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Farfield modeling of the Boynton Inlet plume using sulfur hexafluoride as tracer
Title
Farfield modeling of the Boynton Inlet plume using sulfur hexafluoride as tracer.
Creator
Pire-Schmidt, Joaquin., College of Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatics Engineering
Abstract/Description
The analysis and modeling of the coastal farfield behavior of inlet discharge plumes is the key to understanding the fate of pollutants discharged into the ocean. These plumes disperse in chaotic and unpredictable patterns. Theoretical models are based on the average conditions and calibrated to the results of tracer studies. Data and models for freshwater discharges in coastal ocean systems are limited because of the lack of adequate tracers. On February, 2007, a tracer study was conducted...
Show moreThe analysis and modeling of the coastal farfield behavior of inlet discharge plumes is the key to understanding the fate of pollutants discharged into the ocean. These plumes disperse in chaotic and unpredictable patterns. Theoretical models are based on the average conditions and calibrated to the results of tracer studies. Data and models for freshwater discharges in coastal ocean systems are limited because of the lack of adequate tracers. On February, 2007, a tracer study was conducted on the Boynton Inlet, Florida, using sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) tracer. The objective of this study is to provide methods of analysis for the sample data collected during the experiment. The detected tracer concentrated in a bolus that migrated north of the inlet at velocities lower than predicted by the current data. The plume was successfully modeled with a Gaussian plume model, with 90% of the SF6 predictions having less than 4.6 pptr error.
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Date Issued
2009
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/186771
Subject Headings
Plumes (Fluid dynamics), Water, Pollution, Sedimentation and deposition, Environmental aspects, Pollution, Mathematical models
Format
Document (PDF)
Collection and analyses of physical data for deep injection wells in Florida
Title
Collection and analyses of physical data for deep injection wells in Florida.
Creator
Gao, Jie., College of Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatics Engineering
Abstract/Description
Deep injection wells (DIW) in Florida are regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the state of Florida through the Underground Injection Control regulations contained within the Safe Drinking Water Act. Underground injection is defined as the injection of hazardous waste, nonhazardous waste, or municipal waste below the lowermost formation containing an underground source of drinking water within one-quarter mile of the wellbore. Municipalities in Florida have been...
Show moreDeep injection wells (DIW) in Florida are regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the state of Florida through the Underground Injection Control regulations contained within the Safe Drinking Water Act. Underground injection is defined as the injection of hazardous waste, nonhazardous waste, or municipal waste below the lowermost formation containing an underground source of drinking water within one-quarter mile of the wellbore. Municipalities in Florida have been using underground injection as an alternative to surface disposal of treated domestic wastewater for nearly 40 years. The research involved collecting data as of September, 2007 on all the Class I DIWs in the state of Florida and evaluating the differences between them. The analysis found regional differences in deep well practice and canonical correlation analyses concluded that depth below the USDW is the most significant factor to prevent upward migration of the injected fluid.
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Date Issued
2010
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/2796085
Subject Headings
Groundwater flow, Mathematical models, Artificial groundwater recharge, Groundwater, Pollution, Management, Deep-well disposal
Format
Document (PDF)
Identifiying cost savings through energy conservation measures in mechanically aerated activated sludge treatment processes in southeast Florida
Title
Identifiying cost savings through energy conservation measures in mechanically aerated activated sludge treatment processes in southeast Florida.
Creator
Stanley, Eric., College of Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatics Engineering
Abstract/Description
This thesis presents a model which estimates energy and cost savings that can be realized by implementing Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs) at mechanically aerated wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in southeast Florida. Historical plant monitoring data is used to estimate savings achieved by implementing innovative aeration technologies which include : 1) Fine Bubble DIffusers ; 2) Single-Stage Turbo Blowers ; 3) Automatic Dissolved Oxygen (DO) Control. Key assumptions for modeling...
Show moreThis thesis presents a model which estimates energy and cost savings that can be realized by implementing Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs) at mechanically aerated wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in southeast Florida. Historical plant monitoring data is used to estimate savings achieved by implementing innovative aeration technologies which include : 1) Fine Bubble DIffusers ; 2) Single-Stage Turbo Blowers ; 3) Automatic Dissolved Oxygen (DO) Control. Key assumptions for modeling performance of each technology are researched and discussed, such as trends in the future cost of electricity, efficiency of blowers, and practical average DO levels for each scenario. Capital cost estimates and operation maintenance (O&M) costs are estimated to complete life-cycle cost and payback analyses. The benefits are quantified on an individual and cumulative basis, to identify which technologies are cost-beneficial. The results demonstrate that levels of payback of 20 years or less are available at the three WWTPs studied.
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Date Issued
2012
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3352885
Subject Headings
Ecological engineering, Sewage, Purification, Sewage disposal plants, Energy conservation
Format
Document (PDF)
Predicting removal efficiency of reverse osmosis membranes with respect to emerging substances of concern using a discriminant function analysis
Title
Predicting removal efficiency of reverse osmosis membranes with respect to emerging substances of concern using a discriminant function analysis.
Creator
Pleitez Herrera, Fernando J., College of Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatics Engineering
Abstract/Description
This paper presents the results of the spike tests performed in the alternative water supply pilot testing program for the City of Pembroke Pines. It establishes the effectiveness of a protocol that can be used to gain further insight on the rejection capacities of RO membranes. An in-depth study of the molecular descriptors affecting rejection by RO membranes is presented and used in the development of a discriminant function analysis. This analysis proved to be an effective way to predict...
Show moreThis paper presents the results of the spike tests performed in the alternative water supply pilot testing program for the City of Pembroke Pines. It establishes the effectiveness of a protocol that can be used to gain further insight on the rejection capacities of RO membranes. An in-depth study of the molecular descriptors affecting rejection by RO membranes is presented and used in the development of a discriminant function analysis. This analysis proved to be an effective way to predict the passage of Emerging Substances of Concern (ESOCs) through RO membrane. Further, a principal component (PC) analysis was performed to determine which factors accounted the largest variation in RO permeability. Additionally, this paper defines the groundwork for a discriminant analysis model that, if further developed, could serve as an important tool to predict the rejection capabilities of RO treatment when handling with ESOCs.
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Date Issued
2012
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3355869
Subject Headings
Membranes (Technology), Water, Purification, Reverse osmosis process, Industrial water supply, Water, Pollution, Chemoinformatics
Format
Document (PDF)
Effect of median grain size ratio on the compaction behavior of binary granular mixes
Title
Effect of median grain size ratio on the compaction behavior of binary granular mixes.
Creator
Brenner, Tara Devine., College of Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatics Engineering
Abstract/Description
Optimization of compaction in granular material without the use of traditional ground improvement methods may be possible by optimizing the percentage of finer material and the median grain size ratio in binary soil mixtures. In this study, the median grain size ratio D50/d50 was explored as a fundamental parpmeter affecting the compaction characteristics of binary mixes made from natural sands as opposed to singular measurements such as fines content and mean grain size traditionally used to...
Show moreOptimization of compaction in granular material without the use of traditional ground improvement methods may be possible by optimizing the percentage of finer material and the median grain size ratio in binary soil mixtures. In this study, the median grain size ratio D50/d50 was explored as a fundamental parpmeter affecting the compaction characteristics of binary mixes made from natural sands as opposed to singular measurements such as fines content and mean grain size traditionally used to represent granular soils. A total of 18 binary granular mixes were synthetically generated from natural sands obtained from Longboat Key, Florida and evaluated through grain size analysis, laboratory compaction and determination of relative density. Results indicate that the D50/d50 ratio shows promise as a fundamental parameter for compaction optimization in binary mixes with values exceeding six approaching the densest packing configuations.
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Date Issued
2012
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3358329
Subject Headings
Granular materials, Dynamic testing, Engineering geology, Soil mechanics, Testing, Micromechanics, Mathematical models
Format
Document (PDF)
Influences of climate variability and change on precipitation characteristics and extremes
Title
Influences of climate variability and change on precipitation characteristics and extremes.
Creator
Goly, Aneesh, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatics Engineering
Abstract/Description
This study focuses on two main broad areas of active research on climate: climate variability and climate change and their implications on regional precipitation characteristics. All the analysis is carried out for a climate change-sensitive region, the state of Florida, USA. The focus of the climate variability analysis is to evaluate the influence of individual and coupled phases (cool and warm) of Atlantic multidecadal oscillation (AMO) and El Niäno southern oscillation (ENSO) on regional...
Show moreThis study focuses on two main broad areas of active research on climate: climate variability and climate change and their implications on regional precipitation characteristics. All the analysis is carried out for a climate change-sensitive region, the state of Florida, USA. The focus of the climate variability analysis is to evaluate the influence of individual and coupled phases (cool and warm) of Atlantic multidecadal oscillation (AMO) and El Niäno southern oscillation (ENSO) on regional precipitation characteristics. The two oscillations in cool and warm phases modulate each other which have implications on flood control and water supply in the region. Extreme precipitation indices, temporal distribution of rainfall within extreme storm events, dry and wet spell transitions and antecedent conditions preceding extremes are evaluated. Kernel density estimates using Gaussian kernel for distribution-free comparative analysis and bootstrap sampling-based confidence intervals are used to compare warm and cool phases of different lengths. Depth-duration-frequency (DDF) curves are also developed using generalized extreme value (GEV) distributions characterizing the extremes. ... This study also introduces new approaches to optimally select the predictor variables which help in modeling regional precipitation and further provides a mechanism to select an optimum spatial resolution to downscale the precipitation projections. New methods for correcting the biases in monthly downscaled precipitation projections are proposed, developed and evaluated in this study. The methods include bias corrections in an optimization framework using various objective functions, hybrid methods based on universal function approximation and new variants.
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Date Issued
2013
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/3362383
Subject Headings
Climatic changes, Environmental aspects, Global temperature changes, Environmental aspects, Precipitation (Meteorology), Measurement, Bootstrap (Statistics)
Format
Document (PDF)
Cement stabilization of organic soils for controlling secondary compression behavior
Title
Cement stabilization of organic soils for controlling secondary compression behavior.
Creator
Ramirez, Juan., College of Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatics Engineering
Abstract/Description
Western Palm Beach County, FL is characterized by thick deposits organic soils at shallow depths. Because of their high void ratio and compressibility, these soils undergo large primary consolidation followed by extended periods of secondary compression causing excessive premature structural distress. Although soil stabilization has been largely used with remarkable results in soft, expansive and non-organic soils, limited research and practice exist in the implementation with highly organic...
Show moreWestern Palm Beach County, FL is characterized by thick deposits organic soils at shallow depths. Because of their high void ratio and compressibility, these soils undergo large primary consolidation followed by extended periods of secondary compression causing excessive premature structural distress. Although soil stabilization has been largely used with remarkable results in soft, expansive and non-organic soils, limited research and practice exist in the implementation with highly organic soils. The main motivation of this research was to investigate the effects of cement stabilization on the compressibility behavior of organic rich soils, and develop mix design criteria for optimum cement contents necessary to induce the desired engineering behavior. This optimized mix design may provide guidelines for Deep Mixing Methods in organic soils.
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Date Issued
2009
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/367760
Subject Headings
Soil consolidation, Measurement, Soils, Organic compound content, Soil remediation, Technological innovations, Concrete construction, Structural stability, Design
Format
Document (PDF)
Dynamic characterization and forensic investigation of reinforced asphalt pavement cores from SR15/US98
Title
Dynamic characterization and forensic investigation of reinforced asphalt pavement cores from SR15/US98.
Creator
Ledezma-Campodonico, Rodrigo., College of Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatics Engineering
Abstract/Description
Due to the presence of deep deposits of organic soils at shallow depths, roadways in western Palm Beach County, FL show premature distress and failure requiring frequent rehabilitation. In an effort to develop effective mitigation strategies, 24 test sections, containing various types of pavement reinforcing materials, were constructed during Fall of 2008. This study presents a forensic investigation and dynamic characterization of reinforced asphalt cores obtained from SR15/US98 for...
Show moreDue to the presence of deep deposits of organic soils at shallow depths, roadways in western Palm Beach County, FL show premature distress and failure requiring frequent rehabilitation. In an effort to develop effective mitigation strategies, 24 test sections, containing various types of pavement reinforcing materials, were constructed during Fall of 2008. This study presents a forensic investigation and dynamic characterization of reinforced asphalt cores obtained from SR15/US98 for evaluating the uniformity of test sections, qualitative comparisons, and developing empirical models for predicting permanent deformation and material damage with stress cycles simulating traffic loading.
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Date Issued
2009
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/369188
Subject Headings
Pavements, Asphalt, Design and construction, Roads, Design and construction, Transportation engineering
Format
Document (PDF)