UTSA

Center for Water Research
Science Building 1.03.04

Research Project Summary: The major goal of Singaiah's research is to perform hydrologic modeling over urbanized watersheds in Bexar County, TX to lay the ground for an advanced hydrologic forecasting system that combines a dynamical storm forecasting model and a physically based distributed-parameter hydrologic model. The forecasting system will address several hydrologic science priorities such as: 1) quantitative precipitation estimation (QPE), 2) forecasting of precipitation (QPF), and 3) flash flood prediction.

Advisor: Dr. Hatim Sharif.

Research Project Summary: Julie's research involves the study of microbial community dynamics associated with temporal changes and changes due to low impact restoration efforts in a former agricultural field near Johnson City, Texas. Using a combination culturing, molecular, and FAME analysis the goal is to describe the microbial community paired with the changes in vegetation. Soil parameters such as pH, soil moisture, soil texture, carbon content, C:N ratio, etc. will be elucidated in order to gain a more thorough understanding of the abiotic factors that contribute to microbial community dynamics.

Advisor: Dr. Adria Bodour.

Research Project Summary: A biofilm is a unique community of bacteria and their excreted substrates that are attached to a surface. In most cases, the build up of this biofilm is undesirable and has adverse affects on its surrounding environment causing what is termed biofouling. This project involves three severely biofouled drinking water production wells in southern Bexar County, Texas. The main focus of this research is to determine the most effective treatment for dealing with this biofilm issue. The objectives in this study are: i. access the effectiveness of UV radiation and various chemical biocides for treating biofilms, focusing especially on primary colonizing bacterial species, ii. evaluate water chemistry and water quality parameters, iii. identify which species of microorganisms are present in both the biofilm and planktonic form and, iv. design a field-scale treatment plan for the biofouled wells, that will maximize well productivity and minimize cost. Read more

Advisor: Dr. Kyle Murray.

Research Project Summary: A variety of laboratory and field studies have shown that cementitious fly ashes (Class C) are very effective in improving the mechanical properties of soft and/or expansive soils. So it is expected that the fly ash stabilized soil will perform adequately for levee and embankment construction with higher level of factor of safety. However, fly ash could be only used when it does not have any significant environmental impact. The environmental impact of using fly ash in levees and embankment will be studied carefully by laboratory experimentation and by developing models.

Advisor: Dr. Sazzad Bin-Shafique.

Research Project Summary: Lee White's thesis title is "Reconstruction of Paleoclimate and Paleohydrology from detailed Sedimentological and Geochemical (major and trace element, and stable isotope composition) characterization of Paleosol." Ancient soil, also known as paleosol, reflects climate conditions that existed during the time of soil formation. The stable carbon and oxygen isotopic composition of pedogenic carbonates in paleosols are routinely used as climate proxies for paleoclimate reconstructions. The oxygen isotopic composition of carbonates reflects the isotopic composition of water, mostly meteoric water. The fractionation of oxygen isotopes between the water and the carbonates is also a function of temperature. Read More

Advisor: Dr. Debajyoti Paul.

Research Project Summary: The objective of this study is to develop methods on how plants, specifically Juniperus ashei (ashe juniper - short tree/shrub species) and Carex planostachys (cedar sedge - drought tolerant sedge species), utilize fissures separately and when grown together (competition) in limestone and shallow or discontinuous soil formations such as those seen on the Edwards Plateau in a controlled environment.

Advisor: Dr. Paul Jurena.

Research Project Summary: Studying microbial communities in Mitchell Lake, a former municipal wastewater treatment sludge disposal site for the San Antonio Water System. In particular, antibiotic resistance in resident bacteria, and the culturing and identification of algal species.

Advisor: Drs. Paul Jurena and Adria Bodour.