Eoghan Clifford | National University of Ireland, Galway (original) (raw)

Papers by Eoghan Clifford

In recent years, smarter travel initiatives have become increasingly important for educational, b... more In recent years, smarter travel initiatives have become increasingly important for educational, business, and other institutions across Ireland. With an increased public awareness of environmental sustainability and a need to decongest urban areas, it is widely accepted that infrastructural investment is required to promote sustainable modes of transport. Furthermore, there are clear economic and health benefits to promoting sustainable travel. It is unclear however, the extent to which specific measures and infrastructural improvements generate modal shift. Universities, alongside large employers, can offer ideal testing grounds for novel initiatives that promote sustainable travel due to their large student and staff cohort, and their generally easily accessible and compact campuses. This study of NUI Galway staff and students (using over1,000 survey responses), analysed the distance travelled, time taken, travel mode, and trip generation location for staff, undergraduate students and postgraduate students travelling to NUI Galway. The findings are compared with results of a similar 2012 survey and with other surveys conducted by the NUI Galway Buildings Office over the past eight years to illustrate the evolution of travel patterns at the University. The survey also investigated the impacts of infrastructure improvements at the NUI Galway. Results show that the overall percentage of students and staff driving to campus has decreased since 2012 and there has been a rise in the modal share of the bicycle. The survey indicates that the development of a new pedestrian and cycle bridge providing access to NUI Galway was positively received. Results of the study indicate that when travelling to NUI Galway, cycling is on average 1.3 km/h faster than the car over distances of less than 5 km (including time to park in a car parking space). Considering distances less than 2 km, the bike can be up to 4 km/h faster. Furthermore over 60% of those travelling to the University live within 5km, there is therefore great potential to increase uptake of active modes of transport.The survey also facilitated estimations of the potential carbon savings which could result from reduced car usage. The paper also presents analysis of staff at Galway University Hospital (GUH - located opposite part of the NUI Galway campus). Furthermore the study analysed data from a university campus in the USA (University of Berkeley, California) and the UK (Lancaster University) and identified key infrastructural improvements that have successfully reduced car usage in universities outside of Ireland and may be applicable to Irish Universities.

From students to leaders: evaluating the impact on academic performance, satisfaction and student... more From students to leaders: evaluating the impact on academic performance, satisfaction and student empowerment of a pilot PAL programme among first year students and second year leaders

Frontiers in Sustainability

Since the 1970's the number of scientific publications with sustainability as a keyword has i... more Since the 1970's the number of scientific publications with sustainability as a keyword has increased from 1 in 1975 to 13,628 in 2019. Research, like all human endeavors, has impacts on the environment due to the activities required to generate the supporting data (i.e., use of vehicles, resources, and materials). Researchers have a responsibility to minimize their impacts as part of their work and to make environmentally responsible decisions. A life-cycle approach is currently the best-developed means of assessing the impact of a group or organization. This article presents a case study of organizational life cycle assessment (O-LCA) of a research project. The objectives of this study were to (i) estimate the impact of the project, focusing on travel. (ii) Use a post hoc approach to determine impact reduction opportunities. (iii) Apply O-LCA as a decision-making tool in project management of research and (iv) profile the environmental impact of the project using public data (...

Introduction Contamination of water and food are responsible by many outbreaks and deaths worldwi... more Introduction Contamination of water and food are responsible by many outbreaks and deaths worldwide, caused by failures in production, ineffective disinfection techniques, proximity to sources of contamination, and human intervention on environment. Norovirus (NoV) is a virus associated with water contamination and commonly related with foodborne illness, causing acute self-limiting gastroenteritis. In Ireland, the detection of NoV at plant level result in a shutdown of operations for several days and a process of depuration, analysis and final inspection. Literature has confirmed that there is no effective mitigation technology currently deployed that eliminates this virus in contaminated seafood, where the globally annual cost estimated for treating infected patients reaches $60 billion1. Pulsed ultraviolet-light (PLUV) is a clean and non-residue technique, recognized by FDA as safe for use on processing and handling of foods, and is environmental friendly. This technique delivers...

Energy and water are inextricably linked, and together they are the two of the most valuable glob... more Energy and water are inextricably linked, and together they are the two of the most valuable global resources. Internationally, the links between the energy, wastewater and water sectors are attracting increasing attention. In the wastewater sector, pressures including increasingly stringent environmental regulations and greater volumes of wastewater being produced and treated are a major challenge. These challenges mean that, without intervention, wastewater treatment facilities will become more resource intensive and may increasingly exceed environmental requirements, such as discharge limits. These issues are set against the backdrop, in many countries, of an emphasis on cost reduction and increased concerns regarding sustainability of the sector. Thus it is imperative that tools and methodologies are developed that allow the wastewater sector to measure resource efficiency, benchmark its performance in a standardised and efficient manner and identify cost-effective measures that...

Current Opinion in Environmental Science & Health

Science of The Total Environment

Journal of Building Engineering

38th IAHR World Congress - "Water: Connecting the World"

Vortex drop shaft structures have played a critical role in hydraulic engineering; from one of th... more Vortex drop shaft structures have played a critical role in hydraulic engineering; from one of their first applications in hydroelectric energy dissipation in the 1940s, to numerous contemporary installations throughout modern day urban drainage infrastructure. They are known to convey flows up to 1400 m 3 /s through drop heights of 190 m and due to their small footprint, stable flow mechanics and enhanced energy dissipation, they are often considered to be the most successful form of hydraulic drop structure. There are several design questions on various aspects of vortex drop shaft structures that have not yet been addressed in the laboratory environment or at full-scale and moreover will require full appreciation by engineering practitioners in future years. This article summarizes over 75 years of research and development of vortex drop shafts including types of structure, applications, laboratory modelling techniques, physical modelling studies and recent advancements in multiphase numerical modelling. The article discusses the hydraulics of various types of vortex drop shaft structures such as the key design differences between subcritical and supercritical intakes, energy dissipation, and aeration and presents the insights gained from successful case study commercial projects. The outcomes of seminal research studies and projects are discussed in detail and areas that are deemed to require further research and development are highlighted.

Current Opinion in Environmental Science & Health

The European seafood and aquaculture sectors are facing important challenges in terms of environm... more The European seafood and aquaculture sectors are facing important challenges in terms of environmental threats (climate change, marine debris, resources depletion), social development (worker rights, consumer's awareness) or economic growth (market and nonmarket goods and services, global competitiveness). These issues are forcing all stakeholders, from policy-makers to citizens and industries, to move to more sustainable policies, practices and processes. Consequently, an improvement in collaborations among different parties and beyond borders is required to create more efficient networks along the supply chain of seafood and aquaculture sectors. To achieve this, a "nexus thinking" approach (i.e. the analysis of actions in connected systems) combined with a life cycle thinking appears as an excellent opportunity to facilitate the transition to a circular economy.

Science of The Total Environment

There has been an increasing interest in enhancing freshwater aquaculture processes without hinde... more There has been an increasing interest in enhancing freshwater aquaculture processes without hindering the progress of the Water Framework Directive. This constitutes the first study to describe a new concept in integrated multitrophic aquaculture (IMTA) that uses cutaway peatlands (bogs) to farm rainbow trout and Eurasian perch with associated organic status that is powered by wind energy and utilizes algae and duckweed to treat rearing water. Approximately 5% of Ireland comprises bogs that support natural ecosystems where there is a pressing need to develop alternative innovation to that of burning peat in order to reduce Ireland's carbon emissions. Specifically, this study evaluates water quality from this new IMTA where intake and terminal holding tank samples were evaluated from May to August 2019. Physicochemical parameters (temperature, pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, oxygen, suspended solids, hardness and alkalinity), and ecotoxicological bioassays (Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata and Daphnia pulex), were used to investigate the potential effects that introducing aquaculture processes may have on peatlands. Nitrite (P < 0.001), nitrate (P = 0.016), and chemical oxygen demand (P = 0.011), were the only physicochemical parameters that differed significantly between the intake and holding tank water indicating that water quality for the most part remained unchanged. Low levels of toxicity were observed between the bioassays suggested the introduction of the processes into the bog were unlikely to cause adverse effects on the ecosystem and the organisms therein. Observations were similar to or lower than those reported previously by other researchers for intensive flow-through aquaculture processes that discharge to receiving water. Findings from this study support the use of peatlands as future locations for integrated aquaculture processes.

Journal of Environmental Planning and Management

There are ambitious plans to construct an extensive network of off-road walking and cycling route... more There are ambitious plans to construct an extensive network of off-road walking and cycling routes, known as greenways, across Ireland. However, land acquisition has proven challenging in some rural areas. This paper uses a contingent valuation study, based on the Teagasc National Farm Survey (NFS) of Ireland, to explore farmers’ willingness to participate in greenway development. The results reveal that farmers are split on the issue of greenway land acquisition: approximately half would not allow a route to run through their farm, irrespective of compensation. Farmers’ main concerns in this regard are: insurance, impact on farming operations and nuisance/crime. Of the farmers willing to participate in greenway development, the mean (once-off) payment required is €56,000 per kilometre of greenway length. These findings suggest that Irish Government agencies and local authorities must work to alleviate farmers’ concerns and undertake extensive consultation to yield acceptable route options.

Water Resources Research

Real-time monitoring of water consumption activities can be an effective mechanism to achieve eff... more Real-time monitoring of water consumption activities can be an effective mechanism to achieve efficient water network management. This approach, largely enabled by the advent of smart metering technologies, is gradually being practiced in domestic and industrial contexts. In particular, identifying water consumption habits from flow-signatures, i.e., the specific end-usage patterns, is being investigated as a means for conservation in both the residential and nonresidential context. However, the quality of meter data is bivariate (dependent on number of meters and data temporal resolution) and as a result, planning a smart metering scheme is relatively difficult with no generic design approach available. In this study, a comprehensive medium-resolution to high-resolution smart metering program was implemented at two nonresidential trial sites to evaluate the effect of spatial and temporal data aggregation. It was found that medium-resolution water meter data were capable of exposing regular, continuous, peak use, and diurnal patterns which reflect group wide end-usage characteristics. The high-resolution meter data permitted flow-signature at a personal end-use level. Through this unique opportunity to observe water usage characteristics via flow-signature patterns, newly defined hydraulic-based design coefficients determined from Poisson rectangular pulse were developed to intuitively aid in the process of pattern discovery with implications for automated activity recognition applications. A smart meter classification and siting index was introduced which categorizes meter resolution in terms of their suitable application. Plain Language Summary The phrase, ''If you can't measure it, you can't manage it'' is commonly voiced in the field of resource management. As the concerns for water shortages and costs at a global scale heighten, end-users are realizing that proper measurement systems, namely water meter systems, are fundamental to increasing usage transparency in order to reduce consumption. However, a problem still exists given that the range of technologies available, combined with the diverse nature of consumption, results in end-user confusion as to the suitability of one particular measurement method over another. In this study, a broad suite of water consumption data was obtained from two large building networks using 33 m sited at discrete locations in each water network. This permitted water usage evaluation at (a) personal or population wide levels for (b) various time scales simultaneously whereby usage was characterized by water consumption patterns or so-called ''flow-signatures.'' Newly defined activity recognition coefficients analyzed in the study helped to determine the value of siting a smart meter in the water network. The overall investigation provides the basis of a generic smart metering classification and siting index which would be of use to researchers, independent water users, or practitioners in industry.

Journal of Structural Integrity and Maintenance

Vortex drop shafts, a key hydraulic structure within modern day deep sewer conveyance systems, mu... more Vortex drop shafts, a key hydraulic structure within modern day deep sewer conveyance systems, must be designed structurally to sustain performance and longevity of operating life under very energetic loading conditions. This has significant cost implications but to date little research has been undertaken to investigate the loading conditions with a view to optimising the shaft designs and thus lowering costs. In this study, several modelling methods were adopted to simulate hydrodynamic conditions within a vortex drop shaft to assess hydrodynamic mechanisms that impact a drop shaft liners structural performance and maintenance. A 1/10 scaled physical hydraulic model of a tangential inlet vortex drop shaft structure is tested and used to validate a threedimensional multiphase numerical model. Collectively, the study presents methods on identifying hydrodynamic phenomena such as pressures, velocities, erosion and abrasion mechanisms, debris impact locations and blocking mechanisms. The study highlighted that the hydrodynamic forces that threaten structural integrity reside in the vortex generator and a short length of the drop shaft downstream. This is shown through a new model developed by the authors to predict centrifugal forces along the length of the drop. Through these methods, the study proposes that drop shaft liners can be designed more efficiently.

Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part P: Journal of Sports Engineering and Technology

Aerodynamics research in cycling has underpinned innovative bicycle design, new refined riding po... more Aerodynamics research in cycling has underpinned innovative bicycle design, new refined riding positions and optimised rider apparel. There has been a rise in the level of aerodynamics research focused on cycling since the turn of the millennium, enabled by significant increases in computational power and the availability of software/hardware. However, cycling research has not yet fully embraced para-cycling, with limited studies conducted on the aerodynamic performance of hand-cyclists and other para-cyclists. Wind tunnel experiments and computational fluid dynamics simulations were conducted in this research for the analysis of hand-cycling aerodynamics, focused on competitive H1–H4 category hand-cyclists. A quarter-scale representative geometry of a hand-cyclist was used in high-speed wind tunnel experiments. The accuracy of the simulations performed with the three-dimensional Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations was found to be dependent on the turbulence model choice and n...

DESALINATION AND WATER TREATMENT

Life-cycle costing models for small wastewater treatment systems can often be generic, and lack a... more Life-cycle costing models for small wastewater treatment systems can often be generic, and lack a degree of detail that could affect the choice of system. Critical factors such as variations in loading, location and discharge limits are sometimes not given the required weight of importance, and as a result, the most suitable, most economical system may not always be implemented. A decision support tool for small, new design, wastewater treatment plants has been developed that accounts for variations in scale, loading, location and discharge limits. Capital and operational costs have been combined to produce life-cycle models for 9 treatment systems. Several scenarios with variations in scale, load and discharge limits were input to the support tool. The results show that in most scenarios, constructed wetlands represent the most economical option where surface area availability is not restricted. The percentage contribution of labour to operational costs increases as plant sizes are reduced.

Journal of Dairy Research

In this Research Communication we investigate the microbiological profile of 12 dairy wastewater ... more In this Research Communication we investigate the microbiological profile of 12 dairy wastewater streams from three contrasting Irish dairy processing factories to determine whether faecal indicators/pathogens were present and in turn, whether disinfection may be required for potential water reuse within the factory. Subsequently, the impact of suspended solids on the inactivation efficiency of Escherichia coli via two means of ultravoilet (UV) disinfection; flow-through pulsed UV (PUV) and continuous low pressure UV (LPUV) disinfection was analysed. Faecal indicators total coliforms and E. coli were detected in 10 out of the 12 samples collected at the dairy processing factories while pathogenic bacteria Listeria monocytogenes was detected in all samples collected at 2 out of the 3 factories. Salmonella spp. was undetected in all samples. The results also indicated that organic dairy wastewater solids had an impact on the performance efficiency of the PUV system and, to a lesser ex...

In recent years, smarter travel initiatives have become increasingly important for educational, b... more In recent years, smarter travel initiatives have become increasingly important for educational, business, and other institutions across Ireland. With an increased public awareness of environmental sustainability and a need to decongest urban areas, it is widely accepted that infrastructural investment is required to promote sustainable modes of transport. Furthermore, there are clear economic and health benefits to promoting sustainable travel. It is unclear however, the extent to which specific measures and infrastructural improvements generate modal shift. Universities, alongside large employers, can offer ideal testing grounds for novel initiatives that promote sustainable travel due to their large student and staff cohort, and their generally easily accessible and compact campuses. This study of NUI Galway staff and students (using over1,000 survey responses), analysed the distance travelled, time taken, travel mode, and trip generation location for staff, undergraduate students and postgraduate students travelling to NUI Galway. The findings are compared with results of a similar 2012 survey and with other surveys conducted by the NUI Galway Buildings Office over the past eight years to illustrate the evolution of travel patterns at the University. The survey also investigated the impacts of infrastructure improvements at the NUI Galway. Results show that the overall percentage of students and staff driving to campus has decreased since 2012 and there has been a rise in the modal share of the bicycle. The survey indicates that the development of a new pedestrian and cycle bridge providing access to NUI Galway was positively received. Results of the study indicate that when travelling to NUI Galway, cycling is on average 1.3 km/h faster than the car over distances of less than 5 km (including time to park in a car parking space). Considering distances less than 2 km, the bike can be up to 4 km/h faster. Furthermore over 60% of those travelling to the University live within 5km, there is therefore great potential to increase uptake of active modes of transport.The survey also facilitated estimations of the potential carbon savings which could result from reduced car usage. The paper also presents analysis of staff at Galway University Hospital (GUH - located opposite part of the NUI Galway campus). Furthermore the study analysed data from a university campus in the USA (University of Berkeley, California) and the UK (Lancaster University) and identified key infrastructural improvements that have successfully reduced car usage in universities outside of Ireland and may be applicable to Irish Universities.

From students to leaders: evaluating the impact on academic performance, satisfaction and student... more From students to leaders: evaluating the impact on academic performance, satisfaction and student empowerment of a pilot PAL programme among first year students and second year leaders

Frontiers in Sustainability

Since the 1970's the number of scientific publications with sustainability as a keyword has i... more Since the 1970's the number of scientific publications with sustainability as a keyword has increased from 1 in 1975 to 13,628 in 2019. Research, like all human endeavors, has impacts on the environment due to the activities required to generate the supporting data (i.e., use of vehicles, resources, and materials). Researchers have a responsibility to minimize their impacts as part of their work and to make environmentally responsible decisions. A life-cycle approach is currently the best-developed means of assessing the impact of a group or organization. This article presents a case study of organizational life cycle assessment (O-LCA) of a research project. The objectives of this study were to (i) estimate the impact of the project, focusing on travel. (ii) Use a post hoc approach to determine impact reduction opportunities. (iii) Apply O-LCA as a decision-making tool in project management of research and (iv) profile the environmental impact of the project using public data (...

Introduction Contamination of water and food are responsible by many outbreaks and deaths worldwi... more Introduction Contamination of water and food are responsible by many outbreaks and deaths worldwide, caused by failures in production, ineffective disinfection techniques, proximity to sources of contamination, and human intervention on environment. Norovirus (NoV) is a virus associated with water contamination and commonly related with foodborne illness, causing acute self-limiting gastroenteritis. In Ireland, the detection of NoV at plant level result in a shutdown of operations for several days and a process of depuration, analysis and final inspection. Literature has confirmed that there is no effective mitigation technology currently deployed that eliminates this virus in contaminated seafood, where the globally annual cost estimated for treating infected patients reaches $60 billion1. Pulsed ultraviolet-light (PLUV) is a clean and non-residue technique, recognized by FDA as safe for use on processing and handling of foods, and is environmental friendly. This technique delivers...

Energy and water are inextricably linked, and together they are the two of the most valuable glob... more Energy and water are inextricably linked, and together they are the two of the most valuable global resources. Internationally, the links between the energy, wastewater and water sectors are attracting increasing attention. In the wastewater sector, pressures including increasingly stringent environmental regulations and greater volumes of wastewater being produced and treated are a major challenge. These challenges mean that, without intervention, wastewater treatment facilities will become more resource intensive and may increasingly exceed environmental requirements, such as discharge limits. These issues are set against the backdrop, in many countries, of an emphasis on cost reduction and increased concerns regarding sustainability of the sector. Thus it is imperative that tools and methodologies are developed that allow the wastewater sector to measure resource efficiency, benchmark its performance in a standardised and efficient manner and identify cost-effective measures that...

Current Opinion in Environmental Science & Health

Science of The Total Environment

Journal of Building Engineering

38th IAHR World Congress - "Water: Connecting the World"

Vortex drop shaft structures have played a critical role in hydraulic engineering; from one of th... more Vortex drop shaft structures have played a critical role in hydraulic engineering; from one of their first applications in hydroelectric energy dissipation in the 1940s, to numerous contemporary installations throughout modern day urban drainage infrastructure. They are known to convey flows up to 1400 m 3 /s through drop heights of 190 m and due to their small footprint, stable flow mechanics and enhanced energy dissipation, they are often considered to be the most successful form of hydraulic drop structure. There are several design questions on various aspects of vortex drop shaft structures that have not yet been addressed in the laboratory environment or at full-scale and moreover will require full appreciation by engineering practitioners in future years. This article summarizes over 75 years of research and development of vortex drop shafts including types of structure, applications, laboratory modelling techniques, physical modelling studies and recent advancements in multiphase numerical modelling. The article discusses the hydraulics of various types of vortex drop shaft structures such as the key design differences between subcritical and supercritical intakes, energy dissipation, and aeration and presents the insights gained from successful case study commercial projects. The outcomes of seminal research studies and projects are discussed in detail and areas that are deemed to require further research and development are highlighted.

Current Opinion in Environmental Science & Health

The European seafood and aquaculture sectors are facing important challenges in terms of environm... more The European seafood and aquaculture sectors are facing important challenges in terms of environmental threats (climate change, marine debris, resources depletion), social development (worker rights, consumer's awareness) or economic growth (market and nonmarket goods and services, global competitiveness). These issues are forcing all stakeholders, from policy-makers to citizens and industries, to move to more sustainable policies, practices and processes. Consequently, an improvement in collaborations among different parties and beyond borders is required to create more efficient networks along the supply chain of seafood and aquaculture sectors. To achieve this, a "nexus thinking" approach (i.e. the analysis of actions in connected systems) combined with a life cycle thinking appears as an excellent opportunity to facilitate the transition to a circular economy.

Science of The Total Environment

There has been an increasing interest in enhancing freshwater aquaculture processes without hinde... more There has been an increasing interest in enhancing freshwater aquaculture processes without hindering the progress of the Water Framework Directive. This constitutes the first study to describe a new concept in integrated multitrophic aquaculture (IMTA) that uses cutaway peatlands (bogs) to farm rainbow trout and Eurasian perch with associated organic status that is powered by wind energy and utilizes algae and duckweed to treat rearing water. Approximately 5% of Ireland comprises bogs that support natural ecosystems where there is a pressing need to develop alternative innovation to that of burning peat in order to reduce Ireland's carbon emissions. Specifically, this study evaluates water quality from this new IMTA where intake and terminal holding tank samples were evaluated from May to August 2019. Physicochemical parameters (temperature, pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, oxygen, suspended solids, hardness and alkalinity), and ecotoxicological bioassays (Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata and Daphnia pulex), were used to investigate the potential effects that introducing aquaculture processes may have on peatlands. Nitrite (P < 0.001), nitrate (P = 0.016), and chemical oxygen demand (P = 0.011), were the only physicochemical parameters that differed significantly between the intake and holding tank water indicating that water quality for the most part remained unchanged. Low levels of toxicity were observed between the bioassays suggested the introduction of the processes into the bog were unlikely to cause adverse effects on the ecosystem and the organisms therein. Observations were similar to or lower than those reported previously by other researchers for intensive flow-through aquaculture processes that discharge to receiving water. Findings from this study support the use of peatlands as future locations for integrated aquaculture processes.

Journal of Environmental Planning and Management

There are ambitious plans to construct an extensive network of off-road walking and cycling route... more There are ambitious plans to construct an extensive network of off-road walking and cycling routes, known as greenways, across Ireland. However, land acquisition has proven challenging in some rural areas. This paper uses a contingent valuation study, based on the Teagasc National Farm Survey (NFS) of Ireland, to explore farmers’ willingness to participate in greenway development. The results reveal that farmers are split on the issue of greenway land acquisition: approximately half would not allow a route to run through their farm, irrespective of compensation. Farmers’ main concerns in this regard are: insurance, impact on farming operations and nuisance/crime. Of the farmers willing to participate in greenway development, the mean (once-off) payment required is €56,000 per kilometre of greenway length. These findings suggest that Irish Government agencies and local authorities must work to alleviate farmers’ concerns and undertake extensive consultation to yield acceptable route options.

Water Resources Research

Real-time monitoring of water consumption activities can be an effective mechanism to achieve eff... more Real-time monitoring of water consumption activities can be an effective mechanism to achieve efficient water network management. This approach, largely enabled by the advent of smart metering technologies, is gradually being practiced in domestic and industrial contexts. In particular, identifying water consumption habits from flow-signatures, i.e., the specific end-usage patterns, is being investigated as a means for conservation in both the residential and nonresidential context. However, the quality of meter data is bivariate (dependent on number of meters and data temporal resolution) and as a result, planning a smart metering scheme is relatively difficult with no generic design approach available. In this study, a comprehensive medium-resolution to high-resolution smart metering program was implemented at two nonresidential trial sites to evaluate the effect of spatial and temporal data aggregation. It was found that medium-resolution water meter data were capable of exposing regular, continuous, peak use, and diurnal patterns which reflect group wide end-usage characteristics. The high-resolution meter data permitted flow-signature at a personal end-use level. Through this unique opportunity to observe water usage characteristics via flow-signature patterns, newly defined hydraulic-based design coefficients determined from Poisson rectangular pulse were developed to intuitively aid in the process of pattern discovery with implications for automated activity recognition applications. A smart meter classification and siting index was introduced which categorizes meter resolution in terms of their suitable application. Plain Language Summary The phrase, ''If you can't measure it, you can't manage it'' is commonly voiced in the field of resource management. As the concerns for water shortages and costs at a global scale heighten, end-users are realizing that proper measurement systems, namely water meter systems, are fundamental to increasing usage transparency in order to reduce consumption. However, a problem still exists given that the range of technologies available, combined with the diverse nature of consumption, results in end-user confusion as to the suitability of one particular measurement method over another. In this study, a broad suite of water consumption data was obtained from two large building networks using 33 m sited at discrete locations in each water network. This permitted water usage evaluation at (a) personal or population wide levels for (b) various time scales simultaneously whereby usage was characterized by water consumption patterns or so-called ''flow-signatures.'' Newly defined activity recognition coefficients analyzed in the study helped to determine the value of siting a smart meter in the water network. The overall investigation provides the basis of a generic smart metering classification and siting index which would be of use to researchers, independent water users, or practitioners in industry.

Journal of Structural Integrity and Maintenance

Vortex drop shafts, a key hydraulic structure within modern day deep sewer conveyance systems, mu... more Vortex drop shafts, a key hydraulic structure within modern day deep sewer conveyance systems, must be designed structurally to sustain performance and longevity of operating life under very energetic loading conditions. This has significant cost implications but to date little research has been undertaken to investigate the loading conditions with a view to optimising the shaft designs and thus lowering costs. In this study, several modelling methods were adopted to simulate hydrodynamic conditions within a vortex drop shaft to assess hydrodynamic mechanisms that impact a drop shaft liners structural performance and maintenance. A 1/10 scaled physical hydraulic model of a tangential inlet vortex drop shaft structure is tested and used to validate a threedimensional multiphase numerical model. Collectively, the study presents methods on identifying hydrodynamic phenomena such as pressures, velocities, erosion and abrasion mechanisms, debris impact locations and blocking mechanisms. The study highlighted that the hydrodynamic forces that threaten structural integrity reside in the vortex generator and a short length of the drop shaft downstream. This is shown through a new model developed by the authors to predict centrifugal forces along the length of the drop. Through these methods, the study proposes that drop shaft liners can be designed more efficiently.

Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part P: Journal of Sports Engineering and Technology

Aerodynamics research in cycling has underpinned innovative bicycle design, new refined riding po... more Aerodynamics research in cycling has underpinned innovative bicycle design, new refined riding positions and optimised rider apparel. There has been a rise in the level of aerodynamics research focused on cycling since the turn of the millennium, enabled by significant increases in computational power and the availability of software/hardware. However, cycling research has not yet fully embraced para-cycling, with limited studies conducted on the aerodynamic performance of hand-cyclists and other para-cyclists. Wind tunnel experiments and computational fluid dynamics simulations were conducted in this research for the analysis of hand-cycling aerodynamics, focused on competitive H1–H4 category hand-cyclists. A quarter-scale representative geometry of a hand-cyclist was used in high-speed wind tunnel experiments. The accuracy of the simulations performed with the three-dimensional Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations was found to be dependent on the turbulence model choice and n...

DESALINATION AND WATER TREATMENT

Life-cycle costing models for small wastewater treatment systems can often be generic, and lack a... more Life-cycle costing models for small wastewater treatment systems can often be generic, and lack a degree of detail that could affect the choice of system. Critical factors such as variations in loading, location and discharge limits are sometimes not given the required weight of importance, and as a result, the most suitable, most economical system may not always be implemented. A decision support tool for small, new design, wastewater treatment plants has been developed that accounts for variations in scale, loading, location and discharge limits. Capital and operational costs have been combined to produce life-cycle models for 9 treatment systems. Several scenarios with variations in scale, load and discharge limits were input to the support tool. The results show that in most scenarios, constructed wetlands represent the most economical option where surface area availability is not restricted. The percentage contribution of labour to operational costs increases as plant sizes are reduced.

Journal of Dairy Research

In this Research Communication we investigate the microbiological profile of 12 dairy wastewater ... more In this Research Communication we investigate the microbiological profile of 12 dairy wastewater streams from three contrasting Irish dairy processing factories to determine whether faecal indicators/pathogens were present and in turn, whether disinfection may be required for potential water reuse within the factory. Subsequently, the impact of suspended solids on the inactivation efficiency of Escherichia coli via two means of ultravoilet (UV) disinfection; flow-through pulsed UV (PUV) and continuous low pressure UV (LPUV) disinfection was analysed. Faecal indicators total coliforms and E. coli were detected in 10 out of the 12 samples collected at the dairy processing factories while pathogenic bacteria Listeria monocytogenes was detected in all samples collected at 2 out of the 3 factories. Salmonella spp. was undetected in all samples. The results also indicated that organic dairy wastewater solids had an impact on the performance efficiency of the PUV system and, to a lesser ex...