Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences

Project Summary

This study aims to complement ongoing Diamondback Terrapin population monitoring with a detection method utilizing environmental DNA (eDNA). eDNA techniques rely on the capture and identification of DNA passively shed into the environment. Many single-species protocols are dedicated solely to the detection of a species. The goal of the developed protocol is to detect and quantify Diamondback Terrapin DNA from water samples collected from the Indian River Lagoon. The major challenge associated with eDNA protocol development is primer design. Primers must bind to only the target species. Identifying and testing non-target species reduces the risk of false detection. Additionally, primer dimerization impacts the quantification of DNA. The solution is to optimize the qPCR protocol by adding a buffer, and/or changing concentrations or annealing temperature. During qPCR, amplification of DNA is measured using fluorescence data. As the DNA binds to SYBR Green polymerase, a fluorescent tag is released. The Bio-Rad CFX Connect software measures fluorescence as a Ct value. Standardization was achieved by diluting known concentrations of synthetic DNA and measuring amplification. The Ct values of environmental samples were compared to standard curves for quantification. This protocol was successful in developing a species-specific primer, but was unable to quantify terrapin DNA due to variable primer dimerization. Future work will add a TaqMan probe to eliminate fluorescence readings from dimers. An extension of this protocol could detect and quantify all seven subspecies of terrapin. Population data derived from eDNA protocols is more efficient and cost-effective than direct monitoring, allowing conservation resources to be distributed more broadly.

Project Objective

This study aims to complement ongoing Diamondback Terrapin population monitoring with a single-species environmental DNA (eDNA) detection method that detects and quantifies Diamondback Terrapin.

Manufacturing Design Methods

The first step of eDNA protocol development is primer design. The mitochondrial gene ND6 was chosen for primer design. Primers must be species-specific, binding to only the target species. Identifying and testing non-target species reduces the risk of false detection. Once the primers are tested and optimized, a qPCR protocol is used to quantify DNA concentrations. Amplification of DNA is measured using fluorescence data. As the DNA binds to SYBR Green polymerase, a fluorescent tag is released. The Bio-Rad CFX Connect software measures fluorescence as a Ct value. Standardization was achieved by diluting known concentrations of synthetic DNA and measuring amplification. The Ct values of environmental samples were compared to standard curves for quantification.

Analysis

This experiment was successful in the development of a species-specific eDNA protocol for detection. Presence of Diamondback Terrapins can be determined using ND6 primers. Quantitative data was offset by primer dimerization, which showed variable false-positive results in negative controls. In positive controls, lower Ct values were associated with higher DNA concentrations, as expected.

Future Works

Future work will add a TaqMan probe to eliminate fluorescence readings from dimers. An extension of this protocol could detect and quantify all seven subspecies of terrapin. Population data derived from eDNA protocols is more efficient and cost-effective than direct monitoring, allowing conservation resources to be distributed more broadly.

Manufacturing Design Methods

The first step of eDNA protocol development is primer design. The mitochondrial gene ND6 was chosen for primer design. Primers must be species-specific, binding to only the target species. Identifying and testing non-target species reduces the risk of false detection. Once the primers are tested and optimized, a qPCR protocol is used to quantify DNA concentrations. Amplification of DNA is measured using fluorescence data. As the DNA binds to SYBR Green polymerase, a fluorescent tag is released. The Bio-Rad CFX Connect software measures fluorescence as a Ct value. Standardization was achieved by diluting known concentrations of synthetic DNA and measuring amplification. The Ct values of environmental samples were compared to standard curves for quantification.

Project Summary

The goal of this study is to test a new non-invasive method of DNA collection from elasmobranchs to ensure that it produces the same quality of DNA as traditional collection methods. Elasmobranchs (sharks, skates, and rays) are ecologically important keystone predators. Many elasmobranch species are currently under threat, however genetic diversity has been shown to be a buffer to populations against extinction risk. Molecular tools can be used to measure variables that influence genetic diversity, such as abundance, dispersal, and mating systems. By understanding these variables, we can vastly improve our ability to protect elasmobranchs. While genetic tools are becoming more accessible, sampling DNA from elasmobranchs remains logistically difficult, especially for large species like the white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) which are among the most vulnerable. Many elasmobranch species are similarly difficult to study and lack genetic information which would help researchers protect future viability and distribution. Whale sharks (Rhincodon typus), the largest species of fish on Earth, and the great hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran) which have high post-catch mortality rates are just a few examples of elasmobranch species that could benefit from a non-invasive DNA collection method, rather than traditional invasive DNA collection methods. Fin clips taken during boatside tagging or biopsy samples taken by speargun are traditionally used to collect genetic information from large shark species. These methods are invasive and pose a considerable risk to both the animals and the researchers. Alternative, non-invasive DNA collection methods have long been used in DNA collection from marine mammals. DNA is collected from the marine mammal by scrubbing the animal’s skin with an abrasive surface. Another method of DNA collection that can be used for some elasmobranchs is mucus sampling. This method involves swabbing the inside of the animal’s mouth to collect DNA. While this method may not directly harm the animal, it still requires handling the animal which poses a significant risk to both the animal and the researchers. In collaboration with the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy (Chatham, MA), we developed and tested a new, non-invasive method of collecting DNA from elasmobranchs to enable both individual and population-level genetic testing. By securing a scouring sponge to an extendable pole, researchers swabbed four white sharks that were aggregating on a floating dead whale. Tissue samples were taken by biopsy-tipped dart from three of the sharks to compare sequencing quality between tissue biopsies and skin swabs. DNA was extracted using a modified EZNA Tissue DNA Kit (Omega Bio-Tek, Norcross, GA), and 800bp of the mitochondrial D-loop region was amplified using Phusion High Fidelity Polymerase (ThermoFisher, Waltham, MA) at the Florida Institute of Technology, then sequenced through the University of Arizona Genetics Core. We found that the readability of sequences did not differ between collection methods and were consistently clean. White sharks are large, elusive megafauna that are difficult to handle and study, but are at risk of global extinction. Due to their low abundance and low reproductive potential, they are slow to recover from threats such as habitat loss. With this new method of DNA collection, researchers will be able to collect DNA from white sharks and other threatened species using sponge swabs applied directly via pole or indirectly via spear or arrow, ensuring that the animal is less impacted without sacrificing DNA quality.

Project Objective

Develop and test a novel non-invasive DNA collection and extraction technique for white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) that will enable both individual and population-level genetic testing.

Manufacturing Design Methods

- Skin swabs were collected from four white sharks with a scouring pad secured to an extendable pole. Each animal’s dorsum was swabbed while they fed on a dead whale at the surface, and tissue plugs were taken from three of the sharks by biopsy-tipped pole spear. Samples were stored in 70% ethanol. - Sponges were cut into segments and DNA was extracted from one segment at a time using a modified EZNA Tissue DNA Kit (Omega Bio-Tek, Norcross GA) with high-fidelity Phusion polymerase. Biopsy samples were processed similarly and quantified on a Qubit fluorometer. - 800 base pairs of the mitochondrial control region were amplified using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and sequenced by the University of Arizona Genetics Core. Sequences were cleaned and aligned using the software Geneious (Biomatters Inc., Boston MA).

Analysis

PCR reactions using Phusion High Fidelity polymerase worked most consistently for both DNA collection types. Sponge samples produced consistently clean sequences, despite low initial concentrations. Sequence quality did not differ between sampling methods.

Future Works

Next steps for this project involve determining if skin swab samples can be used to obtain nuclear microsatellite sequences of the same quality as traditional tissue samples.

Manufacturing Design Methods

- Skin swabs were collected from four white sharks with a scouring pad secured to an extendable pole. Each animal’s dorsum was swabbed while they fed on a dead whale at the surface, and tissue plugs were taken from three of the sharks by biopsy-tipped pole spear. Samples were stored in 70% ethanol. - Sponges were cut into segments and DNA was extracted from one segment at a time using a modified EZNA Tissue DNA Kit (Omega Bio-Tek, Norcross GA) with high-fidelity Phusion polymerase. Biopsy samples were processed similarly and quantified on a Qubit fluorometer. - 800 base pairs of the mitochondrial control region were amplified using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and sequenced by the University of Arizona Genetics Core. Sequences were cleaned and aligned using the software Geneious (Biomatters Inc., Boston MA).

Project Summary

The Earth’s net radiation flow has two components: solar (shortwave) and terrestrial (longwave) radiation. Downward shortwave and longwave radiation output data analyzation can help to better understand the Earth’s energy budget, which can help with understanding climate. When compared to data from the fifth generation European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts reanalysis of global climate and weather for the past 4-7 decades (ERA5 data), model data from the Weather and Research Forecasting Model Version 4 (WRF V4.0 model) shows trends indicating the March-April-May (MAM) season as most active for downward shortwave radiation, and the June-July-August (JJA) season as most active for downward longwave, trends that generally hold true for shortwave radiation in the ERA5 data, but deviate for longwave radiation (ERA5 data) where it seems activity peaks in the MAM season, but gradually declines throughout the JJA and September-October-November (SON) seasons. Additionally, values for both shortwave and longwave radiation are consistently highest closest to the equator in the Pacific Ocean. Factors such as cloud cover and the presence of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) can result in such seasonal patterns and repeated variations and general biases can cause different trend depictions.

Project Summary

In this project, the effect of elevated topography on precipitation rates over Borneo considering the state of the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) is analyzed. The question is would Borneo in a flat Maritime Continent (MC) rain more or less than the topographically diverse reality? Additionally, how does the state of the MJO affect this predicted difference in the model? Challenges to this research include precision of modeled output, accuracy of the data set used, and boundary/initial conditions. To answer this question, precipitation over Borneo in a flat MC is compared to normal (control) conditions. This comparison is applied for the month of the data set, then separately for the inactive and active phases of MJO within the data set (the first and second half of the month, respectively). Utilizing GRADs, data from the Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF) is displayed, compared, and analyzed using diagrams and a results table. A Hovmoller diagram (longitude time series) is used to decipher the state of the MJO and its temporal distribution within the data set. Precipitation charts show the distribution over Borneo in a normal and flat MC during the entire month, then separately during the inactive and active stages of MJO (easterly and westerly wind regimes, respectively). The results table shows the mean precipitation rates over Borneo for a control and flat MC. All the flats displayed increased precipitation rates when compared to the controls. The results table also shows the difference between the control and flat as well as the percent reduction. The active phase of MJO (westerly wind regime) showed a larger difference between flat and control than the inactive phase (as well as the averaged data set for the whole month). The land mask condition flattened the entire MC, not only Borneo, which led to the model predicting more precipitation over Borneo. This increased precipitation is likely due to increased available moisture and convective available potential energy (CAPE) during both phases of the MJO in a flat MC. In the MC, there is more land to the East of Borneo than to the West, hence the reason the active MJO period has a larger precipitation difference between flat and control than the inactive period. When flattened, the presence of more expansive land east of Borneo (Papua New Guinea and eastern Indonesia) will lead to relatively drier synoptic inflow over Borneo during inactive MJO (easterly winds) due to precipitation over the flat islands to the east. This contrasts to the active MJO period (westerly winds) in a flat MC, where the Indian Ocean can supply CAPE and available moisture to Borneo relatively more easily from the west across Malaysia and Western Indonesia. In the real world, Borneo’s mountainous terrain increases precipitation due to forced ascent. Borneo also has diurnal coastal precipitation patterns that tend to increase rainfall. The mountainous islands around Borneo tend to precipitate most available moisture out of the synoptic inflow, which decreases precipitation. In the model, the flat MC allows more available moisture to reach Borneo without being precipitated over other MC islands. Overall, the flat model showed increased precipitation (regardless of the state of the MJO) due to better dispersal of CAPE caused by the lack of orographic boundaries in the MC. To assess the effect of elevated topography on precipitation rates over Borneo considering the state of the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO), the model’s boundary conditions should create a normal (controlled) MC and differentiate only between a normal and flat Borneo. This work demonstrates the importance of initial and boundary conditions on models and forecasts. In the future, analyzing the effect of elevated topography on precipitation rates over Borneo considering the state of the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) should be done without flattening the MC islands surrounding Borneo, and by using more specific boundary conditions that only differentiate between a flat and controlled island of Borneo.

Project Objective

Using data processed with GRADs, from the Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF), the effect of elevated topography on precipitation in Borneo during opposing wind regimes is assessed spatially and temporally. Comparison of modelled precipitation amounts in a normal (control) and flat Maritime Continent (MC) during the first and second half of the month of April (2009) intendeds to display the effect of topography on precipitation over Borneo considering the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO).

Manufacturing Design Methods

Using data from the WRF, diagrams displaying the difference between modelled precipitation given elevated topography (control) and modelled precipitation given flat topography (flat). The data used for precipitation modelling in Borneo spans from April 1 to April 30, 2009. The model uses 41 sigma levels below 10 hPa (Tan et al. 2018). Anomalies are calculated by the difference between mean and actual values of precipitation at each grid point. A Hovmoller graph of longitude and time for prevailing easterly and westerly winds over Borneo (state of MJO) is displayed for use in analysis of precipitation distribution. The mean precipitation of a control, flat, and difference are given for April. Easterly (inactive MJO) and westerly (active MJO) wind regimes occurred during the first and second half of the month respectively, so each regime is represented separately in their own plot for mean precipitation.

Specification

The land mask affects island precipitation over Borneo by increasing the convective available potential energy (CAPE) of the MC. Usually, the island of Sumatra is to Borneo’s East, and Papa New Guinea is to its West. The convection that occurs over neighboring islands generally leaves the inflow of Borneo drier than a flat MC regardless of the state of MJO. If the moist/warm equatorial ocean air can better distribute around the flat MC, then the model suggests precipitation would be enhanced over Borneo. Given a flat MC, CAPE would be more available over Borneo via westerly inflow from active MJO or easterly inflow from inactive MJO. Given MC orography, it is logical that the elevation of the mountainous region on Borneo has an effect to increase precipitation. Coastal diurnal cycles are an observed example of vertical forcing by elevated topography (Strachan, 2007). The precipitation difference (between control and flat MC) is more evenly distributed for the first half the month (easterlies) than for the second (westerlies). The active MJO has a more notable precipitation difference between between flat and control when compared to the inactive MJO. The boundary parameters and initial conditions are fundamental to the accuracy of modelling topography’s effect on precipitation over Borneo regardless of the MJO’s state.

Analysis

The elevated mountainous region of Borneo increases precipitation by forcing of ascent, which is apparent by observation of the diurnal cycle. The WRF model indicates if the entire MC was flat, then precipitation would enhance over Borneo due to increased available moisture. The use of the Hovmoller longitude time series successfully indicated the time parameters required to assess the effective state of MJO and the precipitation distributions over control and flat models of Borneo. The accuracy of the precipitation distribution is limited by the boundary conditions. It is modelled by data from WRF that a flat Borneo in a flat MC would rain more regardless of the state of the MJO. It is observable that topographical elevation increases convection in coastal areas and on islands. Future research with a model of a flat Borneo with elevated MC topography boundary conditions could better represent the true effect of elevated topography on precipitation over Borneo.

Future Works

Future research with a model of a flat Borneo with elevated MC topography boundary conditions could better represent the true effect of elevated topography on precipitation over Borneo.

Other Information

Tan et al. (2018). Role of topography on the MJO in the Maritime Continent, Climate Dynamics. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-018-4275-3 Strachan, J. (2007). Understanding and Modelling the Climate of the Maritime Continent, Department of Meteorology

Manufacturing Design Methods

Using data from the WRF, diagrams displaying the difference between modelled precipitation given elevated topography (control) and modelled precipitation given flat topography (flat). The data used for precipitation modelling in Borneo spans from April 1 to April 30, 2009. The model uses 41 sigma levels below 10 hPa (Tan et al. 2018). Anomalies are calculated by the difference between mean and actual values of precipitation at each grid point. A Hovmoller graph of longitude and time for prevailing easterly and westerly winds over Borneo (state of MJO) is displayed for use in analysis of precipitation distribution. The mean precipitation of a control, flat, and difference are given for April. Easterly (inactive MJO) and westerly (active MJO) wind regimes occurred during the first and second half of the month respectively, so each regime is represented separately in their own plot for mean precipitation.

Project Summary

The accuracy of weather forecasts in tropical regions depends heavily on the accuracy of the simulation of latent and sensible (turbulent) heat fluxes between the ocean and atmosphere. Fluxes have a small spatial scale, so they depend on parameterization from other meteorological variables to be simulated. Most of the simulation of turbulent heat fluxes are done using coarse-resolution atmospheric general circulation models (AGCMs). To try and improve the simulations, a higher resolution regional model can be used to utilize more detailed model physics. Additionally, instead of running the model for the entire globe, a tropical channel model (TCM) can be used to simulate the weather in a continuous zonal domain with meridional boundary conditions. This allows for more detailed resolution and physics while maintaining computational performance. For this work, the main objective is to assess if using a higher resolution model yields a more accurate simulation of latent and sensible heat fluxes over tropical oceans. To do this, the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model was converted into a tropical channel model (TWRF). The model has a continuous 0-360° longitudinal domain and is bounded meridionally between 35°S-35°N. The TWRF model output was compared to the Objectively Analyzed air-sea Flux (OAFlux) dataset using the Grid Analysis and Display System (GrADS) to validate the model performance across tropical oceans. The OAFlux dataset was re-gridded to match the TWRF grid via linear interpolation. The mean bias, root mean square error, and correlation coefficient were calculated between the forecasted and observed fluxes between several latitude ranges (30°S-30°N, 20°S-20°N, and 10°S-10°N) on annual and seasonal timescales. Based on the biases and correlation coefficients, there does not appear to be an improvement in the regional based TWRF compared to AGCMs, even with a higher resolution and more accurate model physics. The reason for this is not entirely clear, which limits the usefulness of applications and implications of this study. One possible reason is that the model is still relatively course resolution. ACGMs typically have a grid size of 250-300 km, and the TWRF had a grid size of ~110 km. Some mesoscale models have resolutions down to 2.5-3.0 km, so using an even higher resolution model may be worth investigating in the future.

Project Summary

The MJO is a global oscillation that occurs on a sub-seasonal timescale and is best known for its deep convection and propagation through the Maritime Continent (MC). Due to the numerous variables that can impact the propagation of the MJO through the MC, including the atmospheric moisture, winds, and topography, predicting the patterns of the MJO proves to be difficult for models. This study looks at how the diurnal cycle of solar radiation and background wind patterns impact the MJO precipitation across the MC and for each of the 3 major islands. The diurnal cycle of solar radiation had the tendency to produce more rain than the simulation with no diurnal cycle. By analyzing the wind patterns over the total time period, it was able to be determined that times where there were westerly winds produced more precipitation than the easterly winds.

Project Summary

The Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) is characterized by an eastward propagation of convection in the tropics on timescales of weeks to months. MJO typically originates over the Indian Ocean, monitored by categorizing the MJO into eight stages or phases, propagate towards the Maritime Continent, and can have many measurable meteorological impacts, to the extent of teleconnections in the midlatitudes. Previous research has shown that MJO has strong impacts in the midlatitude boreal winter. MJO covaries and contributes to forecast skill for near-surface temperature, and thus is a good predictor. Near-surface (2-m) temperature is a function of sensible heat flux and surface temperature. Thus, sensible heat flux, 2-m temperature, and surface temperature were assessed over the eight phases of MJO for the boreal winter of 1999-2000, utilizing a Midlatitude Channel Model based on the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model for its better performance than many global models. The MCM is zonally global and meridionally bounded from 26°N to 60°N to isolate the influence of tropical and polar circulations, while still capturing topography and land-sea contrasts. The results show the difference in removing MJO for the three variables of interest during each phase of MJO. In northeastern North America, MJO is shown to have a cooling effect on 2-m temperature, and a warming effect on surface skin temperature, similarly found in north Asia especially in phase 5.

Project Summary

The focus of this research is the Maritime Continent (MC), but more specifically, the island of Sumatra. The MC is located in Southeast Asia along the equator. This unique area on the globe poses an extremely difficult challenge for scientists to model due to a wide variety of topography, including islands, mountains, and narrow peninsulas, as well as oceans and shallow seas surrounding the 25,000 islands in this region. It is essential to have the MC represented correctly in models because it has a significant impact on regional climatology and the global circulation of the earth's atmosphere. Therefore, to better understand this area, we need to comprehend the changes in the intra-seasonal variation attributed to the MC. This region typically experiences wet winters and dry summers, as well as typical easterly winds and westerly anomalies. The westerly winds are strongest in winter, occurring during Madden Julian Oscillations (MJOs) and produce the most convection. To analyze the way topography affects precipitation over the island of Sumatra in the Maritime Continent, I used data from a time period when a strong MJO passed over the MC in April 2009. The MJO event was similar in nature to typical MJOs that appear in this area during spring. The model output consists of 120 data points from every 6 hours over the 30-day span of April 2009. The topography for the model was taken from a global multi-resolution terrain evaluation. In an attempt to isolate the role of topography, two simulations were conducted. One uses high-resolution data of the topography and is labeled 'Control' (CTL). The other simulation was conducted without any topography over 2 meters on the island and labeled 'FLAT.' Moreover, a Hovmoller diagram was produced to differentiate between easterly and westerly winds. After concluding that April was split roughly down the middle, with 15 days of westerly winds followed by 15 days of easterly winds, corresponding 'CTL' and 'FLAT' figures were produced based on the wind patterns. Figures and graphs were produced using GrADS software. The difference between the mean precipitation of FLAT and Control over the 30-day time span was only -0.3mm/day. Although I had hypothesized that Control precipitation would be greater than FLAT, I was expecting a more significant difference. However, after creating a Hovmoller diagram to differentiate between easterly and westerly winds, I was able to produce mean precipitation figures for the respective winds. With these figures, I realized that there were substantial differences between FLAT and Control. The easterly winds showed a difference of 0.9 mm/day, while the westerly winds produced -1.4 mm/day. The amount of rainfall and moisture experienced has a significant impact on the convection that takes place. Since the MC is one of the most important heat sources for global atmospheric circulation, this is critical. Convection generates excess energy that can be exported to the rest of the world. This underscores the importance of correctly representing precipitation in general circulation models. For this project, I removed topography throughout the entire Maritime Continent. For a future project, I plan to remove topography only over specific islands or areas within the MC.

Project Objective

The focus of this research is the Maritime Continent (MC), but more specifically, the island of Sumatra. The MC is located in Southeast Asia along the equator. This unique area on the globe poses an extremely difficult challenge for scientists to model due to a wide variety of topography, including islands, mountains, narrow peninsulas, and oceans and shallow seas surrounding the 25,000 islands in this region. It is essential to have the MC represented correctly in models because it significantly impacts regional climatology and the global circulation of the earth's atmosphere. Therefore, to better understand this area, we need to comprehend the changes in the intra-seasonal variation attributed to the MC. This region typically experiences wet winters, dry summers, and typical easterly winds and westerly anomalies. The westerly winds are strongest in winter, occurring during Madden Julian Oscillations (MJOs) and produce the most convection.

Manufacturing Design Methods

To analyze the way topography affects precipitation over the island of Sumatra in the Maritime Continent, I used data from a time period when a strong MJO passed over the MC in April 2009. The MJO event was similar in nature to typical MJOs that appear in this area during spring. The model output consists of 120 data points from every 6 hours over the 30-day span of April 2009. The topography for the model was taken from a global multi-resolution terrain evaluation. In an attempt to isolate the role of topography, two simulations were conducted. One uses high-resolution data of the topography and is labeled 'Control' (CTL). The other simulation was conducted without any topography over 2 meters on the island and labeled 'FLAT.' Moreover, a Hovmoller diagram was produced to differentiate between easterly and westerly winds. After concluding that April was split roughly down the middle, with 15 days of westerly winds followed by 15 days of easterly winds, corresponding 'CTL' and 'FLAT' figures were produced based on the wind patterns. Figures and graphs were produced using GrADS software.

Analysis

The difference between the mean precipitation of FLAT and Control over the 30-day time span was only -0.3mm/day. Although I had hypothesized that Control precipitation would be greater than FLAT, I was expecting a more significant difference. However, after creating a Hovmoller diagram to differentiate between easterly and westerly winds, I was able to produce mean precipitation figures for the respective winds. With these figures, I realized that there were substantial differences between FLAT and Control. The easterly winds showed a difference of 0.9 mm/day, while the westerly winds produced -1.4 mm/day. The amount of rainfall and moisture experienced has a significant impact on the convection that takes place. Since the MC is one of the most important heat sources for global atmospheric circulation, this is critical. Convection generates excess energy that can be exported to the rest of the world. This underscores the importance of correctly representing precipitation in general circulation models.

Future Works

For this project, I removed topography throughout the entire Maritime Continent. For a future project, I plan to remove topography only over specific islands or areas within the MC.

Manufacturing Design Methods

To analyze the way topography affects precipitation over the island of Sumatra in the Maritime Continent, I used data from a time period when a strong MJO passed over the MC in April 2009. The MJO event was similar in nature to typical MJOs that appear in this area during spring. The model output consists of 120 data points from every 6 hours over the 30-day span of April 2009. The topography for the model was taken from a global multi-resolution terrain evaluation. In an attempt to isolate the role of topography, two simulations were conducted. One uses high-resolution data of the topography and is labeled 'Control' (CTL). The other simulation was conducted without any topography over 2 meters on the island and labeled 'FLAT.' Moreover, a Hovmoller diagram was produced to differentiate between easterly and westerly winds. After concluding that April was split roughly down the middle, with 15 days of westerly winds followed by 15 days of easterly winds, corresponding 'CTL' and 'FLAT' figures were produced based on the wind patterns. Figures and graphs were produced using GrADS software.

Project Summary

Project AXIOM had a mission of taking the remnants of a Bluefin-21 Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) originally owned by the U.S. Navy and reintroducing it back into the field as a modular surface vehicle that can deploy a large variety of payloads for the purpose of oceanographic study and education. Project AXIOM looked to take on phase one, creating a working surface vehicle, of a three-phase project that would ultimately produce a fully operational vehicle capable of integrating new payloads. This working vehicle would allow for students and staff at Florida Institute of Technology to deploy research projects, and therefore the vehicle was designed with modularity and open architecture in mind. A signature challenge to our project was breaking away from the vehicle’s original identity of being a Bluefin-21. There was no doubt that our project was given some level of comfort from Bluefin’s merit from being a proven design. However, the further we followed its previous design, the more stagnant the project became in both aspects of feasibility and identity. It was only when we took steps as engineers to be the makers and not simply fixers, did our work truly come to fruition. What it meant for AXIOM was to take the remnants granted to us to produce a system that would act as it’s the first step toward a new future and not the shell of its past.

Project Objective

The objective of project AXIOM was to salvage the remnants of the Bluefin-21 and reintroduce it as a surface remotely operated vehicle (ROV). This would lay the foundation for future projects to be incorporated into the vehicle with either being the payload for new augmentations designed by students. Even to be tasked with new objectives in its future deployment missions that would further the interests in studies within the fields of oceanography and engineering.

Manufacturing Design Methods

Since the MEH was flooded during previous deployment, extensive testing and repair was required to determine if the housing was usable. Leak testing revealed that multiple bulkheads on the MEH were leaking, therefore another housing was chosen to hold new electronics. The Bluefin-21 was originally packaged with custom GUI, however we did not have access to the original programs. The main programs we focused on was the control of the thruster and stepper motors so the vehicle could maneuver across the surface. In order to control the vehicle, we wrote our own code. After writing the code we began testing. This got us to a point where the thruster was spinning and then control of the stepper motors. Finally, after everything was reassembled, we had full directional and speed control of the motor assembly.

Specification

Vehicle: Diameter: 21 inches Length: spans 12 feet 3 sections: -Nose Cone: Emergency Systems / Drop weights -Payload Section: Battery / Instrumentation / Mast Antenna -Tail cone: Thruster / MEH

Analysis

We had gotten the vehicle to point where field testing became feasible. We had begun planning a deployment for the field test staging at the new marine facility at Florida tech's anchorage. However, following one of our transports, it was revealed that a large fracture had rendered the bottom payload section unusable. It was concluded that given the vehicles age the material strength had vastly deteriorated and would have failed in the next few deployments if not prior.

Future Works

Future work on the project would be to design a new hull as the current payload section has sustained damage that cannot be resolved by repairs. Although initially a major drawback, this also presents future students a more hands-on experience in fields of naval architecture and marine vehicle design.

Manufacturing Design Methods

Since the MEH was flooded during previous deployment, extensive testing and repair was required to determine if the housing was usable. Leak testing revealed that multiple bulkheads on the MEH were leaking, therefore another housing was chosen to hold new electronics. The Bluefin-21 was originally packaged with custom GUI, however we did not have access to the original programs. The main programs we focused on was the control of the thruster and stepper motors so the vehicle could maneuver across the surface. In order to control the vehicle, we wrote our own code. After writing the code we began testing. This got us to a point where the thruster was spinning and then control of the stepper motors. Finally, after everything was reassembled, we had full directional and speed control of the motor assembly.

Project Summary

Project Manta Buoy aims to design and manufacture a durable, surface marine buoy that is able to record wave data at various times and create a user-friendly deployment plan at the local level. Manta Buoy aims to benefit the community as a whole. Current technologies only provide accurate, large-scale data in certain regions of the world. By creating a localized data collection system, smaller islands can benefit from this technology and overall increase their tourism. The Manta Buoy team worked tirelessly to learn electronics, coding, and testing to ensure the buoy is operational. Manta Buoy had two main components: the buoy and the ground system. The buoy houses the sensors and electronics to process the data collected by the sensors. The team experienced various problems with the ground system due to time constraints and limited knowledge. The group decided to focus solely on the buoy and put the ground system on hold for a future senior design group to continue.

Project Objective

Project Manta Buoy aims to design and manufacture a durable, surface marine buoy that is able to record wave data at various times and create a user-friendly deployment plan at the local level.

Manufacturing Design Methods

Manta buoy was manufactured using basic machining methods such as drills, taps, sanders, vacuums, and levels. Electronics were assembled using soldering and various techniques on breadboards and Arduino. Design aspects took place in CAD software such as Fusion 360 and engineering drawings as well.

Specification

The buoy is the main electronics housing, so all sensors, power source, and Arduino Mega are inside. The internal components of the buoy are how the team is able to collect wave data. The team of Manta Buoy wanted two systems to communicate to relay data, but ran into issues with several sets of transceivers. Unfortunately with the deadline to complete the project approaching, the team switched from transceivers to saving data on a micro SD card. To include the GPS sensor, one of the team members drilled a hole into the top of the buoy so the antenna could make contact with satellites. The hole was sealed with marine sealant.

Analysis

The accelerometer, barometer, and temperature sensors were used to analyze the data. The temperature sensor located on the bottom of the buoy was programmed in order to display the average water temperature. Unfortunately, due to time constraints the team was unable to get the radio connection between the transmitter and receiver to function properly. The two codes for the radio connection worked but the receiver was still not able to gather data from the buoy. The team researched and looked for countless solutions to the possible problems but the radios did not communicate. One possible problem that the team came up with was that there was something wrong with the hardware itself, and that was why the radios would not communicate. The team then tried purchasing new radios but even the new ones still did not work. The team began preliminary research into different transceivers but due to the upcoming deadline, decided that it would be better suited to focus attention to other aspects of the software. The final solution that the team came to was to just battery power the buoy and start running the code via USB during the deployment and then pull up and open the buoy to gather the data from the SD card onboard. The barometer was used to gather the pressure changes of the waves. The accelerometer gathered the accelerations of the waves in the x, y, and z directions.

Future Works

Future Ocean Engineering senior design teams plan to take over Manta Buoy and complete the ground system and eventually deploy the system offshore.

Manufacturing Design Methods

Manta buoy was manufactured using basic machining methods such as drills, taps, sanders, vacuums, and levels. Electronics were assembled using soldering and various techniques on breadboards and Arduino. Design aspects took place in CAD software such as Fusion 360 and engineering drawings as well.

Project Summary

PRISMS' overarching goal is to design an automated process that utilizes a polymer mixing system for sustainable, nature based thin layer marsh restoration using hydraulically dredged fine grained sediment. The team split the project into 3 stages: Stage 1 consists of the control code and sensors that would be used for automation; Stage 2 is the module utilized for the efficient mixing of the polymer and sediment at many flows and consistencies; Stage 3 is the scaling up of the project, putting all the pieces together and testing the system on pilot restoration projects containing hydraulic dredging and marsh restoration. For the purpose of senior design only Stage 2 was focused on. The team then sub-divided the stage into 3 phases, Deign of the module, Research and development of the process being utilized, and finally, QA/QC as well as asset acquisition. The design portion of our project consists of a roughly 4''x4''x4'' 3D print that satisfies the requirements that would be needed in industry. The second phase of research and development focused mainly on the calculations for flow, polymer mixing, and how these things would scale down to our project. The final phase of QA/QC and acquisitions include gathering industry data and aligning that with the progress of the project this far as well as running down polymer and sediment that could be used for testing. These 3 aspects of the project would compile to complete Stage 2 of the PRISMS' goal.

Project Objective

The Project had 3 objectives to keep aligned for the duration of the project. First the team had to satisfy the class requirements of Senior Design by building a physical system that incorporates engineering principles to develop a system that maximizes efficiency in marsh redevelopment. Second, the team had to design a process that provides certainty and higher efficiencies to save money on the dewatering component of projects to maintain an aspect of relatability to the Dredging Industry. Finally, to stay pertinent to Ocean Engineering and Civil Engineering, the team had to develop a system that can manipulate sediment settling on the marsh during thin layer placement methods.

Project Summary

Project R3MORA (Resin 3D Printed Marine Operable Research Assistant) is a multi-stage project. The first portion of this project developed a complete set of material properties for three different Siraya Tech Stereolithography (SLA) 3D printing resins. This portion of the project was published at the Ocean Hampton Roads Conference 2022 and was well received. Printing pressure enclosures greatly reduces cost and creates many possibilities for customization. Based on the data and techniques published, many parties have shown interest in adopting the process for low-cost student design competitions. In addition to the competition groups, the resin pressure enclosures are also being utilized for biofouling control testing at Port Canaveral. The second portion designed and produced a small, diver-deployable, remotely-operated vehicle (ROV) printed using the materials tested during stage one. A variety of goals can be completed with the R3MORA vehicle, and many of them apply to the average recreational diver. Using R3MORA, divers who are not certified for cave exploration or internal spaces in shipwrecks, for example, may gain access to these places that they normally could not explore. Divers who operate the R3MORA also increase their access to unique footage or photography capabilities. Furthermore, the R3MORA vehicle can increase the general safety of the diver as it would provide situational awareness through the video stream. It could also be utilized to help locate a missing diver or item in an unsafe situation. It would fill a public safety niche within the diving community, thus having a positive societal impact.

Project Objective

1) Develop a set of ASTM material properties for Siraya Tech SLA 3D printed resins. 2) Design a 3D-printed pressure enclosure for a small, diver-deployable ROV. 3) Design and build a functional prototype of the diver-deployable ROV

Manufacturing Design Methods

Project R3MORA was manufactured from all 3D printed parts. This kept costs low and allows the project to be open source so the barrier to entry to an ROV can now be greatly reduced.

Specification

Depth Rating: 400ft Endurance: 2hrs Sensors: Temperature and Depth HD Camera Modular expansion ports 6 Motors 6 Degree of Freedom

Analysis

Design work was completed with Fusion 360. The built-in NASTRAN FEA solver was used for the analysis of the pressure enclosures. Material testing data from the Universal Testing Machine was processed with MATLAB.

Future Works

Publication of Vehicle Design paper in Oceans 2023 Conference Mississippi Development of Underwater controller and tether management system Testing of long-term exposure of pressure enclosures for other oceanographic projects

Manufacturing Design Methods

Project R3MORA was manufactured from all 3D printed parts. This kept costs low and allows the project to be open source so the barrier to entry to an ROV can now be greatly reduced.

Project Summary

This study is a comparison of synthetic spectral reflectance signatures and satellite imagery. in situ bottom reflectance signatures are used to synthesize surface reflectance signatures using an analytical solution to the the 2 flow irradiance equations. These are compared to reflectance signatures from DigitalGlobe Wordview-3 and the ESA Sentinel 2 satellite measured relectances. The graphs show a comparison of the model generated signatures (shown in white) and the spectral profile of the satellite bands or channels (shown in black).

Project Summary

This project investigates the impact of environmental (water and sediment) conditions on the survivorship of the hard clam Mercenaria mercenaria in the Indian River Lagoon (IRL) during the Fall of 2022. Restore Our Shores planted 3 million adult clams throughout the IRL in Brevard County. Results showed a positive correlation between salinity and clam survivorship, and a negative correlation between temperature and clam survivorship. No significant correlation was found between sediment % organic matter (OM) and clam survivorship.

Project Summary

Beach face erosion is a considerable concern for beaches along the East Coast of Florida, mainly due to the tourism industry and beachside infrastructure. The Sebastian Inlet system is a dynamic beach face characterized by a stabilized narrow channel connecting the Indian River Lagoon to the Atlantic Ocean. Since 2021 monthly Real Time Kinetic (RTK) surveys have been completed on the beaches North and South of the channel. These surveys consisted of collected ~ 60-80 elevation data points each. The data suggests that the Sebastian Inlet beach faces at both the North and South side of the system have steadily eroded over the two years. The data also suggest that the beach face at both the North and the South side of the system showed erosion "stabilization" with less erosion or no more significant erosion during the 2022 Hurricane Season, characterized by more significant storm impacts. This phenomenon suggests that the redistribution of dune sand eroded during the storm acts as a stabilizer for beach face erosion, highlighting the importance of a well-maintained dune system along the Eastern coast of Florida.

Project Summary

Seagrass coverage in the Indian River Lagoon has been on a steady decline in the last decade. This degradation of seagrass populations has damaging implications for the IRL ecosystem in terms of water quality and lagoon faunal communities ranging from infauna and fish to manatees with biogeochemical feedback to sediment health. One potential contributing factor to this observed loss is the chemical runoff of herbicide residue such as the systemic herbicide glyphosate. To date, few data are available to quantify the response of seagrasses to glyphosate in the water column in the IRL. To begin to fill this data gap, the Marine and Environmental Chemistry Lab at Florida Tech will determine, using a simple laboratory experiment; the extent to which glyphosate impacts the growth of seagrasses from the IRL.

Project Objective

The objective of this project is to determine the acute toxicity threshold for glyphosate exposure in IRL seagrass and to act as a basis for the continuation of glyphosate observation in current seagrass beds in the IRL and the growth of new seagrass beds in restoration efforts.

Project Summary

Hypoxia has plagued the Indian River Lagoon for many years and has had lasting impacts on numerous biogeochemical processes within the estuary. A study was conducted at Samsons Island to observe the relationship between atmospheric light availability and bottom water dissolved oxygen. DO levels are primarily controlled by the balance between oxygen production and consumption, so changes in photosynthesis rates due to decreased light availability can contribute to hypoxic events. Five out of seven cloudy or stormy days had increased hypoxia duration on the same day, the remaining two experienced longer duration hypoxia on the next day. Higher-than-average hypoxia duration often correlated with partly cloudy days, but a pattern of causation has not yet been determined. Variation in DO results from numerous factors unrelated to light, thus this study will be expanded to multiple sites throughout the IRL to determine the relative importance of weather-related events versus site specific factors.

Project Summary

Coastal communities face challenges due to increasing population density and resource limitations. The Town of Indialantic has developed a Sustainable Communities and Resiliency Committee (SCRC) to work on mitigating these impacts. For this project, our internships focused on creating the town’s first Sustainability Plan to guide and implement actions in categories such as Stormwater and Knowledge and Access. Our work was broken into two primary objectives: constructing a framework for the first town sustainability plan and developing a full sustainability plan for Town Council approval. We collaborated with the SCRC at every stage of this project, resulting in the feedback loop structure outlined in Figure 2. For our first objective, plan framing and drafting, we organized and expanded upon information gathered from last year’s interns, working with the SCRC to establish categories and subcategories displayed in Figure 1 and researching other town sustainability practices. We drafted the text of the plan and got feedback every month. We also continued developing the plan with individual committee members between meetings based on areas of need and personal interest. As we transitioned to completing the plan, we converted the framework to a cohesive text document with visual content and graphics. At the end of our project, we had a visually appealing product to present to the committee for internal review. We also had a text-only version to be used internally. The biggest challenge throughout this project was communicating with committee members to ensure we developed a final deliverable that accurately reflected their goals. Ultimately, the committee plans to present this to the Town Council. Our work will outline the goals and actions of the committee for years to come and help guide the work of future interns and sustainable-minded citizens in Indialantic.

Project Summary

The City of Melbourne is adjacent to the ocean and Indian River Lagoon which can amplify the effects of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, climate change, and sea level rise. This problem is not an exception, as 40% of the U.S. population calls coastal regions their home (only 10% of the total country’s land mass NOAA, 2019). It is important for cities in the coastal zone to set a precedent and become a role model for other regions to create more sustainable systems and mitigate these issues. This project was completed to reduce financial costs and improve the resilience of the City of Melbourne’s City Hall air conditioning system. By applying the rebates offered through the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA), the project aimed to incentivize the installation of thermal ice storage systems which will create energy savings. The first objective of this project included conducting a benchmarking study and developing a project summary on the current and projected energy efficiency of City Hall. Secondly, I analyzed the engineering and economic feasibility of installing a thermal ice storage system in Melbourne City Hall. With utility data from 2017-2022, the building energy benchmarking software, Energy Star Portfolio Manager, was employed and a score between 1-100 was determined. Comparing a series of energy metrics derived by the Energy Star software to similar local buildings, a building score of 28 was received for the most recent 2022 data. This low score revealed the need for a more energy efficient system in City Hall. Recognizing this need, the team moved forward with detailed scoping of a thermal ice storage system in the building. A building walkthrough confirmed the current air conditioning system was compatible with the proposed project. After determining that City Hall was compatible, energy savings were projected using Trane’s FirstPass Software. Using the IRA tax credit, combined with the Florida Power and Lighting (FPL) utility rebate for thermal storage systems, the upfront cost of installation can be greatly reduced as shown in the table below. Upfront cost and utility savings will allow for GHG reduction in future projects. By creating annual savings, City Hall with have the option to install renewable energy systems such as solar panels to charge thermal energy, creating a hybrid system. The thermal ice storage system will also utilize software that will optimize energy usage by only creating as much ice as necessary. Selecting a prominent building in the local area, such as Melbourne City Hall, can catalyze other cities to implement more energy efficient systems.

Project Summary

With growing concerns regarding climate change, the United Nations has tasked the maritime commercial shipping industry with reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The shipping industry is currently responsible for around 3% of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. These emissions continue to rise despite many mitigation efforts. One alternative to traditional maritime energy sources is the use of nuclear energy in commercial shipping. Nuclear energy produces little to no carbon emissions and reduces the frequency of refueling, allowing ships to stay out to sea for longer periods of time. Although nuclear energy has been proven to be highly efficient and safe, most of the public fears its use due to tragedies like Fukushima and Chernobyl. This report analyzed various nuclear safety incidents, determined their main causes, and suggested standards and procedures for the successful implementation of nuclear energy in the commercial maritime shipping industry. The research was conducted through an internship program with the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS). The research was split into two parts: the case studies on nuclear safety incidents and a comparative analysis of current nuclear energy safety standards. It was found that the main three contributors in nuclear safety incidents were human error, design error, and collisions. It was discovered that most of the safety incidents occurred due to human error. The second most common type of error was design error. After reviewing existing standards found in the International Maritime Industry (IMO) and the Russian Registar of Shipping (RS), we recommend detailed safety standards for training, materials testing, and overall systems testing. In the future, more quantifiable research should be gathered to determine which types of nuclear reactor would be best suited for implementation in maritime shipping.

Project Objective

-Conduct a literature review of safety incident cases on nuclear power and the maritime shipping industry -Develop a report and presentation for ABS outlining categorized safety incident cases, recommendations, and lessons learned based on existing safety standards and classifications

Manufacturing Design Methods

-Conduct a literature review of safety incident cases on nuclear power and the maritime shipping industry -Develop a report and presentation for ABS outlining safety incident cases, recommendations, and lessons learned based on existing safety standards

Analysis

The main contributors to nuclear safety incidents were human and design error (Fig. 1). An analysis was also conducted solely on submarine incidents finding that the main contributors are the same, with the addition of collisions. Suggestions for best practices were made based on case studies. The number of peer reviewed articles related to nuclear energy has increased exponentially (Fig. 2). This research is relevant because interest in nuclear energy has increased over the past decade. This rise in interest reflects an increasing research focus on nuclear energy and safety. This increase in available knowledge can help improve public opinion When comparing the IMO to the RS standards, preferences were based on the level of detail and clarity provided. Fig. 3 demonstrates the preferred existing standards based on standard type. Five of the preferred standards were based on the RS and four on the IMO, reflecting differences on level of detail.

Future Works

Many lessons can be learned for the implementation of marine nuclear technology by evaluating past mistakes. Currently, the majority of safety incidents are caused by human error. The best way to combat this via detailed safety standards regarding training, materials testing, and overall systems testing. The next step include gathering more quantifiable research to determine which types of nuclear reactors would we best suited for implementation in commercial maritime shipping.

Manufacturing Design Methods

-Conduct a literature review of safety incident cases on nuclear power and the maritime shipping industry -Develop a report and presentation for ABS outlining safety incident cases, recommendations, and lessons learned based on existing safety standards

Project Summary

The Town of Melbourne Beach, FL, borders the Indian River Lagoon (IRL) and the Atlantic Ocean and faces challenges from a changing climate and development pressures. The town created a Sustainability Action Plan in 2019 to address these challenges. This project continues actions proposed in the plan. The town’s Environmental Advisory Board (EAB) is particularly focused on grants for landscaping and clean energy education, ordinance revisions, and community outreach. The objectives of this project are to apply for two grants which would develop a solar charging table project and an upland buffer project, to work with the Sea Turtle Conservancy to develop a new lighting ordinance, and to engage the community by advertising and hosting sustainability events. The grant projects will be completed by applying for a One Lagoon grant to fund the upland buffer to limit nutrient inflows into the IRL and by applying for a Department of Energy grant for two solar tables. Both grant projects will be located in Ryckman Park. To develop a revised town lighting ordinance, a series of meetings and follow-ups were conducted with the Sea Turtle Conservancy (STC). After the STC developed the draft ordinance, the EAB began review of the draft to ensure the town’s objectives for this ordinance were achieved. Following EAB approval, the ordinance will be forwarded to the Town Council for a vote by summer or fall 2023. To improve community outreach efforts, advertisements were created to invite town residents to educational events during the spring of 2023. These sustainability events were designed to educate the public about the IRL and the natural environment. The proposed upland buffer at Ryckman Park will consist of native shrubs and ground cover which will help limit runoff into the lagoon. For the solar grant project, the town is requesting two solar charging tables from Enerfusion Incorporated in Ryckman Park. To update the lighting ordinance, the proposed revisions have changed focus from regulating intensity to wavelength. The minimum wavelength permissible is 560 nanometers. As a result of community outreach efforts, the three town landscaping events had more than 30 volunteers, with many under age 18. The outreach events attracted 124 total volunteers ranging from 35 people to 52 people per event. The grant projects will advance sustainability actions at the town’s premier public park in terms of solar education and runoff reduction. The new ordinance, if approved, will help reduce adult and hatchling sea turtle mortality by decreasing disorientation. Another intern in 2023-24 can expand sustainability goals and projects.

Project Summary

Florida Tech has been the source of many innovations, yet new challenges have created a focus on campus sustainability actions. This project focuses on achieving credits in the STARS 3-year certification process that Florida Tech employs to aid campus innovations and to set baselines for sustainability performance measurement. The project identified four STARS workgroups that were already pre-existing in the University Sustainability Council, combining the Engagement (EN) and Planning & Administration (PA) workgroups (Fig 1). Additionally, a student workgroup was created involving student organizations and Federal Work Study Employees. For the EN category, 11 of the 15 credits were identified as requiring completion. 18.5 points (~95%) from the EN category acquired in the 2020 certification will be maintained in the resubmission of the report. Additionally, approximately 6 points are expected to be added for the 2023 certification in the Engagement category. Out of the 15 PA credits, 13 were identified as requiring completion. For the PA category, 8.25 points (~60%) are expected to be maintained, at a minimum, from the 2020 certification in the 2023 resubmission. Continuing efforts after the completion of the project could allow up to another 34% in point retention. At least one point is expected to be added to the PA category through new efforts. The largest increases during the project can be attributed to new projects that were started on campus, such as a Trick-or-Trash program, which alone added two new points for the EN category. In addition, the student workgroup worked with the Sustainability Academic Program to help develop a survey and a literacy assessment in tandem that when combined will add three new points to our Engagment and Academic Categories for two previously un-attempted credits for the institution. One major limitation is that many people involved in this project have very limited time and no prior experience in this type of certification exercise, forcing delays in data-collection of exact points for several credits. Although these constraints can slow the completion of the project, the groundwork laid out allows for high point retention and point total increases that could lead to an increase in Florida Tech’s certification standing from silver to gold.

Project Objective

This project has three main objectives: 1.)To assemble workgroups (WGs) to delegate workloads and optimize points for credits. 2.)To achieve maximum overall points in the Engagement (EN) Category. 3.)To achieve maximum overall points in the Planning & Administration (PA) Category.