Determining the Most Dangerous Streets of Fort Worth, TX Using Spatial Analysis

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): William Hart Geological Sciences
Advisor(s): Esayas Gebremichael Geological Sciences
Location: Third Floor, Table 10, Position 1, 1:45-3:45

Fort Worth, Texas has become one of the most populated areas in the United States. With a growing influx of commuters on a daily basis, there is no doubt that there will be a large amount of car crashes in the city. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, in 2020 there were over 15,000 car crashes while in 2021 there were over 17,000 car accidents. In 2022 alone there have been over 3000 car crashes already. Many of these car crashes are likely avoidable and finding the areas that are most susceptible to these accidents will be valuable knowledge for drivers and the city. Applying ESRI ArcGIS Pro’s spatial analysis extension to the Texas Department of Transportation's car accident the roads of Fort Worth with high crash and fatality rates will be found and mapped accordingly.

Analysis of Tornado Events in Alabama Using Geospatial Techniques: Impacts and Aggravating Factors

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Navya Kolli Geological Sciences
Advisor(s): Esayas Gebremichael Geological Sciences
Location: Basement, Table 1, Position 3, 1:45-3:45

For this research project, geospatial analysis will be utilized to study tornado outbreaks in Alabama, and to analyze the impact of major tornado events at different times (1974-2020) in the specified study regions and analyze that as well. This project is significant because these tornado outbreaks resulted in many deaths and lots of devastation in the region. By studying these tornadoes closely, a better understanding of the tornado events will be developed .
The goal of the study is to compare the relationship of elevation to the severity of the tornadoes (EF Scale) as well as look into how surface modification has amplified the effect of the tornadoes to analyze results more closely. Other primary goals are to 1) map the tornado track and 2) to analyze the change in the impact of tornadoes over time, taking land surface changes, elevation, and EF values into consideration to better understand the relation between them. In terms of the time series analysis, I will look into major tornado outbreaks that affected the study sites from 1974-2020. All of this will be accomplished using ArcMap, Google Earth Engine, and possibly other programs/tools. Relevant datasets are coming from LANDSAT, Sentinel 1 and 2, Digital Elevation Model (DEM), and from other possible sources.

Dendrimeric organic nanomaterials at the Fe(III)-oxide-water interface: Size effects on dynamics of binding

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Brooke Newell Geological Sciences Omar Harvey Geological Sciences
Advisor(s): Omar Harvey Geological Sciences
Location: Third Floor, Table 3, Position 3, 11:30-1:30

As the nature and quantity of new/novel nanomaterials continue to expand to meet industrial, medical, and domestic demands, their accidental or intentional release becomes inevitable. To this end, an evolving understanding of the interaction dynamics between nanomaterials and naturally-occuring geomaterials is central to supporting continued sustainable development and use of nanomaterials. The current study explores the chemodynamics of the organic nanomaterial, polyamidoamine (PAMAM), binding to (and debinding from) ferrihydrite. Specific focus is placed on how PAMAM size affects the quantity, kinetics and dynamics for three carboxyl-terminated PAMAMs (Gx.5-COOH) sorbing/desorbing to/from the variably-charged ferrihydrite (FFH). Early results suggest that at pH 5, the smaller PAMAM G1.5-COOH sorbed/desorb to/from FFH in similar quantities but at slower rates than G3.5-COOH. Sorption/desorption was also found to occur via 1- or 2-steps with a faster surface-mediated step being followed by a slower diffusion-mediated step and the proportion of surface-mediated: diffusion-mediated sorption/desorption increasing with PAMAM size (i.e. G1.5-COOH<G3.5-COOH). This presentation will further cover results obtained with G5.5-COOH PAMAM.

Applying Chemical Analysis Methods to Address Food Desert Problems in Fort Worth

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Audrey Wilson Geological Sciences
Advisor(s): Omar Harvey Geological Sciences
Location: Third Floor, Table 9, Position 2, 11:30-1:30

"Power your school:" Working with Dallas-Fort Worth schools to identify alternative energies for their campus

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Jack Bonnell Interdisciplinary Grace Bobo Interdisciplinary Precious Castillo Interdisciplinary Traylin Cleveland Interdisciplinary Camryn Gloor Interdisciplinary Kelly Jaimes Interdisciplinary Ashlyn Laidman Interdisciplinary Christina Mantsorov Interdisciplinary Kiet Nguyen Interdisciplinary Kennedy Redmon Interdisciplinary Zach Rouseau Interdisciplinary George Weimer Interdisciplinary
Advisor(s): Kayla Green Chemistry & Biochemistry Jeffrey L. Coffer Chemistry & Biochemistry Heidi Conrad Chemistry & Biochemistry Julie Fry Chemistry & Biochemistry
Location: Second Floor, Table 8, Position 2, 11:30-1:30

K-12 curricula worldwide typically lack a strong emphasis on alternative energies, particularly solar and wind power. To counter this, the University of Cambridge has developed the “Power your School” initiative, a program where students learn to map their school and local area, predict where the best sites for solar panels may be on their campus, use scientific equipment accurately, record results, and make ideal recommendations based on their data. TCU Chemistry Club and the Coffer Research Lab have partnered with this initiative to help local elementary schools investigate the benefits of renewable energy, assist in calculating the financial benefits of solar panels over a span of multiple years, and most importantly - to help young students learn the basics of proper recording of scientific data. Through poster creation and its subsequent presentation, students also use design and oral communication skills to educate local officials (and beyond) into the benefits of investing in renewable energy. Methods and results of this project will be presented.