2008 Research Projects

 

Microbial Source Tracking

Mentor: Professor Haas

Project Description: Drexel has had an ongoing project with the Philadelphia Water Department to establish a program for source tracking of sources of microbial contamination in the watersheds that provide drinking water supplies to the city.  As part of this, we are establishing a data base of strains isolated, their genetic and physiological characteristics, and discovering interrelationships.

What you will do: A student in this area could work on targeted laboratory studies analyzing isolates and characterizing them, analyzing data being generated, or working on field collection and gathering of supportive information.

 

Microbial Risk Assessment

Mentor: Professor Haas

Project Description: We have been developing methods and information to assess the risk to people from particular pathogens.  Some of these (anthrax, smallpox) are of homeland security interest.  Others are more generally of health significance (or example, norovirus, or influenza). 

What you will do: In this project we will develop a case study of indoor contamination in a simple room and examine the impacts on people under particular scenarios.  This work will introduce the student to the basic concepts of risk assessment and how they apply to environmental (indoor air) situations.

 

Response of Bacterial Communities to Environmental Stress

Mentor: Prof. Mira Olson

Topical Areas: Environmental Quality and Sustainability

Description: Anthropogenic stresses to the environment can significantly impact bacterial communities and their ability to perform vital metabolic functions.  The purpose of this project is to quantify disturbances to bacterial community function and the subsequent rate of recovery of various bacterial communities when exposed to environmental stresses such as metals, antibiotics, chemical contaminants, and temperature changes.  Bacterial community samples will be collected and tested for their ability to respond to environmental stress.

What you will do: Collect field samples and perform laboratory analyses: (i) analyze the community structure and activity of a microbial population (ii) subject the bacterial community to moderate levels of contamination and record their response and recovery rates

Prerequisites: Previous laboratory experience as well as some knowledge of microbiology would be helpful, but is not required.

 

 

Impact of Stormwater Runoff on Groundwater Quality

Mentor: Prof. Mira Olson

Topical Areas: Environmental Quality and Sustainability

Description: Urban stormwater runoff is a source of harmful pollutants to both surface- and ground-water. The purpose of this study is to analyze the impact of infiltrating stormwater runoff on the quality of ground-water recharge. We will measure infiltration rates at detention basins in the Valley Creek Watershed and analyze water quality versus depth beneath the surface. What you will do: Collect field samples and perform laboratory analyses: (i) measure  infiltration rates at several detention basins in the Valley Creek Watershed (ii) measure surface- and ground-water quality in select detention basins and infiltration zones (iii) measure bacterial transport and filtration in laboratory columns.

Prerequisites: Previous laboratory or field experience would be helpful, but is not necessary. 

 

 

Air-borne Contaminant Dispersal in an Urban Environmet

Mentor: Professor Bakhtier Farouk

Topical Area(s): Analysis and Mitigation of Natural and Man-made Hazards; Application of Advanced Technologies for Urban Engineering  

Description: Modern computational fluid dynamic (CFD) tools will be used to simulate airflows in building environments and city blocks with energy and/or particle release. The student will gain experience in predicting airflow patterns and contaminant dispersal in urban terrain. The work has relevance to release of toxins in confined spaces such as subway systems, tunnels, and buildings and the design of decontamination strategies.

What you will do: (i) learn the use of computational fluid dynamic software for simulating flow, heat and mass transfer problems; (ii) conduct numerical simulations using the software for the prediction of airflow and contaminant dispersal in buildings and city blocks (iii) analyze the results to develop mitigation strategies for the contaminant dispersal  

Prerequisites: Courses in Transport Phenomena and Fluid Dynamics would be beneficial, but are not required. 

  

 

Seismic Performance of Partially Reinforced Masonry Walls

Mentor: Prof. Franklin Moon

Topical Areas: Analysis and Mitigation of Natural and Anthropogenic Hazards

 Description: Several code provisions have limited the use of specific masonry materials for lateral force resisting systems in high earthquake regions due to a lack of demonstrated seismic performance. The goal of this project is to demonstrate the seismic worthiness of selected masonry wall systems and develop accurate analysis techniques for design. This project involves the destructive testing of over a hundred masonry assemblage specimens and several full-scale wall specimens in parallel with a comprehensive model-based simulation study. Of particular interest is the effect of mortar formulation, extent of grouting, reinforcement, axial stress, and geometry on the strength and ductility of assemblage and wall specimens. 

What you will do: (i) Conduct laboratory experiments on full-scale masonry shear walls (12 ft by 8 ft) (ii) perform statistical analysis and reduce experimental data to support conclusions. 

Prerequisites: A class in mechanics of materials is required.

 

Environmental Standards for Microbial Risk

Mentor: Prof. Patrick Gurian

Topical Area(s): Risk Analysis and Management

Description: Traditionally exposure to microbial pathogens has been seen as a simple binary classification of “exposed” vs. “not exposed”. Individuals considered “exposed” would receive antibiotic therapy and/or vaccines depending on the options available for the specific pathogen. Similarly locations contaminated with pathogens would be subject to a disinfection procedure. The discipline of microbial risk assessment has matured over the past 20 years and is now able to offer quantitative estimates of risk, as opposed to the simple “exposed” vs. “not exposed” categorization. In addition, analytical methods are improving to the point where extremely low levels of pathogens can now be detected. It is not clear that treating all areas with non-zero pathogen levels as “contaminated is beneficial. Devoting resources to reducing risks that are already low may not be justified, and non-zero risks are tolerated routinely in other domains, such as chemical risk and transportation. In addition, reducing microbial risks may involve medical interventions, such as antibiotics and vaccines, which carry their own health risks.

What you will do:  Develop a pathogen exposure scenario. A scenario involving Norwalk virus transmitted through surface contact is particularly of interest. Developing the scenario will require reading the scientific literature to identify appropriate transfer fractions (transfer of virus from surface to food, surface to hands, from hands to mouth, etc.) and dose-response models (that can be used to estimate risk of infection from exposure to different levels of virus), constructing a straightforward mathematical model of the scenario. The model will then be used to assess what amount of virus in the environment corresponds to various levels of risk. This will provide guidance as to what are satisfactory clean up levels after a virus outbreak.

 

 

Reducing Carbon Monoxide Intoxication in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico

Mentor: Prof. Patrick Gurian

Topical Area(s): Risk Analysis and Management

Description:  Carbon monoxide intoxication from unvented heaters is a serious health risk in the U.S.-Mexico border region. Addressing this risk requires both engineering knowledge and public health skills. A consortium of universities are working together to understand this problem better and develop practical solutions. Research has spanned a range from monitoring of carbon monoxide concentrations in indoor air to survey work aimed at understanding what the public already knows and what the public needs to know to avoid poisoning from carbon monoxide. A city-wide campaign is in progress to motivate individuals to buy carbon monoxide alarms. In order to improve this campaign in the future careful evaluation is needed to determine how effective it is at improving knowledge and how effective it is at actually changing behavior.

What you will do:  Analyze a database of carbon monoxide detector sales and assess how effective the program was at encouraging the adoption of appropriate engineering technology. Assess neighborhood intoxication rates to identify areas at greatest risk. Evaluate city-wide intoxication rates to assess whether incidents decreased during the campaign, when correcting for temperature. Develop recommendations for future efforts.

 

 

 

Tools for Evaluating Fault Detection and Diagnostic Methods for Air-Handling Units

Mentor: Prof. Jin Wen

Topical Area(s): Environmental Quality and Sustainability

Description: The objectives of the project are to develop and validate a simulation tool that can be used to simulate both fault free and faulty operation data of an air handling unit (AHU) for AHU fault detection and diagnosis (FDD) developers. Although modern buildings are using increasingly sophisticated systems that have tremendous control and monitoring capabilities, building routinely fail to perform as designed. Various faults including design faults, installation faults, sensor faults, equipment faults and control faults often exist in the building Heating Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system and associated EMCS without being noticed for long periods of time. Such faults cause increased energy consumption and utility cost, uncomfortable and unhealthy indoor environment, as well as equipment failures. An AHU connects primary heating and cooling plants with building zones, controls building ventilation intake, and significantly impact building energy use, health, and comfort aspects. Nevertheless, only limited experimental studies under restrictive scope are available to evaluate AHU AFDD methods. A dynamic AHU simulation model that is capable of producing fault free and faulty operation data for commonly used AHU configurations and control & operation strategies is thus needed.

What you will do: (i) Conduct numerical simulations using pre-developed simulation program; and (ii) Assist simulation and experimental data analysis. Prerequisites: A undergraduate level class in Thermodynamics or Heat Transfer is needed; Knowledge in building HVAC system and/or computer programming is preferred but not required.

 

 

 

Sustainable Urban Water Resource Engineering

Mentor: Professor Montalto

Project Description: Drexel is involved in an extensive study to develop new tools for assessing the impacts of decentralized green infrastructure approaches to urban water management. This work involves developing computer simulations and collecting data that will help to quantify the multiple benefits of technologies like permeable pavements, green roofs, rainwater capture, storage, and reuse, bioinfiltration, when they are implemented at various scales in urban watersheds.

What you will do: The student may assist in model construction, field data collection, GIS and other mapping exercises. The project will also involve synthesizing cost, performance, site suitability and other data from actual green infrastructure sites.

 

 

Permeability of Geotextiles under Pressure

Mentor: Professor Hsuan

Topical Area(s): Analysis and Mitigation of Natural and Anthropogenic Hazards/Geotechnics 

Description:  High water content sludge that was resulted from the flooding must be properly contained and disposed to minimize potential contamination.  One of the methods is to utilize geotextile tubes to contain the sludge and then dispose to the landfill.  However, the water content of the sludge must low enough to meet the landfill acceptant criterion.  In this project, filtration properties of different types of geotextiles (woven and nonwoven) will be evaluated under high hydraulic pressures.      

What you will do:  (i) perform filtration tests on geotextiles under high hydraulic pressure with and without sludge, (ii) microscopically exam the clogging layer using optical microscopy, and (iii) analysis the particle sizes of the clogged materials and filtered materials. 

Prerequisites:  A class in hydraulic and soil mechanics would be beneficial, but is not required.    

Geotube in a landfill

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Low-Energy Luminous Surfaces:  Residential Lighting Using CeeLite LEC Technology

Mentor:  Professor Eugenia Ellis

Topical Area(s):  Environment and Sustainability 

Project Description:  The CeeLite LEC panel approaches the color temperature of natural daylight, generates minimal heat and is made using copolyester resins, which is a recoverable and reusable material.  The CeeLite LEC panel has the potential to revolutionize the way residences are illuminated by reducing energy consumption for home owners and providing quality interior illumination through luminous surfaces that simulate natural daylight in lieu of traditional luminaires. The goal of this project is to develop a quality residential lighting system that is cost effective and energy efficient.  Unlike traditional residential lighting systems, this residential luminous surface system will provide illumination without heat generation resulting in an overall reduction in cooling loads, promoting building efficiency.  By powering this lighting system with photovoltaics, this could be a fully solar-powered system with battery back-up, with the additional potential use as emergency lighting.  By designing this interior illumination system to simulate the properties of natural daylight, it will provide a productive and comfortable interior environment.     

What you will do:  The student will re-imagine residential lighting by considering luminous surfaces in lieu of traditional luminaires to provide quality light for residential applications.  The project team of engineers and designers will be working together with the Drexel Smart House to develop a prototype that can be commercialized, manufactured, and distributed for residential use.  

CeeLite panel

  

 

 

 

Visualization of Environmental Information 

Mentor: Prof. David Breen

Topical Areas: Visualization 

Description:In many engineering studies enormous amounts of data are produced via detection, scanning and simulation technologies.  Satellites, sensors and computers regularly generate giga to terabytes of data that describe air flow, ocean currents, water transport, temperature fluctuations, soil contaminants concentrations, etc.Once the data is collected, frequently the best way to analyze it is via visualization, a form of visual communication.  The challenge of visualization is to map numerous complex, time-varying quantities into a comprehensible visual representation that communicates the underlying, essential structures and trends hidden in the data.Using an Open Source visualization software system the student will develop visualizations from the data generated from a number of the other REU projects.  The data to be visualized will describe such quantities as air and water pollutants, as well as high dimensional data pertaining to urban water resources. 

What you will do: Learn many of the features and capabilities of a small number of visualization systems, including Open DX and VTK. Gather the visualization requirements of the collaborating projects. Program the visualization systems to meet these visualization requirements. 

Prerequisites: Strong programming skills in C++ within a Linux/MacOS environment.