Title of the Project: the Economic Costs of Natural Disasters, Terrorist Attacks, and Other Calamities: an Analysis of Economic Models That Quantify the Losses Caused by Disruptions

Over the past decade, numerous studies have estimated the economic impacts of a variety of disruptions. Most of these studies are based on macroeconomic models that quantify the direct and indirect economic losses from a disruption. Direct economic losses occur due to damaged facilities or when consumers change their purchasing behavior because of the disruption. Indirect economic losses occur when directly impacted businesses consequently reduce their orders to their suppliers. Indirect economic losses are often larger than direct economic losses. This project conducts a meta-analysis of these economic studies by summarizing the key conclusions and modeling assumptions. The project compares the direct and indirect economic losses from a variety of disruptions, including earthquakes, hurricanes, terrorist attacks, pandemic diseases, and port closures. Some studies model hypothetical scenarios, but other studies quantify the economic losses from historical events such as the 9/11 attacks and the 2011 Japanese tsunami. This project provides a useful benchmark to understand the consequences from disruptions and highlight areas that public officials could address in planning for future disruptions. Title of the project: Impact of Cognitive Style on the use of Design Heuristics Name of participant: Ian Baker Major: Industrial Design Mentor: Seda Yilmaz, Industrial Design College: Design Abstract: Ideation is critical as it defines the concepts to pursue with which ultimately defines how innovative the solutions would be. Such solutions can be generated differently by individuals along a scale measuring cognitive style on a spectrum of Adaptive and Innovative. A person’s cognitive style describes their approach to navigating the problem solving process. Individuals often become “stuck” after the first few ideas and are unable to move on. It is within this area of opportunity where the ideation tools may be beneficial. One of these tools, Design Heuristics, is empirically-driven and validated with both students and practitioners through experimental and in situ studies. They are a set of seventy-seven cards prompting alternative thinking approaches to reach potential solutions. This tool is unique as it guides designers through a new “solution space” for generating ideas beyond what may seem obvious but doesn’t fully tap one’s cognitive potential. Our research investigates the relationship between cognitive styles and the use of Design Heuristics based on 101 engineering and design students’ reflection data on their own ideation processes. Our findings suggest that the more adaptive students respond to the use of Design Heuristics more positively compared to the more innovative students. Ideation is critical as it defines the concepts to pursue with which ultimately defines how innovative the solutions would be. Such solutions can be generated differently by individuals along a scale measuring cognitive style on a spectrum of Adaptive and Innovative. A person’s cognitive style describes their approach to navigating the problem solving process. Individuals often become “stuck” after the first few ideas and are unable to move on. It is within this area of opportunity where the ideation tools may be beneficial. One of these tools, Design Heuristics, is empirically-driven and validated with both students and practitioners through experimental and in situ studies. They are a set of seventy-seven cards prompting alternative thinking approaches to reach potential solutions. This tool is unique as it guides designers through a new “solution space” for generating ideas beyond what may seem obvious but doesn’t fully tap one’s cognitive potential. Our research investigates the relationship between cognitive styles and the use of Design Heuristics based on 101 engineering and design students’ reflection data on their own ideation processes. Our findings suggest that the more adaptive students respond to the use of Design Heuristics more positively compared to the more innovative students. Title of the project: Harvesting low speed wind with piezoelectric thin film Name of participant: Stanley Barbel Major: Aerospace Engineering Mentor: Thomas Ward, Aerospace Engineering College: Engineering Abstract: Recently the study of piezoelectric material/sensors has grown as one type of renewable energy source. The process of obtaining energy surrounding a system, and converting it into usable electrical energy is termed power harvesting. Piezoelectrics have the ability transform mechanical strain energy into electrical charge and, vice versa, to convert an applied electrical potential into mechanical strain. To study energy harvesting through these material we built a small wind tunnel and embedded the piezoelectric materials/sensors inside the wind tunnel at a 90 degree angle, facing the air flow. The air flow (0-10 mph) causes deflection of the beam and above a certain value the beams began to vibrate. We measured this behavior visual with a camera and the output voltage with an oscilloscope. We demonstrate that this process may be a cost-effective means for sustainable energy harvesting. Recently the study of piezoelectric material/sensors has grown as one type of renewable energy source. The process of obtaining energy surrounding a system, and converting it into usable electrical energy is termed power harvesting. Piezoelectrics have the ability transform mechanical strain energy into electrical charge and, vice versa, to convert an applied electrical potential into mechanical strain. To study energy harvesting through these material we built a small wind tunnel and embedded the piezoelectric materials/sensors inside the wind tunnel at a 90 degree angle, facing the air flow. The air flow (0-10 mph) causes deflection of the beam and above a certain value the beams began to vibrate. We measured this behavior visual with a camera and the output voltage with an oscilloscope. We demonstrate that this process may be a cost-effective means for sustainable energy harvesting. Title of the project: The Effects of Music on Velocity and Acceleration of Repetitive Finger Movements Name of participant: Brandon Bates Major: Kinesiology and Health Mentor: Elizabeth Stegemoller, Kinesiology and Health College: Human Sciences Abstract: It has recently been shown in healthy adults that the style of music can differentially affect the amplitude of movement while the rate of movement remains constant. However, there has been no research examining how other kinematic properties of movement, such as velocity and acceleration, change with style of music. The purpose of this proposal is to examine the velocity and acceleration of repetitive finger movements during different styles of music. Forty participants completed a finger tapping task in time with activating and relaxing music at two rates, 70 beats per minute and 140 beats per minute. Velocity and acceleration data was derived from position of the finger and compared across music conditions and movement rates. Results revealed that the linear velocity and acceleration of movement changes with music condition and movement rate. The results of this study will serve as the basis for exploring the use of music cues for improving movement performance in persons with Parkinson’s disease. It has recently been shown in healthy adults that the style of music can differentially affect the amplitude of movement while the rate of movement remains constant. However, there has been no research examining how other kinematic properties of movement, such as velocity and acceleration, change with style of music. The purpose of this proposal is to examine the velocity and acceleration of repetitive finger movements during different styles of music. Forty participants completed a finger tapping task in time with activating and relaxing music at two rates, 70 beats per minute and 140 beats per minute. Velocity and acceleration data was derived from position of the finger and compared across music conditions and movement rates. Results revealed that the linear velocity and acceleration of movement changes with music condition and movement rate. The results of this study will serve as the basis for exploring the use of music cues for improving movement performance in persons with Parkinson’s disease. Title of the project: Polistes fuscatus: The effects of personality across contexts and colonies in paper wasps Name of participant: Colby Behrens Major: Biology & Animal Ecology Mentor: Amy Toth, Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology College: Agriculture and Life Sciences Abstract: Social insect behavior at both the individual and colony level can have major consequences for the success, or failure, of a colony. Our experiment examines the variation and consistency of aggressive behavior in paper wasp (Polistes fuscatus) colonies across contexts. Five colonies of paper wasps were observed in the field for aggressive responses over time in four contexts: predatory spider (threat to colony health), nonthreatening insect, unrelated conspecific (competitor), and empty cage (control). Colonies were also observed for nonaggressive responses correlated with colony growth. Individuals from each colony were captured and tested for attentiveness and aggression to different contexts over time. Responses over time were averaged to determine individual personality and compared to their colony behavior. The behaviors of colonies will also be compared to the overall colony growth (number and size of offspring) and colony quality (lipid content and ovary development of individuals and offspring). Such comparisons will determine if colonies are sacrificing growth and reproductive fitness to maintain aggressive phenotypes. Social insect behavior at both the individual and colony level can have major consequences for the success, or failure, of a colony. Our experiment examines the variation and consistency of aggressive behavior in paper wasp (Polistes fuscatus) colonies across contexts. Five colonies of paper wasps were observed in the field for aggressive responses over time in four contexts: predatory spider (threat to colony health), nonthreatening insect, unrelated conspecific (competitor), and empty cage (control). Colonies were also observed for nonaggressive responses correlated with colony growth. Individuals from each colony were captured and tested for attentiveness and aggression to different contexts over time. Responses over time were averaged to determine individual personality and compared to their colony behavior. The behaviors of colonies will also be compared to the overall colony growth (number and size of offspring) and colony quality (lipid content and ovary development of individuals and offspring). Such comparisons will determine if colonies are sacrificing growth and reproductive fitness to maintain aggressive phenotypes. Title of the project: Research and Development of a Liquid Desiccant Dehumidification System Name of participant: Jacob Benner, Laura Michaelson Major: Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Mentor: Ulrike Passe, Architecture College: Engineering Abstract: In the summer months high humidity can decrease air conditioning efficiency by using significant amounts of power condensing water vapor instead of utilizing that power to directly cool the air. Liquid desiccant systems have the ability to provide reliable dehumidification without drawing a great deal of power. This has the potential to greatly relieve current air conditioning systems from using such large amounts of power to dehumidify the air before cooling it. Currently, liquid desiccant systems are beginning to gain traction for commercial use in larger buildings. However, little has been done at the residential scale. This research is geared toward developing a system for a residential sized building that also utilizes solar heating. Previously, our research team created a system that successfully dehumidifies the air. However, this system yields inconsistent results and introduces humidity at times due to the desiccant and air interaction. Currently, our team is designing a new component for absorption of water vapor that utilizes a cross interaction method between the air and desiccant solution. In parallel with the redesign of the absorber component of the system, the team is also developing a mathematical model for the interaction. This model uses principles of thermodynamics and heat transfer to predict output humidity changes. The model is being developed for two purposes. First, it will be used to compare our experimental results with, which will allow us to determine how accurate our model is. If the model is accurate, it may serve as a generic model for others to use to integrate a liquid desiccant system of their own for smaller residential applications. Secondly, the model will yield information regarding input parameters that will allow the team to create a steady state system. This is extremely important as the amount of moisture being absorbed into the system has to equal the amount of moisture being expelled in order to have continuous operation. Once the successful operation of the system has been verified, the system will be installed into the solar house and the team will collect data on any increase in efficiency of the AC system. The results of this research would prove useful for the HVAC community interested in residential dehumidification. In the summer months high humidity can decrease air conditioning efficiency by using significant amounts of power condensing water vapor instead of utilizing that power to directly cool the air. Liquid desiccant systems have the ability to provide reliable dehumidification without drawing a great deal of power. This has the potential to greatly relieve current air conditioning systems from using such large amounts of power to dehumidify the air before cooling it. Currently, liquid desiccant systems are beginning to gain traction for commercial use in larger buildings. However, little has been done at the residential scale. This research is geared toward developing a system for a residential sized building that also utilizes solar heating. Previously, our research team created a system that successfully dehumidifies the air. However, this system yields inconsistent results and introduces humidity at times due to the desiccant and air interaction. Currently, our team is designing a new component for absorption of water vapor that utilizes a cross interaction method between the air and desiccant solution. In parallel with the redesign of the absorber component of the system, the team is also developing a mathematical model for the interaction. This model uses principles of thermodynamics and heat transfer to predict output humidity changes. The model is being developed for two purposes. First, it will be used to compare our experimental results with, which will allow us to determine how accurate our model is. If the model is accurate, it may serve as a generic model for others to use to integrate a liquid desiccant system of their own for smaller residential applications. Secondly, the model will yield information regarding input parameters that will allow the team to create a steady state system. This is extremely important as the amount of moisture being absorbed into the system has to equal the amount of moisture being expelled in order to have continuous operation. Once the successful operation of the system has been verified, the system will be installed into the solar house and the team will collect data on any increase in efficiency of the AC system. The results of this research would prove useful for the HVAC community interested in residential dehumidification. Title of the project: Exploring Wearable Technology: Solar Powered Bookbags Name of participant: Courtney Beringer, Sam Vande Loo Major: Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Mentor: Eulanda Sanders, Apparel, Events, and Hospitality Management College: Engineering Abstract: The purpose of this study was to gauge public opinion on wearable technology, with an extra focus on solar panel integration. Thus, the researchers gathered the information needed to develop a useful wearable technology product. Despite growing interest in wearable technology, the use of solar panels in commercial products seems to be non-existent. Some companies have experimented with the integration of solar panels in clothing but have not been successful. This is due to multiple factors including aesthetics, efficiency, functionality, and price (Dunne, 2010). The purpose of this study was to gauge public opinion on wearable technology, with an extra focus on solar panel integration. Thus, the researchers gathered the information needed to develop a useful wearable technology product. Despite growing interest in wearable technology, the use of solar panels in commercial products seems to be non-existent. Some companies have experimented with the integration of solar panels in clothing but have not been successful. This is due to multiple factors including aesthetics, efficiency, functionality, and price (Dunne, 2010). This mixed method research design is composed of two parts: 1) a student focus group interview 2) campus-wide online survey. The data gathered from this information was then used to develop a prototype that modeled the needs of potential consumers. Materials included conductive threads and flexible solar panels. The prototype provides an example to companies of a product that would likely take off in the market, because it was designed from consumer input. The results of this study contribute to bridging the gap between the product developers and consumers concerning wearable technology.