of Vehicle-To-Vehicle Communication, Craig Jordan, Mecit Cetin, R. Michael Robinson

VMASC Publications

The study described in this paper evaluated and tested a new strategy to enable emergency response vehicles (EVs) to navigate through congestion at signalized intersections more efficiently. The proposed strategy involves the use of vehicle-to-vehicle communication to send messages to alert vehicles to the approach of the EV and to provide specific instructions on maneuvering to allow the EV to proceed through congested signalized intersections as quickly as possible. This movement is achieved by creation of a split in the vehicle queue in one lane at a critical location to allow the EV to proceed at its desired speed but …

Proceedings Of The First International Conference On Smarandache Multispace & Multistructures, Florentin Smarandache, Linfan Mao

Branch Mathematics and Statistics Faculty and Staff Publications

In recent decades, Smarandache’s notions of multispace and multistructure were widely spread and have shown much importance in sciences around the world. Organizedby Prof.Linfan Mao, a professional conference on multispaces and multistructures, named the First International Conference on Smarandache Multispace and Multistructure was held in Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture of P. R. China on June 28-30, 2013, which was announced by American Mathematical Society in advance.

Determinants Of Neighborhood Exposure To Extreme Heat: A Spatial Examination Of El Paso And Juárez, 2010, Faraj Mohamad Aboargob

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Numerous studies have been conducted on the modification of local weather by the urban environment. In studying urban environmental effects on the urban heat island (UHI), researchers have investigated influences such as land use, vegetation density, topography, population density, and neighborhood socioeconomic status. Many studies have used data collected from field observations, while other studies relied solely on computer modeling. This Dissertation research used a spatial analysis approach, which has been less widely employed, to investigate neighborhood level biophysical, built environmental and socio-demographic determinants of the El Paso and Juárez UHI. The research utilized inexpensive data obtained from US and …

An Evaluation Of The Cerro Process As An Efficient Ro Concentrate Management System, Guillermo Guadalupe Delgado

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The Concentrate Enhanced Recovery Reverse Osmosis (CERRO) Process is a new method to treat RO concentrate and brackish water with high concentrations of silica and calcium sulfate. Prior investigations have shown that the CERRO process can treat this kind of water without fouling or scaling the membranes, but the main factors that allow the system to operate in such conditions were not studied. The research presented here is an evaluation of the CERRO process as an efficient RO concentrate management system. The parameters of operation of the system were evaluated and improved. The precipitation of calcium sulfate was identified as …

Urban Impact Of Dissolved Metals In The Paso Del Norte Segment Of The Rio Grande, Sumayeh Ahmad Freiwan

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The Paso del Norte segment of the Rio Grande experiences two seasons per year; the (wet) irrigation season and the (dry) non-irrigation season. The goal of this study was to improve the understanding of occurrence and contribution of dissolved metals in this region during the non-irrigation season. The objectives of this study were to (1) evaluate the impact of anthropogenic sources of metals on the Rio Grande water quality during the non-irrigation season, and (2) estimate the metal loads carried by the flow to the downstream region of El Paso. In order to evaluate the surface water quality of the …

Method Development For A Chemical And Biological Analysis Of Glucocorticoids In Wastewater, Maria Carmen Lozano

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Glucocorticoids are a class of steroid hormones that can either be produced synthetically or naturally by the adrenal glands. The synthetic glucocorticoids are highly prescribed in the United States for their anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties to treat a variety of ailments and diseases; however, these have been implicated in a number of adverse human conditions such as obesity, metabolic syndrome, immune-suppression, delayed puberty, adrenal insufficiency and Cushing Syndrome, among others. Ongoing research has shown that synthetic and natural hormones are transported to aquatic environments via mammalian excretion or wastewater effluent, and as a result, the release of glucocorticoids into the …

Attitude Towards Green Warehousing In El Paso, Texas: An Exploratory Analysis, Lynda Jeanette Macias

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The increasing reliance on fossil fuels by today's emerging economies has a profound implication on the sustainability of many warehousing and distribution logistical systems worldwide. This research attempts to fill the gap in current green warehousing literature by investigating how warehousing and distribution facilities view greener strategies as a way to increase operation efficiency through a stated preference approach. A survey instrument was developed, and the survey was conducted to identify warehousing characteristics, green practices, and current green views of warehouse managers in El Paso, Texas. The survey results found a balanced outlook within the environment and business needs. Companies …

Experimental Study On The Fabrication Of Advanced Materials For Energy Applications Using High Energy Mechanical Milling, Ashvin Kumar Narayana Swamy

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The reaction of aluminum (Al) powder with water has the potential for on demand hydrogen generation. Conventional Al powders, however, react with water slowly due to a highly protective oxide layer on the particle surface. Current methods for Al activation involve harmful and expensive materials. The nano-scale Al powders also remain very expensive and have problems such as a large amount of oxide on the surface. The use of aluminum in an energy generation cycle is also hindered by the fact that, although Al is the most abundant metal in the Earth's crust, its recovery from ore consumes a lot …

A Hybrid Modelling Approach For Maintenance And Rehabilitation Treatment Effectiveness Of Asphalt Pavements In Texas, Daniel Saenz

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Analysis tools in pavement management systems are critical to assist transportation agencies in developing the most adequate maintenance and rehabilitation program. The significant elements are not only the type of treatment selected and its cost, but also the quantification of its short-term and long-term effectiveness and the timing of intervention. Methodologies with complex statistical approaches and performance model theories have been previously implemented in their derivation, but they may not be suitable or accurate. Therefore, it is imperative to factor in engineering experience in their assessment. In this thesis, a hybrid modelling approach was presented to systematically introduce expert knowledge …

Synthetic Asphaltene As A Novel Dye In Dye Sensitized Solar Cells Dsscs, Hassan Sharif

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation approves the possibility of the first time use of synthetic asphaltene as new dye in dye sensitized solar cells. In which the conversion efficiency of synthetic asphaltene DSSC has improved up to 2.0 %. Synthetic asphaltene sample was prepared from the starting material as in literature and applied for various solar cell parameters of TiO2 based dyesensitized solar cell DSSC. DSSCs were fabricated using the synthetic asphaltene as dye. Different variables and parameters were carried out to test the photovoltaic performance of the cells, these parameters include open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current; fill factor. The first result was obtained …

Adsorption Of Arsenic, Chromium, And Uranium From Saline Water On Clinoptilolite And The Treatment Of The Spent Regenerant By Duffusion Dialysis, Mutiu Olaitan Tanimola

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Among various water purification and recycling technologies, adsorption is a fast, inexpensive and universal method. The development of low-cost adsorbents has led to the rapid growth of research interests in this field. The objective of this present study is the optimization of process parameters in adsorption of arsenic, chromium and uranium ions. The adsorption behavior of natural zeolite (clinoptilolite) has been studied in order to determine its applicability in treating water containing arsenic, chromium and uranium. The multiple adsorption of arsenic As (V), trivalent chromium Cr (III)] and uranium (VI) on natural zeolite (clinoptilolite) in single component and multiple component …

A Systematic Approach To Manage Missing Data In Pavement Management Systems, Mazin M. Al-Zou'bi

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Pavements are an important part of the highway transportation infrastructure, accounting for the largest share of the overall investment. A tremendous amount of time and money is spent each year on the construction of new pavements, as well as on the maintenance and rehabilitation of existing pavements.

Transportation agencies use pavement management systems (PMS) for their maintenance and rehabilitation planning, programming, and budgeting. PMS are used to make decisions regarding when maintenance and rehabilitation should be applied. The systems also select what type of treatment should be applied for each pavement section in the network with clear estimations of the …

Optimization Of Stress Wave-Based Nondestructive Methods In Identifying Deterioration In Concrete Structures, Hoda Azari

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The transportation infrastructure across the United States is deteriorating and requires periodic inspection to predict the cost of repair and extent of maintenance activities, to remedy structural problems, and to ensure safety and serviceability. The use of nondestructive testing (NDT) methods in detecting and characterizing flaws in the infrastructure has become more common. Among different NDT methods, the stress wave-based methods, including ultrasonic surface waves (USW) and impact echo (IE) methods, are widely used to maintain concrete structures. In this dissertation, a complete literature review of seismic wave theory and wave propagation in plate like structures, and stress wave-based methods …

The Investigation Of The Practice Of Frugal Innovation Across Cultures And The Introduction Of An Instructional Model For Streamlining The Design Process, Andres Efren Bolanos

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The central objectives of this dissertation are to analyze frugal innovation, apply foundational methodologies that contribute to product design, and discover the important contextual information for successful development. This dissertation describes a systematic procedure in designing frugally innovated products. The institutional design will encompass environmental, social, and economic impacts into the entire products' life cycle. Also, a comparison is made between two developing nations' contextual factors to reveal the formulation of frugal innovation.

Evaluation Of Novel Backwashable Cartridge Filters: Efficacy And Sustainability, Michelle Brown

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

One of the important aspects of desalination pre–treatment is the removal of particles from feedwater. This is typically accomplished using a combination of gross filtration and cartridge filtration. Cartridge filters are typically single–use products, and their replacement can represent a significant portion of a desalination plant's operating budget. This research evaluated the performance of a new type of cartridge filter that is backwashable and aims to reduce the overall cost to desalination facilities and provide cleaner water. Two sets of filters were evaluated (in triplicate) with respect to particle removal efficiency and hydraulic efficiency. The initial set included four types …

Geochemical Characterization Of Mineral Dust Sources In The Chihuahuan Desert And Southern High Plains Regions, Porfirio Peinado

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The Chihuahuan Desert (northern Chihuahua, southern New Mexico, and far west Texas) and the southern High Plains (west Texas and eastern New Mexico) regions have been identified as one of the most persistent dust producing regions of North America. Regional-scale dust storms have been observed by satellite imagery to identify sources of dust, resulting in collection and examination of physical soil samples to better understand the source signatures (geochemical characteristics) of dust origins in these two regions.

The soil characteristics were examined through several techniques: Particle Size Distribution, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES), and Total …

Analysis Of Vehicle Interactions On Interstate Highways: Discrete Choice And Linear System Approaches, Alicia Romo

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The research in this dissertation developed statistical and linear system models to predict driving behavior according to driver attributes, vehicle characteristics, car-following dynamics and/or driving conditions. The scope of this research was limited to the interaction of two vehicles traveling in the same direction on interstate highways.

The statistical models proposed in this research investigated the contributions of the different vehicle types on the manner and likelihood of collision. Discrete choice models were used to estimate the probability of the types of collision (rear-end, angle and sideswipe) as functions of driver attributes, striking and struck vehicle types, pre-crash driving actions …

Recovering Magnesium Hydroxide And Sodium Chloride From Zero Discharge Desalination Concentrate Streams, Alemayehu Asfaw Yetayew

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

UTEP and Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies have been demonstrating and commercializing the Zero Discharge Desalination (ZDD) technology as part of a three year project sponsored by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. ZDD is able to achieve up to 98% recovery by desalinating brackish groundwater. ZDD is typically comprised of a reverse osmosis (RO) or nanofiltration (NF) system and a unique variation of electrodialysis called electrodialysis metathesis (EDM). The ZDD technology increases the yield of fresh water from water supplies that contain enough CaSO4 to cause precipitation problems when the water is treated with RO or NF alone. The EDM …

A Methodology To Consolidate Transit Stops For Enhancing Transit Users Travel Times, Mohammad Nurul Hassan

Theses

This study develops a methodology to consolidate transit stops. It develops a mathematical model and a program which takes stop consolidation decision(s) according to users travel time savings and desired accessibility. The model iterates until the users travels time savings are maximized. The study tests this mathematical model in different hypothetical scenarios. Six factors (distance between stops, passengers’ activity, average cruising speed, and maximum walkable distance, frequency of service and percentage of decreased passengers) with multiple levels were set to build the scenarios. Three responses (percentage of consolidated stops, percentage of travel time savings and percentage of operating …

Investigation Of The Mechanical Behavior Of I-Shaped Steel Beams Strengthened By Mechanically-Fastened Frp Laminates, Hothifa Nayef Rojob

Theses

Retrofitting and strengthening of steel structures have gained significant importance due to the highly increasing number of deteriorated steel structures in many places around the globe. The conventional method of retrofitting or strengthening of steel structures by replacing steel members or attaching additional external steel plates are usually time-consuming, corrodible, and a cumbersome task. Many of the drawbacks of the conventional retrofitting systems can be overcome through the use of Fiber Reinforced Polymers (FRP) due to their high strength-to-weight ratio. Furthermore, FRP materials are corrosion resistant, which makes them more durable especially when environmental deterioration is a concern. In recent …

Mechanical Concrete, Purdue Ect Team

ECT Fact Sheets Archive

Mechanical Concrete® is a way of binding crushed stone aggregates together into a load bearing cellular building unit. The Mechanical Concrete® unit can support compressive loads and resist lateral soil pressure.

Greenpatch® - Cold Mix Asphalt, Purdue Ect Team

ECT Fact Sheets Archive

GreenPatch® is environmentally friendly cold asphalt that is a direct replacement for traditional cold patch in repairing asphalt pavements. This revolutionary breakthrough in the cold asphalt industry contains no petroleum based softeners such as diesel, toluene, kerosene, and naphthalene found in conventional cold asphalt that pose serious threats to human health and the environment.

Tire Log™, Purdue Ect Team

ECT Fact Sheets Archive

The Tire Log™ is a patented innovation made from waste tires with a unique and energy efficient approach to recycling tires. Re-Tread Products (RTP) process takes full advantage of the embedded energy in tires that is wasted in conventional tire recycling that primarily involves the grinding, burying or burning of waste tires.

Bubbledeck, Purdue Ect Team

ECT Fact Sheets Archive

Conventional horizontal concrete slabs are heavy that limit their spans. Enhancement of span results in addition of beams that increases the cost of the structure. Thus, there is a need for a technology that will help in increasing the span by reducing weight of the span. BubbleDeck is a revolutionary construction method that virtually eliminates concrete from the middle of a floor slab between columns that does not perform any structural function, thereby dramatically reducing structural dead weight. BubbleDeck is based on a patented technique - the direct way of linking air and steel.

A Gis-Based Watershed Impact Management Model, Chioma Nneamaka Udeze

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Assessment of land use changes on hydrological processes is essential for the planning and development of sustainable land management practices and water resources. Understanding how land management practices influence hydrological components is essential for the prediction of hydrological consequences of changes in land use. Given the plethora of hydrological models, digital data sources, and the limited availability of observed data, it is difficult to quantify the impacts of land use changes on hydrology. In this study, a Watershed Impact Management (WIM) model framework was conceptualized. A case study of the Yocona River basin, Mississippi, was implemented with the soil and …

Peaks In Huntsville, Darius Danner

Summer Community of Scholars Posters (RCEU and HCR Combined Programs)

No abstract provided.

0804: Grand International Auxiliary To The Brotherhood Of Locomotive Engineers, Marshall University Special Collections

Guides to Manuscript Collections

This collection consists of a membership book for the Grand International Auxiliary to the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Division 553, Huntington, West Virginia for the years 1915 to 1954. Information mentioned includes name, initials of husband, and address.

Evening Methane Emission Pulses From A Boreal Wetland Correspond To Convective Mixing In Hollows, Patrick J. Mcnamara

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Spatial and temporal heterogeneity of methane flux from boreal wetlands makes prediction and up-scaling challenging, both within and among wetland systems. Drivers of methane production and emissions are also highly variable, making empirical model development difficult and leading to uncertainty in methane emissions estimates from wetlands. Previous studies have examined this problem using point-scale (static chamber method) and ecosystem-scale (flux tower methods) measurements, but few studies have investigated whether different processes are observed at these scales. We analyzed methane emissions from a boreal fen, measured by both techniques, using data from the Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study. We sought to identify driving …

A Simple Model For The In-Plane Rotational Response Of A Disk Resonator In Liquid: Resonant Frequency, Quality Factor, And Optimal Geometry, Mohomad S. Sotoudegan, Stephen M. Heinrich, Fabien Josse, Nicholas J. Nigro, Isabelle Dufour, Oliver Brand

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Cantilever-Based Resonant Gas Sensors With Integrated Recesses For Localized Sensing Layer Deposition, C. Carron, P. Getz, J. J. Su, D. S. Gottfried, Fabien Josse, Stephen M. Heinrich

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

This work presents mass-sensitive hammerhead resonators with integrated recesses as a gas-phase chemical microsensor platform. Recesses are etched into the head region of the resonator to locally deposit chemically sensitive polymers by ink-jet printing. This permits the sensing films to be confined to areas that (a) are most effective in detecting mass loading and (b) are not strained during the in-plane vibrations of the resonator. As a result of the second point, even 5-μm thick polymer coatings on resonators with a 9-12 μm silicon thickness barely affect the Q-factor in air. This translates into higher frequency stability and ultimately higher …