Civil Engineering Commons^™

Navigating Transportation Barriers: Older Adults’ Familiarity With New Mobility Options And Perceptions Toward Autonomous Vehicles In Arkansas, Arna Nishita Nithila, Suman Kumar Mitra, Michelle Gray, Alishia Juanelle Ferguson, Jennifer D. Webb

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

The objective of this study is to analyze older adults’ familiarity with new transportation options (ride-hailing services, bike-share services, and shared e-scooter services) and their perception towards autonomous vehicles (fully autonomous cars), as well as how transportation barriers influence their familiarity and perceptions, in Arkansas, a predominantly rural state. Data from 775 older adults aged 60 years or older were collected between October 2021 and October 2022. To fulfill the study objective, the study used Latent Class Cluster Analysis to segment older adults into classes based on their familiarity with new transportation options and their perceptions of autonomous vehicles. The …

Application Of Distributed Fiber Optic Sensing (Dfos) For Monitoring Asphalt Pavement Strains Under Accelerated Loading Conditions, Sebastian Morales

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This thesis presents a study on the application of Distributed Fiber Optic Sensing (DFOS) technology for detecting pavement's strain response with high spatial resolution. Using a Rayleigh-based optical frequency domain reflectometry (OFDR) system, DFOS sensors were calibrated and embedded in full-scale asphalt slabs subjected to accelerated loading using a Model Mobile Load Simulator 3 (MMLS3). Calibration of the DFOS sensors was conducted using a three-point bending flexural test with known load conditions and reference strain gauges to validate theoretical and numerical models. The results demonstrate DFOS's capability to detect pavement response under static and dynamic loading, as well as changes …

Enhancing Water Supply Resilience & Sustainability: Potential Solutions To Address Water Scarcity In Bogotá, Colombia, Sophia Alvarez Wong

Master's Projects and Capstones

Municipal water utilities are in urgent need of adapting to the intensifying impacts of climate change and population growth—key drivers of urban water scarcity worldwide. In rapidly expanding cities like Bogota, Colombia, these pressures have contributed to a severe water crisis driven by prolonged droughts, ecosystem degradation, increasing water demands, and overdependence on limited water sources. This study explores potential adaptation and management strategies that utilities can implement to sustainably strengthen supply system resilience and enhance water security, in the context of low- to middle-income regions. A series of comparative and case study analyses were conducted to assess the feasibility …

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, …

Feasibility Of On-Demand Charging For Private Evs At The El Paso International Airport, Katerina Zizalova

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

As electric vehicle adoption rate continues to grow globally and across the United States, it is desirable for airports to adapt to meet the needs of electric vehicle driving passengers. This thesis develops an implementation plan for an on-demand charging solution for the El Paso International Airport to address the current limitations in charging infrastructure. After analyzing the electric vehicle adoption trends, four charging solutions were studied: conventional fixed-point charging, fixed-point charging with added valet service, mobile charging service and wireless inductive charging. Using decision-making matrices implementing criteria such as operational suitability, scalability or costs, one charging solution was recommended …

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 …

Improving Traffic Management During Special Events At The Sun Bowl Stadium, Marek Polak

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This thesis focuses on improving traffic conditions around the Sun Bowl Stadium, especially during large public events. The goal is to propose effective solutions that enhance the use of public infrastructure during both event days and normal traffic conditions. To understand the current situation, two surveys were conducted during a football game - one monitoring parking lot occupancy and the other measuring traffic volumes using video recordings and pressure sensors. Based on the collected data, design changes were proposed for two key intersections: Sun Bowl Dr. with W. University Ave., and Sun Bowl Dr. with Glory Rd. The new designs …

Mash Crashworthiness Of Work Zone Devices And Breakaway Luminaire Poles, Mohammadreza Rajaee

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

This thesis presents a study on the crashworthiness of two commonly-used roadside safety devices: Type II barricades and luminaire poles supported by TB1-17 transformer bases. The first part focuses on designing and evaluating a non-proprietary, Type II barricade that meets MASH criteria. A validated LS-DYNA model, based on a previously-tested Type III barricade, was used to guide the design. The proposed Type II system was evaluated through simulation and confirmed with full-scale crash testing. The second part of the study investigates luminaire poles supported by the TB1-17 transformer base. A previously-developed LS-DYNA model was updated and validated using test No. …

Development Of Timber Bridge Railing And Approach Guardrail Transition, Aaron Lechtenberger

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

Timber bridges with transverse and longitudinal bridge decks are increasingly utilized across the United States. However, limited research exists to develop bridge railing systems for high-service-level roadways that meet current vehicular impact safety standards. In response to this gap, the United States Department of Agriculture - Forest Service -Forest Products Laboratory (USDA-FS-FPL), in collaboration with the Midwest Roadside Safety Facility (MwRSF), initiated a research program to develop, crash test, and evaluate higher-service-level bridge railings and approach guardrail transitions (AGTs) compliant with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH).

This study continued …

A Framework For Quantifying The Benefits Of Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Development, Donya Negahbani

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

Under the Biden Administration’s Justice40 Initiative, a significant portion of benefits derived from federal clean transportation investments is required to be directed to disadvantaged communities. Meeting this mandate necessitates a transparent and reproducible approach that quantifies various dimensions of value and allocates them equitably. This dissertation presents a flexible framework specifically tailored for the deployment of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in Nebraska, effectively translating equity goals into rigorous spatial and economic analyses. The framework first identifies multiple distinct categories of benefit that reflect the societal value of charging access: energy savings, economic opportunities, environmental quality enhancements, and public health improvements. …

Smart Highway Construction Site Monitoring Using Artificial Intelligence, Mehran Mazari, Yahaira Nava-Gonzalez, Ly Jacky N. Nhiayi, Mohamad H. Saleh

Mineta Transportation Institute

Construction is a large sector of the economy and plays a significant role in creating economic growth and national development,and construction of transportation infrastructure is critical. This project developed a method to detect, classify, monitor, and track objects during the construction, maintenance, and rehabilitation of transportation infrastructure by using artificial intelligence and a deep learning approach. This study evaluated the performance of AI and deep learning algorithms to compare their performance in detecting and classifying the equipment in various construction scenes. Our goal was to find the optimized balance between the model capabilities in object detection and memory processing requirements. …

Assessing The Perceived Safety Of Cyclists With Virtual Reality, Vahid Balali

Mineta Transportation Institute

In 2022, 7,522 pedestrians and 1,084 bicyclists were killed and approximately 67,000 pedestrians and 46,195 bicyclists injured in motor vehicle crashes on public roadways in the United States, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The transportation industry is faced with a pressing need to bolster the safety of these vulnerable road users. This research develops models of design and environmental factors that influence bicyclists’ and pedestrians’ perception of safety using Virtual Reality (VR) technology and ultimately informs transportation infrastructure design to better accommodate nonmotorized travelers. The goal of the bicycle element of this research is to develop …

Every Publication Needs An Author Verified Tl;Dr Statement, Sarah Oerther, Daniel B. Oerther

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Assessing The Environmental Impact Of Municipal Solid Waste, Ojo Oluwayinka Florence, Olaniyan Olatunji Sunday, Akolade Adebola Saheed, Alabi Oluwaseyi Omotayo, Olaomotito Precious Adesope, Adebayo Kehinde John

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

Municipal solid waste (MSW) management presents significant environmental challenges, especially with increasing urbanization and population growth. This study assesses the environmental impacts of MSW, focusing on waste composition, management practices, and their effects on air, water, and soil quality. The primary objective is to evaluate how MSW contributes to environmental degradation and to explore strategies for mitigating these impacts. A hypothesis was developed that optimizing waste composition through proper sorting and treatment can reduce the environmental footprint of MSW management by at least 10% in terms of leachate production and greenhouse gas emissions. Samples were collected using a randomized sampling …

Road Safety Assessment For Accident And Non-Accident Cases Supporting Sustainable Development Goals 2030, Brian Nararya Nugraha, Sekar Warangi Nurcahyati, Hizkia Adhikaratma, Martha Leni Siregar

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

Halving the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents is one target of the Sustainable Development Goals 2030, which is still a challenging problem in Indonesia. However, the majority of research on this topic uses accident-based methods, which limits the safety analysis. Two road safety assessment methods are used to close the gap, with the addition of non-accident-based methods such as Road Safety Audits (RSA). The Margonda Raya Road, which is categorised as a traffic accident blackspot, was selected for the case study. For this, a field survey of the road segment is carried out. To minimise …

A Strategic Insight Into The Market For Carbon Management Capacity, Mahelet G. Fikru, Ting Shen, Jennifer Brodmann, Hongyan Ma

Economics Faculty Research & Creative Works

This study presents the market for carbon management capacity via carbon capture, utilization, and storage technologies, identifying demand and supply forces, as well as clarifying the potential impact of market and non-market-based shocks on technology developers versus adopters. The paper addresses a prevailing gap in market analysis, introducing a microeconomic framework and unique dataset to identify key players, market forces, and policy incentives shaping the carbon capture, utilization, and storage landscape. The analysis equips industry stakeholders, policymakers, and investors with valuable insights regarding (1) leaders in the design, development, and manufacture of carbon capture, utilization, and storage technologies (supply), (2) …

Understanding Contributing Factors To Injury Severity And Improper Driver Actions In Work Zone Crashes And Evaluating Smart Work Zone Applications For Safety Improvement, Rakesh Rangaswamy

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A work zone can be described as a roadway designated for construction, maintenance, or other activities that temporarily disrupt the normal traffic flow. Due to this disrupts in traffic conditions, work zones may bring sudden shifts in driving experience, depending on the sort of work zone present, creating unpredictable maneuvers, and putting both motorists and workers at risk. To understand these issues, this study uses work zone accident data obtained from Florida and uses several methodological techniques, including the mixed logit model with variance and mean heterogeneity, temporal instability test, log-likelihood test, out-of-sample analysis, and ANOVA test.

Firstly, this study …

Partnering With Communities To Understand Social Determinants Of Health (Sdoh) Impacts On Access To Shared Micromobility, Elizabeth K. Mcclain, Kaitlynn Walker, Ganesh Kumar, Ashley Bright, Clare Aziz, Ann W. Banchoff, Zacharia N. Doueiri, Abby C. King, Suman Mitra

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

This study explored the facilitators and barriers of community bike share use in a mid-sized city with high incidence of poverty and racial diversity using a community-based participatory action research (CBPAR) photovoice framework with the Stanford Our Voice (OV) Discovery Tool digital application. Community members participated in one of three community citizen science walks with follow up focus groups facilitated by osteopathic medical student researcher to address “What makes it easy or hard to ride a bike using the bike share?” Twenty-seven diverse community members partnered with four osteopathic medical students exploring vulnerable individuals’ lived experiences, beliefs/understanding of the Social …

The Effects Of Wildfires On The Mental And Physical Health Of School-Age Children In North America: A Scoping Review, Sarah Oerther, Sarah Manspeaker, Alison Wix, Daniel Oerther, Carmen Marsit

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Background: Wildfires are occurring more often and with greater intensity, leading to longer and harsher fire seasons. As a result, children are more frequently exposed to wildfire smoke, which increases their risk of mental and physical health effects. Purpose: The purpose of our scoping review is to explore the current literature on what is known about the direct and indirect impacts of wildfires on the mental and physical health of school-age children in North America (5 to 18-year-olds). Methods: A health sciences librarian-assisted literature search, with input from the research team, was performed. Results: A total of 16 studies were …

A Comprehensive Ml And Ai Framework For Intersection Safety: Assessing Contributing Factors, Surrogate Safety Measures, Non-Compliance Behaviors, And Cost-Inclusive Methodology, Deep Patel

Theses and Dissertations

Intersection safety, particularly in traffic management, has emerged as a pressing concern due to its substantial contribution to road crashes and fatalities. In recent years, understanding road users' behavior and conflicts at intersections has become essential for evaluating traffic safety. According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), in 2020, over 50% of fatal and injury crashes occurred at or near intersections, necessitating further investigation. This study addresses this issue through an innovative blend of comprehensive literature review, advanced machine learning algorithms, artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, surrogate safety measures (SSMs), non-compliance behavior, and emphasizing the economic aspects of traffic incidents. First, …

A Novel Approach To Evaluate Seatbelt Non-Compliance Of Drivers In New Jersey, Md Arifuzzaman Nayeem

Theses and Dissertations

This study intends to investigate the non-compliant behavior of drivers with seatbelt use in New Jersey. By examining various factors such as temporal and roadway characteristics, this study seeks to identify the underlying causes of this seatbelt non-compliance behavior. To overcome the limitations of traditional methods like cross-sectional data collection, a novel approach known as moving vehicle method was employed. To gain further insights, hypothesis tests were performed across the entire dataset to pinpoint significant temporal, roadway, and geometric factors contributing to non-compliant behaviors. In the subsequent step, the association of other risky behaviors like speeding and distracted driving with …

Carbon Capture And Renewable Energy Policies: Could Policy Harmonization Be A Puzzle Piece To Solve The Electricity Crisis?, Mahelet G. Fikru, Fateh Belaïd, Hongyan Ma

Economics Faculty Research & Creative Works

The electricity market crisis, driven by factors such as increased energy demand, rising fuel prices, aging infrastructure, and greenhouse gas emissions, requires a multifaceted approach including the strategic implementation of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technologies, which despite high costs and potential adverse impact on renewable investments, can allow the use of fossil fuels to maintain grid stability, and simultaneously lower carbon footprint. Across the world, several nations are designing financial incentives and improving regulatory frameworks to reduce barriers to the deployment of CCS. However, it is not clearly understood whether and to what extent such policy support would affect …

Integrating Artificial Intelligence And Augmented Reality For Enhanced Task Performance In The Construction Industry, Aasish Chandrika Bhanu

All Dissertations

The Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) sector, characterized by its complex tasks, often faces challenges in adopting cutting-edge technologies, a trend that can significantly hinder productivity improvements compared to other industries. This dissertation explores the emerging integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Augmented Reality (AR) within the AEC domain, investigating how effectively this can be implemented to potentially revolutionize industry practices. AI could be used in the AEC domain for advanced analytical and decision-making processes, while AR could be used for training, visualization, and remote collaboration.

In scenarios where construction site workers require expert guidance, these technologies could be helpful. …

Evaluation Of Coal Transport Route In Jambi City (Talang Duku Port-East Ring Road Ii), Dwi Angella, Sutanto Soehodho, Nahry Nahry

Smart City

In its implementation, the role of coal transportation infrastructure is important in supporting the mining industry in Jambi City. However, it also causes various complex problems; one of them is traffic congestion on arterial roads in Jambi City. In May 2023, the Jambi Regional Police of the Republic of Indonesia issued a notification letter to stop the mobilization of coal transportation in Jambi Province. The policy caused several coal companies to switch their transportation method to shipping in order to continue operating, while several other companies stopped operating until an indeterminate time. Therefore, this study aims to compare traffic performance …

Revealing Long Vehicle Dynamics: A Comprehensive Journey From Visualization Tools For Heavy Vehicles To Conversion Factors And Public Transit Performance Analysis, Eren Yuksel

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Over the past few decades, there has been an increasing fascination with Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) and Connected and Autonomous Vehicle (CAV) technology, particularly in the realm of data collection and traffic management. Thanks to the possibilities unlocked by ITS and CAV technology, traffic data collection now serves a diverse array of safety and mobility applications, delivering real-time or near-real-time information for both road users and transportation professionals.

The integration of ITS and CAV technology is crucial for the creation of safer, more reliable, and sustainable transportation environments. As traffic-related data collection, analysis, and visualization form essential components of this …

Routing Opportunities For Commercial Crossings Between El Paso And Juarez, Marek Musil

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This thesis explores the topic of commercial movements between the El Paso and Ciudad Juarez road networks and the implications of the possible changes in their routing. This area houses several ports of entry, which present one of the busiest commercial and personal border crossings in the whole nation. The primary focus was to evaluate the recently proposed reconstruction scenario of removing trucks from the Bridge of the Americas and study the impacts on the flows throughout the other ports. The chosen tool to support the analysis is a mesoscopic simulation software called DynusT, which is capable of modeling the …

Smart Public Transportation And Mobility Hub Design In El Paso, Jiri Vojtisek

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This thesis explores the potential of a Smart Public Transportation concept and mobility hub design as tools to mitigate the growing trend of transportation issues, such as traffic congestion, reliance on privately owned vehicles, or unattractive public transportation. Consequently, residentsâ?? lives are negatively affected by excessive noise, air pollution, and travel delays, leading to increased safety risks, lost productivity, and a lower quality of life. Considering these challenges, the study begins by analyzing the current state of public transportation in El Paso. Next, it introduces a toolkit from the Smart City concept, followed by case studies of best practices of …

Quantifying Hurricane Effects On Housing: Evaluating Damage, Loss, And Shelter Demands Using Historical And Simulated Storm Tracks, Adish Deep Shakya

All Theses

This research introduces an advanced framework which employs parametric wind field models for peak wind speeds, and building fragility curves, loss functions, and demographic data to estimate for estimating housing damage and loss. The uninhabitable units immediate displaced households, short-term and long-term shelter need households are determined. with a particular focus on those eligible for FEMA assistance. The framework's validity is reinforced by a high correlation in the analysis of recent hurricane events between estimated numbers of displaced households and actual FEMA aid recipients, where FEMA aids about 20-60% of the predicted long-term displaced households. A novel application of the …

Developing More Useful Equity Measurements For Flood-Risk Management, Adam Pollack, Casey Helgeson, Carolyn Kousky, Klaus Keller

Dartmouth Scholarship

Decision-makers increasingly invoke equity to motivate, design, implement and evaluate strategies for managing flood risks. Unfortunately, there is little guidance on how analysts can develop measurements that support these tasks. Here we analyse how equity can be defined and measured by surveying 167 peer-reviewed publications that explicitly state an interest in equity in the context of flood-risk management. Our main result is a taxonomy that systematizes how equity has been, and can be, defined and measured in flood-risk research. The taxonomy embodies how equity is a pluralistic and unavoidably ethical concept. Despite this, we find that most quantitative studies fail …

Proposed Charlotte To Atlanta High-Speed Passenger Rail Line: An Economic, Infrastructural, And Developmental Analysis In The Upstate Of South Carolina, Ian C. Macurda, Kimberly Whitehead

SC Upstate Research Symposium

This research paper is an in-depth analysis of the high-speed passenger rail line proposed between Charlotte, NC and Atlanta, GA and its impact on the economy, infrastructure, and future development of the Upstate of South Carolina. Currently, passenger rail service between Charlotte and Atlanta is offered on Amtrak at late hours throughout the night on its long-distance passenger rail line The Crescent from New York City, NY to New Orleans, LA. The train is often delayed and is operating at a deficit for Amtrak, like most of their long-distance routes. Traffic on Interstate 85 through the Upstate is another issue …