Sustainability Commons^™

The Aggregation Of Microplastics By Enhancing Extracellular Polymeric Substance Production In Pseudoalteromonas Sp. Ncimb 2021 To Improve Removal Efficiencies In Environmental Matrices, Janelle L. Mercer

All Theses

Microplastics (MP) are ubiquitous in the natural environment and are a growing threat due to their small size and durability. Plastics are released into the environment through improper waste management, wastewater treatment outfalls, industrial spills, agricultural runoff, and landfills. These particles breakdown into secondary MP through degradation pathways. MP, less than 5 mm, require intricate removal techniques from water systems. Filtration techniques, though viable and effective, have implementation constraints due to high cost, maintenance demands, and filter fouling. By integrating coagulation and flocculation processes prior to filtration, MP removal efficiencies can increase, while minimizing operational challenges during filtration. Extracellular polymeric …

Final Report, Luke Murphy

Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

No abstract provided.

Advancing Sdg 9 Through Ai-Powered Waste Diversion, Ally Murphy

Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

No abstract provided.

Land Condition Standards For The Western Australian Nullarbor Pastoral Region, Peter-Jon A. Waddell, Wayne J. Fletcher

Natural resources published reports

This report outlines the quantitative land condition standards that define acceptable pastoral land condition for the Western Australian part of the Nullarbor, to meet the regulatory requirements of the Land Administration Act 1997 and the Soil and Land Conservation Act 1945.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is developing regional-level pastoral land condition standards for Western Australia as a critical component of the Framework for sustainable pastoral management – revised edition (Fletcher 2022), the purpose of which is to address the Office of the Auditor General’s recommendations to improve the management of pastoral lands in WA …

Evaluation Of Dredged Sediments As A Partial Replacement For Fine Aggregate In Mortar And Concrete, Ashish Gautam

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

The feasibility of using dredged sediment from the Mobile River as a partial replacement for fine aggregate in mortar and concrete was investigated through a series of laboratory characterization and performance evaluation. Three dredged sediment samples (A, B and C) were initially examined, and Sample A was selected for further evaluation due to its closer resemblance to natural fine aggregate. This sample exhibited lower moisture content, higher sand equivalent values, higher specific gravity, and lower absorption. Mortar mixtures with 0, 10, 20, 30, 50, 75 and 100% dredged sediment replacement showed decreasing workability as the replacement level increased. The 20% …

Indigenous Community Research Opportunities, Sharon Hausam, Aaron M. Canter

Faculty Publications

This is a working paper produced as part of National Science Foundation project #2115169, “Transforming Rural-Urban Systems: Trajectories for Sustainability in the Intermountain West,” known as the “Intermountain West Transformation Network” (TN), led by the University of New Mexico with institutional partners at three additional universities in New Mexico, two in Arizona, and one each in Utah, Colorado, and Washington. The TN’s Indigenous and Tribal engagement was supported through a contract with Dr. Sharon Hausam, additional work by Aaron M. Canter, coordination with Dr. Lani Tsinnajinnie, and an Advisory Committee on Indigenous Information Needs primarily comprised of Indigenous representatives in …

Opportunities For Leadership In Indigenous And Tribally Engaged Research At The University Of New Mexico, Sharon Hausam

Faculty Publications

This is a working paper produced as part of National Science Foundation project #2115169, “Transforming Rural-Urban Systems: Trajectories for Sustainability in the Intermountain West,” known as the “Intermountain West Transformation Network” (TN), led by the University of New Mexico with institutional partners at three additional universities in New Mexico, two in Arizona, and one each in Utah, Colorado, and Washington. The TN’s Indigenous and Tribal engagement was supported through a contract with Dr. Sharon Hausam, additional work by Aaron M. Canter, coordination with Dr. Lani Tsinnajinnie, and an Advisory Committee on Indigenous Information Needs primarily comprised of Indigenous representatives in …

Machine Learning For Predictive Energy And Emissions Modeling Of Vehicles And Power Grids In The United States, S M Tanvir Faysal Alam Chowdhoury

Dissertations

The environmental benefits of electric vehicle (EV) adoption depend on more than replacing internal combustion engine vehicles with electric powertrains. EV adoption reshapes electricity demand, interacts with regional generation mixes, and influences travel behavior and congestion, creating a coupled transportation-energy system in which vehicle and power-plant emissions must be evaluated together. This dissertation develops machine-learning frameworks for predicting energy consumption and emissions from vehicles and power grids under rising EV adoption. The first component forecasts grid emissions from EV charging. Using simulation data from NREL's Cambium database, a Prophet-based time-series framework predicts carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane emission rates …

Sludge-To-Sod: Sustainability In Action At Bull Creek Water Treatment Plant, Ava Baker

Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

No abstract provided.

Protecting Wetlands In Georgetown County, Sophia Harrison

Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

No abstract provided.

Human-Centered Electric Vehicle Adoption Framework For Smart Mobility: Modeling Perceived Range And Charging Anxiety As A Psychological Barrier, Fatemeh Nazari, Abolfazl (Kouros) Mohammadian, Thomas Stephens

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

Electric vehicles (EVs) offer a transformative pathway toward reducing the environmental, economic, and health-related externalities of internal combustion engine vehicles in urban settings. Despite substantial advances in battery technology, charging infrastructure expansion, and supportive policy incentives, EV penetration remains limited which poses challenges for smart and sustainable mobility planning. A critical yet insufficiently modeled barrier to adoption lies in the psychological perceptions surrounding electric driving range and charging reliability, which is commonly framed as “range anxiety,” but more broadly reflecting perceived range and charging anxiety. To address this gap, this study introduces a latent psychological construct capturing individuals’ perceived range …

A Community Planning Approach To Green Infrastructure And Hazard Mitigation, Kara Salazar, Daniel Walker, Carrie Mckillip

Journal of Extension

As communities seek to increase their resilience to climate change and natural hazards, integrating mitigation and adaptation solutions into local planning has become essential. Purdue Extension, the University of Illinois Extension, and Illinois–Indiana Sea Grant developed a program, funded by the Extension Disaster Education Network, which supports community-based updates to hazard mitigation and resilience planning, with an emphasis on green infrastructure. This paper highlights the lessons we learned after implementing the program in Hancock County, Illinois, and LaPorte, Indiana, and the toolkit we created, which provides engagement and education techniques, planning processes, and other resources to Extension professionals working in …

Governance, Culture, And Law: The Expanding Scope Of Environmental Science And Sustainable Development Research, Ahyaudin Sodri, Herdis Herdiansyah

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

Environmental science emerged as a discipline based on physical measurements, such as soil pollutant levels (Ailijiang et al., 2022), ecological restoration (Yue et al., 2026), city surface temperature (Shafizadeh-Moghadam et al., 2025), and microbial density in air samples (Hayleeyesus & Manaye, 2014). However, its objects of study increasingly extend beyond the confines of the laboratory. Questions that were once sufficiently answered with measurement data now require answers through draft laws, Constitutional Court decisions, financial reports of mining companies, and even traditional ritual discourses governing community access to forests. In other words, environmental …

Reskilling And Retraining The Water Technology Workforce: An Agentic Generative Ai Framework For Water Purification, Nano‑Mems, And Curriculum Development, Satyadhar Joshi, Noor Zulfiqar

Harrisburg University Other Works

The rapid digitalization of water infrastructure is bringing artificial intelligence, advanced sensing, and membrane materials science into routine water treatment practice. At the same time, utilities, regulators, and training institutions face a persistent workforce challenge: many operators, engineers, and managers are being asked to adopt data-driven tools without a coherent educational pathway that links AI literacy to real treatment workflows. This article synthesizes recent literature on agentic generative AI, reinforcement learning, smart sensing, nano-enabled membranes, and digital twins for water systems, then translates those developments into a structured reskilling model for the water sector. The proposed framework is organized around …

Table Of Contents, The Editors

Coal Geology & Exploration

No abstract provided.

History, Current Status, And Implications Of The Exploration And Exploitation Of Coal Resources In Guangxi, China, Wang Hui, Han Xiaozhong, Peng Zhilong, Li Huoying, Qin Baojian, Lu Ankang, Qin Xiaoyan, Peng Feifei, Xu Huiheng, Lan Bingui

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective Based on a comprehensive review of the history and current status of coal exploration and exploitation, this study presents an analysis of both the endowment characteristics and the exploration and research levels of coal resources in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. From the perspective of coal self-sufficiency capacity and energy security guarantee, this study proposes several recommendations for the exploration and exploitation of coal resources in the region. Methods The exploration level, current status of exploitation, and supply-demand imbalance of coal resources in Guangxi are determined through a systematic literature review, surveys of coal mine enterprises, and exchanges with relevant …

Enhanced Adaptive Smith Predictor Control For Underground Coal Gasification With Long Time Delays, Tang Yang, Wu Qiong, Zhang Lei, Zhou Mingjun, Wan Min, Liao Zhuodong

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background Underground coal gasification (UCG) represents an in situ conversion technology used to convert solid coals into gaseous fuel. However, the reaction process during UCG exhibits significant time delays. Such a limitation will reduce the response capability of the UCG system and is prone to induce overshoot and oscillation, thereby increasing the system’s control difficulty and reducing its stability and dynamic performance. Method To address these issues, this study proposed an enhanced Smith predictor control algorithm based on a genetic algorithm and established a semi-physical experimental platform integrating a physical distributed control system DCS-Matlab for modeling. Using the platform, experiments …

Comparison Of Log-Based Coal Structure Identification Methods For Structurally Complex Areas: A Case Study Of The Huainan Mining Area, Zhang Zixin, Zhou Xiaozhi, Chen Xuehua

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective CO₂ displacing coalbed methane (CBM) provides substantial environmental and energy benefits. However, differences in coal structures represent a key geological factor influencing the effectiveness of this technique. Constrained by the complex geological conditions for CBM occurrence and the impacts of multiple factors on the log responses of coal structures, traditional log-based methods for coal structure identification face challenges such as much human intervention, complex feature engineering, and poor adaptability. This study aims to achieve effective identification of complex coal structures within a single coal seam. Methods An asymmetric convolution kernel-based convolutional neural network (CNN) model for coal structure …

Research And Practice Of Four-Dimensional In-Situ Stress Fields For Deep Coalbed Methane Production: A Case Study Of The Daning-Jixian Block, Ordos Basin, Wang Chengwang, Chen Yiyu, Gao Deli, Zhao Haifeng, Chen Gaojie

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background Deep coalbed methane (CBM) reservoirs are characterized by well-developed microstructures and natural fractures, along with highly heterogeneous rock mechanical properties and in-situ stress field distribution. The CBM production of the reservoirs tends to cause constantly evolving formation pressure and in-situ stress within the control ranges of CBM wells, further enhancing the complexity of stress distribution. Additionally, severe fracturing channeling can be observed between new and old wells. This phenomenon is primarily triggered by in-situ stress variations induced by large-scale fracturing and CBM production. Therefore, accurately assessing the dynamic evolutionary patterns of in-situ stresses in reservoirs after fracturing and during …

Heterogeneity And Its Controlling Effect On Coalbed Methane Productivity For Deep Coal Reservoirs In The Northern Part Of The Eastern Margin Of The Ordos Basin, Xi Zhaodong, Tang Shuheng, Wu Jian, Zhang Songhang, Zhao Hang, Chen Jiang, Li Yanfei

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective With the continuous advancement in the exploration and exploitation of coalbed methane (CBM), the focus of research and practices is gradually shifting from shallow to deep parts. Deep CBM, an important unconventional natural gas resource, has become a strategic replacement to ensure energy security and prompt industrial development in China. However, deep coal reservoirs exhibit strong heterogeneities, posing a core geological challenge to their efficient exploration and development. Methods This study investigated the deep No. 8 coal seam in the northern part of the eastern margin of the Ordos Basin. By integrating multiple technical methods, including geostatistics, spatial interpolation, …

Enrichment Mechanisms Of U And Th Elements In The Bauxite Rock Series Of The Benxi Formation, Lower Carboniferous, Central North China Block, Bian Yukang, Zhang Xiaoyang, Chen Jinfeng, Lyu Dawei, Zhu Dongya, Liu Quanyou, Meng Qingqiang, Shen Xiaoli, Li Qing, Kong Weijiang, Dou Yunfei

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective Uranium (U) and thorium (Th) in rocks and minerals are the material basis for the generation and release of crust-derived helium. Methods The enrichment characteristics and mechanisms of U and Th are key to understanding the accumulation of crust-derived helium reservoirs. Taking the bauxite series of the Benxi Formation in the central North China Block as the research object, this study reveals the enrichment mechanisms of U and Th in the bauxite series and calculates the helium generation rate by means of petrogeochemical and chronological research methods, combined with detrital zircon dating, sedimentary environment identification, and mass balance calculation. …

Damage And Fracture Field Evolution In The Overburden Of An Extremely Thick Coal Seam Under Multi-Layered Fully Mechanized Top-Coal Caving Mining, Zhang Cun, Fan Baiqiang, Ren Yiming, Zhao Ruihang, Peng Baoshan, Pan Weidong, Liu Shiqi

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective Multi-layered fully mechanized top-coal caving mining represents a primary method for exploiting extremely thick coal seams. Quantitatively characterizing the damage patterns and fracture field evolution characteristics of the overburden in stopes subjected to high-intensity layered mining is critical to the safe production of coal mines. Methods The extremely thick B1 coal seam (average thickness: 53.59 m) in the No. 2 mine of the Dajing mining area in the Zhundong coalfield was selected as the engineering background. By integrating physical simulation using similar materials and numerical simulation, this study revealed the geometric and fractal characteristics of damage to the overburden …

Sand Tank Experiments On The Seepage And Water Pressure Distribution During Single-Well Dewatering At The Bottom Of A Confined Aquifer, Wang Wenxue, Zhang Mengying, Li Yang, Fang Yuan, Zhao Shuli, Shen Mengjun

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background Depressurization through dewatering using inclined wells arranged at the aquifer bottom represents a crucial technical approach to the prevention and control of water-sand inrush disasters during coal mining beneath aquifers. However, the mechanisms underlying seepage-pressure interactions and water-preserved depressurization remain poorly understood. Methods Based on the water-yield properties of confined aquifers and the distribution characteristics of inclined wells for dewatering, this study developed a fan-shaped sand tank experimental system for simulating dewatering and seepage from confined aquifers. Using the experimental system, this study carried out seepage experiments using a partially penetrating well at the bottom of a confined aquifer …

Load Sharing Patterns And Their Key Influencing Factors For The Composite Structure Of A Lined Hard Rock Cavern For Compressed Air Energy Storage, Hu Lihua, Zhou Qiming, Zhang Kai, Yu Liyuan, Liang Xin, Sun Qiang, Wu Yun, Hu Chengguo, Li Wei

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective Compressed air energy storage (CAES) in a lined hard rock cavern holds great prospects. However, the load sharing mechanisms of the cavern’s composite structure, comprising a sealing layer, lining, and surrounding rocks, remain poorly understood.Methods Based on the elastic analytical solutions of stress fields, this first study derived the radial load equilibrium equations for the composite structure of a lined hard rock cavern for CAES. Accordingly, a novel method for calculating the load sharing ratios of the composite structure was developed. Then, an analysis scheme for the load sharing ratios was designed. Using this scheme, this study investigated …

Cnn-Based Assessment Of The Degrees Of Fracture Development In Bedrocks And Classification Of Bedrock Weathering Zones, Lei Jian, Lu Haifeng, Fan Yufei

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background Bedrock weathering zones exhibit distinct vertical gradational characteristics. Accurately identifying the degrees of fracture development in the zones is critical to the safe production of mines in shallowly buried coal seams covered by thick water-bearing unconsolidated layers. Methods Focusing on the Qinan coal mine in Anhui Province, this study proposed a hybrid convolutional neural network (CNN) model, which enabled feature extraction using a synergistic architecture consisting of conventional convolutional layers and inception modules. Specifically, based on conventional log data and calculated shale content and fracture development index, combined with core observations, this study constructed a dataset containing labels that …

Triaxial Shear Test-Derived Strength Model Of Deeply Buried Frozen Calcareous Clay Incorporating The Effect Of Unfrozen Water Content, Xing Lezhang, Rong Chuanxin, Chang Lei, Wang Bin, Deng Jiyuan

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background The Huanghuai mining area represents an important coal base in eastern China. However, the Cenozoic calcareous clay in the area exhibits high plasticity, low permeability, and potential expansion and deformation during freezing, leading to unstable freezing performance. Consequently, artificial ground freezing (AGF) in the area generally faces a risk of cost surge or out of control due to the excessive thickness or limited strength of frozen walls.Methods This study investigated calcareous clay remolded based on soil samples from the Huanghuai mining area. Using a low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) spectrometer and a high-pressure triaxial system, this study systematically …

Bp-Kan-Based Inversion Imaging For Borehole Resistivity Method And Its Application, Xu Zhongzhong, Yin Longlong, Cheng Jiulong, Xu Jinpeng, Lu Cunjin, Zhao Hongpeng

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective In the monitoring of coal seam mining-induced deformation and failure of surrounding rocks, the borehole resistivity method stands out due to its capacity for dynamic, three-dimensional (3D) full-space measurements. However, conventional resistivity inversion for the method is generally carried out using the least squares algorithm, leading to limited accuracy in practical engineering. In recent years, neural network-based inversion has demonstrated the potential for addressing this challenge, while its performance is yet to be further improved. Methods In this context, inversion imaging based on a back propagation-Kolmogorov-Arnold network (BP-KAN) was proposed for the borehole resistivity method, aiming to accurately monitor …

Three-Dimensional, Collaborative Detection Approach For Fire Zones In Shallowly Buried Coal Seams And Its Application, Fan Kaixiang, Hu Xiangming, Hong Haibo, Dong Hao, Yu Shijian, Wei Zhengrong, Guo Yongxiang

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective Fire zones in shallowly buried coal seams have long restricted safe and efficient coal mining due to their considerably hidden and hazardous nature. However, individual methods for fire source detection are susceptible to geological conditions and ambient noise, suffering from limited detection dimensions and the presence of technical blind spots. Therefore, they fail to accurately localize hidden fire sources in shallow coal seams. Methods This study proposes a three-dimensional, collaborative multi-source detection approach that combines the self-potential (SP) method, the radon measurement (Rn) method, electrical resistivity tomography (ERT; also referred to as high-density resistivity method), and the transient electromagnetic …

Design Of An Intelligent Failure Diagnosis And Early Warning System For Tunnel Drilling Rigs In Coal Mines, Song Haitao, Zhang Naiwen, Han Jian, Wu Min

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective In coal mines, harsh environments and complex geological conditions underground lead to frequent failures of tunnel drilling rigs. However, conventional techniques for failure diagnosis and early warning suffer from limitations in diagnostic accuracy, real-time performance, and interpretability. Therefore, these techniques are insufficient for both the rapid identification of the anomalous status of tunnel drilling rigs and the early warning of their potential failures. Methods Considering the complex underground environments in coal mines, this study developed an intelligent failure diagnosis and early warning system for tunnel drilling rigs in coal mines, placing a particular emphasis on key technologies for failure …

A Method For Optimizing The Digital Twin Model Of The Mechanical-Electro-Hydraulic System Of Cantilever Tunnel Boring Machines, Wang Yan, Jia Zeyu, Zhao Yihui, Wei Shirui, Zhang Xuhui, Zhao Youjun, Han Xiao

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective Cantilever roadheaders represent roadway tunnelling equipment that integrates the deep coupling of mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic systems, and their control accuracy directly determines the forming quality of roadways.Methods Cantilever roadheaders involve nonlinear mechanical motion, hydraulic control, and cutting load, rendering it challenging to establish accurate control models. Using the philosophy of digital twin modeling, this study developed a method for optimizing the digital twin model of the mechanical-electro-hydraulic system of cantilever roadheaders based on virtual-physical consistency evaluation. Specifically, a digital twin model of the mechanical-electro-hydraulic system was developed using multi-domain co-simulation between AMESim and Simulink. This model allows …