Honors Projects for Engineering

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    An Evaluation of the Oahu Transportation Study Land Use Model
    (University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2014-01-15) Young, Steven ; Bauman, Richard ; Engineering
    The Oahu Transportation Study (OTS) Land Use Model occupies a central role in transportation planning for the island of Oahu. Developed by Ronald Graybeal of the Center for Real Estate & Urban Economics, University of California, Berkeley, it has been used extensively since its completion in 1967 - from the initial Oahu Transportation Study to the recent Preliminary Engineering Evaluation Program (PEEP) of Honolulu's rapid transit project. Yet, the crucial question of whether or not the model works has never been answered. The model has never been validated. Although the process of validation is necessarily constrained by the availability of actual data to which the model can be checked, it was perhaps the attitude of acceptance in the model as a "black box" that was most responsible for the failure to even attempt validation of the model. This attitude is directly attributable to the lack of documentation of the model. Graybeal authored the only written description of the land use model in its entirety. In it he discussed the basic concept of the model and outlined the equation system of each of the model's submodels: Hotel, Residential, Commercial and Public/Industrial. However, as neither the functional form nor the coefficients of some of the equations are specified, it is at best an overview.
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    Detector Capabilities of On-Chip Graphene
    (University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2014-01-15) Hayashi, Cody ; Ordonez, Richard ; Engineering
    The discovery of graphene production in the past decade has sparked thousands of research projects—and for good reason. Graphene, or mono-layered carbon, possesses many unique characteristics that offer boundless potential. This research aims to develop a better understanding and characterization of graphene’s electrical properties. Graphene has zero bandgap, allowing for high carrier mobility and low noise. In addition, graphene exhibits effective photon-absorption qualities at low frequencies as shown below in Figure 1. These features open an endless array of possibilities for integrated circuits (IC) use. Therefore, in addition to developing a better understanding of graphene, this research aims to incorporate graphene in high sensitivity, low-frequency sensors. An IC that has been used to test the graphene was fabricated in the summer. The low-frequency detector consists of the IC integrated with graphene. The transfer of graphene onto the IC, as well as the testing of the detector device, has been completed over the past two semesters. The experiments thus far have proven graphene’s ability to be incorporated into a low-frequency detector.
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    A Distributed Wavelength Optical Narrow Band Interference Filter Integratable with Silocon: Designs for Performance Improvements
    (University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2014-01-15) Sze, Wah Wai ; Engineering
    A distributed wavelength optical narrow band interference filter integratable with silicon that give high, homogeneous transmission over the visible spectrum is designed as proposed by Dr. Holm-Kennedy. Filter designs are simulated in this report starting from the most fundamental design to an acceptable design step by step as proposed by Dr. Holm-Kennedy. The final design uses seven thin film layers altogether. For a maximum transmittance of about 50%, the wavelength bandwidth is 20 nm. For a maximum transmittance of about 70%, the bandwidth is 38nm. This design is versatile in that it can be used as it is at 50% maximum transmittance with excellent rejection. Or the disign can be significantly improved by adding additional layers.
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    An Audible Calculator
    (University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2014-01-15) Sumida, Stephen ; Engineering
    The design of an audible calculator is the topic of this paper. That is, a device which, when given an arithmetic expression via a keyboard, audibly echoes each entry and announces the answer. The basis for the calculator is provided by an Intel 8080 microprocessor controlling a cassette tape player. The calculator 'speaks' by having the microprocessor (and associated logic circuitry) select words from a pre-recorded vocabulary on cassette tape. This calculator turns out to be slightly impractical from the user's point of view. The reason for this is the low rate of feedback; in other words, it is not able to •talk' fast enough. A brief discussion of possible solutions to this problem and other possible improvements is presented.
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    The Feasibility of Low-Polluting and Non-Polluting Potential Power Sources for Passenger Vehicle Application in Hawaii... a Beginning
    (University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2014-01-15) Simmons, Thomas ; Engineering
    "The Feasibility of Low-Polluting and Non-Polluting Potential Power Sources for Passenger Vehicle Application In Hawaii... A Beginning" is just what the title implies, a beginning. t is to serve as a prelude to determining a solution to the problem of air pollution, to which automotive emissions are among the principal contributors.