Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons^™

Relating Strength, Time, And Temperature For Bcsa Cement Concrete Using The Maturity Method, Daniel M. Passarelli

Civil Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Belite calcium sulfoaluminate (BCSA) cement is an extension of CSA cement technology designed to provide early setting times and rates of strength gain with reduced environmental impact compared with portland cement. However, its application in the field of structural concrete is widely unexplored. To that end, this paper details research conducted at the University of Arkansas Civil Engineering Research and Education Center (CEREC) exploring the rates of strength gain in concrete samples created using BCSA cement relative to various temperatures and ages. Following the practices outlined in ASTM C1074, the maturity method, compression strength tests were conducted on the aforementioned …

Community Wastewater Treatment Resilience Assessment, Tristan Veal

All Theses

With the rising threat of climate change and cascading impacts from infrastructure failure there is a growing need to strengthen community resilience. Theoretical and practical resilience frameworks are available, but they vary in aim and scope; there is no standard tool to assess resilience. This research expands on the resilience matrix (RM) application methods of previous research completed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and Clemson University. That work focused on drinking water treatment systems and developed a few dozen specific indicators, or metrics, to quantify resilience. This research adds wastewater infrastructure with the aim of identifying …

Hickory Street Square Revitalization, Spencer Knight, Grace Dungan, Tim Kula, Evan Lauritsen, Lindsey Mennenga

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

The Hickory Street Square Revitalization Project seeks to transform a central public space in Sidney, Nebraska into a dynamic, community-oriented area that supports local events, economic activity, and cultural heritage. The project addresses six core objectives: 1) convertible street design, 2) parking lot reconfiguration, 3) public amenities, 4) event flexibility, 5) lighting and signage, and 6) old electric plant renovation. A conceptual design was developed by the design team (S.T.E.E.L. Sentinel Solutions) by synthesizing the most effective features of three preliminary alternatives, shaped further through community feedback and evolving project constraints. The final project design minimizes disruption to existing activity …

Stop Design: Rethinking The Approach To Public Transit's Architecture, Elizabeth M. Nielsen

Architecture Masters of Science Program: Theses

Public spaces are the foundation of our social health and wellbeing, but are often designed without considering the needs of the public, creating spaces that people do not feel encouraged to use. Just as public space design as a whole often falls short of serving the public, the same can be said for a subset of public space design, public transit stops. While they are public spaces created for the purpose of waiting, their design rarely reflects this.

Well-designed public transit stops are capable of both maintaining existing ridership and drawing in new riders. Most commonly, this design occurs at …

Experimental Study Of Novel Bcsa Scc Repair Materials And Implications On Corrosion In Bcsa Concrete Structures, Elizabeth S.M. Poblete

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Some current building codes for structural concrete allow the use of alternative cement concrete if their structural, durability, and fire performance can be shown to be comparable to portland cement (PC) concrete. One such alternative cement, belitic calcium sulfoaluminate (BCSA) cement, is a promising standalone replacement for portland cement given its lower global warming potential (GWP), fast setting time, and high early age compressive strength. These properties also make it an ideal repair material. But repair materials often need to be highly flowable and easy to consolidate and their performance when used to repair PC concrete structures must be understood. …

Performance Evaluation Of Highly Modified Asphalt-Based Binders In High Friction Surface Treatment: Comparative Study With Epoxy-Based System, Alireza Roshan, Magdy Abdelrahman, Mohyeldin Ragab

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

High Friction Surface Treatments (HFSTs) are frequently used to increase skid resistance and reduce collisions, particularly in crash-prone zones, including horizontal curves and intersections. Epoxy-based binders traditionally have been the sole option for HFSTs, but their drawbacks, such as high costs and compatibility challenges, have led to the search for substitute binders, including asphalt-based options. This study investigates the comparative performance of highly modified asphalt-based binders, including polymer-modified, mastic, and highly modified emulsions, in HFST applications using two aggregate types, Calcined Bauxite (CB) and Rhyolite with different gradations, with an emphasis on their frictional properties, durability, and resistance to polishing. …

Impacts Of Cognitive Workload On Veteran Driver Reaction Time: Predictive Modeling Using Bayesian And Machine Learning Methods, Kenneth Ofosu-Kwabe

All Theses

In high-demand environments, the ability to manage cognitive workload can mean the difference between optimal or safe performance and critical failure or accidents. Veterans face an elevated risk of fatal motor vehicle accidents due to post-deployment stress, combat-related injuries, and challenges readjusting to civilian driving. This study explores how cognitive workload affects reaction time performance using a driving simulator by collecting and analyzing subjective workload ratings (using the NASA-TLX survey), physiological signals from eye-tracking and performance data from a sample of 28 Veterans.

We examined how task difficulty, cognitive indicators and personal attributes influence reaction times across an interactive driving …

Bim-Based Automated System For Carbon Emissions And Construction Costs Estimation (Bas-Cc) In Modular Design And Production, Roshan Bandiwadekar

All Theses

Modular construction adopts a manufacturing-like construction process, enhancing the management of embodied carbon emissions in production and construction phases. However, estimating these emissions presents challenges due to the involvement of diverse stakeholders across various lifecycle stages. Additionally, cost considerations often influence design choices and material selections in modular constructions, neglecting the impact of embodied carbon emissions. To address these challenges, we present a proof-of-concept for an automated Building Information Modeling (BIM)-based system to estimate both carbon emissions and construction costs. This system automates the calculation of embodied carbon and cost implications of different modular designs and materials, enabling informed decision-making. …

Design And Optimization Of Aquaculture Gear: Development Of A Cage-Integrated Reeling Mechanism For Oyster Farming, Felicity Bryant

Honors Theses

This project encompasses the design, fabrication, and testing of a cage-integrated reeling system aimed at reducing the physical labor required in oyster aquaculture at Bama Bay Oyster Farm, the last operational oyster farm in Mobile Bay. The proposed system includes two primary components: lightweight, modular oyster cages and a dual-winch reeling device for automated retrieval. Three cage prototypes—rectangular, oval, and hexagonal—were evaluated for structural performance and fabrication feasibility. The oval design was ultimately excluded due to practical fabrication limitations. The rectangular and hexagonal designs were fabricated using recycled materials and tested under the most extreme environmental conditions derived from years …

Groundwater Storage Dynamics In Abu Dhabi Emirate Using In-Situ And Grace Data, Tala Jalal Maksoud

Theses

Water scarcity presents a significant challenge to the sustainable development; especially in arid regions like Abu Dhabi Emirate. Addressing concerns over nonrenewable aquifer depletion, caused by agricultural expansion and lifestyle advancements, has, therefore, become crucial in such regions. This thesis investigates Groundwater Storage (GWS) dynamics in Abu Dhabi Emirate by integrating satellite data from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) with in-situ data from 257 wells over two decades (2002-2022), employing GIS and RS technologies. The main aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive approach to evaluate GWS dynamics considering multiple perspectives including: dealing with missing datasets, …

Bim Assessment For State Departments Of Transportation, Francisco Israel Guillen

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Building Information Modeling (BIM) has been used by the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry to enhance the efficiency and quality of work across various stages, including planning, design, construction, and operation and maintenance (OM) of projects. Despite widespread adoption in vertical construction, BIM implementation in infrastructure projects is still falling behind. This disparity can be attributed to several factors, including the complexity and scale of infrastructure projects and varying levels of BIM adoption and integration within organizations. Efforts to standardize BIM practices and enhance the digital capabilities of infrastructure projects are essential to bridge this gap and ensure the …

Charging Infrastructure Needs For Electric Trucks In Texas, Katerina Jilkova

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This thesis focuses on the design of a methodology for determining the optimal location of charging stations for heavy-duty electric trucks. The work focuses primarily on long-distance trips that require charging the truck battery outside cities, where the range of charging stations is not extensive. In addition to design the algorithm, the thesis also focuses on implementing the algorithm on a specific case - the implementation of charging stations in the I-10 Freeway corridor between El Paso and San Antonio. The output of the work is not only a description of the procedure, but also an application to a real …

Analysis Of Hydrological Model Uncertainty In The Response Of Farmers' Decision Models: A Case Study From The Lower Mississippi River Basin Region, Aayush Khadka

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Ever since human have evolved on planet earth, they have been dependent on water resources for almost every aspect of their lives. From food production to industry, water has been an integral part of the ever-growing human civilization. Increasing reliance on water has resulted in development of effective and sustainable management strategies. However, water management has remained a complex task due to different human and natural stressors. Hydro-economic models are powerful tools that have been widely used to study water resource systems, management options, economic values, and infrastructures. They have been used to analyze the Water-Energy-Food nexus, climatic interactions, and …

Effects Of Mississippi River Borrow Area Design On Riverine Sediment Transport Using Delft 3d, Kiara B. Horton

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

This research uses a Delft3D model to investigate the impacts of Mississippi River borrow areas on the Mississippi River navigation channel. The largest navigation concerns for the Mississippi River are operation and maintenance costs down; this includes costs of transportation and dredging. Borrow areas are created to supplement beneficial use of dredge material in various projects. Borrow areas are designed to a standard set of guidelines, according to Coastal Protection and Restoration authority (CPRA), and consider impacts to the navigation channel by requiring and minimum distance from the navigation channel. This study models the total sediment transport and amount of …

Ai-Powered Inspection: A Computer Vision System For Efficient Defects Detection In Underground Infrastructures, Rasha Alshawi

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Undetected defects in culverts and sewer pipes pose significant risks to public safety, leading to infrastructure collapses, flooding, and transportation disruptions. Traditional manual inspections are time-consuming, costly, and prone to human error, while existing automated methods struggle with occlusions, irregular defect shapes, class imbalances, and high computational demands. To address these challenges, this dissertation develops advanced semantic segmentation systems that automate defect detection, significantly improving efficiency and accuracy.

This research introduces a series of innovative models designed to overcome these challenges in underground infrastructure inspection. Using dual-attentive mechanisms, sparsely connected blocks, and depth-separable convolutions, these models improve segmentation performance and …

A Laboratory Study Of Local Scour And Driftwood Effects At A Type A Piano Key Weir, Manisha Panthi

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Piano key weirs are a unique weir designed to increase the amount of flow that passes over it via its zig-zag shape (similar to the rectangular shape of keys of a piano). With its relatively small footprint, they are becoming more popular to upgrade existing water management projects and are also being used in new construction works. However, there is little information available regarding how these weirs handle sediment and driftwood. Additional information will help researchers and designers to understand the challenges of upstream sediment buildup, driftwood accumulation, and the effects of floods on downstream scour with viable protection measures. …

Irrigation Performance Connection To Water Quality In Big Creek, Sena Bildim

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Due to new technologies and improved water management strategies, sprinkler irrigation systems are becoming more common in Utah and nearby areas. These systems are generally thought to be more efficient, but their effects on water quality are not well understood. This study focuses on the Big Creek watershed, which flows into Bear Lake—an area where water quality concerns are increasing.

The purpose of this research was to explore how different irrigation systems—sprinkler and surface—affect both water use and water quality. Field tests were conducted to measure how evenly water was applied and how efficient each system was. Water and soil …

Water Use By Irrigated Turfgrass And Connections To Climate And Biophysical Processes, Karem Meza

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Urbanization and limited water supply and storage result in imbalanced urban water budgets. Quantification of water use becomes important in urban landscapes because urban turfgrass requires a significant amount of water and competes with other urban requirements. Evapotranspiration (ET) plays a crucial role in determining irrigation needs. Credible measurements and spatial estimates of urban turfgrass ET are needed for urban water management. However, these have not been addressed in urban landscapes in arid and semiarid regions. Despite estimating spatial urban turfgrass ET, turfgrass quality linked to ET has not been widely evaluated. Due to different environmental conditions, the driving forces …

Exploring Variations In High-Resolution Downstream Hydraulic Geometry Of The Logan River, Gabriel V. Benitez

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Rivers are dynamic systems that change shape due to natural events like floods, landslides, and wildfires, as well as human-made structures like bridges. These changes create unique and complex river patterns. However, measuring these changes accurately is challenging because traditional field surveys are time-consuming and often focus on easily accessible areas, which may not represent the whole river. Thanks to new high-resolution mapping technology and detailed river flow records, we can now see these changes in greater detail than ever before.

In this study, we focused on the Logan River, which flows through a canyon with a mix of rocky …

A Laboratory Study On The Hydraulics Of Stepped Spillways: Effects Of Step Geometry And A Labyrinth Crest, Megh Raj K C

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Observed trends in extreme storms are affecting the safety of several embankment dams. Spillways are critical for safely conveying excess water in the reservoir over the dam and into the downstream river, yet many dams that were built over 40 years ago have undersized spillways to handle modern flood estimates requiring repairs and upgrades. Consequently, a unique spillway crest, the labyrinth weir, has been used as a cost-effective improvement for numerous projects to enhance discharge capacity of existing weirs. Another cost-effective option for overtopping protection due is to place a less expensive concrete, Roller-Compacted Concrete (RCC), over the dam to …

Investigating Changes In Hydroclimate, Land Cover, And Evapotranspiration Across The Great Salt Lake Basin And Its Major Subbasins, Bhuwan Ghimire

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

The Great Salt Lake (GSL) is a lake of environmental and economic importance for Utah, and in recent years lake levels have declined to critically low levels. The lake level is dependent on the balance between the inflow and outflow. Inflow into the lake is governed primarily by the streamflow originating from the Bear, Weber and Jordan River basins (GSL subbasins), direct precipitation over the lake and groundwater entering into the lake. The GSL is a terminal lake, with outflow via evaporation from the lake.

In this study, we examined hydrologic processes within the river basins that relate to streamflow …

Increasing The Spatial Resolution Of Snow Hydrology Data And Augmenting Existing Hydrology Monitoring Networks Using Low-Cost Snow Sensing Stations, Braedon Dority

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Snow is a crucial part of the water cycle, especially in mountainous regions where melting snow provides water for millions of people. However, accurately measuring how much water is stored in snow is challenging. Current monitoring networks, such as the snowpack telemetry (SNOTEL) network in the western United States, provide valuable data, but have gaps in coverage and are expensive to operate and expand. This research explores a more affordable way to improve snow measurements by designing and testing low-cost snow sensing stations. These stations use open-source datalogger and software technology along with research-grade sensors to measure important snow variables. …

Surface Vortex Mitigation At Submerged Intakes, Camren Todd

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Surface vortices at submerged intakes entrain air, convey debris, and reduce efficiency. This research investigates the effect of lid geometry on mitigation of surface vortices at submerged intakes in the context of still reservoirs. Six lid geometries were evaluated: three solid lids of increasing diameter, two lids with perforations, and one lid fitted with a downward curtain. Vortex severity was measured by Alden’s vortex type rating scale, surface-dimple diameter, and qualitative video analysis.

The perforated lid extension and the curtain configurations were most effective at mitigating vortices. The curtain configuration negated all surface swirling by redirecting a portion of the …

Drainage Area Limitations Of Single Watershed, Peak Flow Estimates From Nrcs Methods, Timothy A. Maughan, Rollin H. Hotchkiss, Riley Hales

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

Most state Department of Transportation roadway design sections predict peak flow for culvert design using, amongst other approaches, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) TR-20 technology. Even though this technology is more than 50 years old, there are no clear guidelines for how large a single watershed drainage area may be while remaining appropriate for predicting peak discharge with this method. Our objective was to identify the drainage area where TR-20 peak flow predictions significantly deviate from flow frequency predictions. We developed flow frequency estimates for 130 small-area stream gage sites in rural Nebraska and compared the calculated return period discharges …

Ghosts In Glass: Ghost Crabs As Judges Of Glass Sand For Coastal Restoration, Emily Parrish

Honors Theses

Over 60% of the Gulf of Mexico coastline is actively eroding, which has resulted in thousands of miles of lost coastline over the last 100 years. This drastic loss of coastal land highlights the dire need for coastal restoration across the entirety of the Gulf Coast. A vital aspect of restoring these eroded areas is replenishing eroded substrate, traditionally conducted through offshore dredging of substrates which comes with high economic and ecological costs. Recycled glass sand may be able to fill this role and reduce our reliance on dredging while lowering the amount of glass waste entering landfills each year. …

Subsurface Characterization Using Electrical Resistivity Tomography (Ert) Integrated With Masw, P-Wave Refraction, And Boring Results, Mohammadyar Rahimi

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) has gained widespread application in geotechnical engineering as a non-invasive method for subsurface characterization. Despite its versatility, several challenges remain regarding its resolution capabilities, interpretive limitations, and integration with other investigative methods. This dissertation addresses three key applications of ERT, focusing on its effectiveness and limitations in resolving thin subsurface layers, detecting anomalies such as voids, and supporting environmental assessment in river restoration projects.

The first study investigates the ability of ERT to resolve thin, discontinuous clay layers beneath levees, using the Melvin Price Reach of the Wood River Levee on the Mississippi River as a …

Prefabricated Timber Living: A Modular Sustainable Solution, Hannah Giang, Justin Huang

Architectural Engineering

This senior project is part of the Gateway Decathlon, a two-year, multidisciplinary design-build competition focused on innovative, sustainable housing solutions. Our team designed and constructed a one-story dwelling using cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels to promote low-carbon, industrialized building practices. The structure features a modular layout with sloped roofs and exposed timber interiors, combining environmental responsibility with architectural flexibility. Emphasizing prefabrication and off-site construction, the design supports efficient assembly and disassembly, reduced material waste, and minimal environmental impact. The result is a scalable, adaptable housing prototype aligned with the competition’s goals of creativity, sustainability, and innovation in residential construction.

Finding Groundwater With Electricity: Research And Testing Of An Electro-Resistive Ground-Surveying Device For Use In Well-Drilling Applications, Samuel L. Heath

Senior Honors Theses

A custom-built electro-resistive water detection device is tested under various conditions to evaluate its overall performance and sensitivity to changing variables. The tests, designed to assess accuracy and precision, revealed that the prototype exhibits high reliability (~ 99%) for both Schlumberger and Wenner arrays across different electrode spacings and soil conditions. Moreover, the measured resistivity values from the soil tests aligned with established literature ranges for each soil type. The device also showed the ability to consistently detect changes in soil water content by producing measurable variations in resistivity. At a total cost of $181, this prototype can serve as …

A Numerical Analysis Tool To Evaluate Pavements Integrated With Dynamic Wireless Power Transfer Technology, Hector Cruz

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

As electric vehicles (EVs) continue to gain market share in the U.S., the integration of dynamic wireless power transfer (DWPT) systems into pavements has emerged as a promising solution to address range anxiety and infrastructure limitations. However, the structural implications of embedding DWPT technology into roadways remain insufficiently explored. This dissertation presents the development and application of a numerical analysis tool to evaluate the mechanical performance of flexible pavements containing embedded charging units (CUs). A series of finite element models, validated with full-scale experimental data, were used to assess the influence of axle loading, material properties, layer configurations, bonding conditions, …

A Study Of Air Voids And Effective Air Voids In Hot Mix Asphalt (Hma), Dasina Francis

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Air voids are a fundamental parameter in the mix design of Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA), as they directly influence performance characteristics such as durability, permeability, and aging. Typically estimated using bulk and maximum specific gravity measurements, accurate determination of air voids is critical, given that laboratory samples are compacted to target void levels. This study investigates the influence of aggregate gradation and asphalt content on air voids, effective air voids, and specific gravity parameters - including bulk, apparent, and maximum specific gravities - in both fine- and coarse-graded HMA mixtures. Experimental testing included the determination of bulk, apparent, and maximum …