Connections
University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment | College of Engineering Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Vol. 7, Fall 2016
Inside...
UAS: CLOUD-MAP, Livestock opportunities New student chapter Sue Nokes named ASABE Fellow Open House session for freshmen Alicia Modenbach receives ASABE Gale A. Holloway Award The new common freshman year BAE Student Lounge gets an update Student Spotlight Recognitions, Grants, Awards, Publications Contributors list Staff Focus: Ricky Mason
The New Common Freshman Year
By Whitney Blackburn-Lynch, Ph.D. , P.E. | Lecturer
The First Year Engineering (FYE) Program began on August 22, 2016, when the new teaching faculty were introduced to the incoming students. Professor Laura Letellier, Dr. Jennifer Lovey, Dr. Neil Moore, Dr. Julie Whitney, Dr. George Ricco, Dr. Gail Brion, Professor Doug Klien and I took the stage to give the first-year students an idea of the faces they would be seeing in the classrooms for this new program. The FYE Program consists of three courses: Engineering Exploration I, Fundamentals of Engineering Computing, and Engineering Exploration II. These courses make up the core engineering experience that will give the first-year Continued on page 4 students an opportunity to make an informed decision about whether or not engineering is for 1
Welcome from the BAE Connections Editorial Committee Greetings Alumni and Friends, Some people fear change, but at BAE, we embrace it! In this edition of BAE Connections, we highlight some of the ways our department is changing such as through the use of drone, or unmanned aerial systems (UAS), technology to benefit agriculture, a redesigned student lounge, a new student organization, and my change to an extension faculty position. We also discuss the new engineering freshman common year. But with all of these changes, many things remain the same. At the ASABE annual international meeting, BAE continued our tradition of excellence. Dr. Sue Nokes was selected as an ASABE Fellow, Dr. Modenbach received the Gale A. Halloway Award, Drs. Sama and Dvorak both received Superior Paper awards, Dr. Stombaugh and I both received Standards Development awards, and the bioenvironmental senior design team, comprised of Sam Austen, Vanya Bistrekova, Tahnee Qualls, and Shane Worley, won first place in the G.B. Gunlogson Student Environmental Design Competition. As you read on, we hope you discover ways in which you can become more involved with the department. Alumni and friends are instrumental in helping with senior capstone projects, class tours, internships, and serving as guest speakers for our student organizations. We would love to have you visit the department to learn more about our programs. You can keep up to date on the latest BAE news by visiting www.uky.edu/bae and following our social media accounts. Sincerely,
Photo: Matt Barton, College of Agriculture
Carmen Agouridis, Ph.D., P.E.
Making the Move to Extension By Carmen Agouridis, Ph.D., P.E. | Extension Associate Professor Extension has always been an integral part of my applied research program. Over the years, I have worked closely with agency personnel, consultants, and community members to develop strong partnerships, which are critical to supporting research and teaching missions. This past year, I was given the opportunity to focus more of my efforts on outreach by joining the extension faculty as an Extension Associate Professor. In this role, I will use applied research to address issues in the natural resources community, particularly in the field of ecosystem restoration by focusing on four main areas: stream restoration, stormwater management, mined land reclamation, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics)/environmental education. While more of my efforts are now devoted to extension programming and applied research, I will continue to teach, though at a reduced level. I will alternate teaching stream restoration during the spring semester with a new course on low impact development, meaning each course will be offered every other year. I will co-teach a course with Dr. Richard Warner that focuses on sustainable mine planning with a focus on environmental control system design and reclamation and restoration design. I will continue mentoring bioenvironmental senior design teams and advising undergraduate bioenvironmental students. I will also continue administration of the Stream and Watershed Science graduate certificate. I am excited about this new endeavor. To learn more about my extension, research, and teaching activities, visit www.uky.edu/bae/agouridis and follow me (UK Bioenvironmental) on Facebook and Twitter. 2
AWWA/WEA University of Kentucky Student Chapter By Carmen Agouridis, Ph.D., P.E.| Extension Associate Professor
This fall semester brings a new opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students to become more involved in water-related issues. Students in Civil Engineering and Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering recently partnered to open a student chapter of the Kentucky/Tennessee section of the American Water Works Association (AWWA)/Water Environment Federation (WEF). This chapter will benefit students interested in the water industry through professional development, scholarship opportunities, networking, and outreach activities. The chapter is actively seeking new members. If you are interested in learning more about the AWWA/WEA University of Kentucky Student Chapter, please contact the chapter President Erika Hernandez at ehernandez@uky.edu, Vice President Kyle Peterson at kylepeterson13@uky.edu, or Faculty Advisor Dr. Carmen Agouridis at carmen.agouridis@uky.edu. The first meeting is tentatively planned for October 17. The chapter is currently working on its digital presence, so be on the look out for a chapter webpage, Facebook page, and Twitter feed.
NOVEMBER 16, 2016 BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEERING STUDENT OPEN HOUSE Come check us out! Want to solve problems that change the world? So do we! Come see if Biosystems Engineering is the place for you.
TOUR BAE LABS SEE LIVE DEMOS MEET OTHER STUDENTS AND FACULTY GRAB BAE SWAG EAT FREE FOOD CE Barnhart Bldg. www.uky.edu/bae November 16 4-6pm
Top Left: Collecting meteorological data over the OSU UAFS; Top Right: Multi-rotor autopilot testing at UK North Farm; Bottom Right: Three-dimensional point cloud representation of alfalfa collected with LIDAR
In this issue... Cover, Page 4
The New Common Freshman Year
Pages 4-5
BAE Student Lounge Gets a New Look; Department Chair Dr. Sue Nokes named an ASABE Fellow
Pages 2-3
Welcome; Making the Move to Extension; AWWA/WEA Student Chapter; BAE Open House; Table of Contents
Pages 6-7
Collaboration Leading Operational UAS Development for Meteorology and Atmospheric Physics (CLOUDMAP); 2016 Contributors to BAE
Pages 8-9
UAV and Livestock Opportunities; Modenbach receives ASABE’s Gale A. Holloway Award
Pages 10-11
Pages 12-13 Pages 14-15
Staff Focus: Ricky Mason; Departures, New Positions, Visiting Scholars, M.S. Graduates; Student Spotlight: Emma Benedict; Alumni Advisory Board Student Spotlight: Tahnee Qualls, Amanda Williams
Grants, Patents, Awards, Oral Presentations, Poster Presentations
BAE Connections is published twice a year by the University of Kentucky Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Department, an Equal Opportunity Organization. The newsletter is produced by BAE in partnership with Alpha Epsilon. Š2016. BAE Connections Editorial Committee Director: Sue Nokes, Ph.D., P.E. Advisor: Carmen Agouridis, Ph.D., P.E. Editor, Designer: Karin Pekarchik Alumni Advisor: Elizabeth Bullock, P.E. Contributors: Carmen Agouridis, Ph.D., P.E., Whitney Blackburn, Ph.D.; Somsubhra Chattopadhyay; Josh Jackson, Ph.D., P.E., Mike Sama, Ph.D., P.E., Amanda Williams, Katie Wolf. Photography: Steve Patton, Matt Barton, UK College of Ag; BAE faculty/staff. Please submit story ideas, questions, or comments to carmen.agouridis@uky.edu or karin. pekarchik@uky.edu.
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Continued from cover them, and get a feel for what
kind of engineer they would like to be. In Engineering Exploration I, students examine the different engineering disciplines offered on campus through in-class activities as well as evening information sessions. The course centers around an examination of how the various engineering disciplines would tackle Providing Access to Clean Water, Food Security, and Engineering Better Medicine (three of the National Academy of Engineering “Grand Challenges”). The Grand Challenges allow instructors to give the students “real world” problems that show that regardless of which discipline they select, they will be part of the solution. Attempting to solve these difficult problems requires engineers to work on multidisciplinary teams and to have excellent communication skills, so Engineering Exploration I also introduces students to a variety of engineering skills including writing a memo, giving a technical presentation, and writing professional emails. It also begins the process of establishing good problem-solving skills and visualization, as well as introducing fundamental engineering concepts like conservation of mass and energy.
BAE Student Lounge Gets a New Look By Amanda Williams | BAE Student Branch President At BAE’s Student Branch last meeting of the Spring 2016 semester, we decided to renovate the lounge with Student Branch funds we had accumulated. We planned for the renovation throughout the summer, but it really came together about a week or so before school started—that’s when we were finally able to get in there and paint. Several officers and I worked hard to paint and procure a fridge for student use; we also want to get a microwave soon! We were hoping to have the entire renovation done before classes started, but due to a few setbacks it was delayed. The coolest thing about the renovation hasn’t been implemented—we’re still waiting for two whiteboards to be installed! We also will be getting new chairs—similar to the style in Room 236. We will be putting up a dry-erase calendar for various BAE-affiliated organizations to write their meetings dates, events, etc. The desire for the renovation stemmed from the need 4
Fundamentals of Engineering Computing teaches the value of learning to break a problem down into its component parts and build an algorithm to solve it. Using simplified situations students are introduced to programming and sensor building and given an opportunity to see how those tools can be used in many disciplines. In Fundamentals of Engineering Computing, students experience coding, including how the logical processes of coding can apply to sensor building and thus into other areas. It also reinforces the lessons learned in Engineering Exploration I by bringing in problems and looking for solutions to the same engineering challenges. In Engineering Exploration II, students are able to assess their interest in engineering design by tackling a semester-long project. Students work within a team to engage more fully with the tools introduced in the previous two courses. The teams will be expected to develop a design as well as document and communicate their ideas. By the end of the first year, students will have had opportunities to experience life as an engineer and will be able to make an informed decision about how they want to proceed in the profession. for a space for students to study and work in groups — which we hope to facilitate with the whiteboards and the new “rolly” chairs. We hope that the lounge serves as a comfortable, alternative place to study for students between classes. In addition to creating a positive study space for students, BAE Student Branch has adopted the rain CATchment on Farm Road and is participating in the Adopt-A-Spot program throughout the month of October. Our meetings for the rest of the semester are: • October 12th, 5pm in CEBA 236 • November 9th, 5pm in CEBA 236 Dinner is always provided!
BAE Department Chair Sue Nokes, Ph.D., P.E., named ASABE Fellow By Dolores Landeck | Director of Public Affairs, ASABE Sue E. Nokes, PE, Chair and Professor, Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, has been honored for her outstanding contributions in bioprocessing research and teaching and her leadership in agricultural and biological engineering. Nokes was the principal investigator on a multidisciplinary, multi-institution project funded by a USDA Biomass Research and Development Initiative grant. The project, On-Farm Biomass Processing: Towards an Integrated High-Solids Transporting/Storing/Processing System, was the first to successfully produce butanol from a sequential co-culture of anaerobic bacteria on lignocellulosic substrate. Nokes has been a collaborator with industry research on solid substrate cultivation and the production of industrial enzymes for animal feed supplements. Nokes served as a technical coordinator and steering committee member on the Kentucky Rural Energy Consortium, a partnership organization comprised of several research universities, research centers, and government organizations with interests in promoting energy research and deployment for the benefit of Kentucky citizens. As the Chair of the Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Department, she grew the student enrollment from 75 to 200, while also adding a technical systems minor. She has served as an advisor for many graduate students, as well as a frequent mentor to high school and undergraduate students. Many of her advisees have been women, and she has continually worked to promote the role of women in agricultural and biological engineering. Her grant-writing efforts have secured millions of dollars in funding to support University of Kentucky research labs, graduate fellowship, and research programs. Nokes is a decorated educator, having won the University of Kentucky Provost’s Outstanding Teaching Award, the USDA National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges Excellence in Teaching Award, the Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Teaching, and the
Photo: Matt Barton, UK College of Agriculture Henry Lutes College of Engineering Excellence in Teaching Award, as well as many other departmental teaching honors. A 29-year member of ASABE, Nokes has provided valuable leadership on the ASABE Board of Trustees as treasurer, the Engineering and Technology Accreditation committee, the Finance committee, and the Stewart Engineering Humanities Award committee, among many others. Nokes has volunteered extensively for ABET as a program reviewer and has been heavily involved with developing online training for engineers preparing for the Professional Engineering licensure exam. Nokes is the author or coauthor of more than 60 refereed journal articles and book chapters. She is an American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering Fellow, a member of the American Society for Engineering Education, and a member of the Society for Women Engineers. 5
Collaboration Leading Operational UAS Development for Meteorology and Atmospheric Physics (CLOUD-MAP) By Mike Sama, Ph.D., P.E. | Assistant Professor In August 2015, I was among a team of researchers to receive $6 million in funding from the National Science Foundation to study the use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to study meteorology and atmospheric physics. The project, titled CLOUDMAP, is a collaboration between four universities (Oklahoma State University, Oklahoma University, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and University of Kentucky) with the common goal of developing and deploying new sensing strategies aboard UAS to improve weather prediction. I am leading the component on airborne soil hydrology, which aims to improve the spatial resolution for quantifying moisture at the soil/atmosphere boundary layer.
remained relatively unchanged and does not costeffectively scale to the field or farm size. The control systems that schedule smart irrigation commonly rely on low-spatial-resolution water holding capacity maps or soil sensor networks. UAS provides new opportunities for sensing strategies with moisture management in irrigated fields. Most small UAS will operate under 400 ft per FAA regulations. This close proximity to the ground opens up opportunities for using reflectance based remote sensing methods to make land surface moisture measurements that are not feasible with satellite imagery due to absorption from atmospheric moisture, while still retaining the ability to cover large areas more quickly than what can be achieved on the ground. Learning from each other
A major emphasis of the CLOUD-MAP project is for all of the investigators and their students to get together annually to test out their “stuff � with the Sensing strategies for moisture management goal that everyone learns from each other. While Moisture variability, in addition to driving weather, the individual tasks cover a wide range of topics has a substantial impact on production agriculture from multi-UAS coordination to atmospheric and is commonly addressed through irrigation. chemistry, the platforms, operating procedures, Nearly one-third of the freshwater consumed in the and data acquisition systems are all remarkably United States is used for irrigation. As with other similar. Working as a team allows individuals to areas of precision agriculture, the spatial and temporal leverage the group’s expertise on all this UAS to resolutions at which irrigation can be applied more rapidly meet specific research goals. The first have increased. However, the sensing technologies annual test campaign was hosted by Oklahoma State for delineating moisture management zones has
Figure 1: UK faculty, staff, and students at the OSU UAFS near Stillwater, Okla. BAE participants included Ali Hamidisepehr, Michael Sama, Felipe Pampolini, and Chris Good (starting from the right).
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Figure 2: Near-infrared (left) and thermal (right) images 400 ft above reflectance targets and the UK ground station at the OSU
UAFS.
University (OSU). Faculty, staff, and students from UK Departments of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Chemistry trekked 800 miles to Stillwater, Okla., for a week of flight testing, meetings and social gatherings (Figure 1). Flights were conducted at the OSU Unmanned Aircraft Flight Station (UAFS) east of Stillwater and the Marena Mesonet station west of Stillwater. Deploying UAS as a group The primary goal for the first test campaign was simply to learn how to deploy UAS as a group. The flight test schedule was particularly demanding, requiring the participants to arrive at the test sites before sunrise and depart after
2016 Contributors to BAE
The Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering would like to thank donors who generously contributed during the past year. Contributions allow us to further our work in the important food-energy-water nexus and to address other engineering issues. We continue research projects; hire graduate and undergraduate students, which gives them valuable applied experience; and reach our stakeholders through extension efforts. If you’d like to contribute, please contact Department Chair Dr. Sue Nokes. • American Society of Agricultural & Biological Engineers • Rodney J. Andrews, Ph.D.
sunset in order to utilize the entire range of time available to fly, but the sleep deprivation was worth the effort. Over 240 individual flights were conducted by the four universities resulting in 25 hours of combined flight time. UK performed 70 consecutive flights in three days of testing, most of which included two or three UAS deployed simultaneously. The BAE group collected over 110 GB of multispectral imagery, thermalinfrared imagery, and flight videos (Figure 2). The data from this year’s campaign has been invaluable for developing UAS-based sensor deployment strategies and the team is looking forward to returning to Oklahoma next year to test a prototype soil moisture sensor currently underdevelopment. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Matthew T. Ballard East Kentucky Power Cooperative, Inc. James M. Embry Joshua R. Evans Mark E. Fiedeldey Friends of Wolf Run Inc. Faye D. Hulette Justin Ray Jackson Lakeview Estates Lake Association, Inc. Dr. Kenneth Ronald Liberty Dr. Douglas G. Overhults Arch B. Sebastian Dr. Mark S. Smith Ramona M. Thompson Dr. Philip W. Westerman 7
UAV and Livestock Opportunities By Josh Jackson, Ph.D. | Extension Assistant Professor As a new member of the department, one of my initial research areas is exploring the longstanding interest I have in the technology aspect of livestock systems, and in particular, how UAV, or unmanned aerial vehicles, will be used by farmers, and in particular, cattlemen, in the future. The possibilities for UAV and animal agriculture are limitless. Many aspects of livestock production are conducive to the use of UAV, one of which is terrain. Using UAV makes sense from the aspect that crop production takes place in areas that are largely level. This leaves cattle production to take place on more marginal terrain that can be more challenging to traverse. This is where the UAV could excel, allowing herd owners to simplify their daily routine of checking cattle using UAV. UAV rule changes The rules for UAV have changed recently, and a knowledge test is now available for producers who are interested in using UAV on their operation. After completion of the knowledge test, the producer becomes a “pilot in command” (PIC) with whom all responsibility for flight safety rests. The PIC must be aware of general regulations, airspace requirements and restrictions, weather conditions, loading and performance, and operational functions. The FAA Part 107 rules allow the PIC with an FAA-registered UAV to fly (less than 400 feet above ground level) for commercial purposes (such as monitoring cattle and other farm operations). There are many different types of UAV that range in size (must be less than 55 pounds), price ($60$1200), and functionality (racers, recreational, and commercial). Some of the UAVs that have been developed allow for flight in various weather conditions. However, the current regulations for Part 107 state that three miles of visibility must be maintained for flight to take place. Operation in inclement weather increases the likelihood that a crash or accident will take place as the “situational awareness” would be impaired. 8
UAV and animal interactions The interaction between animals and UAVs will have to be analyzed more, as there has been limited research on the subject. Shown is a horse that has become acclimated to the A report UAV, circled, in the background. in the August 2015 issue of Current Biology stated that bears manifested no behavioral changes (no dramatic changes in movement) when a drone was introduced to their environment. However, when the UAV hovered approximately 65 feet above the bears’ space, a physiological change was observed in the heart rate. The heart rate was elevated both during and immediately after the UAV was introduced. This increased heart rate was thought to be indicative of elevated stress level of the bear. Additional livestock research needed The exact response of different livestock species to UAVs has yet to be quantified. Some cattle producers have already started to use UAVs to monitor their animals and have anecdotally stated that if you stay above 50 feet, the cattle will not be disturbed by the presence of a UAV. Some farmers believe that cattle could potentially be herded using UAVs, but working cattle with a UAV would be dependent upon the disposition of the cattle and quality of the fencing. My advice would be to proceed with caution and allow the animals to become acclimated to the idea. Feel free to touch base with me and check out my webpage at www.uky.edu/bae/jackson.
Modenbach receives ASABE’s Gale A. Holloway Award By Dolores Landeck | Director of Public Affairs, ASABE Alicia A. Modenbach was the recipient of the 2016 Gale A. Holloway Professional Development award for exemplary achievement of career development and membership activities for ASABE Preprofessional members. Modenbach is a Lecturer in the Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky. She has been instrumental in developing the ASABE Young Professionals Community by recruiting students and mentoring the next generation of biosystems engineers. In addition to advising many undergraduate and graduate students, Modenbach works closely with the director of undergraduate studies in preparing materials for an ABET self-study and review. Modenbach is also developing curriculum for the new University of Kentucky technical systems management minor. Modenbach’s success is evident in her ability to grow the University of Kentucky academic programs and retain those students in biosystems engineering. Her excellence has extended to her contributions in ASABE, through her service on the executive committee of the Young Professionals Community. Modenbach’s postdoctoral research focused on the pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis unit operations of the lignocellulosic conversion process. Prior to that, she was awarded a National Science
Foundation Fellowship that supported her PhD work at the University of Kentucky; that research investigated the use of high-solids loadings in pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis unit operations and the use of sodium hydroxide as a pretreatment reagent. She is coauthor of five refereed journal articles. Modenbach’s approach to ASABE activities mirrors her professional work: She helps young professionals realize their goals and leads by the example of hard work, dedication, and professionalism. As an 11year member of ASABE, Modenbach has been very involved in ASABE communities and councils. Modenbach supported and organized activities associated with ASABE’s co-chairing of the 2015 National Engineers Week, working to develop partnerships and coordinating volunteers. She also served as a judge for the Future City competition
national finals, held during Engineers Week in Washington, D.C. She is currently chair of the Membership Development Council. Modenbach is also a member of the American Society for Engineering Education, Institute of Biological Engineers, and honor societies Gamma Sigma Delta and Alpha Epsilon. She was inducted into the Order of the Engineer in 2011. She was also featured as a New Face of ASABE in 2011. 9
Staff Focus: Ricky Mason, Engineer Associate By Donnie Stamper Many students, faculty, and staff know Ricky as the BAE 305 lab teacher, someone who helps students create interesting electronic gadgets and solutions. But there is so much more that many of us do not know about the always well-dressed man. Ricky is a happily married man and a father of two, an eight-month baby and a two-year-old. He is from Louisville (go CARDS?), but graduated with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from UK. His UK undergrad career was cut short by injury. Not his academic career, but his athletic career. Ricky was a student athlete during his freshman and sophomore years, playing football for coaches Rich Brooks and Joker Phillips. I guess you could say that UK football hasn’t been the same since he left. After graduating from UK, Ricky took a job in Washington D.C. working as a computer engineer. Ricky enrolled at Johns Hopkins University, where he received a master’s degree in electrical and computer engineering. He made his way back to Kentucky and began working in our department as an engineer associate. Not only is Ricky working with the BAE 305 classes, he is also working on software and hardware development. He is one of our department’s multipurpose talents, putting his computer and electrical backgrounds together to design systems to collect and display data, including web and app development. Outside of work, you can find Ricky working out or playing basketball, but not all of his hobbies are rooted in physical activity. Ricky also enjoys writing poetry. Ricky can’t be defined by
Departures
Anderson Ravanny de Andrade Gomes (Visiting Scholar) Amanda Hickman William Sympson
New Positions
what you have already read; there is still more. Ricky is a business owner: Bionic Realty and Acquisition not only ties the company name to his background, but it shows his versatility. He is a houseflipping landlord who owns properties in Louisville, and when possible, he serves as his own handyman. (By the way, if you’re moving to Louisville and need a place to live, make sure you call Ricky!) As you have read, Ricky is a multitalented individual with a busy life and happy wife. But, wait there is more! Seriously! In his spare time, Ricky serves as a mentor for two programs. At William Wells Brown Elementary in Lexington, Ricky helps with the “Reading, Writing and Rewards” program. This is a community partnership focusing on providing children who need extra help with the proper resources and incentives to improve reading, writing, and comprehension skills. At First Baptist Church Bracktown, Ricky mentors in their BMW Academy – “Black Males Working.” The BMW Academy is a STEM academy with a mission to “…educate, motivate, and activate the potential for excellence…” In this program, Ricky plays to his strong suits, helping the male participants with tricky subjects, ranging from modeling appropriate behavior around women, ACT preparation, and engineering projects, of course.
Morgan Hayes, Ph.D. Josh Jackson, Ph.D. Alicia Modenbach, Ph.D. Lee Moser
Visiting Scholars
Ruben Ruiz Gonzalez Siquan Xu 10
M.S. Graduates
Danielle Empson Bradford Greenwell Nicholas Rhea Matthew Ruwaya William Sympson Kameryn Wright
Student Spotlight By Alpha Epsilon members Somsubhra Chattopadhyay and Katie Wolf
Emma Benedict, BAE Senior Where are you currently in your career? I am a senior in college, so I have yet to start my fulltime career. I have been able to gain experience within the professional world through an internship this past summer. I am hoping that after this year, however, I can start my career. Describe any activities, classes, people, etc. at UK that prepared you for what you are currently doing. I definitely think that many of the classes that I have taken at UK have prepared me for a future career. I prefer classes with more hands-on work and activities. I think that courses with labs have allowed me to get more research experience as I narrow down the type of work I would like to do in the future. What are your plans for the near and distant future? Within the next year, I plan to finish up the final courses that I need to graduate. I hope to focus mainly on school, as well as start looking for a full-time job to begin in Summer 2017. I was accepted to participate in the Engineering/MBA Dual Degree program, so I am considering doing that as well. In terms of the more distant future, I am interested in pursuing a career within the field of pharmaceuticals or medical sales. I am very interested in using my engineering degree, and integrating it with a more communicative, creative position.
Spring Meeting: April 28, 2017 Brittany Adam, Big Ass Solutions Laud Azu, Kellogg’s (Chair-Elect) Eric Dawalt, Ridgewater LLC (Past-Chair)
What advice would you give to current/future students as they prepare to join the workforce or graduate? Although I have not had experience in either, I would definitely suggest planning ahead. I think that it is okay to leave options open; however, it is important to have some type of plan or goals for the future. Otherwise, it is very hard to stay focused and accomplish an end task. I would also suggest becoming involved, and meeting as many people as possible. So much of the process of finding a job now is through networking, and I truly think there are so many opportunities if you put yourself out there and make connections with peers and administrators. Please tell us something(s) about yourself that we may not know. Growing up, I moved around a lot. That spurred my interest in traveling and having new experiences. I am hoping that when I graduate, before starting a job, I will have the opportunity to go abroad and travel overseas for a few months. Bradley Heil, Smith and Nephew Blair Lauer, Cummins Wanda Lawson, Stantec Maridely Loyselle, Division of Waste Management, Energy and Environment Cabinet, KY Department of Environmental Protection Doug Mynear, ESCI, LLC Katherine Niebuhr, Altec Pamela Pabian, Coldstream Laboratories (Chair) Allen Patton, Patton Farms LLC Richard Shultz, Linkbelt 11
Student Spotlight By Alpha Epsilon members Somsubhra Chattopadhyay and Katie Wolf
Tahnee Qualls, BAE Senior and Stantec Intern Where are you currently in your career? I am finishing up my degree at UK and working part-time. I have been an intern for Stantec Consulting for over a year. I work in their water group, and have been exposed to a variety of different projects, from flood management to coal plant closures to stream restoration. Describe any activities, classes, people, etc. at UK that prepared you for what you are currently doing. Dr. Carmen Agouridis was endlessly beneficial as both a mentor and a professor. Our first major interaction was when I was a sophomore seeking a research project. Carmen had just the project – developing a methodology for the determination of antibiotics in runoff. Although a summer of meticulously measuring samples and scrubbing swine manure off the walls was far from what I
had expected, it ended up being a great experience. Carmen pushed me to be better, to come out of my shell and do things that terrified me, like speaking in front of people…over and over. I had the opportunity to present my research at multiple conferences and managed to take home awards at both the 2015 ASABE International Conference and the Oklahoma State Water Conference. It turned out Carmen was right, that I was capable of more than I knew. She provided the same quality of mentorship to my senior design team as we developed a handheld gas sampler for streambeds. We took our design all the way to the ASABE Gunlogson Student Environmental Design Competition and won. What are your plans for the near and distant future? After I graduate in December, I will be moving to Louisville to take my dream job – working for Stantec Consulting in their ecosystem restoration group. The restoration group has had its hands in some of the most innovative stream restoration projects in the country – like the Elm Fork Stream Restoration and the North Platte River Restoration. I’ll have the opportunity to work with and learn from highly skilled engineers doing restoration projects across the U.S. and Canada. What advice would you give to current/future students as they prepare to join the workforce or graduate? I highly recommend getting out into the workforce as soon as possible. I was able to work in multiple settings before I got close to graduation and it really helped me find both the things I hated and the things I loved. When I started school, I thought I would be on a much different path than I am now. Please tell us something(s) about yourself that we may not know. I have hiked through five national parks – Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Rocky Mountain, Great Smoky Mountain, and Mammoth Cave. I would like to eventually hike all of them! The Rockies stole my heart and are still calling, but I think my next stop will be Zion.
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Student Spotlight By Alpha Epsilon members Somsubhra Chattopadhyay and Katie Wolf
Amanda Williams, BAE Senior, Student Branch President Where are you currently in your career? I’m a “senior” (ish) in the bioenvironmental engineering area. I graduate in the Fall of 2017, but this is the start of my fourth year. I was an economics and business management major my freshman year. I’ve now worked in the Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Department under Steve Higgins and Lee Moser for two summers and am currently an intern for the Urban Forest Initiative for my second year. I am also President of BAE Student Branch and am loving it – we’re doing a lot of awesome things this year including the Student Lounge renovation, litter-pick-up, and we’ve adopted the Rain CATChment on Farm Road!
What are your plans for the near and distant future? My advice to those who want to go to grad school or join the workforce is to shop around! Don’t commit to the first school you’re accepted to or to the first place that hires you – make sure you do research on where you’ll be spending your time for the next x amount of years. Also, it’s always good to try something new!
Describe any activities, classes, people, etc. at UK that prepared you for what you are currently doing. As I said, I’m president of BAE Student Branch. I am secretary for the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), historian and website coordinator for Phi Sigma Rho – the engineering sorority, and am a member of the Student Sustainability Council (SSC). As far as classes that have prepared me for where I am now, I would definitely say looking back that BAE 102 and BAE 103 were probably the most help. 102 helped me learn the names of most of my peers; and 103 gave us an overview of what we were getting ourselves into. What advice would you give to current/future students as they prepare to join the workforce or graduate? My general advice for students is to get to know your fellow BAE peers – it’s awesome that a majority of my friends are in BAE. As all engineering students know, our course loads are difficult so it helps to have study buddies and people to ask questions if you get stuck. We really are all in this together!
Please tell us something(s) about yourself that we may not know. Some interesting things – I have a fake tooth, I’ve lived in Puerto Rico, I’m an avid hiker and traveler, and my favorite place is Boise, Idaho. 13
Grants Colliver, Don, et al. $2,162,847. “Kentucky Industrial Assessment Center – Developing the Next Generation Energy Assesment Engineering Workforce,” Department of Energy. Dvorak, Joe, M.P. Sama, M.D. Montross, B.M. Goff, J.J. Jackson, J. Williamson. $250,000. “LIDAR and Photogrammetry to Map Alfalfa Yield and Quality using Unmanned Aircraft Systems,” USDA-NIFA Alfalfa and Forage Research Program. Dvorak, Joe. $30,000. “Efficient Routing with Multiple Vehicles for Agricultural Area Coverage,” Kentucky Science and Technology Corp. Dvorak, Joe. $13,945. “Wet Soybean Delivery Advice App,” Kentucky Soybean Promotion Board. Fehr, Robert. $100,000. “Kentucky Energy Education Outreach Program,” Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet. Higgins, Steve. $12,000. “Linking Environment and Farming (LEAF)”, Kentucky Natural Resources and Environment Cabinet. Nokes, Sue.E. $2,000,000. “EPSCoR Track II: Assembling Successful Structures: Lignin Beads for Sustainability of Food, Energy, and Water Systems,” Louisiana State University. Wells, Larry. $14,980. “Support of the French Tobacco Sector in Utilization of a Recently Developed High Capacity Market Preparation System for AirCured Burley Tobacco,” ARVALIS.
Patents Nokes, S.E., Lynn, B.C., Rankin, S. Knutson, B, Montross, M.D., and M. Flythe. June 2016. “OnFarm Integrated High-Solids Processing System for Biomass.” U.S. Utility Patent Application Ser. No. 14/063,616.
Awards Department Chair Dr. Sue Nokes, Ph.D., PE, was named an ASABE fellow. 14
Dr. Alicia Modenbach received the Gale A. Holloway Professional Development award. Don Colliver, Director: KIAC “2016 Center of the Year,” U.S.-DOE. Dr. Joseph Dvorak and former undergraduate Luke Bryant received a Superior Paper award for “An Optical Sprayer Nozzle Flow Rate Sensor.” Dr. Michael P. Sama (co-author), with Dr. Joe Luck (lead author, University of Nebraska-Lincoln), Dr. Santosh Pitla (University of Nebraska-Lincoln) and former UK BAE Department Chair Dr. Scott Shearer (Ohio State University), received a Superior Paper award for “Development and Testing of an Individual Nozzle Direct Injection Pesticide Delivery System.” Dr. Carmen Agouridis, Dr. Fouad Jaber (Texas A&M University) and Ruth Book (USDA – Natural Resources Conservation Service), received a Standards Development award for ASAE S526.4 SEP2015, Soil and Water Terminology. Drs. Timothy Stombaugh and Slava Adamchuk (McGill University), received a Standards Development award for ASABE/ISO 12188-2:2013, Positioning and guidance systems in ag – Part 2: Testing satellite-based auto-guidance systems. Sam Austen, Vanya Bistrekova, and Tahnee Qualls garnered a first place in showing in the G.B. Gunlogson Student Environmental Design Competition (Open Competition). (Team member Shane Worley did not attend the conference.) BAE alum Dr. Santosh Pitla (University of Nebraska-Lincoln) received the Sunkist Young Designer award.
Oral Presentations (ASABE) Akinbode A. Adedeji, Acoustic emission technique for detection of Codling moth infested apples (N. Ekramirad, A. Rady, M. Li, A.A. Adedeji, R. Alimardani, A. Patwardham) Carmen T. Agouridis, Teaching Engineering and Science Using a Project-Based Service-Learning Format (C.T. Agouridis) Czarena Crofcheck, The Influence of Media Ingredients and pH on the Growth of Chloromonas rosae var. psychrophila (C. Crofcheck, C. Zheng, A. Shea,
M. Crocker)
Poster Presentations
Lalitendu Das, Catalytic oxidation of lignin in ionic liquids (L. Das, J. Shi)
Carmen T. Agouridis, Long-Term Effects of Forestry Best Management Practices on Hydrology and Water Chemistry in Three Appalachian Headwater Catchments (K. Wright, C.T. Agouridis, C. Barton)
Amanda Hickman, The Effect of Substrate Density on Biological Pretreatment (A. Hickman, S. Nokes) Joshua J. Jackson, Distributed preprocessing of corn stover into either a densified liquid or solid fuel: a GIS case study ( J.J. Jackson, M.D. Montross) Enshi Liu, Fractionation and characterization of lignin streams from pretreatment of engineered switchgrass (E. Liu, M. Kulshrestha, T. Morgan, B. Zhao, M. Crocker, J. Shi)
Emma K. Benedict, As-Applied Estimation of Volumetric Flow Rate Distribution from a Spray Nozzle using Liquid Mass on a Target (E.K. Benedict, M.P. Sama, A. Turner) Ashlan Berry, Bankfull Regional Curves and Hydraulic Geometry Curves for the Eastern Kentucky Coalfields (A. Berry, C.T. Agouridis)
Somsubhra Chattopadhyay, Spatiotemporal variabilFred Payne, Temperature Correction Methodology for Fluorescence Measurement of Proteins (F. Payne, ity of extreme precipitation events in the Kentucky River Basin (S. Chattopadhyay, D. Edwards) M.P. Sama) Ulalo Chirwa, Bioprocessing of Soybean Processing Ahmed Rady, Application of Hyperspectral ImagWaste for Bacterial Biocontrol Agents (U. Chirwa, E. ing Technique to Detect Adulteration in Processed Liu, J. Shi) Meats (A. Rady, A.A. Adedeji) Ahmed Rady, Hyperspectral Imaging for Detection of Codling Moth Infestation and Prediction of Quality in Gold-Rush Apples (N. Ekramirad, A. Rady, A.A. Adedeji, R. Alimardani, R. Bessin, J. Strang) Michael P. Sama (co-author), Development and Testing of an Individual Nozzle Direct Injection Pesticide Delivery System, ( J.D. Luck [lead author], M.P. Sama, S. Shearer) Michael P. Sama, Instrumentation for Engineering Research and Control of Off-Road Vehicles at the University of Kentucky (M.P. Sama) Hasan Seyyedhasani, “Comparison of traditional path assignment for multiple vehicles with computer generated one in agricultural field context� (H. Seyyedhasani, J. Dvorak) Manjot Singh, Physicochemical and functional properties of Proso millet starch (M. Singh, A.A. Adedeji) Timothy Stombaugh, Development of a Hemp Flower Harvester (T. Stombaugh, W. Adams) Aaron P. Turner, Tracking Grain Trucks Using a Fleet Management System (A.P. Turner, M.D. Montross, J. Dvorak, M.P. Sama)
Joseph Dvorak, Simple Field Logistics Simulation Comparing Field Efficiencies and Field Capacities between Larger and Smaller Equipment ( J. Dvorak, H. Seyyedhasani)
Amanda Hickman, Pretreatment Effectiveness of Phanerochaete chrysosporium on Switchgrass as a Function of Incubation Time and Pretreatment Pass Number (B. Carey, A. Hickman, W. Sympson, S. Nokes) Joseph Rounsaville, System Power requirements for a Fully Electric Drivetrain in Ag ( J. Rounsaville, J.
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