Sustainability Commons^™

A Green New Deal For Schools: Inequality, Funding, And Finance In Pennsylvania, David I. Backer

Sustainability Research & Practice Seminar Presentations

No abstract provided.

Assessment Of Soil Properties Under Different Land Use Types In Olokemeji Forest Reserves In Ogun State Southwestern Nigeria, Oluwatoyin Opeyemi Akintola, Adewunmi Idayat Bodede, Michael Smart, Ayodeji Gideon Adebayo, Olawale Nurean Sulaiman

Journal of Bioresource Management

Knowledge of soil properties is essential for environmental sustainability for any forest reserve or plantation. The physical and chemical properties of soil under three different land uses was investigated to assess the nutrient and fertility status of the soils. Fifteen soil samples, each collected from different locations within the natural forest, plantation and farm land were analyzed for soil texture, bulk density, porosity, pH, organic carbon, organic matter content, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, Na, K, Ca, Mg, Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn. Texturally, the soils were loamy, loamy sand and sandy loamy in the natural forest, plantation and farmland respectively. …

Systems Microbiology: From Genomes To Ecosystems, Jizhong Zhou

Sustainability Seminar Series

Twenty-first century microbiology faces several grand challenges, e.g., linking structure to functions, mechanisms controlling extremely high diversity, information scaling from genomes to ecosystems, modeling simulation and predictions. With the recent advances of omics technologies, microbiologists have begun to tackle some of these challenges. In this talk, I will report the most recently progresses in these areas at the Institute for Environmental Genomics, with respect to genomic technologies, global microbial diversity and biogeography of wastewater treatment plants, climate warming, community assembly and network tool development, and ecosystem modeling.

Un Sdg 4: When Access To Education Is *Not* Enough, Christine M. Chiarelli-Helminiak

Sustainability Research & Practice Seminar Presentations

No abstract provided.

Application Of Net Zero Principles To The Army’S Industrial Base, Christos Christodoulatos

Sustainability Seminar Series

In January 2014, the Secretary of the Army distributed Army Directive 2014-02 "Net Zero Installations Policy". The Net Zero Policy requires installations to: (1) reduce overall energy use, maximize efficiency, implement energy recovery and cogeneration opportunities, and offset the remaining demand with the production of renewable energy from onsite sources and (2) reduce overall water use, regardless of the source; increase use of technology that uses water more efficiently; recycle and reuse water. The Army's industrial base and especially munitions manufacturing facilities generate waste streams with high nutrient and carbon content and therefore present unique opportunities for development and application …

Waste Management In The Global South: An Inquiry On The Patterns Of Plastic And Waste Material Flows In Colombo, Sri Lanka, Katie Ann Conlon

Dissertations and Theses

Global plastic production continues to increase at an exponential pace, and global waste projections show waste generation rising by 70% by 2050. Plastic waste connects to all social processes, especially within the context of urbanization and development; urban planning and land management; GHG emissions; labor; social equity; public health; rural-to-urban migration; increasing population; increasing consumption; climate change; etc. The focus of this dissertation is an analysis of waste management practices in Sri Lanka using a grounded theory based methodology, with a goal to better understand the social and ecological impacts of plastic waste in Sri Lanka. This research fills a …

Heavy Oil Production, Review Paper, Mohamed Abd El-Moniem

Emirates Journal for Engineering Research

Petroleum represents an important source of energy. The different resources for energy are classified into renewable and non-renewable. Petroleum is the main source of the non-renewable energy where it is found in conventional and non-conventional reservoirs. Conventional oil production is started since the last century with a high oil and gas production using primary and secondary recovery. Now, the global demand is high compared to the supply from the existing produced fields. The production is declining from the conventional resources, so the production from the unconventional reservoirs is essential to cover the market demand. The unconventional resources are classified as …

Second-Best Prioritization Of Environmental Cleanups, Jacob Lariviere, Matthew J. Mcmahon, Justin Roush

Sustainability Research & Practice Seminar Presentations

No abstract provided.

Project Icebreaker: Offshore Wind Project In Lake Erie, Xiangwu (David) Zeng

Sustainability Seminar Series

Wind energy is one of the most promising renewable energy resources. The Great Lakes region in the US has huge potential for offshore wind energy development. However, ice loading in winter brings a unique challenge to the foundations for wind turbines. Model tests and numerical simulation have been conducted to investigate different types of foundations and techniques to reduce the ice loading. The ultimate goal is to design a safe and economical foundation for future large-scale wind farms in the Great Lakes.

Listening To Young People: Philadelphia Youth Organizers' Perspectives On 2020 And Sustaining The Movement(S) Beyond, Hannah Ashley, Ananiya Jones, Lilah Saber, Mayana Ashley-Carner

Sustainability Research & Practice Seminar Presentations

No abstract provided.

A Statistical Impulse Response Model Based On Empirical Characterization Of Wireless Underground Channel, Abdul Salam, Mehmet C. Vuran, Suat Irmak

Computer Information Technology Faculty Publications

Wireless underground sensor networks (WUSNs) are becoming ubiquitous in many areas. The design of robust systems requires extensive understanding of the underground (UG) channel characteristics. In this paper, an UG channel impulse response is modeled and validated via extensive experiments in indoor and field testbed settings. The three distinct types of soils are selected with sand and clay contents ranging from $13\%$ to $86\%$ and $3\%$ to $32\%$, respectively. The impacts of changes in soil texture and soil moisture are investigated with more than $1,200$ measurements in a novel UG testbed that allows flexibility in soil moisture control. Moreover, the …

Spatiotemporal Variations Of City-Level Carbon Emissions In China During 2000–2017 Using Nighttime Light Data, Yu Sun, Sheng Zheng, Yuzhe Wu, Uwe Schlink, Ramesh P. Singh

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

China is one of the largest carbon emitting countries in the world. Numerous strategies have been considered by the Chinese government to mitigate carbon emissions in recent years. Accurate and timely estimation of spatiotemporal variations of city-level carbon emissions is of vital importance for planning of low-carbon strategies. For an assessment of the spatiotemporal variations of city-level carbon emissions in China during the periods 2000–2017, we used nighttime light data as a proxy from two sources: Defense Meteorological Satellite Program’s Operational Linescan System (DMSP-OLS) data and the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership satellite’s Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (NPP-VIIRS). The results …

Projecting Ev Distribution And Charging Demand: Dvrpc/Uc Davis's Ev Planning Toolkit, Adam Beam

Sustainability Research & Practice Seminar Presentations

No abstract provided.

Sdstate Sustainability Newsletter Vol. 5 Issue 1, Jennifer Mclaughlin

SD State Sustainability Newsletter

Content

• Sustainability Ambassador Program Announced
• Intersections of Sustainability
• SDSU Earns 2020 EPEAT Purchaser Award
• Virtual Sustainability Tours
• Sustainability Tidbits

Analysis Of The Benefits Of Green Streets, Christopher E. Ferrell, John M. Eells, Richard W. Lee, Reyhane Hosseinzade

Mineta Transportation Institute

Green streets offer many potential benefits that include improving water quality, absorbing carbon (sequestration), and reducing urban heat island effects. This report summarizes: (1) the research team’s analysis of 14 tools calculating green streets benefits; and (2) the results of applying the most promising calculators to a select group of green streets case studies. The researchers are affiliated with the Mineta Transportation Institute, which serves the California Department of Transportation (“Caltrans”). The report presents the results of the case study analyses, with an emphasis on carbon sequestration benefits and improvements to pedestrian levels of service (PLOS).

Trees absorb carbon dioxide …

Dissemination And Visualization Of Hydro-Climate Data In Sub-Saharan Africa For Analysis Of Climatic Parameters, Divyadharshini Karthikeyan, Aparna S. Varde, Clement Alo

School of Computing Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Precipitation can have adverse effects on the climate ecosystem. Too much can impose concerns such as flooding and landslides, resulting in damaged property, agricultural losses, and loss of life. Too little, and drought becomes an issue, inducing wildfires, poor air quality, agricultural losses, and health degradation. While much work has been performed on historical and projected analysis of heavy precipitation, few interactive visualizations exist for end-users to better understand local impacts. The goal of this project is to create a visualization tool that easily demonstrates how precipitation extremes have changed and might change in the future for Sub-Saharan Africa. This …

Applying A Systems Approach To The Legacy Of Lead In Soil, Sara Perl Egendorf

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Lead (Pb) in soil is a global environmental issue. The particularly high lead concentrations found in surface soils have been emplaced by humans and bring with them life-altering and life-shortening effects for our species and countless others. While much of the general population is unaware of lead lurking in our soils, scientists from a range of backgrounds have generated a body of research documenting this ubiquitous phenomenon, arising from sources such as lead in gasoline, paint, industry, and incineration. Scientists have also explored ways to remediate soil and continue calling for efforts to limit toxicant exposure. Why, then, does this …

Assessment Of Switchgrass-Based Bioenergy Supply Using Gis-Based Fuzzy Logic And Network Optimization In Missouri (U.S.A.), Gia Nguyen, Erik Lyttek, Pankaj Lal, Taylor Wieczerak, Pralhad Burli

Department of Earth and Environmental Studies Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Bioenergy has been globally recognized as one of the sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels. An assured supply of biomass feedstocks is a crucial bottleneck for the bioenergy industry emanating from uncertainties in land-use changes and future prices. Analytical approaches deriving from geographical information systems (GIS)-based analysis, mathematical modeling, optimization analyses, and empirical techniques have been widely used to evaluate the potential for bioenergy feedstock. In this study, we propose a three-phase methodology integrating fuzzy logic, network optimization, and ecosystem services assessment to estimate potential bioenergy supply. The fuzzy logic analysis uses multiple spatial criteria to identify suitable biomass cultivating regions. …

Modeling Strategies For Structures Using Ductile Concrete Materials In Seismic Applications, Hasan Tariq

Dissertations

High-Performance Fiber-Reinforced Cementitious Composites (HPFRCCs) have made striking advances over the last two decades as an alternative material to replace ordinary concrete in regions of high seismic intensities. In contrast to ordinary concrete which has a brittle tensile response, HPFRCCs exhibit tensile strain hardening and multiple crack propagation. The application of HPFRCC in various structural components demonstrate effectiveness by improving damage resistance, deformation capacity, and energy absorption capacity. Despite these benefits, the failure mode of reinforced HPFRCC components is dominated by reinforcement fracture unlike traditional reinforced concrete components which fail in flexure by crushing. The unique behavior of HPFRCC members …

Table Of Contents, The Editors

Coal Geology & Exploration

No abstract provided.

Water Cutoff Curtain Technology Of Open-Pit Coal Mine Based On Low Strength Impermeable Concrete, Cao Haidong, Miao Hechao, Chi Zan, Gao Sihua

Coal Geology & Exploration

The concrete underground continuous wall has the advantages of convenient construction, reliable quality, good impermeability and so on. It is widely used in water conservancy, hydropower, foundation pit support, subway and other impermeability projects. The materials used are both plastic concrete and rigid concrete. In the water-cutting curtain project of an open-pit coal mine in Inner Mongolia, according to its engineering geological and hydrogeological characteristics, a kind of low-strength(8-10 MPa) impermeable(P6 grade) concrete was developed as the wall casting material, which water/cementitious materials ratio is 0.68, sand ratio is 45%, For 1 m³ of concrete, the content of each …

Inspection Method And Analysis Of The Effect Of Water Cutoff Curtain In Open-Pit Coal Mine, Wang Hai, Peng Wei, Cao Haidong, Wang Li

Coal Geology & Exploration

In order to reduce the water drainage of the studied open-pit mine, a curtain wall was constructed to cut off the river supply on the north side. According to the site construction conditions, four technologies were applied to construct the water cutoff curtain, such as the low-strength impermeable concrete underground continuous wall, HDPE impermeable film, ultra-high pressure angular variable speed jet grouting, and occluding pile. To test the effect of water cutoff curtain in the open-pit coal mine during construction, four surrounding well tests were carried out for three kinds of water cutoff curtain technologies, including low-strength impermeable concrete underground …

Relationship Between Ndvi And Hydromet Factors In Grassland Area Of Open-Pit Coal Mine, Zhang Yan, Huang Xuanming, Chen Shi, Shi Bingxing

Coal Geology & Exploration

The groundwater level of an open-pit coal mine in the grassland area of the east Inner Mongolia has been decreasing continuously under the condition of long-term drainage. In order to study whether the growth of vegetation around the mining area was affected by the decline of groundwater level, the NDVI method was used to analyze the change trend of vegetation index in the study area from 2013 to 2019. Based on the joint entropy theory, the mutual information between NDVI and different meteorological and hydrological elements(temperature, rainfall and groundwater depth)were calculated, and the main influencing factors of vegetation growth were …

Biogas Production And Variation Of The Chemical Composition Of The High Temperature Water Extract Of Lignite, Ren Hengxing, He Huan, Liu Fangjing, Wang Meilin, Guo Xin, Chen Linyong, Zhao Han, Yuan Xuefang, Guan Jiadong, Yue Lijiao

Coal Geology & Exploration

The interaction process between microorganism and coal is complicated. In order to deeply analyze the function and change rule of organic matter in coal in the process of biological gas production, taking Yima lignite and methanogens preserved in laboratory as research objects, the gas production characteristics of water-soluble organic matter of lignite and its chemical composition change before and after gas production were studied. The water-soluble organic components of Yima lignite obtained by deionized water extraction at 70℃ and the extraction residue were used as substrates for biogas production. High performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS), gas chromatography(GC) and gas chromatography-mass …

Overburden Failure Simulation Under Double Coal Seams Mining In A Coal Mine In North Shaanxi Province, Sun Xueyang, Zhang Qi, Li Cheng, Zhang Lei

Coal Geology & Exploration

Under the conditions of multi-seam mining, the overburden failure of coal seams has unique characteristics, which affects the mine production arrangement. Taking a mine in northern Shaanxi Province as an example, based on the geological and mining conditions of the mine, the influence of double-seam mining on overburden rock damage was analyzed by using the method of similar material simulation experiment and numerical simulation. The results show that the height of the caving zone and the height of the fractured zone in the overburden of coal seam obtained by using similar material simulation and numerical simulation with different widths of …

Spatial Distribution Of Soil Nutrients In Reclamation Dump Sites Based On Subdivision Idw, Zhao Yanling, Zhao Bincheng, Wang Xin, Xiao Wu, Liu Huifang

Coal Geology & Exploration

Accurately grasping the spatial distribution of soil nutrients is of great significance for evaluating the soil quality of reclamation dumps and formulating corresponding reclamation measures. The general interpolation method of the complex terrain of the dump site has a poor prediction effect. The northern dump of Shengli No.1 open-pit mine in Xilinhot, Inner Mongolia was selected as an example in the paper. The soil nutrients(available nitrogen, available potassium, available phosphorus and organic matter) were spatially interpolated using the inverse distance weighting method based on terrain partitioning, and compared with the conventional inverse distance weighting method and kriging interpolation method. The …

Model And Selection Criterion Of Zonal Preact Grouting To Prevent Mine Water Disasters Of Coal Floor Limestone Aquifer In North China Type Coalfield, Dong Shuning, Guo Xiaoming, Liu Qisheng, Wang Hao, Nan Shenghui, Zheng Shitian, Wang Yuhang

Coal Geology & Exploration

In order to promote the development of zonal preact grouting technology and establish a system of the technology to prevent mine water disasters of coal floor aquifer, the authors analyze and summarize the coal seam occurrence and hydrogeological conditions of the Carboniferous-Permian coalfields in China, starting from the engineering systematicity, focusing on the three main factors of drilling conditions, grouting layer selection and drilling technology in the engineering of zonal preact grouting to prevent mine water disasters of coal floor aquifer. The model of zonal preact grouting to prevent mine water disasters of coal floor aquifer is established, which can …

Integrated Monitoring Technology Of Water Inrush From Coal Seam Floor And Its Application, Duan Jianhua

Coal Geology & Exploration

Karst water damage in floor is a common problem in North China type coalfield. Because of its characteristics of concealment and emergency, the prevention and control of water is faced with huge problems and challenges, monitoring and early warning technology of floor water inrush has become a necessary measure in the process of the safe production in coal mines. The formation and occurrence of floor water disaster have a process of evolution from conception, development to occurrence. In this process, the corresponding water inrush symptoms will be released in different stages of the floor crack and apparent resistivity of the …

Water Absorption Characteristics And Their Influence On The Mechanical Properties Of Longmaxi Formation Shale In Northeastern Chongqing, Liu Hong, Xu Fenglin, Chen Qiao, Zhu Honglin, Su Degui, Feng Kelai

Coal Geology & Exploration

A certain amount of casing deformation occurs during the shale reservoir fracturing. There is a certain amount of clay minerals in shale, and after contacting with water-based fracturing fluid, it will show the same expansion characteristics and strength weakening effect as mudstone, which will increase the casing external load. Aiming at the Longmaxi Formation shale in the northeast of Chongqing, the self-absorption and swelling characteristics of shale under different solution systems are studied by physical experiments to analyze the effect of shale hydration on its rock mechanical properties. The results show that the water absorption of shale has a logarithmic …

Development Characteristics Of Freezing Temperature Field Of Coastal Soft Soil Strata, Chen Junhao, Zhuang Yan, Chen Bijian, Zhao Zhenwei, Wang Qiyun

Coal Geology & Exploration

In order to research the temperature fields and development law of freezing in the construction of connected aisle in coastal soft soil stratum, based on connected aisle between Luoxiu road station and Baise road station of Shanghai subway Line 15, the thickness and average temperature of frozen curtain, and the freezing process were analyzed. The temperature fields and development law of freezing were predicted by the three-dimensional numerical model of the connected aisle and the temperature data which were analyzed. The results show that the inherent pressure in soft soil causes initial pressure in the pressure relief hole. A lot …