Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

A Modular Onboard Processing System For Small Unmanned Vehicles, Richard D. Garcia

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This work describes the design and implementation of a generic lightweight onboard processing system for miniature Unmanned Vehicles (UVs) that is computationally powerful and highly adaptable. First, several classical approaches to giant scale and full size UV onboard processing systems are described along with their corresponding limitations. Second, a detailed study is presented that describes the key characteristics of an onboard system along with associated limitations. Next, an implementation of a generic onboard system capable of vision processing and servo based control is presented along with detailed hardware specifications and implementation software. Last, experimental data, both laboratory and field, are …

Stochastic Methods For Evaluating The Potential For Wetland Rehydration In Covered-Karst Terranes, Christian David Langevin

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Augmentation with reclaimed water is one method for rehydrating wetlands damaged by water-level declines. Augmentation with reclaimed water has been proposed for rehydrating a wetland in the covered-karst terrane of west-central Florida. There is concern because reclaimed water may contain harmful agents that could flow from the wetland 1.4 km to a municipal wellfield that withdraws 30,000 m³/day. Estimates of groundwater flow velocities were calculated from the results of detailed field studies at the wetland. Results indicate that groundwater flows downward in the surficial aquifer at rates of 0.1 to 0.2 m/day and horizontally in the Floridan aquifer …

Geophysical And Hydrogeological Effects Of Astorm-Water Retention Pond On The Floridan Aquifer, Hillsborough County, Florida, Abdullah M. Alamri

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

An integrated geologic, hydrologic, and geophysical investigation was conducted to determine the effect of a storm-water retention pond on the Floridan aquifer. Surface DC resistivity surveys were used to delineate the hydrostratigraphy. There are four distinct geoelectric layers: (1) Layer 1, high resistivity, 3 meters thick, fine to very fine unsaturated sand; (2) Layer 2, moderate resistivity, 1 to 2.5 meters thick, saturated sands and silts; (3) Layer 3, lower resistivity, 4 to 10 meters thick, silt and clay; (4) Layer 4, moderate resistivity, argillaceous limestone. Two fracture zones are defined by resistivity lows and marked by deep, V-shaped depressions …

The Growth And Toxicity Of The Florida Red Tide Organism, Gymnodinium Breve, Marion Tilton Doig Iii

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Mass mortalities of marine organisms in the Gulf of Mexico have been associated with blooms of the unarmored dinoflagellate, Gymnodinium breve. This investigation concerns the factors affecting the growth of G. breve and the properties of a toxin produced by the organism.

A modification of the Flask Test of the Provisional Algal Assay Procedure of the Joint Industry/Government Task Force on Eutrophication was used to determine the response of G. breve to various natural waters and enrichments. The growth-promoting potential of natural waters obtained from areas where outbreaks of G. breve frequently occur was greater than that of waters …