Geological Engineering Commons^™

A Data Analysis Study Of Temperature Based On California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (Calcofi) Data., Afsana Mimi

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This research presents an integrated analytical framework for predicting ocean temperatures using long-term observations from the California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI) data files. The study applies advanced data engineering and statistical modeling to assess how a variety of indicators, such as salinity, dissolved oxygen, key nutrients, and ocean depth shape oceanic temperature patterns along the California coastline. Using Microsoft SQL Server software for large-scale data integration and the R for statistical packages (R Core Team, 2025) for statistical computation, I developed and compared multiple regression models, including the ridge regression model, to evaluate the relative influence of physical and …

Mechanics And Physical Attributes Of Nature-Based Alterations: Rock Reinforcement And Urban Heat Island Assessment, Mary Chikondi Ngoma

Dissertations

Ground improvement is critical to geotechnical and geo-engineering systems, where modification of the properties of geomaterials (rocks and soils) is required to maintain stability and prevent failure of infrastructure installed within and around them. This need has become increasingly important with rapid urbanization and population growth, which intensify demands on surface and subsurface systems and further challenge the performance of supporting geomaterials. As a result, there is growing interest in nature-based solutions, particularly biologically mediated processes such as biocementation, which can enhance the physical, hydraulic, and mechanical properties of geomaterials while offering environmentally sustainable alternatives to conventional ground improvement techniques. …

A Remote Sensing Approach To Identifying Zones Of Instability In Mine Tailings Impoundments Using Multi-Sensor Satellite Data, Arden K. Pierce

Honors Theses

Mine tailings impoundments are structures built to contain the chemical and sedimentary byproducts generated by ore extraction activities. In this common method of mining waste storage, the tailings can be pumped into containment ponds and held behind earthen embankments to prevent the release of hazardous substances into the surrounding environment. Monitoring environmental factors that influence the structural integrity of these impoundments is essential for identifying areas vulnerable to instability and failure. Soil moisture is a factor that can affect the stability of mine tailings impoundment structures. This study evaluates the relationship between satellite-derived soil moisture and surface deformation at mine …

Integrated Geophysical, Geotechnical, And Mineralogical Characterization Of Expansive Weches Formation Soils In East Texas: Implications For Infrastructure Design, Samuel Annobil

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the geotechnical, geophysical, and mineralogical characteristics of soils derived from the Weches Formation in Nacogdoches County, East Texas, with emphasis on the relationships among electrical resistivity, moisture condition, compaction state, and mineralogical composition. The Weches Formation is well known for producing clay-rich, moisture-sensitive soils that pose challenges to subgrade performance because of their plasticity and swelling behavior. Representative soil samples were collected and subjected to laboratory testing, including particle size analysis, Atterberg limits, Standard Proctor compaction, free swell tests, electrical resistivity measurements, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) mineralogical analysis. The soils are predominantly fine-grained and clay-rich, with USCS …

Discrete Element Modeling Of Granular Soils: Critical State Behavior Applied To Impact Pile Driving, Esteban Patino Marin

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

This thesis investigates the use of the Discrete Element Method (DEM) to study two complementary aspects of granular soil mechanics: critical state behavior of granular materials and dynamic response of driven piles in sand, both of which are governed by the same particle-scale mechanisms of dilation, contraction, and fabric evolution.

The first examines the critical state behavior and fabric anisotropy of granular soils through DEM simulations of direct shear, direct simple shear, and true triaxial tests. Sphere-cluster particles representative of a uniform sand are used in two assemblages of approximately twenty-five thousand and one hundred twenty-five thousand spheres to evaluate …

Climate-Driven Flood Risk Mapping And Adaptive Strategy Modelling For Coastal Tamil Nadu, Sakthi Kiran Dr Mr

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Tamil Nadu’s coastal corridor (Cuddalore–Sirkazhi; ~2,740 km²) experiences recurring floods driven by climate change, rapid urban expansion, and inadequate drainage across low-lying deltaic terrain. Existing flood assessments remain largely reactive and rely on static methods that fail to incorporate future climate projections, demographic growth, and evolving urban patterns.

Methods: This research develops a dynamic, climate-resilient flood risk framework integrating (i) long-term hydroclimatic trend analysis (1984–2023), (ii) satellite-based flood hazard mapping using multi-temporal Sentinel-1A and RISAT-1A SAR, (iii) CORDEX REMO2015 (RCP 4.5)–driven HEC-RAS 2D hydrodynamic modelling, (iv) machine-learning-based susceptibility modelling (RF, DT, SVM), and (v) scenario-based evaluation of structural mitigation …

Detecting Electrical Submersible Pump (Esp) Failures And Estimating Run Life Using Artificial Neural Networks, Mostafa Ahmed Sobhy

Theses and Dissertations

Electric Submersible Pumps (ESPs) are one of the important artificial lift methods for sustaining production in mature and high-water-cut wells; but may suffer frequent failures due to mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, chemical, and operational failures. These failures can yield substantial deferred production and intervention costs. Plenty of ESP installations are fitted with downhole sensors. Yet, it is observed that the current industry practice underutilizes the wealth of available sensor and operational data and lacks standardized, explainable failure-type identification and classification.

In this thesis, a comprehensive Machine Learning (ML) and Deep Learning (DL) framework was introduced for ESPs that simultaneously estimates remaining …

The Crystal Mountain Fluorite Deposit: Scandium-Rich Mineralization And Geochronology, Natalie Kilanowski-Doroh

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

The Crystal Mountain fluorite mine is located in the Sapphire Mountains of the Bitterroot National Forest, near Darby, Montana. Crystal Mountain was a significant US producer of high-purity fluorspar between 1952 and 1972. As well, the deposit is rich in yttrium (Y) and scandium (Sc), and could possibly be a domestic source of these critical metals. The ore occurred as lodes of massive fluorite up to 10 m thick and 100 m long (now mined out), with few other associated minerals. Recent studies have speculated that Crystal Mountain may be a rare example of a magmatic fluorspar deposit. The main …

A Geomatic Appraisal On Restoration Of Tank Cascade Systems In Ambuliyar Watershed, Tamilnadu, Nasir N

Theses and Dissertations

Tanks and earthen embankments used for water harvesting and storage have been a significant part of India's irrigation system since the 2nd and 3rd centuries. In Tamil Nadu, around 39,202 tanks have storage capacities of around 178.94 million cubic feet. However, they have been impacted by natural and anthropogenic threats such as soil erosion, siltation, inadequate rainfall, and drought. This study aims to determine the current storage capacity of tanks, estimate the loss in storage capacity/volume of silt, estimate the rate of siltation and life of tanks, identify soil erosion-prone zones, and map deteriorating parameters along supply channels.

The study …

Experimental Investigation Of Surfactant Impact On Surfactant-Oil-Brine System For Surfactant Enhanced Oil Recovery, Chananpat Worpattanaluk

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) is a vital technique for improving hydrocarbon extraction efficiency from mature or low-production reservoirs. Among various EOR methods, chemical flooding, particularly surfactant-based EOR, has gained attention due to its ability to reduce interfacial tension (IFT), to alter rock wettability, and to mobilize trapped oil. However, the performance of surfactant systems is highly sensitive to reservoir salinity, temperature, and rock-fluid interactions, leading to surfactant precipitation, adsorption losses, and interfacial tension reduction. Therefore, understanding the effects of salinity, surfactant concentration, and the role of scale inhibitors on the physicochemical stability of surfactant-oil-brine systems is essential for designing robust …

Evaluating Co2 Storage Criteria : Focusing On Thailand's Petroleum Basins For Carbon Storage, Paul Tivere Benjamin

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from large point sources remain central to Thailand’s climate challenge, and geological carbon capture and storage (CCS) is now included in national mitigation plans. However, Thailand still lacks a transparent way to compare candidate saline aquifers and petroleum basins in terms of storage performance, containment, and socio-economic conditions, while allowing for uneven data quality. This thesis develops a Thailand-specific, two-stage framework that combines threshold-based screening with a multi-criteria ranking framework based on the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Data Confidence Scores (DCS). Twenty-one criteria in three groups (capacity and injectivity, containment, and socio-economic constraints) were …

Simulation On Hydrogen Production From Mae-Moh Lignite Coal Gasification, Pitatchai Arunwong

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Hydrogen energy has attracted significant attention due to its cleanliness, efficiency, and sustainability. Gasification is considered one of the most promising thermochemical routes to convert coal into high-quality syngas, which can subsequently be utilized for hydrogen production. Mae-Moh lignite, a low-rank coal with low carbon content and high moisture and volatile matter, is selected as the feedstock for this study. This research aims to develop a comprehensive simulation model of a hydrogen production process, integrating gasification, water-gas shift (WGS), acid gas removal, and hydrogen purification using the software simulator. The model predicts hydrogen product gas composition from Mae-Moh lignite under …

Estimating Unconfined Compressive Strength (Ucs) Of Rocks From Measurement While Drilling (Mwd) Data, Can Erdem

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Measurement-while-drilling (MWD) technology enables the real-time monitoring of drilling parameters during the drilling process. MWD data can provide valuable insight into the mechanical behavior of intact rocks and rock masses, which is essential for geotechnical applications such as foundation design and underground construction. The aim of this study is to correlate real-time drilling parameters, recorded using a laboratory-developed MWD system, with the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of rocks. A custom laboratory MWD system was designed to simultaneously record four key drilling parameters: thrust (axial force, crowd), torque, penetration rate, and rotational speed. The custom-built MWD system was used to continuously …

Iron Ore Tailings Reprocessing By Electrostatic Separation Plus Two Stages Froth Flotation, Vincent Bailey Arohunmolase

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

The reprocessing of tailings is crucial for recovering valuable iron and reducing the environmental impact associated with tailings disposal. This study investigates the practicality of reprocessing tailings to enhance iron oxide content, combining electrostatic separation with a two-stage froth flotation process using oleic acid (direct flotation) and amine (reverse flotation). The primary goal is to efficiently recover valuable iron from tailings, thereby reducing waste and promoting sustainable resource utilization. The process aims to upgrade the iron oxide content to around 93-99% Fe₂O₃, making the recovered material suitable for the production of direct-reduced iron.

Electrostatic separation was …

Evaluation Of Practical Methods To Determine If A Karst Creek Is Gaining Or Losing: Case Study Of Leith Creek, Elizabeth Jones

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Karst landscapes are abundant in Missouri, with features such as caves, springs, and sinkholes that form through the dissolution of limestone. Leith Creek is a small stream in Polk County, Missouri fed by two springs and the shallow unconfined Springfield Plateau aquifer, a highly karstified aquifer which is made up of limestone and minor interbedded shale-mudstone units. To determine if Leith Creek is gaining or losing, stream flow, water chemistry and temperature sensors were monitored. Stream flow results required multiple visits to take measurements while temperature sensors required two visits, one to install the dataloggers and another to remove the …

Cognitive Map Generation For Vision And Language Navigation, Alexander Sandoval Mesa

Dissertations and Theses

Visual-Language Navigation (VLN) presents significant challenges for autonomous agents, such as robots and virtual assistants, particularly in complex, dynamic environments where the seamless integration of visual perception and natural language understanding is critical. Traditional VLN systems often struggle with effectively aligning language instructions and visual scene understanding, limiting their adaptability and navigation efficiency.

This thesis proposes a novel Cognitive Map-based framework that addresses these challenges by transforming natural language navigation instructions into structured graph representations. The Cognitive Map consists of nodes representing waypoints, landmarks, decision points, and edges encoding spatial relationships and navigational actions. These maps are generated using Large …

Enhancing Pillar Stability Assessment In Underground Limestone Mines Using Lamodel: Integrating Empirical Strength Equations For Improved Ground Control, Alim Elibol

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Underground stone mining accounts for approximately 21% of all underground mining operations in the United States, with more than 2,000 workers employed in this sector as of 2019. Ground control failures, particularly those involving massive pillar collapses and roof falls, pose significant safety hazards, contributing to 40% of fatalities and 15% of lost workdays since 2006. Several massive pillar collapses have occurred in active limestone mines from 2015 to 2021, and a fatal incident was reported in January 2022 in a mine operating within the Loyalhanna formation. Given these risks, accurate stability assessment tools are essential for improving mine safety. …

Applications Of Reservoir Simulation And Machine Learning In Subsurface Energy Systems For Decarbonization, Seyedmohammadmehdi Nassabeh

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The transition to a low-carbon future necessitates innovative approaches to carbon management and hydrogen storage, particularly in the context of enhanced oil recovery (EOR) from hydrocarbon reservoirs. This study employs advanced analytics and machine learning techniques to optimize carbon management strategies. One key focus of this research is to evaluate the effectiveness of flue gas and CO2 in Water Alternating Gas (WAG) injection within a homogeneous fractured carbonate reservoir characterized by low porosity and permeability. A computational model was developed to depict the flow regime in the reservoir and simulate reservoir fluid behavior using Eclipse (E300) software, various hybrid EOR …

Interpreting Strain Caused By Transient Well Testing, Soheil Roudini

All Dissertations

Understanding reservoir properties and structure is essential to managing subsurface operations, such as geologic storage of CO₂ or production of water, hydrocarbons or heat. Previous work demonstrated the potential of analyzing strain data during transient well tests by estimating hydraulic diffusivity using a type-curve-like approach. The following dissertation aims to pursue this potential by developing and evaluating methods for interpreting strain tensor data to improve subsurface characterization. The research advances the classic, intuitive method of using type-curves to interpret well tests, but it also brings together modern computational methods from machine learning, proxy modeling and Bayesian inversion, and it …

A Methodology For Evaluating And Comparing Unmanned Inspection Platforms In Underground And Indoor Environments, Sydney Shockley

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

This report summarizes a research project focused on development of a methodology for evaluating the performance of various unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs, commonly referred to as drones) and robotic platforms in GPS-denied environments, highlighting a clear stratification based on technological sophistication and design intent. A series of flight trials were designed and implemented in various environments including indoor spaces with various geometries and obstacles, and an underground mine. These trials examined signal range from the unmanned platform to the controller, the ability to navigate through confined spaces and obstacles, the overall ease-of-use and responsiveness of controls, as well as specialized …

Uas-Enhanced Rock Mass Characterization Of The Left Abutment At Madison Dam, Ennis Montana, Karl Farber

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Recently, advancements in drone technology for mapping rock mass features have been on the rise and are becoming more of a staple for geotechnical site investigation. The safety of humans when collecting field data is a top priority and using drones, or unmanned aerial systems (UAS), can minimize those safety risks. Creating models that depict accurate data of rock mass discontinuities and possible failure modes in inaccessible areas has its challenges, but drones can provide a way of addressing those challenges. This study involves using UAS-based data collection to capture rock mass fractures at Madison Dam just North of Ennis, …

A Methodology For Evaluating And Comparing Unmanned Inspection Platforms In Underground And Indoor Environments, Sydney Shockley

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

This report summarizes a research project focused on development of a methodology for evaluating the performance of various unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs, commonly referred to as drones) and robotic platforms in GPS-denied environments, highlighting a clear stratification based on technological sophistication and design intent. A series of flight trials were designed and implemented in various environments including indoor spaces with various geometries and obstacles, and an underground mine. These trials examined signal range from the unmanned platform to the controller, the ability to navigate through confined spaces and obstacles, the overall ease-of-use and responsiveness of controls, as well as specialized …

Using Unmanned Aircraft System (Uas)-Borne High-Resolution Hyperspectral Imaging And Gamma Radiometry For Rare Earth Element Exploration In The Bearpaw Mountains, Montana Usa, Emma Kamp

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

The radiometric signature of thorium, in combination with the hyperspectral signature of carbonate minerals, can be a useful indicator of rare earth mineral occurrences in air-borne geophysical exploration. Recent technological advancements have allowed unmanned aircraft system (UAS)--borne spectral imaging and gamma-ray spectroscopy systems to acquire high-spatial-resolution data. In this study, we attempted to define and map an area of interest for rare earth mineral exploration using UAS-borne spectral and gamma-ray spectroscopy systems. Gamma-ray spectroscopy data were used to define an area of interest. Short-wave infrared imagery was used to detect and map carbonate minerals within the area of interest. Gamma-ray …

Developing Relationships Between Macroporosity And Tensile Strength By Imaging Failure Planes, James C. Mazzagotte Iii

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Porosity, which measures the empty spaces within rock structures, is crucial for determining properties like density, hydraulic conductivity, and mechanical strength, covering both microporosity and macroporosity. While many studies have explored how porosity affects compressive strength and stiffness in different rock types, less attention has been paid to its influence on tensile strength, especially in extrusive igneous formations like vesicular basalt. This research aims to fill this gap by investigating the relationship between macroporosity and tensile strength in vesicular basalt.

The study employed non-destructive techniques, including machine learning and manual image analysis, to calculate porosity, dividing it into specimen porosity …

Development Of Accurate Embedded Fracture Models For Naturally Fractured Reservoirs, Harun Ur Rashid

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Natural fractures play a critical role in the performance of unconventional oil, gas, and geothermal reservoirs due to their prevalent occurrence within these systems. However, modeling these fractures accurately and efficiently is still challenging. This work centers on an extensive analysis of naturally fractured systems and proposes new fracture modeling algorithms that can predict the performance of fractured tight rocks accurately and efficiently. Several researchers have explored various methodologies to accurately and efficiently model fractured reservoirs. Among the approaches that can account for each individual fracture in these reservoirs, the embedded discrete fracture model (EDFM) is one of the most …

Optimization Of Vibro-Seismic Parameters For Enhanced Oil Recovery Application, Tarek Abdel Aal

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis was conducted in the American University in Cairo by Tarek Ahmed Abdel Fattah Abdel Aal. The thesis is titled ‘Optimization of Vibroseismic Parameters for Enhanced Oil Recovery Application.’ The thesis discusses whether or not the combination of optimized physical vibration parameters with waterflooding would improve porosity, absolute permeability, relative permeability, and recovery when compared with just classical waterflooding. The optimized physical vibration parameters as well as methodology was used from a previous paper that was performed in conjunction with my thesis advisor on similar core samples. The experimentation was performed on five core samples with different porosities and …

Evaluation Of Hydrophobic Materials For Stabilizing Expansive Soils, Suman Shrestha

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

The swelling and shrinkage of the expansive soil as a response to moisture change is one of the significant challenges posed to infrastructure projects. The significant economic damage that is caused by the expansive soil, as well as its abundance in nature, has prompted various scientists and engineers all around the world to actively search for new and improved methods for stabilizing it. Various traditional methods, such as lime and cement treatment, have been used extensively to stabilize expansive soils and mitigate their harmful effects on the infrastructure. Although these methods are quite often effective and various studies have been …

Simulation Of Wave Propagation In Granular Particles Using A Discrete Element Model, Syed Tahmid Hussan

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The understanding of Bender Element mechanism and utilization of Particle Flow Code (PFC) to simulate the seismic wave behavior is important to test the dynamic behavior of soil particles. Both discrete and finite element methods can be used to simulate wave behavior. However, Discrete Element Method (DEM) is mostly suitable, as the micro scaled soil particle cannot be fully considered as continuous specimen like a piece of rod or aluminum. Recently DEM has been widely used to study mechanical properties of soils at particle level considering the particles as balls. This study represents a comparative analysis of Voigt and Best …

Pit Design And Mine Planning Of Nong Wa Sub-Basin, Sin Pun Coal Deposit, Southern Thailand, Gbenga Timilehin Adewumi

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Nong Wa is a sub-basin located within the Sin Pun coal deposit, which has no history of mining activities. This study focused on the planning and design of the sub-basin pit, potentially paving the way for future mining operations in the region. The objective of the research was to evaluate the economic viability of coal extraction and to develop an optimized pit to maximize resource recovery. To achieve this objective, a coal seam model of the deposit was created using advanced modeling software such as AutoCAD and MineSight. The seam model was used to design the ultimate pit, pushback, and …

Enhance Effectiveness Of Monitoring Scheme Using Insar On Tailings Storage Facility No. 2, Chatree Gold Mine, Thailand, Shanghai Chea

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Tailings storage facility (TSF) is a critical component of the mining industry, serving to safely contain waste generated during mineral extraction. At Chatree Gold Mine, the largest and only active gold mine in Thailand, TSF No.2 handles approximately 5 million tons of tailings annually. Effective monitoring of the facility is crucial for hazard prevention and regulatory compliance. This study aims to enhance the monitoring scheme of TSF No.2 by employing Small Baseline Subset Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (SBAS-InSAR) technique, processed via MintPy software, to analyze ground deformation. Despite traditional monitoring methods, such as in-situ geodetic surveying, offering valuable insights, they …