A method for precisely synchronizing an external serial data stream to the pulse-per-second (PPS) output signal from a global navigation satellite-based system (GNSS) receiver was investigated. A signal timing device was designed that used a digital signal processor (DSP) with serial inputs and input captures to generate time stamps for asynchronous serial data based on an 58593.75 Hz internal timer. All temporal measurements were made directly in hardware to eliminate software latency. The resolution of the system was 17.1 µs, which translated to less than one millimeter of horizontal position error at travel speeds typical of most agricultural operations. The dynamic error of a TTS was determined using a rotary test fixture. Tests were performed at angular velocities ranging from 0 to 3.72 rad/s and a radius of 0.635 m. Average latency from the TTS was shown to be consistently near 0.252 s for all angular velocities and less variable when using a reflector based machine target versus a prism target. Sight distance from the target to the TTS was shown to have very little effect on accuracy between 4 and 30 m. The TTS was determined to be a limited as a position reference for dynamic GNSS and vehicle auto-guidance testing based on angular velocity. The dynamic error of a GNSS receiver was determined using the rotary test fixture and modeled as discrete probability density functions for varying angular velocities and filter levels. GNSS position and fixture data were recorded for angular velocities of 0.824, 1.423, 2.018, 2.618, and 3.222 rad/s at a 1 m radius. Filter levels were adjusted to four available settings including; no filter, normal filter, high filter, and max filter. Each data set contained 4 hours of continuous operation and was replicated three times. Results showed that higher angular velocities increased the variability of the distribution of error while not having a significant effect on average error. The distribution of error tended to change from normal distributions at lower angular velocities to uniform distributions at higher angular velocities. Internal filtering was shown to consistently increase dynamic error for all angular velocities.

Biomass production is spatially distributed resulting in high transportation costs when moving dedicated biomass crops and crop residues. A multifaceted approach was taken to address this issue as the low bulk and energy density of biomass limits transportation efficiency. Two systems were analyzed for the conversion of biomass into a denser feedstock applicable to on-farm use. Pelletization was able to densify the material into a solid fuel. Using a pilot scale flat ring pellet mill, the density of the material was able to be increased to at least 4.4 times that of uncompressed material. Pellet durability was found to be strongly related to the moisture content of the material entering the mill. Unlike with ring roller pellet mills, a higher durability was typically seen forbiomass materials with a preconditioned moisture content of 20% (w.b.). From a liquid fuel standpoint, the conversion of lignocellulosic material into biobutanol on-farm was the second method investigated. For the pretreatment of biomass, alkaline hydrogen peroxide spray was demonstrated to be an effective enhancer of saccharification. The viability of on-farm biobutanol preprocessing bunker facilities within Kentucky was analyzed using Geographic Information systems (GIS) to specifically address transportation related factors. The spatial variability of corn field production, size, and location were resolved by utilizing ModelBuilder to combine the various forms of data and their attributes. Centralized and Distributed preprocessing with Centralized refining (DC) transportation systems were compared. Centralized was defined as transport of corn stover directly from the field to a refinery. Distributed-Centralized was specified as going from the field to the biobutanol bunker with corn stover and from the bunker to the refinery with a dewatered crude biobutanol solution. For the DC design, the location of the field and refinery were fixed with the biobutanol bunker location being variable and dependent upon differing maximum transportation (8-80 km) cutoffs for biomass transport from the field to biobutanol bunkers. The DC designs demonstrated a lower (38 - 59%) total transportation cost with a reduced fuel use and CO2 emissions compared to the centralized system.

Surface mining is a commonly used method for extracting coal in the Appalachian Coalfields of the U.S. This mining practice produces excess spoil or overburden, which is often placed in adjacent valleys resulting in the creation of valley fills. These valley fills bury headwater streams, which in turn can negatively impact downstream ecosystems. In 2008, the University of Kentucky designed and constructed 1,020 m of ephemeral, intermittent and headwater streams on an existing valley fill (Guy Cove) as a proof-of-concept. The goal of the project was to evaluate whether or not a stream recreation could occur on mined lands, particularly a valley fill. The hydrograph characteristics discharge volume, peak discharge, discharge duration, peak time, lag time, and response time were evaluated from three watersheds: (1) unmined, forested watershed (control), (2) partially restored watershed with the intermittent stream (Guy Cove), and (3) a mined watershed with an unrestored stream (valley fill with traditional mined land reclamation practices). Results from four years of monitoring indicate that the created intermittent stream at Guy Cove is hydrologically similar to the control during storm events; however, differences were noted for base flow. A new stream restoration design technique, which combines natural channel design and furrow irrigation design protocols, was investigated.

Impervious surfaces such as roads, sidewalks, and roofs increase the volume of runoff generated in a watershed. Traditional stormwater management techniques emphasize conveyance of runoff away from impervious surfaces in order to reduce flooding. Rain gardens are becoming popular as a different means to manage stormwater in such a way that runoff is captured and infiltrated onsite rather than conveyed offsite. A stormwater management system consisting of a rainwater harvest system, rain garden, and infiltration chamber was built at the Coca-Cola Refreshments USA, Inc. distribution center in Lexington, Kentucky during the fall of 2011. Precipitation, inflow, and water level were measured from May, 2012 to April, 2013 to evaluate the hydrologic performance of the rain garden. The rain garden had a high infiltrative capability and was able to capture and infiltrate 100% of the runoff generated during the study period. The results of the study were used to formulate recommendations for rain garden design and construction in central Kentucky.

Coastal regions are at risk of environmental threats. Flooding in coastal rivers is the result of intense precipitation which is triggered by climate change. Coastal watersheds are prone to losing significant amounts of sediment and nutrients because of the shorter transport pathway that drains directly into the coastal water. In this study, the hydrology, flood frequency, and water quality assessment of two coastal watersheds, Wolf River watershed (WRW) and Jourdan River watershed (JRW), were conducted using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). Since WRW and JRW are the main tributaries to fetch freshwater to Saint Louis Bay (SLB) of Western Mississippi Sound, an integrated approach to assess the influence of freshwater influx into the coastal water is also performed by coupling SWAT with hydrodynamic visual Environment Fluid Dynamics Code (v-EFDC). An auto-calibration tool, SWAT Calibration and Uncertainty Programs (SWAT-CUP) was used to calibrate and validate the flow, total suspended solids and mineral phosphorous for obtaining satisfactory statistical results. While comparing the flood frequency of historical, baseline and projected scenario in both watersheds, the results illustrated that using annual maximum series, 1% exceedance probability was the highest for WRW baseline scenario, whereas for JRW, 1% exceedance probability was the highest for projected scenario. The water quality assessment study of WRW and JRW suggested that ponds and wetlands were more effective in reducing TSS and riparian buffers were more effective in reducing MinP at the outlet of both the watersheds. The integrated approach of coupling SWAT-vEFDC model result indicated that major impact on water quality was observed at the location where the freshwater inflow into the SLB, and the impact was diminished while moving further along the Western Mississippi Sound. Overall, this study gives an insight for integrated coastal watershed management which includes prediction of future flood frequency, the application of best management practices for reducing sediment and nutrient load, and estimation of upstream watershed pollutant load draining along with runoff including its effect on the coastal water quality.

The digenetic trematode, Bolbophorus damnificus, poses a substantial threat to catfish aquaculture, causing significant economic losses. Infestations lead to suppressed feed consumption, secondary bacterial infections and poor production performance. Survey data reveals widespread infestation in the in the southeastern United States. Current control strategies involve the application of a concentrated copper sulfate solution to reduce snail populations which serve as the first intermediate host of the trematode life cycle. This study aimed to improve treatment efficacy by developing a granular copper sulfate application system. A modified Gandy fertilizer applicator, equipped with a programmable control system, demonstrated accurate distribution of copper sulfate crystals along pond margins at various speeds. Granular copper sulfate was effective in killing snails along the pond margins at treatment rates between 1-3 ppm. The innovative system offers a practical, single-pass solution to combat trematode infestations in catfish ponds and minimizes logistical challenges associated with multiple applications.

The objective of this whole study was to evaluate a LiDAR sensor for high-resolution remote sensing in agriculture. A linear motion system was developed to precisely control the dynamics of LiDAR sensor in effort to remove uncertainty in the LiDAR position/velocity while under motion. A user control interface was developed to operate the system under different velocity profiles and log LiDAR data synchronous to the motion of the system. The LiDAR was then validated using multiple test targets with five different velocity profiles to determine the effect of sensor velocity and height above a target on measurement error. The results indicated that the velocity of the LiDAR was a significant factor affecting the error and standard deviation of the LiDAR measurements, although only by a small margin. Then the concept of modeling the alfalfa using the linear motion system was introduced. Two plots of alfalfa were scanned and processed to extract height and volume and was compared with photogrammetric and field measurements. Insufficient alfalfa plots were scanned which prevented any statistical analysis from being used to compare the different methods. However, the comparison between LiDAR and photogrammetric data showed some promising results which may be further replicated in the future.

Forced convective drying using a wind turbine mechanically connected to a ventilation fan was hypothesized for low cost and rapid grain drying in developing countries. The idea was tested using an expandable wind turbine blade system with variable pitch, at low wind speeds in a wind tunnel. The design was based on empirical and theoretical models embedded in a graphical user interface (GUI) created to estimate airflow-power requirements for drying ear corn. Output airflow (0.0016 - 0.0052 m3kg-1s-1) increased within the study wind speed range (2.0 - 5.5 m/s). System efficiency peak (8.6%) was observed at 3.5 m/s wind speed. Flow resistance was overcome up to 1m fill depth in 0.5 m x 0.5 m wide drying bin. Drying study at different airflow rates (no forced convection, 0.002 m3kg-1s-1 and 0.008 m3kg-1s-1) were conducted in a controlled environment at 35oC and 45% relative humidity with mean drying time; 40.3, 37.9 and 22.9 h respectively, that reduced with increasing airflow while drying the ear corn from 22% to 15% moisture content. The overall result supports the hypothesis that the wind convection system increased grain drying rates and should be further developed.

A sanitation problem exists for people across the globe: basic human waste collection and treatment is inaccessible to much of the world’s population; and the status-quo gray infrastructure system of sanitation is unsustainable and unsuitable for widespread application. A paradigm shift is needed: this thesis makes the case for developing an Ecological Sanitation Transect to bring back the closed loop that connects consumption, waste excretion, sanitation, and food production. The Ecological Sanitation Transect is a synthesis of ecological sanitation, where human excreta is reused, and the urban transect, where development density is conceptualized along a continuum from rural to urban. Current literature related to transects, sanitation, and the links between them is investigated. An analytical overlay of ecological sanitation strategies onto the transect framework with accompanying visualizations is the resulting integration of these ideas. Case studies from across the transect are detailed. A concluding discussion is followed by directions for future research.

The purpose of this research is to design, develop, evaluate, and demonstrate an open source gateway and mobile application for the SmartFarm open source decision support system to improve agricultural stewardship, environmental conservation, and provide farmers with a system that they own. There are very limited options for an open source gateway for collecting data on the farm. The options available are: expensive, require professional maintenance, are not portable between systems, improvements are made only by the manufacturer, limited in customization options, difficult to operate, and data is owned by the company rather than the farmer. The gateway is designed to send data to the cloud from remote SmartFarm Data Acquisition (DAQ) nodes, collect measurement data from remote SmartFarm DAQ nodes, provide a means of wirelessly programming remote SmartFarm DAQ nodes, and a tool that provides data analysis and insight from remote SmartFarm DAQ nodes. It is evaluated to work with 900MHz radios, SmartFarm DAQ nodes, and costs $35. Its setup takes 4 steps and ~20 minutes installation time, does not require maintenance, can utilize Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and other wireless protocols, and software can port to other systems. The gateway measured data rate of 93.4Mbit/s internet upload speed, passing a range of 252 to 1592 bytes of data from a remote node to the cloud, consumes 2.8 Watts, with a software efficiency of 25% CPU usage, a measurement efficiency of 1 message every 15 seconds, can provide data analysis with the cloud service tool, and it can wirelessly program remote DAQ nodes. The goal of the mobile app is educating farmers, academia, and community members, of farming sustainably today, and for the future. The app is used as a tool to aid people in farming sustainably, teaching agricultural stewardship, and teaching environmental conservation. The app is evaluated with adaptation of 85.1%, frequency of use at 0.12 respondents/minute, and 22 respondents said they find the SmartFarm DSS as beneficial. By developing, evaluating, and demonstrating the gateway and mobile app, the SmartFarm decision support system is a viable option for improving agricultural stewardship and retaining farmers’ ownership of their data.