Civil Engineering Commons^™

Using Geographically Weighted Regression Models To Analyze Crash Harm, Libin Zheng

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Society pays a high cost for collisions in terms of property damage, injuries and loss of life. This paper has two objectives. One is to examine various factors associated with harm caused by highway collisions. Both global OLS and local GWR models are provided to identify specific variables influencing crash harm. Another objective is to demonstrate the use of a Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) method in this complex safety problem, which can estimate models for each crash location and show spatial variation. The results show that the GWR model is a significant improvement on the OLS model; the test for …

A Strategy For Reducing The Impact Of Driving Under Influence Of Intoxicants In Portland, Oregon, Christopher Monsere, Delia Chi

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Driving under the influence of intoxicants (DUII) applies to operating a vehicle under the influence of any substance that can impair driving performance. Nationally and locally there is a strong desire to reduce the societal impacts of this significant social problem. The trend in U.S. alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes was generally decreasing in the mid to late 1980’s but has remained fairly flat since the early 1990s. In 1982, approximately 60% of all US traffic fatalities were alcohol-related. By 1994, this had decreased to 43% but in the decade that followed it has changed little. In 2005, nearly 39% of …

Allocating Emergency Response Vehicles To Cover Critical Infrastructures, Hao Lei

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Optimal deployment of limited emergency response service units in a metropolitan area is of interests to public agencies. The limited emergency units not only have to respond to the demand for service by residents and businesses, but also cover Critical Infrastructures (CIs). This Thesis formulates an improved optimization model to allocate different types of Emergency Response Service (ERS) units among their candidate base stations. The allocation of units must ensure maximum coverage to CIs, subject to the capacities of the base stations, service standard in terms of time to reach the CIs, and the availability of the ERS units (when …

Spotlight On Construction: St. Simons' Library Welcomed 70th Anniversary In New Facility

Georgia Library Quarterly

The article announces the grand opening event of the St. Simons Public Library in Georgia in January 2007. The library also celebrated its 70th anniversary on March 16. According to Libby Hogan, chair of the library's board of directors, they have 1,200 extra square feet of space in the renovated building. St. Simons joined the Three Rivers Public Library System (TRRLS) and PINES (Public Information Network for Electronic Services), bringing its patrons access to more than 8.5 million items owned by other PINES member libraries. The library currently has approximately 35,000 volumes, according to manager Maureen Hersey.

Expert System Design Guide For Lower Classification Roads Over High Pi Clays, Yaqi Wanyan

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This research was focused on low-volume roads over expansive clayey soils in Texas. In spite of the redundant pavement designs recommended and widely used in Texas for roads in high PI clay areas, these pavements often fail prematurely. This failure occurs primarily because of the highly variable properties of the clayey subgrade throughout the year due to moisture fluctuations. The problematic nature of high PI clays, despite the fact that volumetric changes such as heaving are sometime considered in the design, is of concern since they contribute to roughness and longitudinal shrinkage cracking of the road, and as such the …

Fluvial Geomorphologic And Hydrodynamic Assessment In The Tidal Portion Of The Lower Rio Grande River, Us-Mexico Borderland, Andrew Ernest, B. Bokhim, N. B. Chang, I. J. Huang

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

With fast population growth and economic development in the US-Mexico Borderland, water diversion and usages has reduced the flow substantially in the Low Rio Grande River (LRGR). Tidal portion of the LRGR has posed an environmental drought issue since 1993 and the channel clogged with the invasion of non-native plants also causes environmental problems. As a result of the intensity of these natural and manmade factors, the Rio Grande stopped flowing to the sea in February 2001. The flows were reduced to a point that they were unable to push out the sand deposited at the mouth. Geomorphologic evolution in …

Inside Unlv, Erin O'Donnell, Diane Russell, Carol C. Harter

Inside UNLV

No abstract provided.

Integration Of Service-Learning Into Civil And Environmental Engineering Curriculum, T. C. Piechota, Shashi S. Nambisan

Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction Faculty Research

Service-learning is defined as integrating the community service experience of students with their academic study so that learning is enhanced. The level of student participation in community service is at an all time high as students feel the need to confront today's technical and societal problems. However, service-learning is more than community service or volunteerism. Service-learning as defined above, integrates the community service experience with the student’s academic study (note the hyphen in "service-learning" means that both are considered equal). This enhances learning which is a fundamental goal of colleges and universities. Boyer highlights the need for service-learning stating that …

Involving Undergraduate And High School Students In Research: Opportunities, Challenges, And Rewards, Shashi S. Nambisan

Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction Faculty Research

Historically student involvement in research at Universities and Colleges has primarily revolved around those in graduate programs. However, the NSF’s Research Experience for Undergraduates program and ABET’s evaluation criteria regarding undergraduate participation in research are examples of efforts and initiatives over the last decade to target and include undergraduate students in research efforts. Going one step further would be including high school students in such efforts. This paper summarizes efforts, experiences, and initiatives over the last six years at the UNLV Transportation Research Center to include undergraduate and high school students in research projects and lessons learned from the same …

Application Of Robustness Analysis For Developing A Procedure For Better Urban Transportation Planning Decisions, Deogratias Eustace, Eugene R. Russell, E. Dean Landman

Civil and Environmental Engineering and Engineering Mechanics Faculty Publications

This paper shows that robustness analysis is a technique with a potential for aiding decision makers in choosing transportation investment projects. In this paper, it has been demonstrated that it can be successfully used in urban transportation planning in conjunction with urban travel demand software. The robustness analysis procedure emphasizes the need, under conditions of uncertainty, to make early decisions in a time-phased sequence, while preserving future options that currently seem attractive. The results of the robustness analysis from the case study used in this paper indicate that the method is simple to understand, easy to use, minimizes future surprises …

Public Perceptions Of The Midwest’S Pavements: Policies And Thresholds, David Kuemmel, Richard Robinson, Ronald C. Sonntag, Robert J. Griffin, James K. Giese

Marketing Faculty Research and Publications

A 5-year, pooled fund study with the Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin departments of transportation assessed the public's perceptions of pavement improvement strategies and developed thresholds of satisfaction using the departments' physical indices, such as pavement ride and condition on rural, two-lane highways in the states. Approximately 3,600 drivers in the three states were involved in the three phases of the project, which included 18 focus groups, 400 statewide surveys in each state, and 2,300 targeted surveys across the three states. A multidisciplinary team from Marquette University and a mass media survey lab conducted the studies. A summary of focus group …

Field Interpretation Of Latitude And Longitude In Arkansas: A Portable Coordinate Projection, William R. Teague

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

Two- and three-dimensional coordinate systems are fundamental to most quantitative mapping applications. The Geodetic, Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM),and State Plane systems have traditional roles in various science, surveying, and government agency engineering applications. The coordinates of three-dimensional Geodetic system are latitude, longitude, and height above ellipsoid (HAE).Because of its ability to cope with the intrinsically three dimensional character of the earth's surface, the Geodetic system is capable of supporting precise relative positioning and very high accuracy computations of distance between any two positions on or near the earth's surface. The two-dimensional UTMand State Plane systems are extremely useful for the …

Incident Management In Intelligent Transportation Systems, Kaan Ozbay, Pushkin Kachroo

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Research

Since the conception of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) in the 1980s, many transportation researchers have also worked on the development of incident management models and integrated systems for real-time operations. ITS created the required infrastructure for collecting, processing, and managing real-time traffic data that can be used to develop on-line incident management strategies. This book provides the reader with a broad picture of the overall incident management process in the context of ITS along with a quick review of the models and systems developed by numerous researchers worldwide. This book is a direct result of the long-term incident management research …

Urban And Environmental Planning In Nepal, Ambika P. Adhikari

Himalayan Research Papers Archive

This collection of essays deals with issues related to housing, and urban and environmental planning in Nepal. Specific focus is on the planning and environmental problems related to the towns of the Kathmandu Valley.

Nepal is facing several challenges in the areas of urban and environmental management and planning . Rapidly increasing population is exerting pressure in all aspects of urban infrastructure, services and housing. Traditional community support and planning systems are breaking apart due to several factors, such as changing societal values, urban consumption patterns and commercialization of traditionally household activities. On the other hand, Nepali society is not …

Sliding Mode For User Equilibrium Dynamic Traffic Routing Control, Pushkin Kachroo, Kaan Ozbay

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Research

Presents a solution to the user equilibrium dynamic traffic routing (DTR) problem for a point diversion case using feedback control methodology. The sliding mode control technique which is a robust control methodology applicable to nonlinear systems in canonical form is employed to solve the user equilibrium DTR problem. The canonical form for this problem is obtained by using a feedback linearization technique, and the uncertainties of the system are countered by using the sliding mode principle. Simulation results show promising results.

A Sociotechnical Systems Analysis Of The Approval Process For A Complex Public Works Proposal, James C. Pyne

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

This research applied sociotechnical systems theory to explore the process used by two elected bodies to decide upon adoption of a complex technical engineering proposal. The research used a modified sociotechnical systems conceptual framework that was developed by Pava (1983) for application to non-traditional work settings. Pava applied the conceptual framework to what he termed non-routine office work which is characterized by non-linear conversion flow, multiple, concurrent conversion processes and vocational separatism (Pava, 1983).

The research was designed as a multiple case study of two town councils each undertaking a decision process to approve or reject a public works proposal …

Flexible Low-Cost Automated Scaled Highway (Flash) Laboratory For Studies On Automated Highway Systems, Pushkin Kachroo, Kaan Ozbay, Robert G. Leonard, Cem Unsal

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Research

This paper addresses the development of a flexible low-cost automated scale highway (FLASH) laboratory which is intended to serve as a catalyst for accelerating the development of many intelligent vehicle highway system (IVHS) concepts. It also highlights the significance of the laboratory for the research, evaluation, and testing of automated highway system (AHS) configurations, architectures, designs and technologies. This laboratory, using small scale standardized vehicles will serve as a test bed for the economical development and evaluation of various hardware, software, and management systems before full scale testing and deployment. The laboratory will provide the capability to test day and …

Feasibility Study Of Maine's Small Hydropower Potential, James D. Sysko

Maine Collection

Feasibility Study of Maine's Small Hydropower Potential

Prepared by James D. Sysko, Small Hydro East, for the Maine State Planning Office, Maine Office of Energy Resources, January 1989.

"This study focuses on finding potential hydropower sites of approximately 50 kw to 1000 kw in capacity."

The Engineer Speaks: Memoirs Covering Five Decades Of Highway Problems In Duval County, Arthur Neyle Sollee Sr

Arthur N. Sollee, Sr. Textual Materials

Published in 1982, this book details the history and problems creating the Jacksonville we know today. PALMM.

Usage And Limitations Of Characteristic Vector Analysis Of Remote Sensing Multispectral Data For The Identification And Quantification Of Water Quality Parameters, Theodore A. Talay

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Recent applications of the technique of characteristic vector analysis to remote-sensing water color data has met with varying degrees of success. It is apparent from these experiments that a more thorough understanding of the informational capability of characteristic vector analysis is needed.

The Impact Of Public Transportation Policy To Affect Energy Conservation (A Case Study), Ali A. Selim, John T. Kretzer, Braja M. Das

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

In order that public transportation policies relating to energy conservation might be identified, correlated, and assessed, a mail survey of local, regional, state, and federal appointed and elected officials was made. This survey also included contacting members of the regional business community. Although the responses received did not constitute the complete survey mailing, they did provide insight to the individual policymaker's perception of what public policy is now in effect and how it was enacted, particularly those pertinent to energy conservation in the transportation sector.

Energy Aspects Of Rural School Bus Transportation, Kirk R. Hastain, Frank A. Gerig

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

In an effort to determine the effect of rural school bus transportation on energy consumption, a study was made of a rural school district in Central Missouri. The school district's bus system was studied, records of fuel and maintenance costs were analyzed, and discussion held with supervisor and bus drivers. An effort was made to recommend ways by which energy could be conserved, without jeopardizing the welfare of the students.

Multimodal Analysis Of The Western Coal Transportation System, Kenneth Ebeling, Kam Li

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

Points raised in the coal slurry pipeline issue imply a need for an analysis of the multimodal alternatives within the context of the existing western transportation system. In reporting the initial results of the first study of its kind, this paper includes a brief description of the data base and computer routines used to construct a base case and ideal case senerios of the western coal transportation issues.

Transporting Coal In Containers Through Pipeline -- A Feasibility Study, Henry Liu

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

A preliminary assessment of the feasibility of transporting coal in containers suspended in water moving through pipes - the concept of hydraulic capsule (container) pipelining (HCP) - is presented. The assessment includes technical (engineering), environmental, social and economic considerations. A tentative conclusion reached is that HCP transportation of coal is technically feasible (although it needs further research and development works), socially and environmentally beneficial, and economically justifiable in a number of situations.

Bridge / Tunnel Crossing Study : Portland Harbor - Fore River, Portland - South Portland, Maine Department Of Transportation

Maine Collection

Bridge / Tunnel Crossing Study : Portland Harbor - Fore River, Portland - South Portland

Report by Fay, Spofford & Thorndike, Inc., Engineers, Boston, Mass.

Prepared for the Maine Department of Transportation, Augusta, Maine, 1973.

Contents: Table of Contents / List of Figures / List of Tables / Introduction / Summary of Findings / Section 1 - General Background - Location Study / Section 2 - Alternative Facilities and Locations / Section 3 - Comparison of Construction Costs - Tunnel Versus Bridge / Section 4 - Traffic Analysis / Section 5 - Cost Effectiveness Analysis / Section 6 - Financial …

A Factual Report On Annexation For The Metropolitan Area Of Jacksonville, Florida, Junius Elmore Dovell, Arthur W. Smith

Arthur N. Sollee, Sr. Textual Materials

Factual report with handwritten annotations, contains letter of transmittal from Dovell and Smith, Consultants, to Mayor Haydon Burns and Council President Brad Tredinnick, Members of the City Council and the City Commission, City of Jacksonville

Location And Economic Study For Interstate Route Tallahassee, Wilbur Smith And Associates

City and Regional Planning -- Florida

The basic purpose of the study was to determine the best location for the construction of an East-West section of the interstate highway. It was prescribed that the work would consist of two basic parts. One had to do with the analysis of travel data, both present and projected, in the determination of the most feasible location of a route based on conventional traffic and highway development factors. The other phase of the work was to deal with economic considerations, especially the economic impact of the proposed routes on businesses located on existing roads and on the central business district …

A Master Highway Transportation Plan For Tampa Metropolitan Area, Hillsborough County, Florida, Wilbur Smith And Associates

City and Regional Planning -- Florida

Fully recognizing the need for a comprehensive study of an integrated expressway and arterial highway system for the Tampa Metropolitan area, the State Road Department of Florida, jointly with the County of Hillsborough and the City of Tampa, engaged Wilbur Smith and Associates to develop a Master Highway Transportation Plan for the Tampa Area. The geographic limits of the study area are defined as the city limits of Tampa on the north, Tampa Bay on the west, Hillsborough Bay on the south, and U. S. Route 301 on the east. The development of basic planning data and necessary field studies …

Goff, Ronnie C. (Fa 956), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 956. Paper titled: “Grist Mills in Eastern Nelson County.” includes descriptions, terms, and photos of grist mills in Nelson County, Kentucky.