Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons^™

Development Of The Navigator: A Lagrangian Smart Sensing System To Characterize Aquatic Ecosystems., Aashish Sanjay Khandelwal

Civil Engineering ETDs

Most freshwater aquatic studies rely on Eulerian monitoring, i.e., water quality and quantity are monitored using grab samples or semi-continuous sensors deployed at fixed cross-sections. While Eulerian monitoring is practical, it provides a limited understanding of spatial and temporal heterogeneity and their effects on environmental processes. This dissertation summarizes the design and application of The Navigator, an alternative Lagrangian monitoring system that offers cost-effective solutions for in-situ, real-time data collection in lotic and lentic freshwater ecosystems such as streams, rivers, ponds, and reservoirs. The Navigator features a suite of methods – an autonomous surface vehicle (ASV) with GPS and LTE …

Towards Sustainable Water Management: Soil Analysis, Modeling, And Sensor Implementation On A Micro-Basin Chile's Los Lagos Region, Tammy N. Huynh

Civil Engineering ETDs

The Los Lagos region of Chile is experiencing ecological and socioeconomic challenges because of climate change. Despite efforts by the agricultural sector to understand and manage water resources, the lack of basic water quantification data affects their ability to effectively plan and implement water management strategies. This research aims to address this critical issue through three key objectives. First, characterize soil properties related to texture and structure in a micro-basin of the Los Lagos region. Secondly, it aims to investigate the hydrologic budget of the micro-basin with an emphasis on soil moisture using the Soil Moisture Routing model (SMR). Lastly, …

Combining Semi-Continuous And Discrete Water Quality Data To Characterize Solute Transport, Biogeochemical Processes, And Wildfire Disturbances In Fluvial Systems, Justin Rae Nichols

Civil Engineering ETDs

In the past decade, high-frequency water quality sondes have become more abundant in watersheds across North America and Europe and are gaining a foothold in Asia and South America. In this dissertation, three relevant topics associated with high-frequency data are investigated, i.e., the impact of winter’s precipitation on surface water quality and stream metabolism, the longitudinal propagation of wildfire disturbances through a fluvial network, and the use of machine learning with high-frequency data to estimate fluvial nutrient processing. First, we found that significant snow precipitation can cause surface water anoxia and declines in stream metabolism. Second, our data illustrate that …

Impact Of Clay Contamination On Rutting Performance Of Asphalt Mixes, Sharmila Afsha

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Sustainability of asphalt mixtures can be improved by using natural sands. They can enhance workability and lower the amounts required for asphalt binder and manufactured fine aggregate of mixes. However, one of the primary concerns with incorporating natural sands in a mixture is clay contamination. Harmful clays are chemically active particles that swell when exposed to moisture and reduce the bond between aggregate and asphalt binder. As a result, this study explores the effect of clay contamination on the rutting and moisture susceptibility of asphalt mixes. Twenty-one clay combinations of material passing the 0.075 mm (#200) sieve were selected utilizing …

How Active Rainwater Harvesting May Help Reduce Nuisance Flooding: Flood Analysis And Social Barriers To Adoption, Isabel Lopez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

As urbanization continues to expand, fewer pervious surfaces are available to help reduce stormwater runoff from rainfall. The impacts of urbanization are becoming evident through sunny day flooding - flooding that occurs in areas not designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as flood zones. Nevertheless, water accumulates in low-lying areas and compromises street intersections and other parts of neighborhoods. Some methods can help alleviate the impacts of unexpected heavy rains, such as passive and active rainwater harvesting. As a pilot study, in a selected area in the northeast of El Paso, the level of adoption (e.g., what percentage …

Rigid Pavement Analysis System (Rpas): An Enhanced Graphical User Interface, Samina Samrose

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

In recent decades there has been a significant interest among researchers in developing pavement analysis tools that will work with high efficiency and provide accurate results within a short timeframe. The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) has developed a finite element-based pavement analysis software named â??Rigid Pavement Analysis Systemâ?? (RPAS) capable of analyzing Jointed PCC pavements of any number of PCC and soil layers. The processing core of this software was developed in MATLAB with a pre- and post-processing user interface developed in C++. The MATLAB code is compiled into an executable and together with the C++ interface …

Biomass-Mediated Metastable Zinc(Ii) Oxide Nanoparticles And Its Nanocomposites For Sustainable Water Treatment, Kazi Afroza Sultana

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Water is undeniably the most crucial resource that allows all living entities to thrive and survive. Due to a continuously growing population and the expansion of industrial sectors, water pollution has emerged as a global issue. Consequently, people face challenges in obtaining the required quantity and quality of water for their daily activities such as drinking, cooking, hygiene, and agriculture. Hence, there is a compelling need to develop an effective and environmentally friendly approach to eliminate harmful pollutants in water, promoting the establishment of a sustainable society with widespread access to clean and safe water resources. Although there are a …

Analyzing The Labor Shortage In The Construction Industry And The Best Practices To Increase Worker Satisfaction, Cade Batchman

Construction Management

The construction industry is facing a significant labor shortage, which has far-reaching implications for the industry and the economy. This paper explores the causes of the shortage and the practices being implemented to address it. Economic changes, technological advancements, union/open shop dynamics, educational shifts, and the industry's image all contribute to the shortage. The economic rebound from the 1980s recession and the lack of new entrants into the field have created a demand-supply gap. Additionally, slow adoption of technology and the perception of construction work as physically demanding and risky have deterred potential workers. The decline in union membership has …

Performance Evaluation Of A Coupled Photovoltaic-Thermal Solar Powered Desalination Pilot System, Martin Chavarin

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

A pilot scale coupled photovoltaic-thermal solar powered desalination system was evaluated at the Brackish Groundwater National Desalination Research Facility (BGNDRF). The pilot system consisted of a 3-kW photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) solar panel array and a 2.3 kW photovoltaic (PV) array coupled with a 4 gal/min single-stage 4 membrane reverse osmosis (RO) desalination system. A heat exchange system was in place to provide simultaneous cooling for the PVT system and heating to the RO system feed water. This system was evaluated with three objectives in mind. The first objective was to identify whether cooling of the PVT panels resulted in a significant …

Integrating Human Psychology Into Car-Following Models For Accurate Response Prediction: A Realistic Approach, Faiza Khan

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Car-following models traditionally focus on vehicle kinematics or dynamics parameters without considering human psychology. However, recent research has attempted to incorporate psychology into car-following models. Despite these efforts, there are limitations in understanding the psychological triggers that influence individual drivers' responses. To address this gap, we propose a new car-following model based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), which incorporates a human element by utilizing concepts of psychology. To gather the data pertaining to human input a questionnaire was carefully developed utilizing the Theory of Planned Behavior. Data collection and analysis were done through a survey using google forms. …

Performance Improvements Of Hot Mix Asphalt Concrete Using Carbon-Based Fillers, Leonardo A. Ortega Ruiz

Theses and Dissertations

To further advance the state of the art on the performance improvements of hot mix asphalt concrete, this paper investigates the improvements to cracking damage of hot mix asphalt concrete by the addition of carbon-based fillers. There have been various studies dedicated to measuring the strength performance of asphalt mixtures modified with non-traditional fillers, but many of the current studies seem to have varying success with their results or have results that are not statistically significant. In this research, carbon black and F-516 graphite in various percentages were added into asphalt mixtures as a replacement of the traditionally used hydrated …

Towards Validating Satellite Remote Sensing Of Aerosols With Ground-Based Low-Cost Sensors, Francine Roberts

All Theses

Poor ambient air quality has significant impacts on the environment and human health. Extensive regulation and monitoring has resulted in improvements since the first iteration of the Clean Air Act was passed in 1955. However, work still needs to be done in regard to higher spatial and temporal monitoring. Temporally, sensors used for regulatory purposes often only report every other or every third day. Spatially, they are often spread across vast distances due to cost. The following research is working towards improving the spatiotemporal measurements of particulate matter (PM), specifically in South Carolina. The two methods available for improving the …

Prairie Protector: Student Development Of Systems Thinking Habits In The Context Of Agroecosystems, Erin Ingram, Jennifer Keshwani

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Introduction: The Great Plains ecosystem offers an opportunity for young people to gain knowledge about intricate systems through practical learning. The spread of woody plants into grasslands, known as the “Green Glacier,” poses a risk to biodiversity and animal production. Although effective management strategies exist, some land managers are reluctant to use them. It is critical to cultivate a scientifically literate population that can think systematically and make informed decisions based on STEM principles to address such complex agroecosystem problems.

Methods: In this study, semi-structured focus group discussions with high school students were analyzed to determine whether Prairie …

Drinking Water Quality Management Progress In Ontario, Two Decades After Walkerton, Megan Fuller, Emma Wells, Laith Furatian, Ian Douglas, Kaycie Lane

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

Following the waterborne disease outbreak in Walkerton, Ontario, the province made significant efforts to implement recommendations of the public inquiry that resulted. As Ontario reformed its drinking water sector, other jurisdictions were advancing risk-based quality management frameworks for drinking water, including the World Health Organization (WHO) through its water safety plan (WSP) framework. Two decades after the Walkerton tragedy, this paper seeks to: (i) evaluate alignment of Ontario’s Drinking Water Quality Management Standard (DWQMS) with the WSP framework (ii) review readily available data for evidence that Ontario’s DWQMS implementation has improved drinking water safety and promoted a preventive approach through …

Systematic Investigation Of Wavy Surface Roughness Profiles Using Common Roughness Algorithms, Russell Gray

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Roughness is an important parameter in rock engineering. Sine wave-based simulated wavy profiles were used to investigate systematic changes of amplitude and frequency on roughness indices. Profiles were 1000 mm in length with amplitude ranging from 0-10 mm and frequency ranging from 0-10 Hz. The roughness algorithms used were Root Mean Square (RMS), Energy, Sinuosity, Z2, Mean Absolute Angle (MAA), and Modified Divider a-Value. Roughness indices were visualized as contour plots. Similarities of the shapes and spacing of the contours as well as the magnitude of the roughness indices prompted the pairing of RMS and Energy algorithms, Z2 and MAA …

Experimental Investigation Of The Long-Term Bending Deflection And Creep Performance Of Cross-Laminated Timber (Clt), Aaron Desantis

All Theses

Rising popularity in mass timber construction for residential and commercial projects has escalated the need to develop and increase understanding of mass timber products both from a strength and serviceability perspective. For cross-laminated timber (CLT) there is a significant lack of research on the creep characteristics also known as long-term deflection behavior. Creep is particularly important for products such as CLT that are used for floors with longer spans. Full-scale creep testing was conducted using 5-ply CLT panels over the course of 6 months in a controlled environment under dry service condition. Testing resulted in average final deflections 1.73 times …

Mitigate The Flood Risk At The Parking Lots At The University Of Texas Rio Grande Valley - Edinburg Campus, Mishell Carolina Mazon

Theses and Dissertations

This study focuses on the analysis of the drainage system in the parking lots of the Edinburg campus of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. The current project will use the rational method and modified rational method described in the Texas Department of Transportation manual to analyze and determine a solution for the current built drainage system. The primary objective of this study is to offer a practical and comprehensive solution to address the issue of this area that has flooded during heavy rainfall storm events. The proposed solution takes into consideration the building codes of the city of …

A Hybrid Lateral Flow Sand Filter Wastewater Treatment System: An Evaluation On The Treatment And Disposal Capabilities Of A Modified Sand Filter, Harry Mccaskill Iv

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

Decentralized wastewater treatment exists primarily in suburban and rural areas where centralized treatment is not an option. Traditional on-site treatment systems usually include the use of a septic tank and a drain field. This orthodox method works well when implemented into environments that are accommodating for the infiltration of effluents, and thus allowing for soil treatment. Unfortunately, there are some circumstances that prevent traditional systems from working such as impermeable soil conditions. The Wastewater Treatment System analyzed in this thesis was created to overcome such inhospitable environments. More specifically, this system is catered towards the rural residences of The Alabama …

Improved Vehicle-Bridge Interaction Modeling And Automation Of Bridge System Identification Techniques, Omar Abuodeh

All Dissertations

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) recognizes the necessity for cost-effective and practical system identification (SI) techniques within structural health monitoring (SHM) frameworks for asset management applications. Indirect health monitoring (IHM), a promising SHM approach, utilizes accelerometer-equipped vehicles to measure bridge modal properties (e.g., natural frequencies, damping ratios, mode shapes) through bridge vibration data to assess the bridge's condition. However, engineers and researchers often encounter noise from road roughness, environmental factors, and vehicular components in collected vehicle signals. This noise contaminates the vehicle signal with spurious modes corresponding to stochastic frequencies, impacting damage monitoring assessments. Thus, an efficient and reliable SI …

High-Energy Storm Events And Their Impacts On Carbon Storage In Tidal Wetlands Of South Carolina, Gavin Gleasman

All Dissertations

Atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentrations have been increasing at an accelerating rate for the past two centuries, profoundly impacting global climate change. Atmospheric CO₂ concentrations are influenced by the global carbon cycle through physical and biogeochemical pathways. Tidal wetland environments play a vital role in the global carbon cycle by offsetting atmospheric CO₂ concentrations through their natural physiochemical processes of high autotrophic productivity, allochthonous organic matter deposition, anoxic soils, and continuous accretion which promotes carbon sequestration with long-term storage at the land-ocean margin. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and United States Global Change Research …

Energy Dissipation Optimization For Circular Culverts, Chi Zhang

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The principal goal of the current research is to develop and improve weir-based energy dissipator designs at the outlets of circular culverts. In the present case, we are interested in full-length weirs and staggered weirs. A review of related literature was completed and reported; a test facility was carefully designed and constructed to collect flow information in a basin downstream of a model broken-back circular culvert; instrumentation was installed to measure discharges, streamwise depths, and velocities. Both full-length and staggered weirs were tested over a range of discharges and tailwaters. The two types of weirs were subjected to two types …

Investigation And Modification Of Single-Post Aluminum Sign Supports For Mash Crashworthiness, Rodrigo Quintero

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Traffic signs are used to display information to drivers and are one of the most commonly encountered roadside structures. Although they are a vital traffic control device, signs can pose a significant safety risk to errant drivers due to their extensive placement and proximity to the roadway. Therefore, traffic signs and their supports must be designed with crashworthiness in mind to reduce the likelihood of injury in the event of a vehicle impact. Prior to 2009, these systems were evaluated using the crash testing criteria found in the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report No. 350 [1]. Currently, they …

Development Of Large-Scale Pseudo-3d Shear Wave Velocity Models At The Garner Valley Downhole Array Site, Isabella Corey

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

In order to design structures that can withstand anticipated earthquake loads, it is first necessary to understand the behavior of the subsurface when subjected to ground motions. To achieve this, different models and approaches have been proposed in recent decades, each with the aim of estimating how site-specific stratigraphy can amplify and/or scatter seismic waves. All of these methods require, to varying extents, information about the types of soil layers, their thickness, their stiffnesses (represented by a shear wave velocity profile), and lateral variability across the site. This last characteristic is often both difficult and costly to determine. Past research …

Development And Validation Of Simulation Protocols For Assessing Stresses In A Network Tied Arch With A Posttensioned Tie Girder, Kanchani Lakamalika Kumari Basnayake Mudiyanselage

Dissertations

Posttensioned concrete members; especially the posttensioned tie girders, are critical load resisting elements in network tied arch bridges. The stresses in the structure are influenced by the prestress losses that depend on the posttension force magnitude, time-dependent concrete modulus of elasticity, and concrete creep and shrinkage. The use of performance-based, high-strength, ternary mixes to promote the carbon neutral concrete and the need for executing multiple construction stages challenge the assessment of the state of stress in a completed bridge. The primary objective of this study is the development and validation of simulation protocols for assessing stresses in a network tied …

Analysis Of Emerging Constituents In An Activated Sludge Treatment Facility, Abigail Mae Sigurdson Ryan

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Emerging constituents (ECs), or contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), are pharmaceuticals and personal care products (Contaminants of Emerging Concern including Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products | US EPA, 2023). The primary source of ECs in surface waters is the discharge from wastewater treatment facilities (WWTF) (Kumar et al., 2022). Little is known about the effects treatment processes have on ECs. Research regarding ECs has increased due to the threats they pose to the environment and human health (Khan et al., 2021). This research aimed to expand understanding ECs’ fate through an activated sludge WWTF. This was accomplished by studying concentrations …

Hydraulic Conductivity's Impact On Rise Of Excess Pore-Water Pressure During Seismic-Induced Liquefaction, Holly Gunderson

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Liquefaction is a geohazard causing loss of lives and infrastructure around the world. During earthquakes the shaking of the ground may cause a loss of soil strength that results in the settlement of buildings, landslides, failure of earth dams, amongst other hazards (Liquefaction of Soils During Earthquakes, 1985). Liquefaction is the result of a sudden increase in the pore-water pressure (PWP)— referred to as excess pore-water pressure (EPWP)— in loose, saturated, noncohesive, fine soils during seismic shaking. Due to the small pores and low hydraulic conductivity of these soils, the shaking-induced EPWP has less time to dissipate, leading to the …

Investigating The Causes Of A Landslide In Terra Nativa Subdivision And Designing Slope Stabilization Using Recycled Plastic Pins, Clara Klamm

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

In early 2016, five homes along Alto Via Court in the Terra Nativa Subdivision of the Boise Foothills began to move. By May of 2016, the street was closed due to safety concerns, and a few years later, the homes were demolished. Despite the heartbreak and legal action that followed the event, a definitive cause of the landslide was never identified. To date, the site remains vacant. This research aims to investigate the potential causes of the slide to help identify the contributing factors that resulted in the mishap. In addition, the research seeks to design a way to stabilize …

An Accelerated Corrosion Test Method For Pre-Cracked Reinforced Concrete, Shahriar Abed

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Reinforced concrete (RC), a composite material combining the strength of concrete and the tensile strength of steel reinforcement, has significantly transformed the field of civil engineering and contributed to the advancement of modern infrastructure. Reinforced concrete structures are susceptible to deterioration over time despite their numerous advantages. One of the primary factors leading to the degradation of RC is the corrosion of steel reinforcement, primarily caused by exposure to aggressive environmental elements such as chloride ions, carbonation, and moisture. This dissertation aims to provide valuable insights into the accelerated corrosion behavior of steel bars embedded in concrete, considering factors such …

Exploring Spatial Associations And Complex Interactions Between Geotechnical Properties And Electrical Resistivity Values In Clayey Soils, Mina Zamanian

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

ABSTRACT: A successful design and construction of infrastructure systems such as highways and bridges highly depend on accurate estimation of geotechnical properties and understanding their spatial distributions, especially in reliability-based designs such as the load and resistance factor design (LRFD) method. Insufficient and inaccurate subsurface information has a major contribution to cost overruns and delays in up to 50% of all infrastructure projects. Insufficient site investigation may also contribute to inadequate or conservative designs, leading to costly failures or increased project costs. Hence, geophysical methods, such as electrical resistivity imaging, that can potentially transform the existing subsurface investigations are used …

Study Of Dry Mixing Method To Apply Microbial-Induced Calcite Precipitation For Soil Treatment, Ruchi Shrestha

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Microbially Induced Calcite Precipitation (MICP) has emerged as a promising technique for soil stabilization, traditionally involving the preparation and mixing of treatment solutions with the soil. However, this thesis explores a novel approach of applying MICP by directly mixing dry chemical compounds into the soil and subsequently adding water. This alternative method offers potential advantages in terms of convenience, ease of implementation, and cost savings.

The objective of this research is to investigate the applicability of dry mixing protocols for MICP in soil stabilization. Through comprehensive experimentation, three different dry protocols were developed and applied to five different soils. The …