Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons^™

Evaluating Anambra State's Readiness And Willingness For A Subnational Carbon Market For Climate Change Mitigation And Sustainable Development, Ojiako Godfrey Ogbo, Uchenna Cynthia Okonkwo

Applied Environmental Research

Climate change necessitates innovative strategies, with carbon markets emerging as a key tool for mitigation. This study assesses the readiness and willingness of stakeholders in Anambra State to engage in a subnational carbon market. Using a structured questionnaire distributed across government, industry, and academia, the data were analyzed through descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression analysis. The findings indicate a moderate level of readiness (M = 3.47) and willingness (M = 3.48) among stakeholders. Correlation analysis revealed a significant alignment between composite willingness indicators and direct willingness to participate (r = 0.406, p = 0.004) but a weak and …

Influence Of Crabgrass Root Exudates On The Hydrocarbons Degrading Microorganisms In Crude Oil Contaminated Soil, Sinha Changsiriwatana, Kwang Mo Yang, Toemthip Poolpak, Prayad Pokethitiyook

Applied Environmental Research

Understanding plant‒microbial interactions in petroleum-contaminated soil is critical for enhancing phytoremediation technology. In this study, the root exudate of crabgrass (Digitaria ciliaris) was collected hydroponically, and its dominant composition was identified via GC‒MS. A soil microcosm study was subsequently conducted to evaluate the influence of crabgrass root exudates on microbial growth, dehydrogenase activity, and biodegradation of total petroleum hydrocarbons by the petroleum-degrading bacteria Micrococcus luteus WN01 and Acinetobacter lwoffii A07. The amendment of crabgrass root exudates significantly promoted microbial degradation in both A. lwoffii A07 (47.98%) and M. luteus WN01 (62.78%), which were 8.47% and 15.78% greater than …

Enhanced Co2 Capture Performance Using Methyl Diethanolamine-Functionalized Silica Gels: Assessing Co2 Capture Capacity, Petpitcha Boonmatoon, Pacharapol Nokpho, Pornpote Piumsomboon, Benjapon Chalermsinsuwan

Applied Environmental Research

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a significant greenhouse gas. This causes harm to the environment and to humans. In 2023, atmospheric CO2 levels rose to 420 ppm, marking a new record high. Therefore, technology for capturing CO2 has been developed. At present, a wide variety of technologies have been proposed to capture CO2. Adsorption technology is more affordable and requires less energy for regeneration. There are many potential solid adsorbents for CO2 capture, such as zeolites, alumina, metal‒organic frameworks (MOFs), and mesoporous silicas. Silica materials possess unique properties that make them promising candidates as solid sorbents for CO2 capture. They provide …

Investigation And Health Risk Assessment Of Indoor And Outdoor Nitrogen Dioxide At Preschools In Haze Areas Of Lampang Province And Industrial Areas Of Rayong Province, Thailand, Susira Bootdee, Sawaeng Kawichai, Suganya Phantu, Sopittaporn Sillapapiromsuk

Applied Environmental Research

Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is a major indoor air pollutant and a significant ambient air contaminant associated with health effects, especially for students and teachers who attend schools in the areas of traffic, roads and industry. This study aims to assess the impacts of NO2 exposure on the health of students in haze and industrial areas from November 2023 to March 2024. Researchers utilized tube-type passive samplers to collect indoor and outdoor NO2 samples, which were subsequently analyzed via spectrophotometry. The results revealed that the weekly mean indoor and outdoor NO2 concentrations in the haze areas (HA1–HA5) ranged between 4.4–29.0 and …

Examining The Variability In Planetary Boundary Layer Height Over Thailand: Correlations With Enso And Aerosol Optical Depth, Sirapong Sooktawee, Khwanruthai Renuhom, Siriwan Kaewket, Aduldech Patpai, Pramet Kaewmesri, Thongchai Kanabkaew, Pichnaree Lalitaporn

Applied Environmental Research

Thailand has been facing air pollution, e.g., PM2.5, and impacts from climate phenomena, e.g., the El Niño‒Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Both air pollution and climate interact with each other. Changes in the planetary boundary layer height (PBLH) can affect PM2.5, represented by the aerosol optical depth (AOD), and are influenced by ENSO related to changes in the PBLH. The relationships among the PBLH, ENSO, and AOD were investigated via an empirical orthogonal function (EOF), which decomposes the spatiotemporal data of the PBLH into spatial patterns and corresponding time series. Correlation analysis was used to determine the relationships between the PBL variability …

Spatial And Temporal Pattern Assessment Of Agricultural Drought Sensitivity And Its Potential Impact On Economic Crops In Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, Suwit Ongsomwang, Siripon Kamontum

Applied Environmental Research

Agricultural drought sensitivity (ADS) is highly diverse across regions, primarily due to differences in climate, soil types, and farming practices. Agricultural drought impacts depend on drought intensity, severity, duration and timing relative to crop growth stages. Therefore, spatial and temporal pattern assessments of ADS and its potential impact on economic crops in three scenarios via multicriteria decision-making methods were conducted. As a result, the spatial distributions of the ADS index and its classification at 3 m7, 3 m10 and 6 m10, covering the planting and growing periods, displayed different patterns. The percentages of moderate, high and very high severity levels …

Nationwide Household Food Waste Generation Rates In Rural And Urban Settings: Evidence In Thailand, Vilasinee Krutprong, Chanathip Pharino

Applied Environmental Research

To achieve sustainable development goals, addressing food waste requires evidence-based solutions grounded in a nuanced understanding of waste generation rates and the factors influencing them. This study explores the intricate dynamics of food waste generation in Thai households, encompassing both liquid and solid waste streams. Empirical data were collected from 2,700 diverse households across urban and rural areas over a four-week period. The study revealed an average food waste generation rate of 0.332±0.003 kg per capita per day when liquids were included and 0.228± 0.002 kg per capita per day when liquids were excluded. Surprisingly, rural households generated more food …

The Role Of Remittances In Economic Growth And Environmental Sustainability: A Cross-Country Analysis, Bishnu B. Khatri, Omkar Poudel, Pradeep Acharya

Applied Environmental Research

Although remittances significantly influence economic stability, their role in sustainable growth and environmental impact remains uncertain. While these financial inflows enhance household welfare, their effects on gross domestic product (GDP), carbon emissions, and trade openness require further exploration. This study investigates the economic and environmental linkages of remittances in India, Mexico, China, the Philippines, and Pakistan, the top five remittance-receiving countries. Using panel data analysis, this study employs Dumitrescu Hurlin causality tests and dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS) to assess the long-term and causal relationships between urbanization, trade openness, GDP per capita, carbon emissions, and remittances. Data from the World …

Macroplastic Characteristics And Assessment Of The Plastic Abundance Index (Pai) Of Beach Sediments In Prigi Bay, East Java, Indonesia, Adinda P.A. Nevandhra, Seftiawan S. Rijal, Syarifah H.J. Sari, Defri Yona

Applied Environmental Research

Macroplastics, defined as plastic debris ranging from 2.5 to 100 cm, pose significant threats to aquatic ecosystems, as they can breakdown into smaller particles. These materials are widely dispersed across marine environments, including coastal areas. This study aimed to compare and assess the abundance of macroplastics in the foreshore and backshore zones of four beaches around Prigi Bay, East Java, Indonesia, via the plastic abundance index (PAI). Macro-plastics were collected via a 5×5 m quadrat transect method. The results revealed that single-use plastics, particularly packaging and sachets, dominated both zones, accounting for 86% and 91% of the total number of …

Applying Radom Forest And Support Vector Machine For Land-Use Classification In Phu Giao District Vietnam, Trong Dieu Hien Le, Linh Truong Vinh

Applied Environmental Research

Machine learning algorithms are currently widely used to classify satellite images to create surface maps of the earth. Support vector machines (SVMs) and random forests (RFs) are more effective ML algorithms and more accurate classifications than other methods. The aim of this study is to analyze the performance of these two algorithms in land-use and land cover classification. For this purpose, the Landsat 8 OLI satellite image freely provided by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) was used to classify land use in the Phu Giao District, Binh Duong Province, Vietnam, where forestland is being strongly converted into rubber plantations …

The Use Of Machine Learning Algorithms For Water Quality Index Prediction In The Sai Gon River, Vietnam, Thuy Nguyen Thi Diem, Mai Nguyen Thi Huynh, Tra Tran Quang

Applied Environmental Research

Accurate prediction of the water quality index (WQI) lays the groundwork for integrated river basins and sustainable water resource management. Recent and accelerated advances in machine learning have led to various promising applications in water quality assessment. The present study leverages the predictive performance of several ML algorithms, including extreme gradient boosting (XGB), the gradient boosting model (GBM), support vector regression (SVR), and the radial basic function (RBF), to predict the WQI at three monitoring sites on the Sai Gon River from 2015–2019. In comparison, the results indicate that the XGB model outperforms the other models when eight parameters, including …

Effects Of Herbicides On 2,4-D-Resistant Soil Microorganisms In Maize Cultivation In Lopburi Province, Thailand, Boontarik Chimchart, Jitra Kokaew, Amnat Eamvijarn, Kanokon Bunpha, Sontaya Khamtib, Monchai Manassila, Tawatchai Inboonchuay

Applied Environmental Research

This study aimed to assess the impact of herbicide application on soil micro-organism density and to identify microorganisms resistant to 2,4-D-dimethyl-ammonium (2,4-D) for potential biodegradation. Research was conducted in maize plots in Lopburi Province, where 2,4-D was applied at a rate of 120 g of active ingredient per 160 m2. The soil samples were collected at various intervals: before application; 2 and 4 hours postapplication; and 1, 3, and 7 days after application. The analyses included soil property and microorganism population analyses. The results indicated that 2,4-D applications significantly increased bacteria and fungi in the treated plots compared with those …

Kinetics Of Hexavalent Chromium Adsorption And Reduction By Living Cells Of The Marine Bacterium Bacillus Cereus, Jittima Charoenpanich, Wachiraphorn Cherdchoo, Jutamas Pantab, Jariya Supakrit

Applied Environmental Research

This study identified Bacillus cereus, an efficient Cr(VI) bioreducer, isolated from marine sediment in Thailand. Batch experiments verified the complete removal of 25 mg L-1Cr(VI) from synthetic wastewater (pH 7.0) after 6 days at 37 °C, 50 rpm,and a biomass concentration of 25% (v/v) culture inoculum. The Freundlich isotherm model demonstrated the best correlation with the Cr(VI) adsorption equilibrium data in the 25–100 mg L-1concentration range (R2= 0.9831). Kinetic analyses indicated that the removal of Cr(VI) by living B. cereusfollowed a pseudo-second-order adsorption model (R2= 0.9875) and a pseudo-second-order reduction model (R2= 0.9807). The adsorption rate can be accuratelycharacterizedvia the …

Investigating The Effects Of Fly Ash On The Properties Of Silica-Deficient High Alumina Materials, Sai Akshay Ponduru

Doctoral Dissertations

This research is made up of five studies mainly focused on attaining sustainability in high alumina cements like calcium aluminate cement (CAC) and calcium sulfoaluminate belite cements (CSAB) by partially replacing them with additives and supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) like fly ash (FA). The first study focused on understanding the reaction kinetics of CAC and FA binders at different replacement levels (i.e. between 10%-to-50% by mass) and their effect on mechanical properties. It was also shown that the reactive nature of FAs can be determined by calculating a single parameter called number of constraints (nc) derived from topological constraint theory. …

Drone-Based Multimodal Sensing On Vegetations And Data Analytics For Early Detection Of Gas Leakage From Underground Pipelines, Pengfei Ma

Doctoral Dissertations

"This study explored the feasibility of using multimodal remote sensors in the early detection of natural gas leaks from underground pipelines, as vegetation situated above pipelines can discern microbial changes in soil when affected by gas and exhibit physiological stress symptoms on leaves. Three sensors (RBG, thermal, and hyperspectral cameras) were utilized to monitor vegetation stress as an indicator of gas leaks. A laboratory experiment was conducted to evaluate the workability of vegetation for gas leak detection. Regular hyperspectral imagery was collected from test vegetations to identify gas stress and distinguish it from other environmental stressors such as salinity impact, …

Nmr Relaxometry Approach For The Detection Of Asphalt Binder Performance Properties, Rebecca Herndon

Doctoral Dissertations

"Asphalt is a necessary material for transportation infrastructure. Understanding the material properties of asphalt binders is critical for improving infrastructure and enhancing the lifetime of pavements. While the physical properties of asphalt binders are well-defined by standard procedures and parameters, the chemical environment lacks definition. Physical parameters like viscosity and stiffness are traditionally used to differentiate asphalt binders, describe aging, and indicate the impact of additives. However, these tests have limited insight into the material's chemical environment. Therefore, a nondestructive analytical technique, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxometry, was employed to investigate the chemical environment of asphalt binders. Although NMR relaxometry …

Characterization And Modeling Of Properties Of Unsaturated And Partially Damaged Cement-Based Materials, Rezwana Binte Hafiz

Doctoral Dissertations

"Transport properties, governing the resistance of cement-based materials to harmful substances are essential considerations for long-term performance. This study addressed the often-overlooked dimension of transport properties in unsaturated cement-based materials, crucial as most concrete structures face variable environmental conditions, leading to partial saturation. A two-scale model was introduced, enhancing our comprehension of transport properties in conditions reflecting real-world scenarios. Empirical correlation representing bulk paste characteristics was established, facilitating the upscaling of properties to mortar and concrete. The model was extended to predict the transport properties of mortar as well.

Environmental factors can contribute to the degradation of cement-based materials, with …

Characterizations Of Eco-Friendly Class C Fly Ash-Based Alkali-Activated Mixtures For Various 3d-Printing Techniques, Fareh Abudawaba

Doctoral Dissertations

This study explored the potential of using high-calcium class C fly ash (FA) as the main precursor for synthesizing alkali-activated mortar (AAM) suitable for 3D-printed concrete (3DPC) applications. The objective was to broaden the selection of AAMs, designed to suit various printing techniques, including continuous mixing and pumping, large batch mixing, and set-on-demand processes. The study began by assessing the fresh properties of various mixtures, utilizing tests such as open time (OT), initial setting time (IST), immediate axial deformation, and penetration test (PT), to determine the mixtures' extrudability and buildability. The study optimized mixtures with a broad spectrum of cycle …

Psychosocial Determinants Of Public Transportation Use Among Brazilian And American Users: An Integrated Modeling Approach, Ingrid Luiza Neto, Hartmut Günther, Bryan E. Porter, Taciano L. Milfont, Pastor Willy Gonzales Taco, Caroline Cardoso Machado

Psychology Faculty Publications

Overreliance on cars can promote individual, environmental, economic and social problems, requiring the development of measures to reduce car use and encourage the use of more sustainable transport options. Contributing to this call, here we report a cross-cultural study conducted in Brazil (n = 312) and the United States (n = 518) investigating the applicability of the model of Bamberg and Möser in predicting the use of public transport. Results indicated the model is equivalent across samples, regarding both the measures and the relations between the variables of the model. Intention strongly predicted self-reported public transport behaviour, explaining 70% of …

Design, Fabrication, & Laboratory Testing Of A Strain Gage Instrumentation System For Marine Applications, Salem C. Homrighausen

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A strain gage-based instrumentation system was designed and fabricated to measure the moment present at the base of a mock, diesel-engine snorkel for a submerged vehicle designed to operate in the surf zone. Afterwards, a lab experiment was designed and executed to determine the accuracy of the instrument and a 2-dimensional, matrix-vector equation was formulated to relate pairs of voltages, Vx and Vy, to moments, Mx and My for the experiment. Three versions of this model were built. The first model was created using traditional statics equations governing strain, stress, moment, force. The second and third models were built directly …

Spatiotemporal Patterns Of Desertification Sensitivity And Influencing Factors Across The Western Inner Mongolia Plateau, China, Yang Chen, Long Ma, Xixi Wang, Tingxi Liu, Zixu Qiao

Civil & Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Desertification remains a critical global ecological and environmental challenge that threatens sustainable development. Although our understanding of desertification dynamics and their underlying drivers has improved, continued research is needed due to the region-specific nature of these processes. This study focuses on the Western Inner Mongolia Plateau in China as a case study to examine the evolution of desertification and its driving factors using a multifaceted approach, including the Mediterranean Desertification and Land Use (MEDALUS) model. Results show that the desertification sensitivity index (DSI) across the plateau ranged from 1.12 in prairie regions to 1.87 in desert areas, with a spatial …

Flux-Weakening Control Methods For Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machines In Electric Vehicles At High Speed, Samer Alwaqfi, Mohamad Alzayed, Hicham Chaoui

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs) are widely favored by manufacturers for use in electric vehicles (EVs) because of their many benefits, which include high power density at high speeds, ruggedness, potential for high efficiency, and reduced control complexity. However, since the Back Electromotive Force (EMF) increases proportionally with the motor’s rotational speed, it must be carefully controlled at high speeds. Flux-weakening (FW) control is required to avoid excessive electromagnetic flux beyond the power source and inverter’s voltage restrictions. This paper aims to compare various FW control strategies and analyze their effectiveness in maximizing the speed of PMSMs in EV applications …

Experimental And Simulation Of Compression After Impact (Cai) Tests For Thermoplastic Composite Materials, M. M. Shahzamanian, Sydney Houck, Li Ai, Md Mushfiqur Rahman Fahim, Sourav Banerjee, Wout De Backer, Paul Ziehl

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

Damage caused by low velocity impacts in composite materials may go undetected, resulting in significant damage being unnoticeable. This phenomenon has been studied using experiments and simulations on a typical composite material, Toray T1225 LM-PAEK UD Tape, following impacts with varying energy levels. To the authors’ knowledge, there is a lack of information on thermoplastics and compression after impact (CAI) in the publicly available literature, and there have been insufficient results and discussions regarding CAI tests on thermoplastic composite materials at the relatively high levels of impact used, especially with the rise in the use of thermoplastic materials for the …

Analyzing Reciprocating Piston Expander Performance In Small-Scale Caes Considering Expansion Mismatch And Residual Mass Losses, Mehrdad Poursadegh

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Energy storage (ES) has become an essential element of modern energy systems, particularly with the rapid growth of renewable energy sources. While these sources are central to global decarbonization efforts, their intermittent nature creates significant challenges for both grid operators and end users. To address these challenges, a wide range of storage technologies have been developed ranging from large utility-scale to small behind-the-meter units. Among these, Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) stands out for its long lifespan, low storage cost per unit of energy, and ability to provide both electricity and thermal energy. However, small- and micro-scale CAES systems, unlike …

Great Lakes Wave Height Trends, Erv Kraft, Brian Barkdoll

Michigan Tech Publications

With the advent of the industrial revolution, greenhouse gases have been emitted into the atmosphere causing the alteration of weather across the globe. These gases have caused the global temperature to warm. This has also caused a change in precipitation, wind speeds, and wave heights. The Great Lakes have many cities located on their shores and millions of people are affected by waves. Effects include shoreline erosion, infrastructure damage, and loss of valuable property and lives. It is imperative to future planning and engineering that the trends of wave height are understood. This study uses linear regression, a well-known and …

Assessment Of Wave Climate Conditions At An Important Historical And Ecological Site Along The Fort George River In Northeast Florida, Ally O. Kasuwi

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated wave climate conditions at the Timucuan Preserve in northeast Florida, addressing gaps in previous shoreline erosion research that largely attributed erosion to boat wakes without detailed wave data. Field data were collected using several do-it-yourself water wave gauges. Each data collection event was for approximately one week, with an emphasis on collecting data before, during, and after periods of expected peak wave activity (i.e., holiday weekends and large-scale storms). Data were analyzed in the frequency domain to establish the likely cause of waves. Results suggested that, counterintuitively, watercraft traffic may have produced higher dominant wave periods than …

A Comprehensive Guide To Construction Documentation: From Hand Drafting To Bim, Cesar Salazar

Open Educational Resources

The construction industry relies heavily on precise and clear documentation to ensure the successful completion of projects. This book is a comprehensive guide to creating construction drawings, focusing on the principles and best practices that lead to high-quality outputs. Unlike manuals that teach specific software tools, this book emphasizes the effective use of various drawing tools to produce detailed graphic narratives that support the entire construction process, from inception to completion.

Prioritizing Amd Impaired Watersheds For Watershed-Scale Restoration Using Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis, James Nicholas Marino

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) remains a significant environmental challenge in coal-mining and hard rock regions like West Virginia, degrading water quality and ecosystem health. Traditional site-specific remediation efforts often prove inefficient in addressing AMD at large scale. This study explores watershed-scale restoration as a more effective solution, leveraging centralized treatment facilities and multi-source pollution management. This study will follow Multi-criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA), specifically the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), to develop a structured rubric for grading watersheds. The process involves identifying critical criteria, organizing them into a hierarchy, and generating weights for clusters of criteria through collaboration with decision makers. …

Quantifying Subsurface Pavement Temperatures Subject To Future Climates And Implications For Pavement Resilience, Austin Michael Jarrell

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Assessment of anthropogenic climate change impacts in pavement design and analysis remains limited within engineering practice, despite growing recognition of the need for climate-resilient roadway infrastructure. Research efforts have increasingly focused on integrating future climate projections into mechanistic-empirical pavement design, which represents the leading edge of the state of practice. However, a lack of consensus persists regarding the optimal methods for incorporating climate projections, particularly in the selection of downscaling techniques and global climate models (GCMs) to ensure accuracy and applicability for pavement performance analysis. This research investigates the impact of statistical downscaling methodologies and GCM selection routines on subsurface …

Using Data Science And Sustainability Assessment Tools To Evaluate Wastewater Treatment Technologies, Haidar Shakuir Aldaach

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Wastewater management in small communities has faced numerous challenges in recent years, including population growth, limited budgets for operation and maintenance, and stringent effluent standards required by environmental regulations. These challenges motivate enhancing wastewater treatment processes to protect water quality. Wastewater treatment performance can be improved in small towns and rural regions by implementing data-driven strategies. Data science, life cycle assessment (LCA), and life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) are three data-driven decision-making tools that require data collection, modeling, computational models, and statistical analysis that could be utilized to improve wastewater treatment efficiencies. In this study, these three tools were adopted …