Open Theses & Dissertations

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A case study of the effects of climate change on seawater intrusion in coastal aquifers in New Brunswick, Canada
(University of New Brunswick, 2012) Green, Nathan; MacQuarrie, Kerry
To investigate the effects of climate change on seawater intrusion, a three-dimensional numerical model of density dependent groundwater flow coupled with solute transport was developed and applied to a coastal sandstone aquifer in New Brunswick, Canada. The model incorporated local topography, bathymetry of the surrounding tidal rivers and Northumberland Strait, stratigraphy from borehole and geophysical investigations, and well field characteristics. Based on predictions of climate change for the area, two scenarios for variations in groundwater recharge and sea level rise, and one for increased pumping, were applied in the model. Simulations were performed using various combinations of the scenarios to quantify the magnitude of the effects of these three factors. The maximum change in total dissolved solids at selected locations within the model during the period of 2011 to 2100 was used as the response in a 2³ factorial analysis. Results indicate that the relative importance of the three factors changes depending on the location within the aquifer. The effect of generally declining recharge was most significant at shallow to intermediate depths (i.e. less than 60 m below sea level), while the effect of increasing pumping rates was most important for a location relatively close to the well field. The effect of sea level rise was found to be significant only at the much deeper inland toe of the transition zone. This study suggests that sea level rise has the least significant effect (of the three factors considered) on future seawater intrusion in shallow to intermediate aquifers similar to the one investigated in this study. These results are supported by other recent studies that indicate the effect of sea level rise on seawater intrusion is negligible when freshwater flow in the aquifer is controlled by constant flux boundaries.
A comparison of methods to estimate vertical groundwater flux through overburden materials in Prince Edward Island
(University of New Brunswick, 2023-09) O’Neill, Calvin; MacQuarrie, Kerry T.B.
This field study in central Prince Edward Island, where groundwater plays a crucial role in surface water ecosystems, compares three methods for estimating vertical groundwater flux through silty sand overburden. These methods include differential stream discharge, Darcy-based flux, and vertical temperature profiles, with field data collected using various tools near a spring-fed brook. The differential stream discharge method exhibited the largest uncertainty and lowest confidence. The Darcy-based method indicated a consistent spatial pattern in groundwater flux direction, with relatively small uncertainty ranges, possibly influenced by systematic bias errors in vertical hydraulic conductivity (kz) determination. The vertical temperature profile method emerged as the most suitable for estimating flux through the overburden unit. While the Darcy-based and vertical temperature profile results displayed reasonable correlation, the Darcy-based flux estimates were roughly 2.3 times smaller. This discrepancy is likely attributable to potential systematic bias errors in the determination of kz.
A construction information management assessment model
(University of New Brunswick, 2014) Aziz, Ferzon; Rankin, Jeff; Waugh, Lloyd
Organizational-level information management (IM) has the potential to improve performance in construction-owner organizations. The lack of a model to comprehensively assess the organizational-level IM performance has inspired the need for this research. The goal of this research is to develop an organizational-level IM performance assessment model to measure and improve the organizational-level IM performance in construction-owner organizations. The model consists of three interconnected perspectives: (i) the organizational-level IM framework, which identifies and defines the eight organizational-level IM components, the six IM activities, and the 40 lagging and leading key performance indicators (KPIs) needed for comprehensive IM performance measurement; (ii) the IM performance measurement method to measure the organizational-level IM performance; and (iii) the IM performance improvement method to improve the IM performance for the IM components. A systems approach was used to validate the capability of the model for use in IM performance assessment through seven construction IM researchers across Canada and 11 strategic managers in eight construction-owner organizations in three Canadian Maritime provinces. The testing of the model consisted of measuring the IM performance at the KPI-level and measuring the lagging metric-level performance for a specific management process (change order process). The results validated the capability of the model to assess the organizational- level IM performance in the organizations. The key contribution of this study to IM researchers and strategic managers is the developed model, which provides insight into the measurement and improvement of organizational-level IM performance in construction-owner organizations.
A discrete event simulation-based approach for production planning and plant layout design of flexible modular building manufacturing
(University of New Brunswick, 2022-12) Ardalani, Shahrnaz; Lei, Zhen; Rankin, Jeff
Modular manufacturing has several advantages over the conventional on-site building technique such as improved productivity and cost-effectiveness; however, there is often a limit on the potential increased efficiency in terms of how much customization can be incorporated into the modular construction. To meet the growing demand of customers and shift from mass production to mass customization, optimizing the production process becomes essential. A generic framework and detailed implementation for simulation-based approaches to design an optimal facility layout and production process are still lacking. Through a case study, the simulation model of the entire production process was constructed using discrete event simulation to evaluate the efficiency of the production system and to identify and solve any potential bottlenecks in the current facility. Through several what-if scenarios, the production increased from 6.8 modules per month to 7.7 modules per month by only increasing the workforce utilization rate. A new facility layout was also configured for maximum flexibility to produce a high-quality product that provides the diversity demanded by customers.
A new performance test for evaluating the ASR potential of job mixtures
(University of New Brunswick, 2018) Laskey, Michael J.; Thomas, Michael; Moffatt, Edward
Alkali-silica reaction (ASR) is a problem that plagues many concrete structures worldwide, from dams to residential structures. At the moment, standardized are testing methodologies encounter problems such as leaching of alkalis, extensive testing time, or the inability to test “job-mixtures”. The University of New Brunswick concrete cylinder test (UNBCCT) was developed to overcome such difficulties through the storage of concrete samples in alkali host solutions designed to negate leaching, increase the storage temperature to accelerate the reaction, and the use of job mixture designs. With these modifications, cylinders were cast with various aggregate and cementitious material combinations (100% portland cement, and combinations of cement and SCMs such as fly ash, ground granulated blast furnace slag, and silica fume) to the dimensions of 145 mm in diameter by 285 mm in height. The cylinders were stored in containers (150mm by 300 mm in height) filled with a host solution matching the alkalinity of the concrete pore-solution. The samples were then stored in either 38°C or 60°C to determine if an accelerated version of the test was plausible. The resulting expansion was periodically measured and compared to other test methods such as the concrete prism test (CPT) and long-term exposure blocks. Alkali-leaching occurrence was also investigated through the casting of non-reactive limestone samples. These samples were periodically tested for alkali contents in a profile from the center to the surface. These profiles were generated by dissolving milled powder via hydrochloric acid or water, and measuring alkalis by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Testing was also conducted on pore-solution extracted from the concrete and the host solution. The results to date indicate that the storage conditions used in the UNBCCT minimize the reduction or enrichment of alkalis in the test specimen, and that the expansion results compare well with the behavior of long-term exposure blocks. The test appears to have promise as a performance test for “job mixtures”, although further studies are required with a wider range of mixes.
A novel anaerobic membrane bioreactor for wastewater treatment and bio-energy production
(University of New Brunswick, 2015) Kale, Mayur; Singh, Kripa
A novel anaerobic bioreactor integrated with membrane microfiltration was developed to study the treatment of prehydrolysis liquor (PHL) from a dissolving pulp production facility located in Nackawick, New Brunswick, Canada. The PHL with total chemical oxygen demand (COD) of approximately 100 g/L mainly consisted of sugars, acetic acid, furfural, and lignin. This high organic strength PHL poses a serious disposal problem for the pulp industry leading to environmental concerns if not treated adequately. The current treatment method of the PHL (evaporation and burning) used by the industry is highly energy intensive. A submerged membrane-based bio-treatment system called sludge-bed anaerobic membrane bioreactor (SB-AnMBR) was designed to provide a possible alternate treatment solution for the PHL. It consists of a granular anaerobic sludge-bed at the bottom followed by a submerged flat-sheet microfiltration membrane module with a biogas scouring system placed above the sludge bed zone in an upflow reactor. Biogas scouring helped in reducing the fouling of the membranes from excessive deposition of sludge layer on surfaces of the flat-sheet membranes. The experimental study was designed and conducted for about 800 days using two 50 liter SB-AnMBRs made of steel at mesophilic (35°C) and thermophilic (55°C) temperatures in an environmental chamber. The reactors were operated in a continuous mode applying organic loading rates ranging from 0.8 to 10 kg-COD/m³-d at mesophilic and thermophilic temperature conditions. A series of batch experiments was conducted prior to the continuous operation to evaluate the anaerobic treatability of the PHL. The effect of factors such as biological activity of the seed sludge, organic loading rate, and temperature on anaerobic digestion of the PHL was investigated through batch respirometric experiments. Results from characterization and batch studies showed that the PHL have potential to be a suitable substrate for anaerobic degradation in continuous SB-AnMBRs. SB-AnMBRs’ overall performance was found to be good with greater than 82% removal of the total COD at mesophilic (35°C) and thermophilic (55°C) temperatures. Methane yield was found to be more than 0.33 m³-CH4/kg-COD removed/day at the both the temperatures studied. Biokinetic coefficients were determined using the data obtained from the continuous and batch studies at mesophilic and thermophilic conditions. The coefficients were analyzed using Monod and Arrhenius models. The results of biokinetic coefficients were found in the agreement with the effluent characterization from the continuous reactors. Health of the bioreactor in terms of the measurement of cellular adenosine triphosphate (cATPtm) and its correlation with COD removal, methane production, and active biomass concentration was also investigated. Membrane fouling was not found to be significant at the sustained flux rate of 0.1 m/d during the continuous operation. Membrane autopsy and characterization studies of the foulants suggested that fouling occurred mostly due to organic foulants like carbohydrates and proteins. Chemical cleaning of the membranes resulted in more than 80% recovery of the permeate flux. This novel SB-AnMBR treatment system exhibited good potential for a sustainable biological treatment option for the PHL from the dissolving pulp production industries. In general SB-AnMBR can be adopted as an efficient treatment alternative for industries producing very high COD (80-100 g/L) biodegradable waste stream. In addition, it has also good potential of producing methane for a possible production of bioenergy.
A novel maturity-based assessment model for smart cities
(University of New Brunswick, 2019) Suliman, Alaelidn Muhmud Housat; Rankin, Jeff; Robak, Anna
As a response to the challenges of population and urban growth, the concept of smart city/community (SC) is introduced as a strategic solution to the traditional city-related problems to achieve better services/life quality. However, the SC as an ecosystem is an evolving concept; hence, there is no universally-shared definition or assessment tool. SC assessment models broadly fall into two categories: performance-based and maturity-based models. Most of the available assessment models are based on performance indicators. However, unlike maturity-based models, performance indicators face challenges due to the complexity and evolving nature of SCs. Therefore, this research addresses the problems of a universally-accepted definition of SCs and assessment framework by (1) identifying the key smartness dimensions of a city, (2) building a corresponding novel smartness concept, and (3) developing a full maturity-based assessment model that overcomes the limitations of the performance-based models. The research contribution includes the identification of three key dimensions for SCs, which are Connectivity (C), Sustainability (S), and Resiliency (R); and a corresponding maturity-based assessment model (MM) for SCs referred to as CSR-MM. The applicability of CSR-MM was demonstrated through (1) examining its conformance to the MM design principles, and (2) demonstrating its practically via (a) a sub-domain case study (Fredericton Public Transit, NB) and (b) an outcome comparison against an international assessment tool (ISO37120:2018). The outcome of this study is an SC assessment model that is intended to help municipalities to identify maturity gaps, set prioritized goals, and focus on continuously improving citizens’ well-being.
A surrogate safety analysis to evaluate the impact of circulatory pavement markings in two-lane roundabouts
(University of New Brunswick, 2022-12) Taweel, Riley J.; Hildebrand, Eric D.
This study involved a safety evaluation of multiple pavement markings schemes at the two-lane roundabout at the intersection of Smythe Street and Route 8 in Fredericton, New Brunswick using both automated and manual surrogate safety analyses. Several competing theories exist regarding which is the best practices for the use of circulatory lane pavement markings in two-lane roundabouts with two-lane entrances and exits. Some suggest that having no pavement markings fosters a safer environment for drivers, while others promote the use of circulatory pavement markings of various patterns as preferred options. The pavement marking schemes studied in this project were: no circulatory pavement markings installed (baseline case), circulatory pavement markings installed in accordance with the TAC MUTCD-C guidelines (Scenario 1), and an alternative circulatory lane pavement marking scheme with bolder lines (Scenario 2). In Scenario 1 and Scenario 2, traffic conflicts were observed at lower rates than in the base cases, however, the severity of the observed traffic conflicts remained approximately the same. Off-tracking events, in which vehicles failed to maintain their lane position while circulating the roundabout, were found to be reduced by 24.3% in Scenario 1, and 19.2% in Scenario 2. These findings support that circulatory lane pavement markings in two-lane roundabouts contributed to an environment with improved safety performance compared to the facility with no circulatory markings installed. Further research is required to confidently discern whether Scenario 1 or Scenario 2 provides the best safety performance.
Active transportation demand model for decision-making in Fredericton
(University of New Brunswick, 2023-01) Burns, Kristen; Hanson, Trevor
There has been an increase in demand for Active Transportation (AT) in urban areas, yet there is a lack of guidance incorporating AT in standard four-step travel demand modelling. This broad issue presented itself as an opportunity for this thesis: the development of a calibrated AT demand model to aid decision-making processes for a small city, followed by scenario testing to determine factors contributing to AT use. Fredericton, New Brunswick was used as a case study given the availability of multimodal bridge traffic counts and the ability to create a cordon area with the two bridges: one bridge with AT and road traffic, and the other with AT traffic only. These two bridges are very different when it comes to characteristics that might influence AT use including sounds levels, sidewalk width, and proximity to traffic. Once the model was completed in VISUM, then the calibration began and it was possible to calibrate AT volumes on the Bill Thorpe Walking Bridge to match existing demand; however, AT volumes on the Westmorland Street Bridge were consistently overestimated. This suggests that if AT users treated both bridges the same, there would be 1100 more users per day on the Westmorland Street Bridge. It was hypothesized that AT users were assigning a generalized cost penalty to the Westmorland Street Bridge, effectively making the route appear to be costlier than the actual physical distance. To reach all calibration target values, the AT link length was increased on the Westmorland Street Bridge 1.5km or four times the bridge link length to represent the penalty. Next steps consist of the inclusion of seasonal adjustment factors to better understand volumes crossing the bridges and different trends in different months.
An analysis of pedestrian-vehicle collisions in rural New Brunswick
(University of New Brunswick, 2016) Adams, Scott William; Hildebrand, Eric
Addressing rural transportation challenges in New Brunswick, especially for vulnerable road users, is a topic that has not been adequately studied. This research paper undertook a thorough review and analysis of collision data collected by the provincial government from 2001-2012. The results of the research found that 510 pedestrian-vehicle collisions occurred in rural New Brunswick during the studied period. Property damage only, injury, and death accounted for 106, 339 and 64 collisions, respectively. Closer analysis was carried out on the 64 collisions resulting in one or more fatalities. The study showed that 67.2% of collisions occurred after dark and that pedestrian error was the most prevalent major contributing factor (43.8%). Other contributing factors of note include driver inattention (14.1%) and glare (6.3%). The report has shown the need for increased research to better understand the needs of all vulnerable road users and more focus among highway engineers to ensure safe transportation for all.
An assessment of a stream-based methane monitoring technique for small streams in southern New Brunswick
(University of New Brunswick, 2019) Boissonnault, Martin; MacQuarrie, Kerry T.B.
The goal of this study was to examine the suitability of a stream methane monitoring method, recently developed by the United States Geological Survey, for application to small New Brunswick streams. Dissolved methane monitoring has been suggested as an approach to assess changes in methane concentrations in areas of shale gas extraction, a topic relevant to southern New Brunswick. The first objective of the study was the establishment of a baseline for stream methane concentrations. Through sampling nineteen streams within the Kennebecasis River and Pollett River watersheds, methane concentrations were found to range from below detection (< 0.001 mg/L) up to 0.018 mg/L. These concentrations were low compared to those found in similar surveys in the United States. Based on the results of the reconnaissance survey, synoptic surveys of three streams were completed, and water temperature and dissolved methane profiles were used to select one stream for a more detailed tracer test. Parsons Brook best suited the criteria, including indications of significant groundwater inflows, and a tracer test using dissolved methane and potassium bromide was performed in September 2016. The stream was found to have an unusually low discharge at that time of year, and although the tracer test produced some useful data, there was a high degree of uncertainty in the results obtained for stream discharge. This caused issues during the subsequent modelling of dissolved methane transport, resulting in generally poor agreement of measured and modelled values. Additional studies would be needed to locate a stream, or streams, in southern New Brunswick within which the proposed methane monitoring technique would be effective. This stream should be large enough to retain dissolved methane for a significant distance, yet small enough to be significantly influenced by groundwater inputs.
An assessment of the utility of LiDAR data in extracting base-year floorspace and a comparison with census-based approach
(University of New Brunswick, 2013) Shiravi-Khozani, Sajad; Zhong, Ming
Planning models require accurate base-year floorspace data to properly allocate/predict activities and study the interactions between different land uses. Currently, most planning models estimate base-year floorspace data according to limited population/employment data provided by the census and in general their accuracy is unknown. In this study, building information is extracted from LiDAR data using a free LiDAR classification software. In addition, through a novel machine learning approach, the extracted buildings are further enhanced by systematically considering a set of LiDAR features in the classification process. The accuracy of building information extracted from LiDAR data and the geographic building footprint layer are then examined and validated through a field survey. It is found that LiDAR data can provide building height, footprint and, therefore, floorspace estimates with a good accuracy. Furthermore, two base-year floorspace estimation methods, one is based on the LiDAR data and the other is based on census data, are compared for sample zones and distinguished by land-use category. The results of this study show that the traditional census-based approach may be very unreliable in estimating base-year floorspace. Comparisons reveal differences as high as 37% for the Residential category. The errors are even higher for the non-residential categories, with average absolute percent errors ranging from 39% for the Office floorspace to 190% for the Accommodation and Recreation. Overall, the results obtained from this study indicate that the traditional census-based approach is very unreliable and inaccurate for modelers/planners to prepare their base-year floorspace, and therefore suggest that LiDAR data be used as a powerful add-on for planning models.
An automated mobile crane selection system for heavy industrial projects
(University of New Brunswick, 2021-12) Azami, Ramtin; Lei, Zhen
Crane selection for construction projects is a complicated and time-consuming process due to a vast number of parameters and inter-related planning constraints. Selecting the most appropriate cranes can improve the productivity and safety of construction projects as selecting the wrong crane can result in deadly incidents. An algorithm for automatic mobile crane selection in heavy industrial construction projects that employs heuristic and artificial neural network methods, entitled Crane Configurator, is introduced in this research. Crane Configurator consists of two stages: 1) mobile crane configuration selector and 2) mobile crane configuration predictor. The developed application considers the module's features (e.g., weight, length, and width), the project’s budget, schedule, and safety. It proposes a crane for the project that satisfies the user’s demand. The proposed mobile crane predictor employs mathematical and machine learning techniques, and it leverages the power of relational databases to train an artificial neural network (ANN) to predict the cranes for future projects. Accuracy rates as high as 74% have been achieved for the final results through evaluating the model using the test set from real projects. Lift engineers, project stakeholders, and construction crew can benefit directly or indirectly through proper crane selection, which shortens the project’s schedule, improves the job site's safety, and reduces the project's cost.
An investigation of designated pedestrian grade crossings and flangeway fillers
(University of New Brunswick, 2024-04) Morrison, William Robert; Hanson, Trevor
There have been fatalities in Canada due to wheelchairs becoming immobilized in the "flangeway gap”, the gap between the road and the railway tracks that allows the train wheel to pass unimpeded. The Transportation Safety Board has identified the potential of flangeway fillers to eliminate the gap, but research on product suitability is needed, including deployment criteria. Crossings can be designated by road authorities for persons using assistive devices and Transport Canada’s Grade Crossing Standards outline the geometric requirements. Designated crossings may be candidates for flangeway fillers, however, the road authority designation process is not well understood at a national level. The following presents an inventory of practices for crossing designation among select road authorities across Canada. An analysis of designated crossings was conducted, and observations were generated. Finally, an economic evaluation of these products was conducted, and a discussion of potential next steps in this field is provided.
An investigation of groundwater and surface water interactions near a small stream in Prince Edward Island
(University of New Brunswick, 2017) Tibbet, Wesley N.; MacQuarrie, Kerry T.B.
The province of Prince Edward Island (PEI) currently has a moratorium on the installation of high-capacity irrigation water supply wells, mainly due to concerns over potential interactions with nearby streams. The focus of this research was to conduct an investigation near a small stream in Maple Plains, PEI, and to assess the potential for the site to be used for stream depletion related research. The objectives were to determine whether the stream was gaining or losing, to establish the natural hydraulic gradients, and to characterize the overburden materials. Stream discharge measurements made in September 2016 indicated that the stream was neither gaining nor losing water. Water elevation data from five drive-point piezometers, two groundwater monitoring wells, an unused residential well, and the stream, revealed that there was an unsaturated zone between the stream and aquifer. The identification of this unsaturated zone only proves that the stream was not directly connected to the underlying aquifer, and does not prove disconnection. The groundwater elevation data also provide evidence that groundwater naturally flows in the same direction as the stream. Soil samples collected during monitoring well installation showed that there is roughly 3 m of a sand phase till overlying the fractured sandstone aquifer. The hydraulic conductivity of the till appears to decrease with depth. This is also supported by the presence of a perched groundwater system that develops during periods of increased infiltration.
Anaerobic membrane bioreactors: enhancing performance of an external tubular nano filtration membrane module
(University of New Brunswick, 2018) Snowdon, Joshua; Singh, Kripa
An anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) integrated with an external nano filtration tubular membrane module was operated for approximately 577 days in a cross flow mode to treat a potato-starch based high-strength (highly concentrated in chemical oxygen demand (COD)) wastewater. Research objectives were to enhance the physical and chemical aspects of membrane fouling prevention, without hindering the reactor performance. First, the rate of membrane fouling was reduced through optimizing the physical cleaning processes applied to the membrane module. Secondly, different chemical cleaning methods were applied to two membrane modules with a goal of selecting an optimal cleaning methodology to apply to fouled membrane modules. Investigations conducted alongside the chemical and physical cleaning optimizations analyzed a decline in the methanogenic activity of the biomass, the foaming propensity of the reactor, and a micronutrient deficiency affecting the performance of the bioreactor. Conclusions found that incorporating a single chemically enhanced backwash (CEB) cycle offered a larger increase in sustainable membrane flux (therefore lower rate of membrane fouling) than varying the permeate backwash duration, frequency, or flow rate. Throughout this period of data collection the reactor was able to maintain a COD removal efficiency greater than 97%, a total suspended solids (TSS) removal efficiency greater than 99%, and methane yields within 71% – 89% of theoretical. A caustic clean without backwashing cycles and with a longer soak-time using a mixed 1% NaOH and 1% Sodium Hypochlorite solution was the best chemical cleaning methodology. Organic loading rate (OLR) had the largest influence on the foaming propensity of the reactor, and biomass activity declined by approximately 65% over the course of this research project.
Analysis of vulnerable road user-to-motor vehicle collisions in New Brunswick
(University of New Brunswick, 2021) Wood, Taylor; Hildebrand, Eric
Vulnerable road users (VRU), including pedestrians, cyclists, and power-assisted bikes and scooters (PABS), are the most at risk of a fatality or serious injury when involved in a collision with a motor vehicle. This study undertook a statistical analysis of VRU-to-motor vehicle collisions in New Brunswick (NB) between 1993 and 2017. Over the 25-year period, the collision data captured a total of 3143 pedestrian collisions, 2214 cyclist collisions, and 203 PABS collisions in NB. Patterns and long-term trends were investigated to gain a better understanding of VRU safety and identify cost-effective safety countermeasures. The study found that VRU-to-vehicle collisions have steadily decreased between 1993 and 2017 in both urban and rural NB. Further, the frequency analysis revealed five key results: VRU’s under the age of 30 were significantly over-represented in the collision data, less than half of cyclists and PABS drivers were reported wearing safety equipment, the severity of a collision generally increased as the speed of the vehicle increased, a large proportion of collisions occurred during dark conditions, and the two major contributing factors were driver inattention and pedestrian error/confusion. Based on the study findings, it is recommended that provincial and municipal road authorities consider promoting or implementing safety countermeasures including training and education initiatives, VRU-related infrastructure improvements, speed reduction measures, strategic lighting improvements, and autonomous emergency braking systems (AEB) that detect VRUs.
Assessing the ability of integrated decision making to improve Canadian municipal infrastructure sustainability
(University of New Brunswick, 2015) Vaillancourt, Amy; Rankin, Jeff; Wilson, Bruce
A major contributor to the well-being of Canadian societies is municipal infrastructure. The state of existing Canadian municipal infrastructure is the overarching problem addressed in this research. A major barrier in achieving a solution however, as identified in the literature, consists of infrastructure industry fragmentation. This research focused on establishing an integration strategy consisting of a multidisciplinary approach to municipal decision making for improving the overall sustainability performance of existing municipal infrastructure. This integration strategy addresses the sustainability performance of the following six types of municipal infrastructure: Energy, Parks & Recreation, Solid Waste, Transportation, Urban Forestry, and Water & Wastewater. The hypothesis for this research proposal is therefore as follows: Integrated decision-making improves the sustainability performance of existing municipal infrastructure. This research was conducted on medium sized Canadian population centres (30,000 to 99,999 in population) using a Mixed-Methods Approach: Sequential Explanatory Strategy research methodology. A preliminary investigation of municipal authorities and the sustainability principles, priorities and goals within the 54 medium population centres across Canada was conducted. Two survey questionnaires, sent to infrastructure industry authorities within municipalities across Canada, further investigated these findings and established current decision-making processes and an understanding of opinions on multidisciplinary decision-making. These surveys also provided the information needed to develop the assessment framework for the sustainability performance of existing infrastructure and the level of integration and inclusion within the municipalities’ decision-making process. This framework was initially tested through a pilot case study and subsequently validated through three case studies within the Atlantic, British Columbia, and Alberta regions. These three case studies were assessed independently and the final results for sustainability performance (10 signifying highest performance) and decision making integration and inclusion (1 signifying highest performance) were as follows: The case study with the highest total average sustainability performance score (8.00) also received the highest level of decision making integration (1.25) and inclusion (1.42), while the case study with the lowest total average sustainability performance score (6.86) also received the lowest score in integration (2.3) and inclusion (2.0). The findings presented in this research therefore suggest that integrated decision-making can improve the sustainability performance of existing municipal infrastructure.
Assessing the potential of measuring IRI using smartphone technology in support of spring weight
(University of New Brunswick, 2016) Allaire, Florence Marie Josée; Hanson, Trevor
Spring weight restrictions (SWR) are imposed by transportation agencies to reduce heavy vehicle loads during spring thaw when road infrastructure is most susceptible to traffic damage. Smartphone devices can be used to monitor surface roughness by converting the accelerometer output into International Roughness Index (IRI) values. This research explored the potential of using these devices to monitor IRI as an indicator of thaw-weakening potential during spring thaw to contribute to an evidence-based framework to support real-time changes to SWR. Roughness was monitored on a 1 km section of two New Brunswick highways, Route 105 (collector) and Route 616 (local), over the SWR period employed by the New Brunswick Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (NBDTI) from March 15 to May 17, 2015. Data from both locations show a similar trend in the progression of roughness, with an IRI peak within the first 2 weeks of SWR, followed by a decrease in IRI that reached baseline values 2 weeks before the end of SWR. The maximum IRI for Route 105 was 2.54 m/km (baseline 1.35 m/km) and maximum IRI for Route 616 was 6.60 m/km (baseline 3.34 m/km). In both cases, maximum IRI was approximately double baseline values. Changes in roughness observed with these devices could be associated with trigger values to initiate a protocol to respond to drastic weather changes, including focusing strength testing efforts. The results suggest weekly monitoring would be sufficient during the spring thaw, with a doubling in frequency desirable when temperatures change drastically. A framework and monitoring guidelines were developed for the inclusion of mobile roughness in the SWR decision-making process.
Average speed enforcement and its potential application on New Brunswick roads
(University of New Brunswick, 2021-03) Van Wiechen, Trevor Andrew; Hildebrand, Eric
Average Speed Enforcement (ASE) is a is a relatively new approach that can be used to enforce speed limits. ASE determines a vehicle’s mean speed over an extended length of road by recording the time a motorist took to drive between two set points. Reducing the speed of motorists over a longer section of roadway yields benefits such as fewer collisions and a reduction in fuel consumption. This study investigated the findings of the effectiveness of average speed enforcement among those jurisdictions that have adopted it. It was found that ASE reduces collisions by 30-40% and that it lowers carbon emissions by roughly 15% on a 100 km/h road. These findings were then applied to a local road to determine if an economic case could be made for its use in New Brunswick. Route 7 between Oromocto and Saint John was chosen as a test site. A field study found that the average space mean speed on this facility was 107 km/h and the 85th percentile speed was 114 km/h despite the posted speed limit being only 100 km/h. The potential benefits of ASE were estimated and an economic evaluation found that its deployment would yield a benefit-cost ratio of approximately 15.6.

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