Environmental Engineering Commons^™

A Spatiotemporal Analysis Of Organic Pollutants Contamination In Ciliwung River, Indonesia, Mochamad Adhiraga Pratama, Dorothy Marsha Constantine

CSID Journal of Infrastructure Development

Ciliwung River is one of many rivers on Java Island which is polluted by waste from domestic, commercial/industrial, and agricultural activities. The rapid population growth caused changes in land use. Along with population growth and the development of human activities in various sectors, river pollution became a serious problem for humans. The purpose of this study is to conduct a spatiotemporal analysis of the concentration of pollutant in Ciliwung River and its correlation with the trend of land use changes to determine the factors that dominantly influence river pollution. The analysis was carried out on the parameters of organic pollutants …

Seasonal Variability On Microplastic Polutions In Water And Sediment Of Ciliwung River, Hefty Clarissa Wilyalodia, Elgrytha Victoria Tybeyuliana, Alloysius Pamurda Dhika Mahendra, Mochamad Adhiraga Pratama, Suphia Rahmawati, Fajri Mulya Iresha, Setyo Sarwanto Moersidik

CSID Journal of Infrastructure Development

Microplastics, recognized as emerging contaminants, have been detected in numerous rivers globally. This study focuses on the Ciliwung River in Jakarta, examining the influence of seasonal variations—specifically the rainy and dry seasons—on microplastics' concentration, types, and colors. Sampling was conducted during November 2022 (dry season) and March 2023 (wet season) using a plankton net for water (10 liters) and an Ekman grab sampler for sediment (400 mililiters). Microplastic abundance was analyzed following the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) adaptation method, and their material characteristics were identified using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) testing. Results revealed a notable seasonal impact: …

Recommendations On Flood Management At Cengkareng Drain Estuary In Enhancing Estuary Resilience To Compound Hazard, Athena Hastomo, Evi Anggraheni, Adi Prasetyo, Dwita Sutjiningsih

CSID Journal of Infrastructure Development

Jakarta's coastal region, characterized by dense settlements and industrial zones, faces significant flood risks due to land subsidence and rising sea levels, exacerbated by human activities and climate change. This study evaluates the effectiveness of the National Capital Integrated Coastal Development (NCICD) project, which proposes embankments along Jakarta's coast for enhanced flood resilience. Focusing on the Cengkareng Drain estuary, two-dimensional HEC-RAS simulations were employed. This study incorporates various factors such as precipitation, tides, waves, rising sea levels, and land subsidence to model extreme flood scenarios. The analysis reveals key strategies to improve flood management. Firstly, introducing new pumping stations and …

Preliminary Water Quality Assessment Using Canadian Water Quality Index Of Ras El-Ain Ponds, South Lebanon, Hussien Ali Fayad, Safaa Baydoun, Mohamad Reda Soliman

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

Water quality deterioration in Lebanon is a pressing national issue and there is a high need for continuous water quality assessment and monitoring of water bodies in the country. This study aims at assessing water quality of Ras El-Ain Ponds, a major natural water resource for domestic use in Tyre district, South Lebanon by using the widely applied Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Water Quality Index (CCME WQI). Sampling was conducted during February-March, 2023 and physiochemical and microbiological water quality parameters were determined using standardized methods. Assessed parameters in our study are temperature, turbidity, electrical conductivity (EC), total …

Reducing Food Scarcity: The Benefits Of Urban Farming, S.A. Claudell, Emilio Mejia

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

Urban farming can enhance the lives of communities and help reduce food scarcity. This paper presents a conceptual prototype of an efficient urban farming community that can be scaled for a single apartment building or an entire community across all global geoeconomics regions, including densely populated cities and rural, developing towns and communities. When deployed in coordination with smart crop choices, local farm support, and efficient transportation then the result isn’t just sustainability, but also increasing fresh produce accessibility, optimizing nutritional value, eliminating the use of ‘forever chemicals’, reducing transportation costs, and fostering global environmental benefits.

Imagine Doris, who is …

Modeling Of Amine-Based Co2 Capture Process, Zafar Safarovich Turakulov

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

A significant factor influencing climate change is the release of carbon dioxide (CO₂) into the atmosphere as a consequence of human activities such as the combustion of fossil fuels. Climate change can be slowed down by taking action to mitigate industrial-scale CO₂ emissions. Currently, the most advanced technology for capturing CO₂ from industrial flue gases is the post-combustion CO₂ capture based on amine absorption. However, due to the high energy penalties of existing CO₂ capture technologies and insufficient carbon markets, it is necessary to develop methods that compete with these technologies or minimize their …

Red Cabbage Juice-Mediated Gut Microbiota Modulation Improves Intestinal Epithelial Homeostasis And Ameliorates Colitis, Emily Jean Wilson, Nagabhishek Sirpu Natesh, Parsa Ghadermazi, Ramesh Pothuraju, Dipakkumar R. Prajapati, Sanjit Pandey, Jussuf T. Kaifi, John R. Dodam, Jeffrey Bryan, Christian L. Lorson, Aude A. Watrelot, Jason M. Foster, Thomas J. Mansell, Siu Hung Joshua Chan, Surinder K. Batra, Jeyamkondan Subbiah, Satyanarayana Rachagani

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Gut microbiota plays a crucial role in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and can potentially prevent IBD through microbial-derived metabolites, making it a promising therapeutic avenue. Recent evidence suggests that despite an unclear underlying mechanism, red cabbage juice (RCJ) alleviates Dextran Sodium Sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. Thus, the study aims to unravel the molecular mechanism by which RCJ modulates the gut microbiota to alleviate DSS-induced colitis in mice. Using C57BL/6J mice, we evaluated RCJ’s protective role in DSS-induced colitis through two cycles of 3% DSS. Mice were daily gavaged with PBS or RCJ until the endpoint, and gut microbiota composition …

Determining The Presence And Size Of Shoulder Lesions In Sows Using Computer Vision, Shubham Bery, Tami M. Brown-Bandl, Bradley T. Jones, Gary A. Rohrer, Sudhendu Raj Sharma

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Shoulder sores predominantly arise in breeding sows and often result in untimely culling. Reported prevalence rates vary significantly, spanning between 5% and 50% depending upon the type of crate flooring inside a farm, the animal’s body condition, or an existing injury that causes lameness. These lesions represent not only a welfare concern but also have an economic impact due to the labor needed for treatment and medication. The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of computer vision techniques in detecting and determining the size of shoulder lesions. A Microsoft Kinect V2 camera captured the top-down depth and …

Deep Learning Models To Predict Finishing Pig Weight Using Point Clouds, Shiva Paudel, Rafael Vieira De Sousa, Sudhendu Raj Sharma, Tami M. Brown-Bandl

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

The selection of animals to be marketed is largely completed by their visual assessment, solely relying on the skill level of the animal caretaker. Real-time monitoring of the weight of farm animals would provide important information for not only marketing, but also for the assessment of health and well-being issues. The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate a method based on 3D Convolutional Neural Network to predict weight from point clouds. Intel Real Sense D435 stereo depth camera placed at 2.7 m height was used to capture the 3D videos of a single finishing pig freely walking …

Deep Learning Models To Predict Finishing Pig Weight Using Point Clouds, Shiva Paudel, Rafael Vieira De Sousa, Sudhendu Raj Sharma, Tami M. Brown-Bandl

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

The selection of animals to be marketed is largely completed by their visual assessment, solely relying on the skill level of the animal caretaker. Real-time monitoring of the weight of farm animals would provide important information for not only marketing, but also for the assessment of health and well-being issues. The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate a method based on 3D Convolutional Neural Network to predict weight from point clouds. Intel Real Sense D435 stereo depth camera placed at 2.7 m height was used to capture the 3D videos of a single finishing pig freely walking …

The Complexities Of Green Infrastructure, Troy Weber

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

The Wabash River is the most extensive river system in Indiana. The river drains two-thirds of Indiana’s 92 counties, which can have issues associated with stormwater runoff (Weist, 1981). As precipitation runs off impervious surfaces, it can carry high concentrations of pollutants, such as excess nitrogen and phosphorus, pet waste, and automobile fuel. Prior to impervious runoff entering the river, preexisting contaminants include industrial waste (acid mine drainage and oil field brines), municipal waste, and sediment (Weist, 1981). Thus, stormwater runoff can negatively impact the Wabash River watershed. On top of this pollution, Lafayette and West Lafayette have combined sewer …

Service-Learning In Action: Lafayette, Indiana, Rain Garden Installation, Elizabeth Mccleery

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

Indiana’s Wabash River is being polluted with contaminated water runoff from precipitation events. A lack of pervious land cover has led to an accumulation of fertilizer, sediment, and waste in the river. Green infrastructure, a stormwater management practice that mimics the natural ecosystem, is one of the most effective ways to prevent pollution from stormwater runoff and benefit the community. This project consisted of a rain garden installation at the Lafayette Fueling Station, a site where frequent water drainage and water runoff into the Wabash occurs. The rain garden will allow on-site water infiltration during rain events and promote natural …

Commercial Adsorbents For Co2 Removal For Biogas Upgradation: An Experimental Study, Aakriti Bagla

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Impact Of Irrigation On Vulnerability Of Winter Wheat Under Extreme Climate Change Scenario: A Case Study Of North China Plain, Yulian Gao, Lin Wang, Yaojie Yue

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

An inadequate understanding of the impacts of adaptation countermeasures tends to exaggerate the adverse e􀀀ects of climate change on agricultural systems. Motivated by proposing reasonable climate change adaptation countermeasures, the present study applied the EPIC model to quantify the impacts of climate change and irrigation changes with future socioeconomic development on agricultural production. Winter wheat yield losses using dynamic irrigation parameters in the North China Plain (NCP) from 2010 to 2099 under a scenario coupling climate change and future socioeconomic development (RCP8.5-SSP3), and those under an extreme climate change scenario (RCP8.5), were simulated. Results show that EPIC model demonstrates superior …

Study Of Surface And Groundwater Quality And Quantity At Watershed Scale In Mississippi, Dipesh Nepal

Theses and Dissertations

Hydrology and water quality are affected by land use and climate changes. Mississippi’s diverse agro–ecosystem comprises of a range of land use land cover (LULC) including agriculture, forest, wetlands, urban, and grasslands. The objectives of this study were to investigate the impacts of various factors such as Best Management Practices (BMPs), wetlands, LULC, and climate changes on water quality and quantity. The hydrologic and water quality responses to dynamic LULC input in Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) were evaluated. Results showed that agricultural and forest expansion were major drivers of hydrologic and water quality changes in Big Sunflower River …

Stream Water Quality Under Baseflow Conditions In A Livestock Production Area, Maryi Lorena Chavarro Chaux

Theses and Dissertations

This study evaluates the spatial and temporal impacts of implemented Best Management Practices (BMP) on stream water quality under baseflow conditions in a stream segment affected by livestock production. The BMPs includes 10-m fenced riparian zone and crossing paths along the reach segment. Grab water samples and water quality monitoring were collected biweekly from July 2019 to March 2022. Water quality parameters included temperature, dissolved oxygen, electric conductance, total dissolved solids, turbidity, and pH. Water samples were lab analyzed for sediments and nutrients. Results evidenced poor water quality before BMPs implementation, with nutrient concentrations exceeding the nation's and state's criteria. …

2023 Fall Engr333 Section B Final Report, Ally Gauss, Stuart Johnston, Zachary Rozendal, Nora Terbeek, Samantha Bush, Daniel Cordeiro, David Harris, Nathan Zylstra, Mikayla Bindon, David Schmurr, Zachary Swart, Micah Vandeburg, David Conhoff, Mitchell Cook, Yonggi Kim, Mark Schultz

ENGR 333

Calvin University is currently committed to being carbon neutral by 2057. However, by 2057 the earth will see irreversible damage due to global warming. Because of the constant rise in global carbon emissions, President Boer tasked the students of ENGR-333 to find an earlier date for Calvin to become carbon neutral. Carbon net neutrality involves eliminating the emissions associated with heating and electricity. To have the most immediate impact, it was desired to reduce the most carbon as fast as was cost effective. Starting immediately, Calvin would start buying carbon free electricity from Consumer’s Energy, continuing until 2040 when Consumer’s …

2023 Fall Engr333 Section A Final Report, Owen Kalsbeek, Panashe Makuvaro, Luke Penning, Caleb Gaffner, David Visser, Jared Skaggs, Stephen Langerak, Kyle Borror, Caleb Clark, Michael Lanning, Brayden Raches, Sam Mennega, Seth Devries, Kyle Vandusen, Hayden White

ENGR 333

On 6 December 2017, then-president Michael Le Roy signed the President’s Climate Commitment, which committed Calvin University to carbon neutrality by 2057. Within a global scope, humanity has already emitted approximately 83% of its carbon allowance before causing global warming of 1.5°C. The Paris Climate Accords stated this temperature increase as the point at which humanity’s damage to the planet becomes irreversible. Given this, the year 2057 seemed like a dangerously late date for Calvin to achieve carbon neutrality. These concerns led President Boer to task the students of Engineering 333 with the following question: what earlier year should Calvin …

Systematic Comparison Of Nonviral Gene Delivery Strategies For Efficient Co-Expression Of Two Transgenes In Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Tyler Kozisek, Luke Samuelson, Andrew Hamann, Angela K. Pannier

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Background Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) are being researched for cell-based therapies due to a host of unique properties, however, genetic modification of hMSCs, accomplished through nonviral gene delivery, could greatly advance their therapeutic potential. Furthermore, expression of multiple transgenes in hMSCs could greatly advance their clinical significance for treatment of multifaceted diseases, as individual transgenes could be expressed that target separate pathogenic drivers of complex diseases. Expressing multiple transgenes can be accomplished by delivering multiple DNA vectors encoding for each transgene, or by delivering a single poly-cistronic vector that encodes for each transgene and accomplishes expression through either use …

The Utilization Of Repurposed Whole Textiles To Modify The Mechanical And Hydrogeological Soil Properties: Green Media, Angelis Almanzar-Chevalie, Yehya Elfgeeh, Calvin O. Walters Jr.

Publications and Research

The utilization of repurposed whole textiles to modify the mechanical and hydrogeological soil properties investigates the impact of adding repurposed textiles to lightweight engineered soil, documenting changes in unit weight, water content, and hydraulic conductivity. This study builds upon prior findings, which demonstrated significant alterations in hydrogeological properties when incorporating textile fabric (3% by weight at an aspect ratio of 1:1). Functioning as reinforcement, these fibers enhance the soil's strength, stability, and structural integrity—especially advantageous in erosion-prone areas, regions susceptible to landslides, or locations requiring heightened load-bearing capacity. The outcomes of this parametric study lead to green roof farms playing …

Biological Nitrogen And Phosphorus Removal From Wastewater Under Low Dissolved Oxygen (Ldo) Conditions, Bashar Al-Daomi

Dissertations and Theses

This study examines the complexities of the integration of different technologies for nutrient removal, investigating parameters like sludge residence time (SRT), carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio, Anaerobic/Oxic (A/O), and Anaerobic/Oxic/Anoxic (A/O/A) systems, continuous and intermittent aeration regimes, and air OFF/air ON periods ratios for efficient nitrogen and phosphorus removal.

Two continuous aeration systems were implemented: The first aimed to carry out a simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SNdN) process for nitrogen and phosphorus removal under low dissolved oxygen (DO) and C/N ratio conditions. This system operated with 4.5-5-day total sludge age in a single-stage anaerobic/oxic (A/O)-SBR, performing stepwise DO reduction at varying DO …

2023 Fall Engr333 Seminar Presentation File, Michael Lanning, Panashe Makuvaro, David Harris, Stuart Johnston

ENGR 333

File for student presentation on Carbon Neutrality for Calvin University, given by students in the Fall 2023 class of ENGR333.

Diffusive Gradients In Thin-Films Passive Samplers For Quantitation Of Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances In Water: Kinetic Modeling, Experimental Methods, And Outlook For Regulatory Monitoring, Samuel Hodges

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Environmental sampling is the backbone of regulatory compliance in public water systems. Coupled with continuously improving analytical capabilities, grab sampling has revealed the ubiquity of emerging contaminants in water resources such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPAs) Method 533 and 537.1 specify 0.25 L grab samples undergo a solid phase extraction (SPE) to enrich PFAS up to 250-fold in 1 mL of methanol prior to analysis by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). This process can achieve lowest concentration minimum reporting levels (LCMRLs) between 0.53–16 ng•L−1 for the twenty-nine prioritized PFAS in drinking waters. However, toxicity …

2023 Fall Engr333 Section B Poster, Ally Gauss, Stuart Johnston, Zachary Rozendal, Nora Terbeek, Samantha Bush, Daniel Cordeiro, David Harris, Nathan Zylstra, Mikayla Bindon, David Schmurr, Zachary Swart, Micah Vandeburg, David Conhoff, Mitchell Cook, Yonggi Kim, Mark Schultz

ENGR 333

Poster of Section B of ENGR-333 Fall 2023.

2023 Fall Engr333 Section A Poster, Owen Kalsbeek, Panashe Makuvaro, Luke Penning, Caleb Gaffner, David Visser, Jared Skaggs, Stephen Langerak, Kyle Borror, Caleb Clark, Michael Lanning, Brayden Raches, Sam Mennega, Seth Devries, Kyle Vandusen, Hayden White

ENGR 333

Poster of Section A of ENGR-333 Fall 2023.

Nanobubble Technology For The Removal Of Mib And Geosmin From Drinking Water, Meryem Soyluoglu

All Dissertations

The presence of taste and odor (T&O) compounds in drinking water has been historically a major challenge for water utilities. They are difficult to remove using conventional water treatment processes, a combination of coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, and chlorination. However, activated carbon (AC) adsorption, advanced oxidation processes, and biofiltration can be effective. The seasonal nature of T&O events makes it difficult to justify installing dedicated treatment technologies. Additionally, incorporating these technologies into existing water treatment plants can be expensive and require significant upgrades. Therefore, water utilities are always interested in exploring new approaches to minimize the occurrence and removal of …

Co2 Storage Capacity And Injectivity Of Stacked Carbonates Of The Pennsylvanian And Permian In Western Nebraska, Lateef Lawal

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

Geological carbon storage (GCS) is a critical aspect of carbon capture and storage (CCS) in which captured CO₂ from power plants and industrial processes is injected and stored securely underground. Potential subsurface rock formations include saline aquifers, depleted oil and gas reservoirs, unmineable coal seams and volcanic rocks. GCS technology has been proven in the United States and many other parts of the world as a net-zero carbon emission strategy to mitigate the current climate crisis of our planet. Unlike other states such as Wyoming, GCS projects are still in the early phases in Nebraska. The goal of this …

The Tidal Prism, Viable Eelgrass Habitat, And The Effects Of Sea Level Rise In Morro Bay, Kaden A. Caliendo

Master's Theses

The tidal prism, or the volume of water exchanged from the sea to an estuary from mean low to mean high tide, influences system hydrodynamics and ecological functioning. Since 1884, the tidal prism in Morro Bay, California has been estimated to be decreasing over time due to sedimentation from upstream practices. What is the current tidal prism in Morro Bay and how will that change with sea level rise? How will eelgrass respond to rising sea levels?

For this study, inexpensive tidal gauges were deployed at four locations in Morro Bay from March to August 2023 to measure spatially varying …

Exploring The Potential Of Tesla Valve For Filtering And Sorting Microscale Active Swimmers: A Computational Study, Ariel Rogers, Zhiyao He, Yong Wang

Physics Faculty Publications and Presentations

It is well-known that a Tesla valve allows fluids to flow unidirectionally without moving parts; however, how Tesla valves interact with active matters and the potential applications of Tesla valves in biology remain largely unexplored. Here, we present a computational study on the potential use of Tesla valves for filtering and sorting microscale active swimmers such as bacteria. We investigated the behavior of microscale swimmers passing through the Tesla valve at different linear and angular velocities using numerical simulations and quantified the diodicity of the Tesla valve for active swimmers. Our results demonstrate that the Tesla valve can effectively filter …

Aicropcam: Deploying Classification, Segmentation, Detection, And Counting Deep-Learning Models For Crop Monitoring On The Edge, Nipuna Chamara, Geng (Frank) Bai, Yufeng Ge

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Precision Agriculture (PA) promises to meet the future demands for food, feed, fiber, and fuel while keeping their production sustainable and environmentally friendly. PA relies heavily on sensing technologies to inform site-specific decision supports for planting, irrigation, fertilization, spraying, and harvesting. Traditional point-based sensors enjoy small data sizes but are limited in their capacity to measure plant and canopy parameters. On the other hand, imaging sensors can be powerful in measuring a wide range of these parameters, especially when coupled with Artificial Intelligence. The challenge, however, is the lack of computing, electric power, and connectivity infrastructure in agricultural fields, preventing …