Teaching Landscape Construction Using Augmented Reality

This thesis describes the design, development, and evaluation of an interactive Microsoft HoloLens application that projects landscape models in Augmented Reality. The application was developed using the Unity framework and 3D models created in Sketchup. Using the application, students can not only visualize the models in real space but can also interact with the models using gestures. The students can interact with the models using gaze and air-tap gestures. Application testing was conducted with 21 students from the Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning department at Utah State University. To evaluate the application, students completed a usability survey after using the application. Students also participated in a focus group. Results indicate that students were excited to use the application and found it helpful for learning landscape construction concepts. Some of the students found the application and the HoloLens device cumbersome to use, and they offered suggestions for how to improve the application. The thesis concludes with recommendations for future work

On-farm Nitrogen and Irrigation Management Strategies to Protect Groundwater Quality in the Bazile Groundwater Management Area

Increasing groundwater nitrate (NO3-N) contamination has raised significant environmental and health concerns in the irrigated sandy soils of Nebraska. Four studies were conducted to evaluate the impact the impact of 1) static (NE Yield Goal) vs. dynamic nitrogen (N) recommendations tools (Maize-N, Canopy Reflectance Sensing, Granular, and Adapt-N), 2) three N (optimum, suboptimum, and low) and irrigation rates (farmer’s full irrigation (FIT), 80% FIT, and 60% FIT), 3) conventional N sources vs. enhanced efficiency fertilizers (EEFs), and 4) multiple N splits (2, 3, 4, and 5-N splits) on agronomic (maize yield), environmental (NO3-N leaching), and economic returns (return to N (RTN) and RTN after considering environmental costs (RTNEnv). The first study indicated that the static Nebraska Yield Goal outperformed all the dynamic N tools by predicting the N rate and yield closer to EONR. At the same time, Maize-N recommended N above- and Canopy Reflectance Sensing, Granular, and Adapt-N below the EONR range. Environmentally, N tools did not significantly affect NO3-N leaching. Economically, all tools were equally effective in determining RTNEnv. In the second study, a reduction in N rate by 25% in the suboptimum (202 kg ha-1) and 50% in low N rate (135 kg ha-1) reduced NO3-N leaching by 24% (7 kg NO3-N ha-1) and 51% (15 kg NO3-N ha-1), maize grain yield by 8% (14.5 Mg ha-1) and 11% (14.0 Mg ha-1), and RTN by $215 ha-1 and$298 ha-1, respectively. The 80% FIT had significantly higher grain yield and RTN, and lower NO3-N leaching by 13-21% than 60% FIT and FIT. In the third study, the use of EEFs (i.e., urea with urease and dual (urease and nitrification) inhibitors) in a single pre-plant application substantially decreased NO3-N leaching with the levels approaching control treatments in both years, and had the same or better crop yield, and improved economic returns than conventional Urea-UAN split and pre-plant Urea. Lastly, we did not observe any benefit of increasing the number of in-season N-split applications in protecting groundwater quality or improving maize yield in a dry year. Overall, these findings will help producers and policymakers decide the right nitrogen recommendation tools, nitrogen source, and irrigation rates for improving agronomic, economic, and environmental performance. Advisors: Javed Iqbal and Daniel Sno

Pyrolysis of Miscanthus and Products Characterization

Miscanthus, an invasive crop, has recently gained attention as an emerging energy crop because of certain features such as adaptability to lower temperature, efficient use of water and nutrients, low or no need of nitrogen fertilizers, high biomass yield, fast growing cycle and less intensive agricultural cultivation practices than other energy crops, such as corn. The literature review is focused on the value-added applications and conversion of Miscanthus for bioenergy and biomaterial applications. The thermochemical conversion technologies reviewed in this chapter include pyrolysis, liquefaction, torrefaction and gasification, whereas biochemical conversion technologies include enzymatic saccharification and fermentation. In this work, Miscanthus was selected as the feedstock for fast pyrolysis carried out in a mechanically fluidized bed reactor at three temperatures (400, 450 and 500°C) and three vapor residence times (1.4 s, 2.7 s and 5.2 s). Miscanthus was efficiently converted to energy-rich bio-oil and value-added biochar through fast pyrolysis. Fast pyrolysis performed at 450°C with 1.4 s of vapor residence time gave the highest yield of bio-oil (\u3e 50 wt%). The biochar obtained at variable pyrolysis temperatures were also activated at 900°C for 1.5 h under CO2 atmosphere to enhance its value as a potential adsorption agent for pollutants. Several characterization techniques were used to study the bio-oils, biochars and activated biochars obtained from the pyrolysis of Miscanthus. The absorption of methylene blue as a model dye (wastewater pollutant) was done to evaluate the performance of activated biochar versus the biochar precursors. Both pyrolysis and physical activation complemented each other as new technologies for energy extraction and material synthesis from Miscanthus

Thermal Evolution of Moon

In August, 2014 three experiments were conducted using infrared systems deployed at White Mountain Research center, CA. The data was acquired for the whole month of August. Teams of 3-4 students from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and UC Santa Barbara were stationed at the research center for 2-3 days to operate the equipment. The three experiments were:(1) creating spatial-temporal time series of lunar surface temperatures;(2) identifying atmospheric meteor trails;(3) search for meteor impacts on the Moon surface. Out of the three this thesis focusses on experiment 1 and the results from this experiment could also help with the other experiments. We propose to use a thermal infrared camera mounted on a telescope to acquire time-series observations of lunar surface temperatures to get a novel insight into the thermal evolution of the Moon over a complete lunar cycle. Half a lunar cycle would account from morning to night and lasts for approximately 14.75 days. Seeing how the pixel value changes from morning to night the pixel and temperature trends can be observed throughout the day. Apart from that one can get the two temperature peaks that could maybe help to get an estimate for the Thermal inertia of the surface in the presence of Moon regolith. The temperature trends and the thermal inertia could potentially provide some insight for methods that seek to determine the properties of asteroids from ground based observations

Performance Analysis of Earth-Air Tunnel System used for Air-Conditioning of the College Classroom

The present paper discusses the designing of metallic earth-air tunnel system taking under consideration all the variables like cooling load, heating load of the classroom, optimum underground temperature, and weight of the soil acting on the underground duct. Duct is of Zigzag pattern and its cross-section is of square shape. The zigzag pattern resulted in less area occupied and shorter length of the duct required for proper air-conditioning effect. Part of the duct leading to the classroom is insulated in order to stop the temperature change of the conditioned air after coming in contact with atmospheric conditions. The results showed a 13oC reduction in temperature during summers. Heating effect in winters was relatively less, with just 5oC increase in temperature. Keywords: Ground Temperature Estimation, Metallic Duct, Heating and cooling Load, Pressure Drop in the Duct, Year Average C.O.P.

Recommendation Framework Based on Subjective Logic in Decision Support Systems

In this thesis our goals are to investigate the suitability of subjective logic within the decision support context that requires connectivity to complex data, user specification of frames of discernment, representation of complex reasoning expressions, an architecture that supports distributed usage of a decision support tool based on a client-server approach that separates user interactions on the browser side from computational engines for calculations on the server side, and analysis of the suitability and limitations of the proposed architecture

Performance Analysis of Rectangular Earth-Air Tunnel System used for Air-Conditioning of the College Classroom

The present paper discusses the designing of metallic earth-air tunnel system taking under consideration all the variables like cooling load, heating load of the classroom, optimum underground temperature, and weight of the soil acting on the underground duct. Duct is of Zigzag pattern and its cross-section is of square shape. The zigzag pattern resulted in less area occupied and shorter length of the duct required for proper air-conditioning effect. Part of the duct leading to the classroom is insulated in order to stop the temperature change of the conditioned air after coming in contact with atmospheric conditions. The results showed a 13oC reduction in temperature during summers. Heating effect in winters was relatively less, with just 5oC increase in temperature. Keywords: Ground Temperature Estimation, Metallic Duct, Heating and cooling Load, Pressure Drop in the Duct, Year Average C.O.P

Effect of Pollution on Common Man in India: A Legal Perspective

The present generation and the coming generations have to solve three grave problems, namely, population, poverty and pollution if they have to survive.  We will focus ourselves on pollution for now. The environmental problems in India are growing rapidly. The increasing economic development and a rapidly growing population that has taken the country from 300 million people in 1947 to more than one billion people today is putting a strain on the environment, infrastructure, and the country’s natural resources.  Industrial pollution, soil erosion, deforestation, rapid industrialization, urbanization, and land degradation are all worsening problems for our country. Overexploitation of the country's resources, be it land or water and the industrialization process has resulted environmental degradation of resources.  Environmental pollution is one of the most serious problems that is facing humanity and other life forms on our planet today. It is no longer a new or surprising fact that mankind has actually brought the Earth to the brink of disaster. Man’s suicidal actions will soon turn this wonderful planet into a lifeless and hostile planet. The ill-effects of ever-growing population and urbanization have already been seen, felt and realized to some extent in different circles.  Today, the air we breathe, the water we drink and the land on which we grow our food, have been poisoned. Numerous problems like ozone layer depletion, greenhouse effect, global climatic changes, depletion of ground water levels, drinking water crises, etc. are all plaguing the Earth today in the twenty-first century and posing serious threats to the survival as well as the very existence of the human race on this  Earth. Industrialization and urbanisation have resulted in a profound deterioration of India’s living quality. Out of the 3 million premature deaths that occur in the world each year due to pollution, the highest number are assessed to occur in India. According to the World Health Organization, the country of India is one of the top ten polluted countries in the world. According to another study, while India’s Gross Domestic Product has increased 2.5 times over the past two decades, while the pollution has quadrupled in the same period. Through the paper we will be throwing light on various forms of pollution prevalent in India and their effect on the common man of the country. And the measures that can be used to curb the pollution and minimize the effect of pollution on the people. Mahatma Gandhi had said that nature has enough to satisfy everyone’s need but has not enough to satisfy man’s greed. Sadly our ever-expanding greed has put us in such precarious situation that we face today. Keywords: Pollution, Law, Environment, People, Legal Perspectiv