2024 Design and Research Conference
Civil Engineering Senior Projects
Integrated Engineering and Science Building 224.
| 1:00 p.m. |
The design of a proposed roundaboutTeam Members: Zoria Deville, Ezra Esquivel, Matt Hein, Clay Ray Sponsor: Lazenby & Associates and District 05, LA DOTD Advisor: Dr. Nazimuddin Wasi The purpose of this project is to design a proposed roundabout at the intersection of LA 150 and Tarbutton Road between Ruston and Grambling, Louisiana. The main objectives of this project include reviewing existing crash data and analysis, while also collecting new traffic data. The implementation of the roundabout must be analyzed and justified. Pavement design as well as drainage design will be accomplished. Other design elements that will be applied include drafting typical sections, plan and profile sheets, and geometric layout and details. Mathematical computations that will be necessary for the completion of the project involve quantity and cost estimate calculations, as well as completing a cost and safety benefit ratio analysis. |
| 1:30 p.m. |
Trent Dixon, Tanner Metzger, John PetersTeam Members: Trent Dixon, Tanner Metzger, John Peters Sponsor: District 04, LA DOTD Advisor: Mr. Reginald Jeter Drivers on Louisiana Highway 5, LA 5, in DeSoto Parish are suffering too many run-off-the-road accidents along a sharp 90° turn in the road path. Individuals are driving too fast, running off the road, and consequently crashing upon reaching the turn when they cannot sufficiently slow down to navigate it safely. The location needs to be looked into in order to find the most prudent solution to reduce accidents. The location and crash history were investigated to discover the cause of these run-off-the-road incidents and the most cost-effective way to reduce these crashes using Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Guidelines (LADOTD). Our solution is to realign the road by softening the curve and shifting it inward to reduce its sharpness. This project also includes pavement and watershed design, along with the replacement or resizing of existing drainage structures. |
| 2:00 p.m. |
Twelve Mile Bayou Boat LaunchTeam Members: Christian Delbasty, Darwin Ebare, Benjamin Henry, Cameron LeBlanc Sponsor: Civil Design Group, LLC. Advisor: Dr. Roya Solhmirzaei North of Shreveport, LA, in Caddo Parish, lies a stretch of Twelve Mile Bayou with no water access, which presents a problem for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. To solve this, the Red River Waterway Commision, who manages the bayou, contracted Civil Design Group, LLC. (CDG) to provide a plan for water access. As a sponsor for this year’s capstone course, CDG provided all necessary project specifications to Group 3 with the task of designing a boat launch to fulfill the Red River Waterway Commision’s need for water access. These specifications include designing a single lane, 20-foot wide reinforced concrete boat launch. In addition to the launch itself, this group has been tasked with designing an asphalt parking lot with 25 spaces for trucks pulling boat trailers and an USACE approved asphalt-paved access ramp down from the levee. Outside of the geometric design of the site, multiple analyses and calculations were performed to reinforce the design decisions that Group 3 has made. Through working to fulfill the project specifications laid out by CDG, the members of this group have gained a familiarity with the building codes applicable to such infrastructure as described in the project. |
| 2:30 p.m. |
Design of Downsville Cafeteria Safe RoomTeam Members: Shashwat Baral, Charity Durr, Hannah France, Arin Miles Sponsor: Aillet, Fenner, Jolly, McClelland, Inc. Advisor: Dr. Hadi Salehi The main focus of our senior design team is to perform pavement preservation and drainage improvement work along a stretch of a 3.5-mile portion of LA-150 between Simsboro and Grambling, Louisiana. The pavement has suffered from severe distresses, including cracking and both rutting and raveling behaviors that have created dangerous ride conditions. Our team conducted field surveys to assess existing distress severity levels using LADOTD standards for PCI methodology, which helped establish minor and major rehabilitation requirements throughout different sections.The project undertook drainage improvements by fixing the drainage structure, which had the incorrect size and wrong alignment with the channel. A new drainage system followed by compliance with DOTD Hydraulic Guidelines was designed using LiDAR data with DOTD-provided cross-section information. This system aided water flow and stopped road degradation. The project included a traffic control system that delivered minimized disturbances to residential areas. The proposed solutions aim to ensure pavement longevity and enhance roadway performance and safety. |
| 3:30 p.m. |
LA 17 Pavement PreservationTeam Members: Trevor Fortier, Stuti Khatiwada, Thomas Murphy, Taylor Rachal Sponsor: District 05, LA DOTD Advisor: Dr. Nazimuddin Wasi The main focus of our senior design team is to perform pavement preservation and drainage improvement work along a stretch of a 3.5-mile portion of LA-150 between Simsboro and Grambling, Louisiana. The pavement has suffered from severe distresses, including cracking and both rutting and raveling behaviors that have created dangerous ride conditions. Our team conducted field surveys to assess existing distress severity levels using LADOTD standards for PCI methodology, which helped establish minor and major rehabilitation requirements throughout different sections.The project undertook drainage improvements by fixing the drainage structure, which had the incorrect size and wrong alignment with the channel. A new drainage system followed by compliance with DOTD Hydraulic Guidelines was designed using LiDAR data with DOTD-provided cross-section information. This system aided water flow and stopped road degradation. The project included a traffic control system that delivered minimized disturbances to residential areas. The proposed solutions aim to ensure pavement longevity and enhance roadway performance and safety. |
| 4:00 p.m. |
Town of Basile Wastewater Treatment Plant ImprovementsTeam Members: Cameron J. Cormier, Maggie E. Gilmore, Dylan C. Lashley, Cody P. Lauret Sponsor: Meyer, Meyer, LaCroix & Hixson, Inc. Advisor: Dr. Elizabeth Matthews The Town of Basile is currently subject to an LDEQ Compliance Order due to ongoing non- |
Integrated Engineering and Science Building 212.
| 3:30 p.m. |
Sparks-Davis Bridge ReplacementTeam Members: Eric “Trey” Davidson, Justice Groom, Gavin Lingefelt, and Nicholas Russell Sponsor: Department of Public Works, Parish of Caddo Advisor: Dr. Shaurav Alam The Sparks-Davis Bridge, originally built in 1975, spans over Buchanan Bayou and is in Caddo Parish on Spark-Davis Road. Our team was assigned to undertake full replacement by the Department of Public Works for the Parish of Caddo to meet more modern standards of safety and infrastructure. During site investigation, we observed egregious disrepair, including splitting and rotting wooden piles, embankment erosion, and signs of high scour, all of which justified the need for replacement. The replacement will be a four span precast concrete deck-on-bent bridge, totaling 80’ in length and 30’ wide, supported by four 16’ square concrete piles at each bent. As mentioned, the bridge spans over a small section of Buchanan Bayou so hydraulic and hydrologic investigations launched to satisfy design standards by the proper governing agencies to meet freeboard and channel requirements. New guardrails and approaches were developed to integrate with and enhance the existing road. The design for the replacement of the Sparks-Davis Bridge was done with a mindful intent to preserve the safety of the residents and motorists who utilize this road daily. |
| 4:00 p.m. |
Designs of the Marine Offloading Facility (MOF)Team Members: Dereck DeAgano, Liliane Lavine, Karissa Sherwin, Macy Thibodeaux Sponsor: Civil and Structural Engineers, Inc. (CASENGR) Advisor: Dr. Shaurav Alam The Marine Offloading Facility Project is part of the Guyanna Gas to Energy Project, which is located Georgetown, Guyanna South America. The Gas to Energy project will provide gas to majority of the population with the onshore Natural Gas Liquid power plant. However, due to the lack of sufficient infrastructure to import the materials and machinery needed to construct the plant, a Marine Offloading Facility will be built along the West Bank of the Demerara River in Guyanna. The proposed design for the Marine Offloading Facility includes the dock, mooring dolphins, walkway bridges, the foundation, and the connecting bridge. The facility will be able to withstand loads from roll on and roll off, an area load of 2050 psf from machinery, 88 kips from fender impact, and 66 kips from bollard pull off. The elevation of the dock is designed in such a way to support a heavily loaded or a lightly loaded barge at either high or low tide, while keeping the elevation slope of the connecting bridge as minimal as possible. This design ensures safety and purpose for the next fifty years. |