Civil Engineering Commons^™

3d Printing In Construction: Technology And Digital Innovation, Zachary Braunstein, Tyler Fritsch, Leah Oberkehr, Ethan Arvidson

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

The study of 3D Printing in Construction: Technology and Digital Innovation examines the growing role of additive manufacturing in transforming traditional construction practices. This literature review explores the evolution of construction 3D printing from early conceptual research on contour crafting to modern automated construction systems that integrate robotics with digital design technologies such as Building Information Modeling. The review highlights practical applications including the design and testing of a 3D printed concrete pedestrian bridge and the increasing use of 3D concrete printing in residential construction to reduce labor demands and project timelines. It also discusses advancements in printable materials, including …

Fall Hazard Prevention: A Zero-Fatality Goal For Health, Safety, And Well-Being On Construction Sites, Alena Richardson, Chaidaliz Minguela Alicea, Nicola Kaehler, Charlene Weaver

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Jobsites face hazards like falls, which threaten the health, safety, and well-being of construction workers. Falls are the leading cause of all accidents and fatalities in construction, accounting for approximately 40% of all worker deaths in 2023. While achieving a zero-accident rate for falls is inherently challenging, prioritizing a zero-fatality objective represents a practical and impactful starting point. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends a six-step action approach for the prevention and control of hazards like falls. Of particular interest, the State of Florida is consistently ranked among the highest for construction fall fatalities, often attributed to insufficient …

Climate Resilient Infrastructure: The Problem Shift, Tyler Lautieri, Isaiah Morrison, Harrison Totten

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Climate change is a heavily debated topic, but recent studies and data show that climate change is leading to an increase in the frequency and severity of hazards. Infrastructure systems are subjected to more compound and cascading events that lead to the degradation of the systems. More traditional infrastructure design relies on concern that the system will be subjected to single hazard issues, and the design focuses on preventing structural failure during these isolated events. These approaches often fail to account for long term degradation of the system, as well as the interacting hazards, and system interdependence, which makes resilience …

Toward Sustainable 3d Printable Cementitious Materials: Low-Carbon Design With Fiber Reinforcement, Nima Mahmoudzadeh Vaziri

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

3D printing of cementitious materials, as an emerging construction technology, faces challenges in both mechanical performance and sustainability. Conventional mixture designs rely on high cement contents, leading to increased CO2 emissions, while printed elements often exhibit brittle behavior with limited crack resistance and reduced post-cracking performance. This study investigates the development of low-carbon 3D printed cementitious composites using environmentally friendly supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) and fillers, combined with fiber reinforcement to enhance mechanical performance. Locally available SCMs and fillers were incorporated to significantly reduce cement content (>40%) and improve sustainability. Fiber reinforcement was introduced to mitigate brittleness and enhance …

The New 11th Edition Of The Indiana Mutcd, Joseph Bruno, David Boruff

Purdue Road School

The updated 11th edition of the Indiana MUTCD released in January of 2026 has many significant changes from the 2011 edition. This presentation provides an overview of the changes from the previous edition and significant variations between the federal MUTCD and the Indiana MUTCD.

Building A Vitalizing Team Culture, Iris Bull, Andrew Cibor

Purdue Road School

Leaders in the public sector face unique challenges in the recruitment and retainage of productive employees. Administrative staff from the City of Bloomington Engineering Department present an analysis of the strategies they employ to shape a high performing team. They examine mutable and designed aspects of their processes for advertising, interviewing, hiring, onboarding, and exit interviewing. Session participants will be provided tested strategies for stimulating professional growth, fostering intradepartmental collaboration, and building resilient culture.

History Of The Interstate System In Indiana, Steven Wuertz

Purdue Road School

A brief history of the Interstate System in Indiana and across the Nation— 1956–2026: 70 years of the Interstate System

Iconic Henry Street Bridge In Indianapolis, Marshall Lachecki, Keith Echternach, Mary Appel

Purdue Road School

The iconic new Henry Street bridge over the White River in Indianapolis is a connection to the west side of downtown Indy.  From the challenging hydraulics requirements to the bridge concepts, design, procurement and through construction and archaeology work, the City has worked with many stakeholders and the public to make this new crossing a success.  This presentation will focus on design elements of the bridge while touching upon other project elements.

Improvements In Waterborne Traffic Paint For Indiana, Joseph Bruno, Andrew Blackburn

Purdue Road School

INDOT has updated its specification for waterborne traffic paints that results in improved durability and the ability to apply traffic paint in colder weather. This presentation provides background on INDOT's waterborne traffic paint specification, a summary of the road trials that INDOT conducted to evaluate different paint specifications, future developments for waterborne traffic paint, and a maintenance perspective on INDOT painting operations.

Early In Career Panel: The Value Of Industry Involvement, Stephanie Ferzli, Calvin Rizzo, David Musoke

Purdue Road School

A panel of early-career professionals shares the importance and benefits of participating in industry organizations. Learn how involvement can shape careers and foster professional growth.

Pel Stories, Tim Miller, Cameron Schuh, Sandra Flum, Blake Dollier

Purdue Road School

PEL Stories: Bridging Planning and Environmental Review: This presentation will highlight stories from planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) projects, demonstrating how early planning can streamline environmental review and improve project outcomes.

IndyPEL: Advancing Planning through Environmental Linkages: This session explores the IndyPEL project, highlighting how Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) studies are shaping transportation decisions in Indiana. Attendees will learn about stakeholder engagement, data-driven planning, and lessons learned.

Traffic Study, Kennedy Case, Koryn Harms, Min Kaung, Abel Assefa, Eli Lockert, Dj Church

Student Scholar Symposium

No abstract provided.

Gaylord Opryland Congestion Reduction, Kennedy Case

Student Scholar Symposium

Lipscomb University’s College of Engineering is working collaboratively with Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center to explore potential solutions to its traffic congestion problem, particularly during peak times such as the holiday season. This research aims to identify strategies that can alleviate congestion in the resort area. With over one million visitors during the holiday season each year and limited parking capacity, the traffic congestion poses a significant challenge to both operational efficiency and visitor experience. The primary objective of this research is to identify strategies that optimize parking usage, reduce congestion, and improve the overall visitor experience. Beginning with …

Green Roof, Elizabeth Fulton

Student Scholar Symposium

Green roofs, a concept dating back over 100 years, offer a sustainable solution to urban environmental challenges such as poor air quality, the urban heat island effect, and increased stormwater runoff. This study focuses on green roofs as an effective way to address these issues in cities like Nashville, which are experiencing rapid urbanization. By transforming rooftops into green spaces, green roofs can improve air quality, manage stormwater, and reduce urban heat, while also enhancing the aesthetic value of urban environments. The research explores the integration of green roofs, considering factors like substrate composition, plant selection, and environmental conditions. Key …

Smart Traffic Lights, Roa Ghanem

Student Scholar Symposium

Nashville is quickly growing, and as a result, traffic congestion is becoming a bigger challenge for commuters. Longer travel times and increased vehicle emissions are major concerns. This research examines how smart traffic lights can improve traffic flow and reduce congestion in the city. By analyzing peer-reviewed journal articles, this study explores how AI, IoT, and machine learning can optimize traffic signal timing in real time. In particular, simulation models illustrate how these technologies adapt dynamically to changing traffic patterns in cities similar to Nashville. Furthermore, this research compares the cost-effectiveness of smart traffic lights with other solutions, such as …

Ai Photography-Based Gradation Feasibility Study For Streams And Rivers In Davidson County, Tn, Nolen Ritzel, Lauren Baker

Student Scholar Symposium

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has demonstrated significant potential in engineering applications, specifically in soil gradation analysis using two-dimensional imagery. While studies have shown experimental success, AI-based soil gradation methods are not widely used in industry due to the lack of field research performed. Moreover, the current methodology is suitable but lacks advancement. The motivation behind the research was to aid in bridging this gap between experimental research and industry application by determining whether existing AI tools can and/or should be applied to bank soil in streams and rivers in the Greater Nashville Area. Several locations next to streams and rivers distributed …

Xibalbay, Guatemala Water Distribution System Design, Nolen Ritzel, Lauren Baker, Robert Trey Owen, Jessamine Reckard, Joelle Noble, Sara Berry-Brown

Student Scholar Symposium

This study presents the design and validation of a water distribution system for Xibalbay, Guatemala, in collaboration with the Peugeot Center and a local Guatemalan engineering firm, ADICAY. The project aimed to ensure reliable water access while maintaining residual pressures to the US standard, between 20 to 120 psi. The proposed design was a two pressure-zone system with pumps in series. A comprehensive hydraulic model was developed using WaterGEMS to analyze system pressures, pump performance, and tank levels under various conditions. Limited on-site testing was performed by this team due to construction delays and electricity issues at the time of …

Evaluating The Impact Of Precast Vs. Cast-In-Place Concrete: A Life Cycle Assessment Of A Parking Garage In Nashville, Robert Trey Owen

Student Scholar Symposium

Concrete is one of the most widely used building materials in the construction industry, generating $64 billion in revenue, according to the Concrete Financial Insights Index. Given the material’s extensive use, construction professionals seek ways to optimize construction project budgets and schedules. Precast concrete, which is manufactured offsite and then transported to the project when needed, is a potential solution for these goals. This research aims to quantify the benefits of precast concrete over typical cast-in-place methods using a life cycle analysis for a parking garage structure located in Nashville Tennessee.

The data for the two materials will be compared …

Improving Home Affordability In Greater Nashville Through Construction Efficiency And Innovations, Nate Mclain

Student Scholar Symposium

Engineering Greater Nashville Home Affordability

Long Term Financial Analysis For Opry Mills Hotel And Resort, Eli Lockert

Student Scholar Symposium

In 2024 a Lipscomb Senior Design team completed a design project for the Opryland Hotel. The project, aimed at reducing humidity levels in the large greenhouse-like atrium and overall power usage, included multiple phases and equipment. This research continues the work of that team in an effort to determine whether the proposed system is a cost-effective approach. The research specifically evaluates the system outlined in the Opryland Final Design Report, completed in April of 2024. Using a holistic approach, this study employs life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA) to assess the economic feasibility of the proposed system through various empirical methods. A …

Upcycling Carbide Slag Waste For Low-Temperature Co2 Sequestration: Direct Application And Adsorption After Chemical Alteration, Manisha Sukhraj Kothari

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Excessive carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions and large-scale industrial waste generation are the results of rapid industrialization and ever-increasing energy demand. The recent trend of repurposing waste materials for pollution prevention is a promising approach to address both these environmental challenges. One such industrial waste residue generated from acetylene gas production is called carbide slag (CS). Its high Ca(OH)₂ content presents a promising opportunity for its utilization in CO₂ sequestration. However, CS waste is primarily studied as a CaO source for the intensive Ca-looping process. Despite the great potential, the high temperature requirements of the Ca-looping process limit its industrial application. …

Potential Use Of Waste-Derived Products In Producing Geopolymer Sorbents, Mariam Mohammed Al Nuaimi

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Environmental sustainability and the circular economy are central to addressing global challenges in waste management and water pollution. This study investigates the synthesis and performance of geopolymers derived from industrial wastes, including fly ash, waste glass, silt deposits, and carbide lime, as adsorbents for methylene blue (MB) dye removal from water. Geopolymers were engineered under varying particle sizes, NaOH addition methods, and curing temperatures. Their physicochemical and microstructural properties were thoroughly characterized via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), andparticle size analysis (PSA). Among the tested formulations, the sodium silicate–sodium hydroxide …

Downdrag Defeated – The Neutral Plane Method, Kyle L. Zak, Min Sang Lee

Civil Engineering Professional Development Seminar

The neutral plane method for evaluating downdrag on deep foundations has been gaining popularity over the past few years. It is a powerful tool that, in many situations, can all but eliminate downdrag concerns on deep foundations. INDOT has allowed its use recently and adapted its forms to accommodate this method. The presentation will cover the theory behind the method and how it can be applied in bridge design. We will then demonstrate how to incorporate the method into the INDOT workflow, and we’ll show a couple real-life examples where the neutral plane method saved the day.

Curbless By Design: Revitalizing Downtown Infrastructure For Pedestrians, Alex Duran, Steve Cherry

Civil Engineering Professional Development Seminar

This presentation will discuss the design of a curbless, pedestrian-focused corridor as part of a small-town downtown reconstruction in Sylvania, Ohio. The project team will share how they balanced community goals, accessibility, and utility coordination, along with considerations for drainage, hardscape, lighting, and power. The session will also highlight early construction lessons learned from Phase 1.

Mass Timber Construction: Products, Performance And Design, Anthony Harvey

Civil Engineering Professional Development Seminar

Due to their high strength, dimensional stability and positive environmental performance, mass timber building products are quickly becoming materials of choice for sustainably‐minded designers. This presentation will provide a detailed look at the variety of mass timber products available, including glue‐laminated timber (glulam), cross laminated timber (CLT), nail laminated timber (NLT), heavy timber decking, and other engineered and composite systems. Applications for the use of these products under modern building codes will be discussed, and examples of their use in U.S. projects reviewed. Mass timber’s ability to act as both structure and exposed finish will also be highlighted, as will …

Numerical Modeling Of Circular Reinforced Concrete Columns Confined With Frcm Composites, Ahmed Khaled Elzaher

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Fabric-reinforced cementitious matrix (FRCM) composites are considered a promising alternative for strengthening reinforced concrete (RC) columns due to the noncorrosive nature of the fiber strands and the enhanced thermal resistance of the cementitious mortar. The interaction between the confinement provided by the internal steel ties and the external FRCM composites represents a key parameter that has not yet been thoroughly investigated. The complexity of this combined FRCM–steel confinement mechanism increases under eccentric compression loading, which is commonly encountered in practical applications. This study aimed to investigate the structural behavior of short circular RC columns confined with FRCM composites under concentric …

Physical Model Investigations On Nappe Instabilities At Labyrinth Weirs, Michael Gebhardt, Fabian Belzner

4th International Workshop on Labyrinth and Piano Key Weirs

Free overflow hydraulic structures operating at low heads tend to develop nappe instabilities when there is no ventilation. A detailed investigation has been undertaken with a relatively large-scale labyrinth weir in the hydraulic laboratory of the BAW. A quarter-round crest was selected, because nappe instabilities mainly occur at sharp-crested weirs, which favor the development of an air pocket behind the nappe. The headwater ratios for which nappe instabilities could be observed were determined. Pressure fluctuations were measured and the frequencies determined. Adding splitters to the crest is one way to vent the air pocket and to avoid vibrations. Another possibility …

Biochar-Based Filtration And Barrier Systems For Urban Stormwater Treatment, Krishna R. Reddy

Stormwater Drainage Conference

Conference that deals a wide range of issues dealing with stormwater drainage. Professor Krishna Reddy of University of Illinois Chicago presented an invited talk titled "Biochar-Based Filtration and Barrier Systems for Urban Stormwater Treatment"

Building Resilience: Strategies For Sustainable Wildfire Management In California, Jaiden Rennie, Pegah Zamani

Symposium of Student Scholars

Wildfires in California are becoming more intense and destructive, threatening communities, ecosystems, and livelihoods. This project explores how resilience and sustainability can work together to reduce wildfire risks and long-term damage. By reviewing research, case studies, and expert insights, it examines what’s driving these fires, climate change, poor land management, and human activity, and looks at solutions that can make a real difference. From community education programs to AI-driven fire detection and smarter policies, the findings highlight practical ways to better prepare for and manage wildfires. The goal is to contribute to a future where communities and the environment are …

Pros And Cons Of Preservation Treatments, Buzz Powell

Local Transportation Asset Management Conference

No abstract provided.