Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons^™

Recognizing The Potential To Reduce Ghg Emissions Through Air Transportation Electrification, Julio Roa, Joseph Oldham, Marina Lima

Mineta Transportation Institute

California is aggressively moving forward with efforts to deploy zero-emission transportation technology to fight climate change, especially the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions from the high-impact transportation sector. However, to date, the investments California has made with Cap-and-Trade funding have focused on ground transportation and some marine sources and not the aircraft at the over 140 airports in the state. Through a California-focused comprehensive GHG emissions analysis, this research project seeks to determine how RAM using electric/hybrid electric aircraft can provide new high-speed transportation for high-priority passenger and cargo movement within Fresno County and connections to coastal urban centers. Using VISION, …

Extending The Service-Life Of Bridges Using Sustainable And Resilient Abutment Systems: An Experimental Approach To Electrochemical Characterization Of Lightweight Mechanically Stabilized Earth, Fariborz M. Tehrani, Kenneth L. Fishman, Farmehr M. Dehkordi

Mineta Transportation Institute

Bridges are critical components of transportation infrastructure. This research addresses the need to extend the service life of bridges by improving the safety and reliability of bridge abutments and reducing their life-cycle cost and footprints. Mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) is a known strategy to enhance the economy and performance of bridge abutments. In addition, the application of rotary-kiln-manufactured lightweight aggregate backfills improves the performance of MSE bridge abutments with a leaner structural system. Such improvements include a reduction of structural demands due to a lower density, free drainage of granular materials, a high internal friction angle, less settlement with no …

Mapping Ecotourism Potential In Bangladesh: The Integration Of An Analytical Hierarchy Algorithm And Geospatial Data, Muhallil Abtahee, Afra Anika Islam, Md. Nazmul Haque, Hasan Zonaed, Samiha Mahzabin Ritu, S. M. Imdadul Islam, Atiq Zaman

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

The significance of ecotourism has been increasing due to its potential for biodiversity preservation, economic advancement, and the promotion of sustainability awareness. In this research, geospatial analysis and the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) was employed to identify feasible ecotourism sites in Bangladesh. The study applied Geographical Information System–Remote Sensing (GIS-RS) parameters and weighted overlay techniques for selected ecotourism characteristics, such as natural attractiveness, topographic features, accessibility, proximity to facilities, and community characteristics. The study found that a significant proportion (around 44%) of Bangladesh’s land exhibits high potential for ecotourism. Cox’s Bazar, Chittagong, and Rangamati are particularly favorable ecotourism locations. However, …

The Influence Of Bio-Inhibitor On The Corrosion Resistance Of Reinforced Concrete Beams Containing Mswi-Ba As A Partial Sand Replacement, Jamal Khatib, Israa Amer, Ghanem Hassan, Adel Elkordi

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

In this paper, the corrosion behavior of reinforced concrete beams containing municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash (MSWI-BA) as a partial sand replacement and Ceratonia siliqua extract as a green corrosion inhibitor was investigated. Four mixes were prepared: (0 and 20% replacement of sand by MSWI-BA with and without Ceratonia siliqua extract). Tests conducted were UPV, compressive strength, split tensile strength, and elastic modulus. RC beams were prepared for determining the flexural performance. Eight beams were casted. Four beams were exposed to accelerated corrosion test and four beams were kept at room temperature. It was found that the compressive strength, …

Analysis Of Evolution And Morphology Of Urban And Road Networks: Case Study Lebanon-Nabatiyeh Area, Amal Al Ghorayeb, Adel Elkordi, Ghaleb Faour, Zeinab Jaber, Youssef Attallah

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

This study examines the morphology and evolution of urban and road networks and their relationship with topography in the Lebanon-Nabatiyeh area, by using GIS and remote sensing data. and calculate the annual urban growth percentage rate. The results reveal a clear relationship between the morphology of urban and road networks and their evolution over four periods, as well as the influence of the surrounding topography on their configuration. The study recommends that urban areas should be developed in areas with a slope range of 15º or more to improve the urban structure and infrastructure surrounding them. Understanding the evolution and …

Methods And Surface Materials Repair For Concrete Structures – A Review, Lelian W. Elkhatib, Adel Elkordi, Jamal Khatib

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

Concrete is a very critical material that may require maintenance and possible repair periodically, especially in important structure such as bridges. In general, concrete in structures (e.g. reinforced concrete) may be subjected to cracks due to a variety of reasons. These include, design and external environments such as the ingress of harmful ions into the concrete, unexpected extra loads including earthquakes. These cracks can affect not only the appearance of the structure but more importantly the structural performance of concrete and the integrity of the concrete structure. Therefore, when cracks occur a proper repair method should be selected, based on …

Mechanical And Durability Properties Of Fly Ash Geopolymer Concrete – A Review, Ali Shebli, Jamal Khatib, Adel Elkordi

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

Geopolymers have emerged as a promising alternative for Ordinary portland cement (OPC) in construction industry, due to their potential to minimize the emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and improve the efficiency of waste recycling. This paper aims to study the fresh and hardened properties of fly ash geopolymer concrete (GPC), as well as to review the raw materials used in the production of geopolymers. Several factors impact the mechanical and durability properties of fly ash GPC, including the specific type of fly ash utilized, the curing temperature, the alkaline activator (AA) concentration, and the type of AA used. …

Final Report - Hyperspectral Imaging Analysis For Mechanical And Chemical Properties Of Concrete And Steel Surfaces, Genda Chen, Hongyan Ma, Pengfei Ma, Liang Fan, Abdullah Alhaj

Project SN-5

This project aims to develop a hyperspectral imaging approach for characterizing the mechanical and chemical properties of concrete and steel surfaces. A dual-sensor camera is used to collect images for mortar classification, mortar compressive strength assessment, Cl- concentration determination, and steel rebar and plate corrosion evaluation. Each pixel in an image includes spectral features ranging from 400 nm to 2500 nm in wavelength. For mortar samples, reflectance intensities at a wavelength of 1920 nm to 1980 nm, associated with the O-H chemical bond, were extracted and averaged to classify the types of mortars with K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN) and Support Vector …

Construction And Preliminary Application Of The Carbon-Based Spatial Governance Performance Evaluation System ——Taking Zhejiang Province As An Example, Lin Qu, Ganlin Xia, Cunkuan Bao Prof.

CSID Journal of Infrastructure Development

Carbon is generated through human socio-economic activities, with territorial space serving as the medium for these activities. Variations in spatial governance result in differences in the scale, intensity and efficiency of social and economic activities, as well as energy and resource consumption and carbon emissions across diverse functional spaces. Consequently, spatial governance performance should be evaluated using carbon-related indicators. This study initially established a theoretical model for assessing spatial governance performance based on carbon and an evaluation method encompassing three dimensions or indices "level-progress-gap". Zhejiang Province and its 11 prefecture-level cities were selected as the research area for preliminary application …

Determination Of Cyanide Concentration Levels In Surface Water And Soil From Artisanal Small-Scale Gold Mining Villages At Chunya, Mbeya - Tanzania, Mahir Mohammed Said

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

This study aimed to determine levels of cyanide (CN) pollution in the soil and surface water at selected mining sites of Mbeya region. A total of (n = 124) samples were collected and analyzed by spectrophotometry. The cyanide levels of soil-based samples and water-based samples at Mwasenga, and Ifumbo mining sites were above the permissible limits. This was due to poor disposal of tailing from the gold processing plants and mismanagement of wastewater. On the other hand, the Cyanide was within the allowable limit for both soil and water at Godima, Itewe, Ashishira and Nyatula mining sites. This was attributed …

A Perspective Into Development Of Pavement Design Methods For Low Volume Roads: A Review, Mwajuma Lingwanda

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

The definition of low volume roads (LVRs) is not time static and it varies from place to place around the world. The importance of such roads for providing access, in connecting communities and link farms to markets is well appreciated worldwide. LVRs are credited as the direct source of social economic development in rural communities, growth, reduction of poverty and sustaining livelihood. Nevertheless, the LVR network is growing at an unsatisfactory rate especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. The slow rate in developing LVR network is attributed to the high cost of construction and maintenance. To the author’s perspective, research has a …

Assessments Of The Application Of Earned Value Management System For Construction Project Performance Measurement In Zanzibar, Juma M. Matindana

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Many construction projects in developing countries including in Zanzibar suffer from time and budget overruns. The Revolution Government of Zanzibar established different bodies such as Zanzibar Contractors Registration Board (ZCRB), Zanzibar Architects, Engineers and Quantity Surveyors Registration Board (ZAEQRB), Zanzibar Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Asset Authority (ZPPDA), among others with the aim of controlling the performance of project. Often scope creep, time and cost overruns are very common problems in construction projects. This study aims at addressing those problems by assessing the use of Earned Value Management (EVM) methodology in measuring construction industry performance in Zanzibar. The study …

Assessment Of Spatial Variability Of Groundwater Levels In Moroto District, Uganda, Augustina Clara Alexander Dr

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Globally, the variation of groundwater levels is increasingly overwhelming due to over exploitation resulting from population growth. The dynamic nature of socio-economic activities in Moroto District such as agriculture, settlements and increased trends in irrigation technology has been well-known worldwide as common parameters triggering groundwater variability. Nevertheless, determination of groundwater levels for groundwater management and development purpose is a challenge due to spatial variability in levels across Moroto District. In this study, geostatistical technique in Geographical Information System (GIS) was used to analyze spatial variability of water levels in the study area. The analysis utilized ordinary Kriging method to predict …

Optimizing Repayment Strategies For Egyptian Construction Companies With Multiple Loans, Moataz Elkady

Theses and Dissertations

Optimizing Repayment Strategies for Egyptian Construction Companies with Multiple Loans is of utmost importance to efficiently allocate monthly income for loan repayment. The conventional practice of paying the minimum balance due each month leads to increased interest charges and prolonged repayment periods. In response, this research proposes a model for multiple loan repayment that considers the computational complexity involved.

The model is built on the foundation of mixed integer linear programming and aims to establish an optimal repayment schedule by minimizing the total cash required to repay the loans, prioritizing the repayment of loans before personal expenses. The implementation of …

The Concept Of Permeability On The Neighbourhood Scale, Aulia Urrohmah, Evawani Ellisa, Achmad Hery Fuad

CSID Journal of Infrastructure Development

Urban sprawl is rapidly expanding in the outskirts of Jakarta, resulting in a patchwork of urban areas. Unlike many walkable cities in Europe that have long embraced the pedestrian culture, Jakarta and other developing cities have prioritized private vehicle-oriented development, leading to mixed urban forms. According to data from BPS in 2022, over 16.5 million motorcycles are registered in Jakarta, and 62.3% of Jabodetabek commuters use them. This study recognizes the permeability of neighbourhood scale concerning using motorcycles to support daily mobility. This narrative qualitative research investigated permeability regarding the legibility, variety, and perceptual aspects. In addition, to illustrate the …

Developing Sustainable Smart Cities To Improve Citizen's Quality Of Life And Well-Being, Mohammed Ali Berawi, Mustika Sari, Perdana Miraj

CSID Journal of Infrastructure Development

In the wake of urbanization and environmental challenges, cities nowadays face multiple issues related to uncontrolled urban growth, insufficient public infrastructure, and inadequate citizen participation in the management of public affairs. Sustainable urban development cannot be achieved without addressing these challenges, necessitating a paradigm shift in urban space management. Therefore, urban development needs to shift traditional concepts and focus on incorporating smart and environmentally friendly practices that allow cities to adapt and implement intelligent solutions to meet the needs of their citizens while continuing to protect the environment.

To achieve sustainability, cities should prioritize a balance between economic activity, population …

Gender Analysis Of Sustainable Housing Choices Of Rental Household Heads In Abuja Municipal Council, Nigeria, Amos Chom Haruna, Stephen Mukiibi, Assumpta Nnaggenda-Musana

CSID Journal of Infrastructure Development

Households' income and other concerns constitute important sustainable housing choices factors that play vital roles in influencing rental housing affordability decisions. The study determined both male and female households can make economic, social, and environmental housing choices to meet their affordable rental needs. A cross-sectional survey was conducted, and a questionnaire was administered to a sample of 285 households obtained from a random sampling of 450 households living in private rental housing in Trademore estate in the Lugbe district of Abuja. Among the 285 households, 226 were household heads representing 79.3% of the respondents' households. The household heads consist of …

People-Centric And Inclusive Approach To Planning Of Smart Cities, Olli Jakonen

CSID Journal of Infrastructure Development

The smart city continues from intelligent, creative, and sustainable urban development imaginaries and started as a technologically oriented urban development framework. Since its conception, debates between academics, planning practitioners, and private firms have expanded and questioned original notions of ‘smart’ to consider people-centeredness, participation, and inclusion themes broadly. These discussions in smart cities have pointed to a need to question and revise many of the aims, approaches, and methods related to smart urban development. This review asks what elements and factors could be required for a city to be considered smart and people centric. The participatory design enabled by digital …

Evaluating Insurance Funds As A Financing Source For Infrastructure Development: A Case Study Of Indonesia, Mohammed Ali Berawi, Suyono Dikun, Ristu Bintoro, Mustika Sari, Suci Indah Susilowati

CSID Journal of Infrastructure Development

There is a funding deficit that cannot be covered by relying solely on government money to build Indonesia’s Infrastructure; consequently, additional sources of financing are engaging the private sector to fill the gap. Insurance funds are an alternative funding source in many countries, although their application is still at an early stage. By assessing the risks faced by insurance companies involved in infrastructure investment, this paper attempts to evaluate the use of insurance money as an alternative funding source for infrastructure investment in Indonesia. The analytical hierarchical process (AHP) technique was used in the quantitative methodology of this study to …

Effectiveness Of Integrated Traffic Management Of Military Police And Traffic Police In Reducing Drive Speed N Arterial Roads: An Experimental Study, Teguh Patriot

CSID Journal of Infrastructure Development

The Indonesian National Police Traffic Corps (KORLANTAS POLRI) and the Army Staff and Command School (SESKOAD) conducted a joint study in early March 2023 to reduce the number of traffic accident victims by implementing traffic regulations by the Military Police and Traffic Police. One of the methods used by KORLANTAS POLRI is the installation of ETLE speed cameras on Jakarta toll roads, such as Cikampek, Jagorawi, Bitung, and others. At the end of 2022, 75 additional speed cameras had been installed on arterial roads in Jakarta.

The purpose of this study is to analyze the effectiveness …

Empowerment Of Increasing Economic Resilience Post Covid-19 Janjang Wulung Village Community Through Creative Economic Village Planning, Alvian Wardhana, Muhammad Ramayuda, Faza Farhan Muhammad, Acyuta Putri Nariswari, Salsa Dwi Cahya Arifin, Garin Ardi Wicaksono, Dani Rizky Dianafi, Muhammad Ivan Riyandhika Saad Psf

CSID Journal of Infrastructure Development

Janjang Wulung Village is one of seven villages located at a highland of 593.73 meters above sea level in Puspo District, Pasuruan Regency, East Java. Janjang Wulung Village has natural resource potential from coffee, apples, avocados, and forest products supported by the plantation area, reaching 280.1 and farmers of 1,072 people. The livestock sector is also one of the superior productions in Janjang Wulung Village, with each household having 3-6 dairy cattle with a population of 602 people who work as breeders. However, the condition of COVID-19 limiting social activities resulted in a 20% to 40% decrease in income. So, …

An Assessment Of Urban Change And Its Drivers In Suleja Local Government Area Of Niger State, Nigeria, Bamiji Michael Adeleye, Kenneth Ssemwogerere, Paul Isolo Mukwaya, Amin Tamale Kiggundu, Fredrick Omolo-Okalebo, Lydia Mazzi Kayondo

CSID Journal of Infrastructure Development

The knowledge of urban change is critical to the management and planning of urban areas. Robust geospatial technologies have increasingly enhanced our understanding of urban change. This paper employs remote sensing and GIS data from the earth explorer data archive to assess the character and pattern of urban change in Suleja Local Government Area (Niger State in Nigeria) and its drives from 1987 to 2019. The nature and character of urban change are examined from the lens of the urban intensity index and the urban land use/cover change. Data from the geospatial techniques were corroborated with secondary data from the …

Automated Reinforcement In Construction 3d Printing: An Investigation Of Mechanical And Macrostructural Performance Of Reinforced 3d-Printed Structures, Hassan Ahmed

LSU Master's Theses

Conventional construction with steel reinforcement is widely accepted and utilized worldwide for its proven strength, durability, design flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and due to available standards and design codes. Integration of reinforcement in construction 3D printing, however, presents multi-faceted challenges that may influence the structural properties of printed components and have hindered the widespread adoption of reinforced 3D-printed structures. This study explored two complementary reinforcement techniques, namely, steel fibers and threaded reinforcement, to reinforce 3D-printed structures. This study explored both the fresh and hardened properties of 3D-printed mixtures that contain very high steel fiber dosages of up to 2.5% by volume. Additionally, …

Gold Thin Film Electrodes For High Sensitivity & Selectivity Electrochemical Detection Of Arsenite In Water, Tybur Q. Casuse Driovínto

Civil Engineering ETDs

This is partial fulfillment of a dissertation defense on electrochemical detection of Arsenic (As) in water using gold (Au) nanofilms as sensing electrodes. The maximum contaminant level of Arsenic in drinking water is set at 10 g L^-1 by the WHO and USEPA. Electrochemical detection by linear stripping voltammetry has comparable detection limits to more expensive laboratory-based methods but with added benefits of being portable and manufacturable. The work has developed sputtered and crystallographically oriented nanofilms for detection of trace As (III). Ultraflat Au(111) oriented thin films, Au(UTF), were compared to single crystal model electrodes to identify the impacts …

Developing And Testing Low-Cost Air Cleaners For Safer Spaces During Wildfires, Brett William Stinson

Dissertations and Theses

Air cleaning reduces indoor exposure to fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) during wildfire events. However, resource and cost restraints may limit access to air cleaning during such an event, as both commercial devices and the high-rated MERV filters that homemade assemblies typically rely upon tend to be expensive and in short supply. With these barriers in mind, we sought to develop and evaluate the potential for air cleaners that use common household fabrics as filtration media. Evaluated designs use a box fan to move air across fabric filters; box fans are inexpensive and readily available to many households. Ultimately, …

Streamflow Reconstructions Using Tree-Ring-Based Paleo Proxies For The Sava River Basin (Slovenia), Glenn Tootle, Abdoul Oubeidillah, Emily Elliott, Giuseppe Formetta, Nejc Bezak

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

The Sava River Basin (SRB) extends across six countries (Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Albania, and Montenegro) and is a major tributary of the Danube River (DR). The Sava River (SR) originates in the alpine region of Slovenia, and, in support of a Slovenian government initiative to increase clean, sustainable energy, multiple hydropower facilities have been constructed within the past ~20 years. Given the importance of this river system for varying demands, including energy production, information about past (paleo) drought and pluvial periods would provide important information to water managers and planners. Seasonal (April–May–June–July–August–September—AMJJAS) streamflow data were obtained for …

Incorporation Of Carbon Dioxide Production And Transport Module Into A Soil-Plant-Atmosphere Continuum Model, Sahila Beegum, Wenguang Sun, Dennis Timlin, Zhuangji Wang, David Fleisher, Vangimalla R. Reddy, Chittaranjan Ray

Nebraska Water Center: Faculty Publications

Carbon dioxide release from agricultural soils is influenced by multiple factors, including soil (soil properties, soil-microbial respiration, water content, temperature, soil diffusivity), plant (carbon assimilation, rhizosphere respiration), atmosphere (climate, atmospheric carbon dioxide), etc. Accurate estimation of the carbon dioxide (CO₂) fluxes in the soil and soil respiration (CO₂ flux between soil and atmosphere) requires a process-based modeling approach that accounts for the influence of all these factors. In this study, a module for CO₂ production via root and microbial respiration and diffusion-based carbon dioxide transport is developed and integrated with MAIZSIM (a process-based maize crop growth …

Empowering Student Success: Unlocking The Potential Of Project-Based Steel Design Education, Aly Mousaad Aly

Faculty Publications

In the pursuit of student success, it is essential to acknowledge that a singular teaching style does not universally cater to all students. The educator's crucial role lies in creating an optimal learning environment that fosters students' endeavors to excel. This endeavor transcends mere classroom success or employment prospects, encompassing a broader impact on societal well-being. An experiential learning approach, where students actively engage in practical tasks, emerges as the most effective mode of instruction. Integrating project-based learning activities into the curriculum holds immense potential for enhancing student learning. Additionally, the utilization of analysis software tools like FTool and STAAD …

Adsorption Of Long And Short Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (Pfas) Onto Granular Activated Carbon And Porous Organic Polymers, Yan Zhang

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are man-made environmental contaminants causing increasing global concern due to their adverse effect on environmental and human health. Conventional treatment methods are ineffective in removing short-chain PFAS because of their hydrophilicity and resistance to degradation. This study is to design an appropriate adsorption system to remove both long- and short-chain PFSA at environmentally relevant concentrations and conditions. Four primary research tasks were designed to evaluate the performance of a structurally-tunable and chemically-stable porous organic polymers (POPs) for PFAS removal under realistic environmental conditions, including the assessment of POPs’ performance without co-contaminants (Chapter 2), the assessment …

Exploratory Data-Driven Models For Water Quality: A Case Study For Tampa Bay Water, Sandra Sekyere

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Water, a crucial resource for sustaining life, covers approximately 70% of the earth's surface. Nonetheless, the quality of water is deteriorating rapidly due to the rapid growth of urban areas and industries, which is a worrying trend causing harm to human health and the ecosystem. Water quality forecasting has a key role in water resources management by enabling effective pollution control, ecosystem monitoring, and decision-making.

Previously, traditional statistical models were used to forecast water quality, but they were unable to examine the non-linear relationships between water quality parameters, and they assumed that all datasets were distributed normally. This study uses …