2022-23 Projects
ENSC-22 Construction of Cle Elum Dam Fish Passage Structure
Team Members: Nathan Whites, Justin Anderson, Raven Haines, Amy Barber, Blake Beckwith
Faculty Advisor: Erik Wick
Sponsor: Garco Construction
A new juvenile fish passage is to be constructed around the Cle Elum Dam to continue efforts to reestablish sockeye and chinook to the Yakima River Basin. Since juvenile fish travel towards the top of the water surface, six separate concrete intake structures will be constructed in the reservoir at different elevations to allow for constant fish passage regardless of the lake's existing elevation. These intake structures are tiered on one another and extend further into the reservoir as the levels go down. The overall construction length of the lowest intake structure is 500' and the overall depth below the existing ground line that this lowest structure is to be constructed varies between 0-80'. Before construction of these intake structures can occur, suitable access and an overall sequencing plan must be developed within the guidelines of the contract plans and specifications.
Project: Design and provide plans for a shoring or excavation system to establish access for a juvenile fish passage intake structure that is to be constructed at Cle Elum Dam. Students will plan out a staged approach that involves access roads, crane and construction pads, and a large shoring system to develop a trench.
ENSC-23 Developing a Sustainable Drinking Water Filter with Biochar
Team Members: Evan Bates, Emma Accardi, Jem Pedicord
Faculty Advisor: Kyle Shimabuku
Sponsor: Gonzaga Civil Engineering
Exposure to per/poly-fluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water can cause cancer, reproductive system effects, and child developmental issues. PFAS are often found in drinking water wells that serve individual households including those in rural, small, and/or disadvantaged communities that typically lack adequate treatment. For example, elevated PFAS levels have been found in private and municipal wells and community members’ blood in the West Plains of Spokane County, WA. Point-of-use treatment (e.g., under kitchen sink filters) can empower communities with the ability to reduce their exposure to PFAS from drinking water. Granular activated carbon filters are arguably the most sustainable point-of-use filters widely used to control PFAS. However, granular activated carbon has sustainability shortcomings that could be addressed by biochar, which is an emerging PFAS adsorbent. Biochar could increase disadvantaged communities’ access to point-of-use PFAS treatment as it can be purchased at fraction of the cost of granular activated carbon.
Project: Develop biochar adsorbents with PFAS removal efficiencies that rival or exceed that of established adsorbents while addressing sustainability issues associated with existing point-of-use treatment technologies. One of the main goals is to identify biochar production conditions optimized for PFAS adsorption. Around 30 biochars made in a specialized production system between the summer of 2021 and 2022 will be evaluated in bench-scale batch and column adsorption tests using PFAS contaminated water collected from the West Plains. For point-of-use PFAS removal technologies to be adopted it is essential that their utility is communicated to end users. This senior design project team will partner with an environmental studies senior capstone project team that will work with local K-12 schools that have been directly impacted by PFAS contamination with hands-on learning modules on PFAS treatment.
ENSC-24 New Public Library Building
Team Members: Drew Barlow, Andres Yalan, Joe O'Hagan, Rory McCarthy, Trenton Uchima
Faculty Advisor: Aaron Zwanzig
Sponsor: Integrus Architecture
In an effort to better serve its community, the Public Library System is providing a design for a new library building in response to numerous program criteria, existing and future site and library system conditions, and by various standards and regulations governing the project. This project provides a great opportunity to create a 21st century library for the Public Library System, with a new marketplace, program room, children’s discovery area, adult + teen area, group study rooms, and staff area. The new 12,500 square foot building will replace the 6,000 square foot existing library building.
Project: Develop a proposal for comprehensive structural engineering services related to the design of their new building located in Spokane, Washington. These services shall include the production of design development level structural framing plans, providing gravity and lateral framing systems, along with supporting structural calculations. The project sponsor will provide architectural floor plans, elevations and building sections to be used in developing the design.
ENSC-25 South Logan Transit Oriented Development Study
Team Members: Sam Novack, Marco Navarro, John Walatka, Jules Wagner
Faculty Advisor: Rhonda Young
Sponsor: City of Spokane
The City of Spokane is planning for housing and transit-oriented development along The City Line, Spokane's first bus rapid transit route. The South Logan Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Project will create a subarea plan to facilitate higher density development that leverages investments in transit with supportive uses. The project is also part of the City's ongoing efforts to enhance housing options and affordability in areas with good access to daily needs, services, and jobs. The study area will focus on three The City Line stations in the South Logan area of the Logan Neighborhood, which is around Gonzaga University and adjacent to the Hamilton Street Corridor.
Project: Study the transportation components of the TOD project including trip generation, parking generation, and corridor design to support the use of transit and active transportation in the area. Transportation design alternatives for key corridors will be developed and modeled using traffic simulation software.
ENSC-26 Lucky Duck Pond ADA Trail & Parking Design
Team Members: Alicia Anderson, Antonio Campos, Sophie Zukowski, Josephine Jankovich
Faculty Advisor: Rhonda Young
Sponsor: Washington Department of Commerce
The Town of Springdale, WA has a pond called "Lucky Duck" that is located within city limits. The pond is stocked yearly with trout by WA Department of Fish & Wildlife and is open to juveniles (under 15 years of age), seniors (70 years of age and older), and anglers with a disability who possess a designated harvester companion card. The pond has wheelchair access from the main road through town, but no Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible paths or parking next to the pond. The area from the bottom of the ramp to the fishing bridge is uneven and rocky and can become unsafe during inclement weather.
Project: Create a parking lot and trail design that is ADA accessible utilizing Civil 3D to provide a final design plan set to the Town of Springdale.
ENSC-54 Sustainable Aircraft Deicing System Design
Team Members: Claire Martin, Avery Steward, Olivia Tufte, Thomas Wigfield
Faculty Advisor: Alireza Toghraee
Sponsor: Boeing
The initial project focus will be on developing an on-aircraft deicing system that mitigates the cost and environmental impact of aircraft deicing and its affect on flight schedules. The team will identify current industry technology and design a system to prevent/remove frozen contaminants from adhering to aircraft structures.
ENSC-56 Future Passenger Service Unit
Team Members: Patricia Graterol, Sarah Jones, Tristan Caryl, Ryan Hardinge
Faculty Advisor: Marc Baumgardner
Sponsor: Boeing
Students will study technology and market trends to design a new PSU that will meet the needs of the future passenger and improve production stability, and reduce impact to reconfigurations and transitions.
ENSC-58 Recycled Thermoplastic Composites
Team Members: Andrew Kelley, Nolan Miller, Samantha Ward, Michael Wiest
Faculty Advisor: Jeff Nolting
Sponsor: Boeing
Collaboration with ATC Thermoplastics. Continuation of previous projects on Recycled Thermoplastic Composites to further develop the stability and quality of the stamp forming part production process and part evaluation.
ENSC-63 SAMPE Student Bridge Competition
Team Members: Andreas Andersson, Connor Lotzkar, Claire Powell, Aubrey Scott
Faculty Advisor: Rudy Lauth
Sponsor: Student Proposed, Materials Advantage Club
The SAMPE Student Bridge Competition presents an opportunity for student teams to design, analyze, and build their own miniature structural bridge of composite material and then compete the national contest with multiple evaluations.
Project: Design, analysis, build, and test of a bridge for the SAMPE using Interpenetrating Polymer Network (IPN) resin composite and attempt a novel technique for creating variable cross-sections along the length of the bridge. Team will be expected to follow all requirements of the completion including design proposal, qualification, and attempt to compete in the competition.
ENSC-64 Product Re-Design of Slumber Party Tent
Team Members: Camelon Bain, Cassie Eskicioglu, Natalie Ryan, Victoria Young
Faculty Advisor: Alireza Toghraee
Sponsor: Modern Dreamers Slumber Company LLC
Modern Dreamers Slumber Company is a local Spokane startup that produces slumber-party kits for kid's slumber parties. Their initial product line was designed quickly and has reached a broad audience.The owners (Gonzaga Alumni) are looking to design an updated version of their product to improve upon elements of the first design. They would like to maintain or improve the visual appeal while making the product easy to manufacture at larger quantities, quick to assemble, improve stability, and able to be packaged and shipped more easily.
Project:The team will perform a product redesign to on the frame with focus on production cost, packageability, and end-user assembly, aesthetic, and feel. Team will be expected to iterate on several rapid-prototype concepts with the sponsor.