Sondra Miller - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Sondra Miller

We have collected atmospheric participate matter (PM) samples during the summer over the past fou... more We have collected atmospheric participate matter (PM) samples during the summer over the past four years in and around Boise, Idaho. These samples tell different stories about the air we breathe as the bustling Boise metropolis is wedged in between rural foothills and mountains. Increasing air pollutant concentrations in our urban and rural areas pose a risk of future health problems as Boise is ranked fourth in Northwest region for size. Understanding the magnitude and source of PM will support control strategies for maintaining and improving human health and natural ecosystems. We present possible contributions to temporal PM variations-- population, weather events, control efforts--by examining data collected of the last four years

The goal of this research is to acquire a better understanding of how air quality is affected by ... more The goal of this research is to acquire a better understanding of how air quality is affected by population growth, climate, and other factors in the Boise Metropolitan area. This research is relevant as it assesses the concentration of harmful particles in the air, specifically those under ten microns in diameter (PM 10s and PM 2.5s). Due to the small size of these particles, they are extremely harmful to the human body. PM data was collected with two Micro-Orifice Uniform Deposit Impactors on the roof of the Environmental Research Building of Boise State University in June and July of 2014-2016. Data was also collected utilizing dry and wet deposition methods at the Dry Creek Experimental Watershed in the Boise Foothills. The masses of PM were compared from each of these locations over June and July of 2014-2016 to determine the atmospheric impacts in a rural and urban semi-arid environment

The City of Eagle, Idaho has a wastewater treatment facility that is maintained and operated by t... more The City of Eagle, Idaho has a wastewater treatment facility that is maintained and operated by the Eagle Sewer District (ESD). The existing system has nearly reached capacity and will not have the ability to handle future flow and loads. TPS Engineering has been tasked with increasing the hydraulic and process capacities of the existing system and providing a concept for facility expansion. In addition, a design of a maintenance/vehicle storage building has been requested to house vehicles necessary for operation. TPS Engineering has forecasted the sewered population, the flows, and the loads associated with the facility in the year 2040. The existing lagoons have been analyzed and more efficient equipment has been chosen to increase the treatment levels of the lagoons. In addition, multiple concepts have been analyzed for expansion of the facility and an aerated lagoon(s) has been chosen as the most viable options for monetary and operational reasons. At the completion of the design process, TPS Engineering intends to submit a plan to expand the process and hydraulic capacities of the existing lagoon system, a design concept for expansion of the facility, and plans for a maintenance/vehicle storage building, along with associated calculations, evaluations, and schematics

The long-term goal of this research is to identify chemical signatures and air masses of the part... more The long-term goal of this research is to identify chemical signatures and air masses of the particulate matter (PM) in the atmosphere and to potentially locate the local and regional origins of the known contaminants. We are currently examining atmospheric PM samples in areas representing varying populations, urban and rural, by comparing data from two local sites. The first site represents an urban environment and samples are collected daily at the Boise State University campus. The second site represents a rural environment and samples are collected weekly from the Dry Creek Experimental Watershed, located north of Boise. We can compare the effects of population on PM concentration for different sizes from these two sets of data. This data is relevant to public health because atmospheric pollution impacts respiratory health and the contamination of drinking water. We expect to find greater numbers of particulates at our urban site than at our rural site, thus informing us of anthropogenic pollution. We also expect to monitor large weather events, such as forest fires and sandstorms, allowing us to study the effects on air quality, both during and following the events

2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access, Jul 26, 2021

Environmental Science & Technology, 2000

Atmospheric deposition of anthropogenic air pollutants contributes to degradation of water qualit... more Atmospheric deposition of anthropogenic air pollutants contributes to degradation of water quality in the Great Lakes and other water bodies and is indicative of atmospheric pollution. In this paper, we discuss deposition of three air pollutants: atrazine; total phosphorus; and nitrogen (total Kjeldahl nitrogen and nitrate) to Lake Michigan. Throughout 18 months in 1994-1995, over 600 atmospheric samples (gas, particulate, and precipitation combined) were collected and analyzed for persistent organic pollutants and nutrients. Here the measurements and modeled deposition estimates are presented for atrazine, phosphorus, and nitrogen. Results indicate that concentrations of atrazine in precipitation have remained constant over 5 years (0.10-0.40 µg L-1), consistent with the nearly constant sales rate of the herbicide over that time period. Actual loading of atrazine to the lake was less in 1994-1995 (1.04 × 10 3 kg y-1) than in 1990-1991 (2.6 × 10 3 kg yr-1). This difference in loading is due to lower overall precipitation in 1994-1995. Phosphorus concentrations in precipitation, on the other hand, have decreased from an average of 57 µg as P L-1 in 1976 to an average of 6.36 µg as P L-1 for 1994-1995. Nitrate deposition has decreased by a small, but not statistically significant, amount since the late 1970s.

Boise State University is in the process of transforming from a historically “commuter” campus in... more Boise State University is in the process of transforming from a historically “commuter” campus into a metropolitan research university which includes a growing residential culture (currently 8% of students live in residence halls). First time, full time freshmen age 18 or younger have increased from 61% of the incoming class in 2000 to 72% of the incoming class in 2008. To support our growing residential culture, University Housing, in cooperation with six academic colleges, began the Residential College (RC) program in 2004. Key among the five current RC communities is the College of Engineering. The Engineering Residential College (ERC) admits first and second year students with declared majors in one of our six undergraduate programs (civil engineering, computer science, construction management, electrical engineering, materials science and engineering, and mechanical engineering) and undeclared engineering. The 20072008 academic year was the first during which an engineering fac...

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition Proceedings

Environmental Science & Technology, 2001

In this paper, we summarize the data and methods used to estimate atmospheric exchange of polychl... more In this paper, we summarize the data and methods used to estimate atmospheric exchange of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and trans-nonachlor with Lake Michigan. This work was conducted as part of the Lake Michigan Mass Balance (LMMB) study. For the atmospheric component of the LMMB, more than 400 gas- and particulate-phase samples were collected at eight sites on the shore around the lake (shoreline) and at 14 sites on the lake (over-water). We review the quality of the data set; describe the concentrations in atmospheric gas and particulate phases; report local, instantaneous, net gas fluxes; and estimate annual deposition of the particle-associated compounds. The quality of the data set is high except for a subset of over-water samples where PCB contamination is suspected. Gas-phase trans-nonachlor concentrations (although not the resulting gas fluxes) are inversely correlated with latitude and positively correlated with temperature. Gas-phase sigmaPCBs (sum of 98 congener groups) are highest in concentration at the Chicago site and lowest at the Sleeping Bear Dunes site. The resulting sigmaPCB gas fluxes exhibit a seasonality that reflects elevated summertime gas-phase concentrations not compensated by temperature-corrected Henry's law coefficients. Particulate-phase deposition is much smaller in magnitude than gas fluxes, for either compound. Gas and particulate fluxes are comparable only at the Chicago site and only when large (> 10 microm) particulates are considered.

Civil and …, 2004

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Journal of Geophysical Research, 2004

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) compounds are introduc... more Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) compounds are introduced into the water as a result of large-scale storms and sediment resuspension in the southern basin of Lake Michigan. Settling and suspended sediments, as well as air and water samples, were collected in southern Lake Michigan over a 12 month period. Analysis of contaminant fluxes on settling particles shows that approximately 370 kg of PCBs and 110 kg of DDT compounds are resuspended in southern Lake Michigan during a single basin-wide event (January 1999). Examination of contaminant signals indicates strong regional and temporal source-receptor relationships between settling, suspended, and surficial sediments. The settling, suspended, and bottom surficial sediments in the shallow waters of the southern coastal region are enriched in lower molecular weight PCBs. The sediments in the water column and on the lake bottom in the deeper regions are enriched in higher molecular weight PCBs. Furthermore, falling sediments collected in the deeper regions of the lake are enriched in 4,4 0-DDT. The unique contaminant signal in deep water regions is surprising and suggests a source/receptor relationship among the bottom sediments and the sediments suspended and settling above them.

There is a nationwide need to better translate engineering education research into the classroom ... more There is a nationwide need to better translate engineering education research into the classroom setting. Moving engineering education research into practice is a more complicated task than it might initially seem. There are many significant barriers to hinder the transition from research to implementation. These barriers can be categorized into two groups: (1) individual barriers, such as personality characteristics that contribute to a lack of willingness to implement innovations, as well as a lack of knowledge about engineering education research; and (2) environmental perceptions, such as perceptions of the tenure and promotion that suggest a lack of support for innovations. The project discussed in this paper investigates the characteristics of faculty members who successfully adopt engineering education innovations and studies the impact of their working environment on their decision to adopt. Additionally, the project investigates characteristics of faculty members who do not...

Magnitude and origin of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and

2018 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition Proceedings

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition Proceedings

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition Proceedings

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access Proceedings