Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2000-2025
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://theses-dissertations.princeton.edu/handle/88435/dsp014m90dv552
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Air-based thermosyphon system’s role in reducing building-based carbon emissions
(2025-04-14) Eisenberger, Ben H.; Porporato, Amilcare Michele M.Algorithmic Intentions, Material Consequences: Personalization in the Subscription Economy
(2025-04-14) Walsh, Charlotte M.; Bourg, Ian CharlesMany subscription box services market their products as uniquely tailored to each consumer’s individual preferences. This personalization typically begins with an on- boarding quiz where consumers articulate their tastes and preferences, creating the expectation that each subsequent delivery will reflect these stated choices. While 85% of businesses believe they are offering a personalized service, only 60% of consumers agree. This disconnect suggests that “personalization” often functions more as marketing rhetoric than as a substantive product feature. The implications of failed personalization extend beyond poor customer satisfaction; they also drive significant waste: from discarded products and excessive packaging to carbon emissions generated by unnecessary manufacturing and shipping. This thesis investigates whether companies truly deliver on the promise of personalized selection. The research employs a two-part methodology: (1) a controlled 2x2 factorial experiment comparing expert vs. non-expert participants who receive either preference-aligned or preference-misaligned boxes, and (2) qualitative interviews to explore participants’ perceived satisfaction, product fit, and personalization. The experiment was carried out on two different subscription boxes from distinct product categories: IPSY, which delivers a curated beauty box, and MistoBox, which ships subscribers a hand-picked bag of coffee. The findings illuminate the intersection between consumer experience, algorithmic design, and environmental impact, offering ways in which personalization strategies can be optimized to serve consumer and sustainability objectives. Notably, in the experiment, over 80% of IPSY products went unused, highlighting the urgent need for more effective personalization models to reduce waste and improve product relevance.
An Analysis of the Efficiency and Cost Effectiveness of Geothermal Energy Piles in Newark, New Jersey
(2025-04-14) Haile-Manas, Amalia A.; Sandiford, RaymondA geothermal heat pump (GHP) is a heating and cooling system that uses the Earth as a heat source and sink. GHPs possess the environmental benefits associated with all forms of renewable energy, and further have the benefit of meeting a significant demand—building heating and cooling—by tapping an energy source located on site. Moreover, GHPs are efficient and require minimal maintenance. The main drawback of this technology is its high capital cost, which is largely attributed to borehole drilling and pipe installation. Geothermal energy piles (GEPs) provide a way to decrease that cost. On projects that require foundation piles for structural support, geothermal heat exchange tubing can be installed within the piles without any detrimental effect to the foundation's structural integrity. Geothermal energy piles thus increase the viability of GHPs.
This thesis assesses the feasibility of a geothermal energy pile system on the proposed Newark Liberty International Airport AirTrain stations, which will rest on pile foundations. The analysis addresses both the capacity and cost effectiveness of this system. First, calculations demonstrate that geothermal energy piles can provide sufficient heating and cooling capacity given the energy demand, soil conditions, and proposed pile layout. Second, a cost assessment indicates that this system will save money over time despite a higher installation cost. The installation of GEPs on this project could increase awareness of this beneficial technology, which remains relatively uncommon and unknown.
Analysis of the Use of Reinforced Polyethylene in Transparent Roof Design
(2025-04-14) Xaviera, Nal; Mandal, JyotirmoyWith global warming induced rising temperatures heavily affecting populations in the global South, it is becoming increasingly important that low-cost and energy efficient methods are developed to cool structures. Passive radiative coolers are an ideal solution because they cool without an external energy source and are able to achieve subambient internal temperatures. However, the extent of internal cooling is limited to how low of a temperature the passive radiative cooling surface is able to reach. Ideally, internal heat would dissipate without a barrier—most commonly a roof—and escape to space through the atmosphere’s longwave infrared window. Polyethylene is a commonly available and low-cost plastic with high transmittance in the longwave infrared spectrum, making it ”transparent” in the range of 8-13µm. However, it does not possess mechanical properties that make it suitable for use as a building material. This thesis explored the thermal performance of various types of polyethylene in a thermally transparent roof design. Reinforcement for the polyethylene and applications of these designs at large scales was also studied.
Balancing Enjoyment and Efficiency: Sensory Cognizant Queueing in the Happiest Place on Earth
(2025-04-14) Michicich, Morgan M.; Shkuda, Aaron Peter; Hackl, JurgenThe aim of this project is to create a queueing framework to be implemented in Walt Disney World that maximizes guest enjoyment and efficiency of movement, while also taking into consideration sensory needs of guests with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs). To achieve these goals, this project explores the idea of a “second story” being added to Disney World in the form of queueing spaces to both maximize perceived efficiency and utilize verticality that is currently being wasted. The results from this research include observations from spatial ethnography conducted in Disney World, survey data regarding queueing systems in general and in Disney World, and a framework for a queueing system that meets all of the requirements for efficiency, enjoyment, and accessibility as defined by the survey and spatial ethnography. Drawings of two queueing systems that implement this framework are included to better conceptualize how these queues fit into the space, as well as a representative structural analysis of the typical building an attraction queue adhering to this frame- work would be housed in. This new queueing framework, if implemented and found successful, could be replicated in other facets of life to improve queueing experience for all people, regardless of ability.
Bridging the Missing Middle in Clean Technology: An Engineering, Finance, and Policy Approach
(2025-04-14) Song, CC; Greig, Chris; Mauzerall, DeniseTo meet internationally agreed upon climate goals, the world must rapidly deploy both mature and next-generation clean technologies over the upcoming decades. Without the widespread deployment of next-generation technologies such as CCUS and green hydrogen, the speed of carbon emission reductions needed to meet net zero goals is simply not realistic. However, to achieve the required speed and scale of deployment, next-generation technologies must be able to overcome a large financing gap between the RD&D phase and the phase of large-scale deployment in the real world. This gap is often termed the “missing middle”. These technologies face a chicken-and-egg problem where they need to attract large amounts of relatively low-cost capital to grow, yet they are perceived as too high-risk for private investors to support. Thus, the target of this thesis is to investigate how government subsidies can help bridge this gap and accelerate the commercial viability of next-generation clean technologies. Drawing on historical case studies of mature clean technologies like solar PV, comparative analysis of key technology characteristics, and insights from industry experts, this thesis estimates the level of subsidization that CCUS and green hydrogen will require in the future to achieve “systemic bankability” and ideates on policy design to enable their successful scale up.
Building Sector Trends and Embodied Emissions in São Paulo: Implications for Decarbonization with Inclusion, Sufficiency, and Dematerialization
(2025-04-14) Pinho Novo Gomes, Isabella; Ramaswami, AnuAs the global building stock expands to accommodate a growing urban population, embodied greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are expected to represent an increasingly significant share of total urban emissions. This study presents a comprehensive assessment of embodied building emissions in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. Drawing on over 90 years of tax-parcel data, a detailed case study of material intensities for both formal and informal residential typologies, and geographically specific life cycle emission factors, this thesis quantifies the annual embodied carbon associated with new residential and commercial construction. Findings estimate average annual new construction in São Paulo generates approximately 1.46 million tons of CO₂-e/year in embodied emissions, which is equivalent to ~9% of the city’s emission profile (including energy, transport, and waste) and ~30% of emissions from the building sector (including operational emissions from electricity use, heating/cooling, and cooking). The study then evaluates the emission implications of three decarbonization strategies: inclusion (upgrading informal settlements to meet minimum floor area standards), sufficiency (reducing excess floor area per capita), and dematerialization (substituting carbon-intensive materials with lower-emission alternatives). While the inclusion scenario results in a negligible increase in emissions, an ambitious sufficiency scenario could reduce embodied emissions by up to ~23%, and an aggressive dematerialization scenario (modeled on near-optimal cement decarbonization) could cut embodied emissions by ~60%. These findings highlight the importance of integrating material-focused mitigation strategies and inclusive urban design into climate action plans.
Cap the Cross-Bronx? Modeling the Air Quality Impacts of the Proposed Highway Cap
(2025-04-14) Qua, Martina; Sandiford, RaymondHighways pose several environmental, health, and social concerns. The air and noise pollution from vehicles pose a health risk to those living near highways, often disproportionately affecting marginalized communities. One solution to mitigate these negative externalities is highway capping—constructing lids above highways for conversion into deck parks. A highway capping project was recently proposed for the Cross-Bronx Expressway, but little research has been done on its environmental impact, as it is still in the ideation phase. Thus, this thesis uses a differential analysis to assess how the proposed Cross-Bronx Expressway cap would impact air quality in the surrounding area. Using a Gaussian equation model and verifying results through AERMOD, the Environmental Protection Agency’s regulatory atmospheric dispersion model, pollutant concentrations were calculated in areas adjacent to the proposed cap for the no-build and build scenarios. The study found that air quality marginally improves in areas directly adjacent to the cap, but worsens in areas close to the cap exits, particularly the east exit. While the cap keeps PM2.5 and CO concentrations within the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), it exacerbates existing high NOx concentrations near the cap exits. These findings reveal that there is high variation in how community members will be impacted, depending on their proximity to the cap exits.
Designing a Floating Platform on Lake Carnegie for Rowing Spectatorship
(2025-04-14) Neill, Connor G.; Garlock, Maria Eugenia MoreyraElemental Sulfur as Electron Acceptor for Iron Recycling in Feammox Incubations
(2025-04-19) Carlsson, Blue E.; Jaffé, Peter R.The Feammox (iron reduction coupled to ammonium oxidation) reaction facilitated by Acidimicrobium sp. A6 can be used to defluorinate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The reaction is limited in part by the availability of the oxidizing agent, Fe(III), which is reduced to Fe(II) as the reaction proceeds. A theorized pathway of recycling the produced Fe(II) into Fe(III) through the addition of elemental sulfur (S0 ) was tested in Feammox incubations by varying S0 concentrations in incubations with and without PFOA. While the presence of S0 appeared to correlate with an increase in NH4
- removal and PFOA defluorination, differences between 400% Sulfur, 100%, and No sulfur generally lacked statistical significance due to varying bacterial activity. Furthermore, the apparent production of sulfate points to S0 oxidation rather than the expected reduction, making it seem unlikely that iron recycling was achieved in this case.
Evaluating Percolation Ponds for Managed Aquifer Recharge in California’s Central Valley Using a Soil Moisture Balance Model
(2025-04-14) Nyakea, Shalyn M.; Porporato, Amilcare Michele M.FBG Sensor Analysis of a Beam with Complex Geometry and Boundary Conditions
(2025-04-14) Le, Elvis H.; Glisic, BrankoThis thesis presents an investigation into the structural behavior of a concrete beam with welded connections in an operational parking garage. Long-gauge fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors were installed at strategic locations to measure strain under various loading configurations. The research explores the discrepancies between numerical calculations and measured beam response to understand how the complex geometry and boundary conditions influence structural behavior. Finite element analysis (FEA) simulations were conducted using Abaqus software to establish boundary conditions representing two extreme cases: a simply supported beam and a beam with constrained points. These models served as limit states for interpreting the influence of welded connections on beam strain. Measured strain data was compared with FEA predictions, and the effect of welded connections was quantified using a percent effectiveness metric. Results demonstrate that welded connections exert diverse influences on beam deflection depending on both measurement location and load configuration. The connections' behavior generally falls between that of a simply supported beam and one with fixed constraint points, with the proximity to either extreme end condition varying throughout the beam. FEA models showed particular difficulty in accurately predicting lateral bending behavior. The study was constrained by limitations in sensor placement, load magnitude restrictions, and simplifications in the FEA models. Despite these constraints, the methodology demonstrates an effective approach for analyzing structures with complex geometries and boundary conditions. This research contributes to understanding CarbonCure concrete performance in operational structures and supports the ongoing development of structural health monitoring techniques that can enhance the safety and maintenance of built infrastructure.
Groundwater Vulnerability to Contamination from Abandoned Oil and Gas Wells in the Appalachian Basin Region
(2025-04-14) Van Velden, David D.; Maxwell, Reed MailerThe origin of the oil industry is in the Appalachian Basin, which has resulted in thousands of abandoned wells over the years. Improperly sealed wells may leak contaminants into the groundwater, which introduces public health risks to a resource that millions of Americans rely on for drinking water. While methane emissions from abandoned wells are well-studied, aqueous contamination risks remain understudied, especially with regard to human exposure through domestic groundwater wells. This project quantifies the vulnerability of groundwater and its population due to contamination coming from abandoned wells. The total number of people relying on private drinking wells is determined and then used to analyze its spatial distribution by applying a hotspot analysis. The project employs a source-pathway-receptor framework. In this framework, the source consists of a dataset of abandoned wells, while the pathway includes USGS-developed programs ModFlow-6 and ModPath-7, which are used to track particles through the groundwater. The receptors in this system are private drinking wells. In total, an area of 8,815.3 km2 is determined to show vulnerability coming from abandoned wells, potentially exposing a population of 402,948 people that rely on private drinking wells. Particles were tracked often shorter than 2 km, but notable outliers reached almost 17 km. These results emphasize the risk to public health due to the legacy impacts of the oil industry, and thus should be considered in future environmental policy and energy planning.
Investigating Hydrogel Deposition in 3D Printed Cement Paste Samples for Increased Water Uptake
(2025-04-15) Bender, Katie; Moini, RezaThis thesis investigates the effect of in-situ hydrogel deposition on water absorption in additively manufactured cement paste samples. Hydrogels can absorb many times their weight in water and are commonly used in traditional concrete to assist hydration, but become relatively useless after curing. In this project, hydrogel powders were deposited directly onto 3D printed cement paste samples, with the intention of water diffusing through the sample, thus allowing the hydrogels to absorb water after curing is complete. Samples were printed by depositing hydrogels on varying layers, then submerging the cured samples in water. Absorption is measured by changes in mass over time. Results demonstrated that hydrogels consistently increased water uptake, especially within the first hour of submersion, though absorption plateaued after two hours. Samples with higher hydrogel content experienced layer delamination, as well as gels seeping out the sides. While this gave the gels much more room to expand and dramatically increased water uptake, it destroyed the samples. A proposed solution involves modifying print geometry to include internal cavities for hydrogel containment and expansion. These findings support the potential for additively manufactured cement with embedded hydrogels to serve as a passive flood mitigation strategy in urban areas.
Investigating the Effect of Eccentricity on Spin-Valence Kirigami Space Frame Stiffness
(2025-04-14) Toberman, Ellen L.; Adriaenssens, Sigrid M.Space frames are three-dimensional, structural frameworks composed of both linear and surface elements arranged in geometric patterns. While space frames are designed to efficiently distribute loads with minimal self-weight, their construction can be time-consuming due to assembly of numerous individual, yet separate components. Kirigami—the Japanese art of folding and cutting to create three-dimensional shapes from a single sheet of material—offers a promising approach to overcome the limitations of traditional space frame fabrication. While many kirigami space frame patterns have been discovered, this thesis aims to investigate variables that affect the triangular “Spin Valence” kirigami space frame, with the goal of optimizing for stiffness. I initially hypothesize that cut and fold patterns which minimize the eccentricity of deployed Spin Valence space frames will also enhance structural stiffness. First, simplified, two dimensional frame models were constructed to explore the theoretical effects of eccentricity on stiffness. Following these preliminary studies, three-point bending tests were conducted on physical steel Spin Valence models; results were used to construct and validate corresponding three-dimensional FEA models. Finally, FEA simulations were performed across a variety of Spin Valence space frame cut patterns to identify the most optimal design. The results of these simulations revealed that while eccentricity influences structural stiffness, other factors, such as structural depth and diagonal leg angle, also play significant roles. My findings demonstrate that these geometric parameters are codependent on each other in the Spin Valence space frame, interacting to inform the most optimal design.
Let’s Rock: A Numerical Analysis of the 3D Rocking Model in Applications to Performance-based Seismic Design
(2025-04-14) Luc, Chi; Glisic, BrankoRocking isolation is a form of base isolation that relies on a structure’s ability to uplift and rock during ground excitations, dissipating energy via impact with the ground. In 2D, the planar rocking motion is easily understood and modeled. But in the 3D scheme, the system becomes more complex, requiring more intensive calculations and parameters to consider. This thesis will use Distinct Element Modeling to simulate the 3D rocking behavior of free-standing columns and their framed systems. A parametric approach is taken to examine how a column’s geometry and a frame’s orientation can impact its rocking behavior and overall stability under various ground accelerations modeled using a Single-Pulse Sine wave and time history velocities of recorded earthquakes. The analyses reveal that a column’s capacity to endure intense ground excitations can be predicted based on its column’s size and shape. Additionally, this thesis finds that when an array (2D) or matrix (3D) of solitary columns are capped by a freely supported, rigid beam or slab, its capacity to endure intense ground movements is enhanced. The rocking behavior will be ascertained through the numerical analysis of the vertical displacements and velocities of the column’s centroid, in tandem to the qualitative observations of the system’s overall displacements from its original position. Small-scale, physical experimentations are performed to provide qualitative observations of how the 3D rocking model behaves under real-time loading conditions and constraints. Discussion of results will be done in context of performance-based design criteria in hopes of informing applications to modern designs.
Mobilizing the PFAS-Degrading Gene from Acidimicrobium Sp. Strain A6: A Strategy for Breaking Down PFAS in Anaerobic Digesters
(2025-04-14) van Wachem, Emma; Atkinson, JoshPer- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent contaminants that have been associated with adverse health effects. While Acidimicrobium sp. strain A6 demonstrates the ability to degrade PFAS, it is unsuitable for industrial applications. This thesis is focused on investigating whether a gene from Acidimicrobium sp. strain A6, encoding a reductive dehalogenation enzyme capable of degrading per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), can be successfully transformed into a faster reproducing microbial host. The long-term aim is to design a plasmid that can be transferred into the bacteria Shewanella oneidensis, enabling the gene to propagate through horizontal gene transfer within diverse microbial communities. PFAS pose significant challenges to remediation efforts as they are energy-intensive and expensive to degrade. Here, we show that expression of the A6-derived gene in S. oneidensis resulted in enhanced bacterial growth in PFAS-containing environments, indicating a possible functional response to PFAS exposure. With the insert, S. oneidensis was able to grow in high concentrations of PFOA, a response not observed in strains lacking the gene. While PFAS did not serve as a sole electron acceptor, the enhanced anaerobic growth suggests that its presence may supplement metabolism. These findings demonstrate the potential of harnessing faster-growing microbial hosts for PFAS bioremediation through gene mobilization. I anticipate this research to be a starting point for designing diverse microbial communities capable of degrading PFAS, with the ability to disseminate the degradation gene through horizontal gene transfer.
Modeling Streamflow and Nitrogen Dynamics in an Urban Watershed: A Mechanistic Approach
(2025) Musa, Mohammed A.; Porporato, Amilcare Michele M.This thesis develops and tests a process based model of streamflow and nitrogen concentration in the urban stream network of the Bassett Creek watershed. The model treats the watershed as a control volume. This allows for a simplified but physically grounded representation of nitrogen inputs, transformations, and losses. Streamflow is used as the primary control variable. Hydrologic variability is modeled as a key factor shaping nitrogen export over time. This model uses a forward Euler method for two differential equations of streamflow and nitrogen dynamics. These equations are implemented manually in MATLAB to emphasize clarity and sensitivity to parameter changes. The model is calibrated using long term data on rainfall, streamflow, and nitrogen concentrations. Sensitivity analyses are used to identify which parameters most strongly influence outcomes. Results show that the streamflow model captures general runoff behavior with moderate accuracy. The nitrogen model reveals useful qualitative trends but struggles with predictive power due to limited data and the complexity of underlying processes. By grounding the model in first principles and real world observations, this thesis offers an accessible alternative to black box models. It is particularly well suited for environments with limited data and exploratory research in urban watershed systems.
Plants on the Peak: Field and Remote Sensing Variables in Alpine Biodiversity Models
(2025-04-12) Beers, Brooke; Maxwell, Reed MailerThis thesis investigated the ability of field-based and remote sensing variables from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to predict plant species diversity in an alpine ecosystem on Snodgrass Hillslope, located adjacent to Mount Crested Butte, Colorado. Using multiple linear regression models across 88 field plots, soil moisture and slope aspect were the most consistent predictors of species diversity. Other variables in models included slope angle, soil texture, soil temperature, and infrared temperature. Field-based models explained between 37% and 77% of the variance in plant species diversity, with the strongest performance in the upper forested grid. The incorporation of remote sensing variables, including Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and estimated percent vegetation coverage, improved model performance in most cases and most significantly improved performance when modeling the combined lower and upper plots. Remote-only models using NDVI minimum and slope aspect provided a visualization for species diversity across the entire grids but explained less site-level variance with R2 values of 0.6663 (Adj. R2 = 0.555) for the upper grid and an R2 of 0.4123 (Adj. R2 = 0.2227) for the lower grid. These results highlight both the advantages and limitations of solely UAV-based modelling in mountainous terrain. Future projections using SnowClim v1.0 climate projections demonstrated that areas such as Snodgrass Hillslope will become warmer and more stressed for late-season moisture as snowpack decreases, snowmelt timing advances, and summer temperatures rise. These climate shifts may reduce species diversity in water-limited habitats and alter plant community composition in alpine landscapes. Keywords: alpine plant species diversity, multiple linear models, volumetric water content (VWC), slope aspect, soil texture, remote sensing, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), SnowClim v1.0
Reinforced Concrete Foundations: Carbon Awareness
(2025-04-17) Button, Edward; Hackl, Jürgen; Hopper, MichaelConcrete use produces carbon emissions excessively. For safety reasons, cost reasons, and convenience in construction, concrete is a nonnegotiable introducer of carbon emissions; it will not stop. It is nonetheless, more so even, as a result, increasingly important as climate change continues and global anthropogenic carbon dioxide in the atmosphere proliferates to introduce mitigation into the concrete production and use that is increasing. This research aims to reduce the carbon emissions of reinforced concrete foundations by motivating material producers, optimizing structural design, alongside integrating sustainability into code for convenient design tools that maintain safety concerns upfront. Interestingly, existing research does not provide any conclusive evidence as to ways to outweigh concrete’s impact on climate change with sustainability concerns. It is important to continuously monitor data and to optimize based on that data without interrupting construction for safety reasons.