The departmental research program areas include environmental protection of soil and water resources, bioenvironmental engineering of plant and animal production facilities, off-road power and machinery design, and food and process engineering. Alternative energy technologies, such as ethanol, biomass conversion, solar, vegetable oil, and agricultural waste utilization, continue to be explored along with efficient management of conventional energy sources. More cooperation with industries that purchase, transport, process, and package agricultural commodities has broadened the scope of agricultural engineering research, especially in the development of monitoring sensors and process control systems using machine vision and other sensors. Research aimed at improving performance and reducing cost at all levels of production is receiving considerable attention in an attempt to keep U.S. agricultural products competitive in the world market. Additionally, new markets, new products, and new uses are being sought for overly bundant agricultural commodities.
Geographically located in an area of intense agricultural production, good transportation facilities, and surrounded by a large concentration of agricultural and industrial equipment manufacturers and food processors, the department is in an enviable position to serve all areas of the agricultural community. Many agricultural engineering graduates, educated and trained in the University of Illinois' Agricultural Engineering Sciences Building with modern teaching facilities and research laboratories, are employed in Illinois and adjacent states. Interaction and cooperation with these graduates and other alumni scattered throughout the world help maintain a viable, useful research program.
Developing a Fall Arrest System for Grain Bins
R. A. Aherin,* G. L. Riskowski
U.S. Department of Agriculture HATCH Funds
The purpose of this research is to design and test a system(s) that
can be incorporated into the design of existing and new grain bins
that will prevent falls and suffocation of persons who enter grain
bins on farms. The intent is to develop a system that will allow
workers to accomplish needed tasks in a grain bin and also provide
protection from falling through crusted over grain and suffocating or
other fall-related injuries. A system will be designed and tested
during the coming year.
Disabled Farmers Project
R. A. Aherin*
University of Illinois; U.S. Department of Agriculture
The primary objective of this project is to develop a model program
that will provide comprehensive assistance to Illinois farmers with
physical disabilities. This includes conducting research to identify
the level of need for assistance among farmers in the state.
Farm Injury Medical System Surveillance
T. L. Nelson,* R. A. Aherin
Carle Foundation Hospital Center for Rural Health and Farm Safety
The purpose of this project is to develop and test a farm injury and
illness surveillance system for three primary sources of data within a
medical system. These include patient admittance to emergency rooms,
hospitals, and clinics. The systems developed will be evaluated for
reliability and ease of use by admittance personnel.
Reducing Fatality Risk from Livestock Manure Storage
R. A. Aherin*
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; National Farm
Medicine Center
This four-year project focuses on the following objectives: (1)
understand the interaction of factors that promote gas production in
manure pits that leads to dangerous situations; (2) develop potential
control and management methods to reduce manure pit gas concentration;
(3) review current sensor control technology and evaluate the
capability of the most promising technology to function in livestock
environments; (4) evaluate the current safe work behavior by swine
confinement workers; and (5) develop safety procedures and effective
safety educational training materials for people working in and around
manure pits.
Bioenvironmental Engineering Research Laboratory
L. L. Christianson,* R. J. Adrian, P. C. Harrison,
National Science Foundation; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency;
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning
Engineers; Center for Indoor Air Quality Research; U.S. Department of
Agriculture; U.S. Department of Energy; University of Illinois (In
cooperation with the Departments of Animal Sciences, Natural Resources
and Environmental Sciences, Civil Engineering, Mechanical and
Industrial Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, Theoretical and Applied
Mechanics, and Veterinary Medicine, and the Small Homes
Council/Building Research Council)
An interdisciplinary research laboratory was established involving
faculty from engineering and biological sciences. The purposes are to
characterize and assess the microenvironment and its effects on
organisms and biological products. Focus areas include animal and
plant interactions with their microenvironments, sensors and
instrumentation, indoor air quality, air and air contaminant movement,
environmental conditioning equipment, and building materials.
Aerosol Spray Deposition
L. L. Christianson,* R. J. Adrian (Theoret. & Appl. Mech.), L. Y.
Zhao, M. E. Tumbleson
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; various industry partners
A consortium of consumer products aerosol manufacturers is working
with the U.S. EPA, Georgia Institute of Technology, and UIUC
researchers to develop computer models and test methods that will
predict the spray pattern, particle sizes, and ultimate deposition of
particles from consumer aerosol cans. Particle image velocimetry (PIV)
is used to measure the particle sizes, velocity, and movement as
functions of time. Surrogate aerosols are used which represent most
consumer products in spray characteristics.
Agricultural Ventilation Equipment
L. L. Christianson,* S. E. Ford, T. L. Funk, G. L. Riskowski, Y. Zhang
Various manufacturers and electric power suppliers; National Pork
Producers Council; University of Illinois; Electric Power Research
Institute
Factors that affect performance of agricultural ventilation equipment
are evaluated (e.g., fans, heat exchangers, inlets, evaporative pads).
Results for commercially available equipment are published in booklet
form and distributed by extension engineers and electric utilities.
This project is in cooperation with electric power suppliers, swine
producers, and fan manufacturers.
IAQ Model Development
L. L. Christianson,* A. M. Zhivov, J. S. Zhang, K. Hagstrom
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; National Research Council,
Canada
Experiments were conducted in the room ventilation simulator to
evaluate the reliability of the models for predicting indoor air
quality. Working with the NRC, a practical model is being developed
that incorporates new product emission information as it becomes
available. Further experiments are planned to evaluate and refine the
model for more complex and realistic room conditions.
Product Emission Test Laboratory
L. L. Christianson,* G. L. Riskowski, M. E. Tumbleson,
University of Illinois; U.S. Army Construction Engineering Research
Laboratories; National Research Council, Canada; various manufacturers
The objectives are to develop a network of test laboratories capable
of providing high-quality, uniform tests of building products,
components, and equipment. The information will be organized into a
database with general category emission information and manufacturer-
specific information. The database information will be used in the IAQ
model development project sponsored by NRC Canada.
Airflow through Laboratory Mouse Cages
G. L. Riskowski,* P. C. Harrison, Y. Zhang, M. E. Tumbleson, J. W. Su,
L. Y. Zhao, M. Robert, C. S. Shaffer
National Institutes of Health
Laboratory mice are a major component of medical research. Proper and
uniform environments are required for valid research results and
animal well-being. The environment within mouse cages is being
investigated under various room environment conditions with an
instrumented cage in a wind tunnel and tracer gas techniques. Full-
scale rooms have also been analyzed for air flow conditions under
typical laboratory animal facility designs. Laboratory studies are
being conducted to provide boundary conditions for computational fluid
dynamics modeling of air flow through and around the cages.
Bioenvironmental and Structural Systems Laboratory
G. L. Riskowski,* L. L. Christianson, S. E. Ford
Airstream; Aerotech; Grainger; Multifan; Raydot; University of
Illinois
A series of tests were conducted on how design and application affect
performance of ventilation equipment and structures. Equipment tested
included agricultural fans, grain-drying fans, evaporative pads, air
diffusers, and building ridge vents.
Odor Scrubber for Swine Building Exhaust Air
G. L. Riskowski,* M. Robert, Y. Zhang
Illinois Pork Producers Assn.; National Pork Producers Council;
University of Illinois
Feasibility studies have been conducted on an air scrubber for swine
building exhaust fans. Most of the odor exhausted from swine buildings
is carried on particulates and a low-cost method of modifying existing
ventilation fans to remove these particulates is being investigated.
Methods of scrubbing particulates from fan exhausts have been
investigated in the laboratory and in the field. A second-generation
scrubber is now being tested.
Reduction of Odor Emissions from Swine Facilities
G. L. Riskowski,* Y. Zhang, R. I. Mackie, M. Ellis,
Council for Food and Agriculture Research of Illinois; University of
Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station Special Research Initiative
Fundamental causes of odor emissions from swine production facilities
are being investigated. Chemical compositions of the main components
of swine odor are being identified. An overall program of reducing the
odor emissions is being coordinated through this research program.
Areas studied include adjusting animal diet, reducing dust levels, and
microbial treatment of odors from various sources.
Analysis and Development of a Noncontact Aerodynamic Deduster
Y. Zhang,* G. Z. Zhao, G. L. Riskowski, L. L. Christianson
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning
Engineers
Existing dust removal equipment is limited in application to animal
facilities, especially in farm animal buildings, as it requires
frequent cleaning and/or replacement of filters. The limitation is
primarily due to the contact filtration process. In this study, a
prototype of noncontact, aerodynamic deduster will be developed to
separate dust particles from an air stream. Theory of particle cut
size will be reviewed and modified. Parameters such as the deduster
configurations and turbulence intensity affecting the cut size and
particle separation efficiency will be determined. Data collected will
be used to validate the theory.
Reducing Fatality Risks from Livestock Manure Storage Facilities
Y. Zhang,* R. A. Aherin, M. J. Robert, R. E. Petrea,
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; National Farm
Medicine Center
Studies will be done to understand the interaction of factors that
promote gas production in manure pits and lead to dangerous
situations. From this information, potential control and management
methods will be developed to reduce manure pit gas concentrations.
Safety procedures and educational training materials will be developed
for people working in and around the manure pits. Sensors will also be
evaluated for ability to monitor gases in manure pits. Information on
gas concentration and sensors will be disseminated to the industry
through an education program of this project.
Characterization of Dust Particles from Animal Buildings
Y. Zhang,* X. L. Wang, G. L. Riskowski, L. L. Christianson, G. L. Zhao
Cooperative State Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture;
University of Illinois
An air quality laboratory has been established in the Department of
Agricultural Engineering, UIUC. Grants from the sponsors enabled us to
acquire a state-of-the-art aerodynamic particle sizer and the
accessories. Particle size distribution, number and mass
concentrations, and microbiological compositions of dust from animal
buildings will be characterized to aid in developing air-quality
control strategies. Together with gas chromatography, mass
spectrometry, and other instrumentation such as a multipoint air
sampler, a laser particle counter, and an Anderson sampler, the
laboratory becomes one of the best equipped for air quality research
in the nation.
Critical Flow Control Devices for Measurement of Dust Spatial
Distributions
Y. Zhang,* X. L. Wang
University of Illinois
The existing aerosol sampling technology is a single point
measurement, i.e., one measurement at one point at a time. To study
the aerosol spatial distribution and behavior, it is critical to
measure aerosol concentrations across an airspace at multipoints
during the same time period. Otherwise, the time required for each
measurement point will introduce large errors in aerosol distribution
patterns which are highly time dependent. A critical air flow (air
speed at the speed of the sound) device is being developed. The device
will be able to maintain an accurate air flow regardless of the
pressure. The device will be used to develop a multipoint aerosol
sampler that can measure dust concentration at multiple points at the
same time.
Thermal Conversion (TCC) of Swine Manure to Produce Fuel and Reduce
Odor
Y. Zhang,* B. J. He, T. L. Funk, G. L. Riskowski,
Council for Food and Agricultural Research of Illinois
Thermochemical conversion (TCC) is a chemical reforming reaction of
organic compounds in a heated enclosure. Swine manure with 5% to 20%
solid matter is processed in a scale model TCC. The products are a
light crude oil, gases, post-processed water, and solid fertilizer.
The objective of this proposed research is to examine the critical
solids content of manure at which the TCC can be a net energy
producer, i.e., oil and gas produced are sufficient to operate the TCC
processor. Critical solid content will be determined to balance the
energy output and input.
Evaluation of Vegetable Oil Fuels
C. E. Goering,* L. D. Savage, A. M. Meyer, B. D. Bliss,
University of Illinois
With the USDA, a small, 2-cylinder, CI, DI engine was developed for
accelerated evaluation of vegetable oil fuels. Cylinder 1 runs on D2
reference fuel, while cylinder 2 runs on the experimental fuel;
instrumentation measures the load fraction carried by each cylinder.
Through use of reduced injection pressures, fuel-induced degradation
of cylinder 2 was accelerated and used as a measure of suitability of
the experimental fuel. The new method provides a much faster and less
expensive method of initial durability screening of fuels than
conventional evaluation in large engines.
Design of a Laboratory-Scale Steep Battery
S. R. Eckhoff,* P. Yang, L. Pruiett
Allen-Bradley Co.; University of Illinois
Conventional wet milling steeps corn using large countercurrent
batteries of steep tanks, the design of which is unique to every wet
mill facility. Because of the tanks' size and the variability of the
incoming corn, it is difficult to determine optimal operating
parameters, to study steeping principles, or to explore the use of
steep chemical adjuncts. This computer controlled system will be a
tool to allow for detailed studies in these areas.
Evaluation of Grade Standards, Tolerances, and Procedures for Garlic
in Wheat
S. R. Eckhoff,* M. R. Paulsen, E. Jones, D. Eustace
USDA Specific Cooperative Agreement
Garlic, a naturally occurring weed seed which contaminates soft red
winter wheat, is difficult to separate from the wheat. The garlic
bulblets decrease flour mill efficiency by fouling the corrugations of
the break rolls resulting in mill imbalance and lower prime flour
recovery. This project studies the relationship between garlic
concentration, garlic moisture content, and the economic losses
experienced by the mill. The study will recommend changes to current
grading practices.
Intermittent Milling and Dynamic Steeping (IMDS) Process for Starch
Recovery from Corn
S. R. Eckhoff,* M. Dowd
Illinois Corn Marketing Board; USDA Specific Cooperative Agreement
Intermittent milling and dynamic steeping (IMDS) is a process by
which the kernel is milled in stages following short periods of
steeping. The result is faster hydration of the kernel and diffusion
of sulfite into the endosperm. Laboratory tests show that the IMDS
process increases total starch recovery in a 5-hour process compared
to the conventional wet milling process. The process yields comparable
products to conventional wet milling. The increased starch appears to
come from decreased production of solubles during steeping and from
less starch in the fiber.
Use of the Quick Germ Process in Ethanol Production
S. R. Eckhoff,* V. Singh
Illinois Corn Marketing Board
The quick germ process decreases the cost of ethanol production by 4
to 12 cents by recovering germ and increasing capital utilization of
the fermentor. Project objectives are to develop pilot-scale
procedures for testing the process and to study the economic effect of
using a single grind for germ recovery compared to the conventional
wet mill double grind.
Magnetic Thermometry to Enable Aseptic Processing of Multiphase Foods
K. M. Ghiron,* J. B. Litchfield
Illinois Council on Food and Agricultural Research; Center for Aseptic
Processing and Packaging Studies; Midwest Advanced Food Manufacturing
Alliance
The objective of this research is to develop and test magnetic
thermometry (utilization of the temperature-dependent magnetic
properties of some materials) to measure temperatures in particles
during the aseptic processing of multiphase foods. A sensor system
will be constructed including a magnetic sensor, pick-up coils, and
magnetic sensor beads. A pilot-scale aseptic process will be used and
temperatures and residence times of flowing particles will be measured
during the heating processes.
Development of a Process to Recover Biosolids -- Feasibility Tests and
Process Development
J. B. Litchfield,* S. R. Eckhoff, M. E. Tumbleson (Vet. Biosci.)
Kraft General Foods Corp.
The project objective is to determine the feasibility of dewatering
and drying biosolids from three process streams at a commercial food-
processing facility. Procedures include evaluation of the properties
of the three streams and developing techniques to combine and
dewater/dry the product(s). This includes studying the feasibility of
combining the streams prior to dewatering and/or drying and testing
the proposed process for feasibility.
Effect of Water Transport on the Cooking Quality of Extruded Cereal
Foods
J. B. Litchfield,* M. R. Okos* (Purdue Univ.)
Midwest Advanced Food Manufacturing Alliance
The objective of this research is to measure and model water
transport during the cooking of cereal-based goods. Specific
objectives include (1) the study of starch gelatinization and protein
solubilization kinetics, (2) determination of moisture transport
properties like diffusion coefficient and swelling viscosity, and (3)
development of a process model that accounts for heat and mass
transfer, reaction kinetics, and swelling of the product during
cooking.
Measurement of Physical Properties of Foods and Biomaterials by MRI
J. B. Litchfield,* S. J. Schmidt (Foods & Nutrition),
Cooperative State Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture
The objective of this research is measurement of transient physical
properties in complex food materials during processing. The specific
objectives include measurement of transient (1) water diffusivity, (2)
thermal conductivity, (3) thermal diffusivity, and (4) physical
structure during processing and storage of complex agricultural
materials including a model food, seeds, and grains. Microscopic
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques are being used to
nondestructively and noninvasively measure transient physical
properties during processing operations. Visualization algorithms will
be used to study (1) proton density images, (2) T1- and T2-weighted
images, (3) diffusion-weighted images, (4) chemical shift images, (5)
T1, T2, and diffusion mapping, and (6) other MR data.
Noninvasive MRI Temperature Mapping in Foods Undergoing Thermal
Processing
J. B. Litchfield,* S. J. Schmidt (Foods & Nutrition),
Cooperative State Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture
The overall goal of this proposed research is measurement of
transient temperatures in food particulates during thermal processing.
The specific objectives include (1) quantification of accuracy,
sensitivity, resolution, and speed of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
T1 mapping to measure temperature profiles during the heating of
stationary particulates with a flowing liquid and (2) determination of
the liquid-particle convective heat transfer coefficient along
surfaces of particulates.
Reduction of Solid Wastes from Food Processing Facilities -- Recycling
via Production of Animal Foods without Polymer Flocculents
J. B. Litchfield,* S. R. Eckhoff, M. E. Tumbleson (Vet. Biosci.)
Office of Solid Waste Research Grants Program, Institute for
Environmental Studies
The objective of this project is to develop an alternative separation
technique to recover the biosolids from a food-processing facility,
including testing alternatives to polymer flocculents for the
dewatering of biosolids. Since the eventual use of these biosolids is
as an animal food supplement, various biological and food materials
are being investigated as alternatives to commercial flocculents.
Materials currently used as commercial flocculents are suspected
carcinogens and are not approved for animal feeding. Specific studies
include (1) particle size and electrostatic characterization of
biosolids from a cheese-processing plant and of various biological
food materials and (2) mixing, dewatering, and drying studies of
various potential flocculents.
Temperature Mapping in Foods with MRI
J. B. Litchfield,* S. J. Schmidt (Foods & Nutrition),
Center for Aseptic Processing and Packaging Studies; Midwest Advanced
Food Manufacturing Alliance; Tetra Pak Research Corp.; Conterm Corp.;
Illinois Council for Food and Agricultural Research
The objective of this research is to develop and test techniques to
noninvasively measure temperatures in particulates during the aseptic
processing of multiphase foods. Measurement of the temperature at the
cold spot in food particles is needed to determine the extent of
sterilization acquired during thermal processing. A pilot-scale
aseptic process is used, and particle temperatures are measured
noninvasively during the heating, holding, and cooling processes.
Image Analysis and Machine Vision for Food and Biological Systems
J. F. Reid*
U.S. Department of Agriculture HATCH Funds
This project is developing engineering practices for the use of image
analysis and machine vision for quantitative analysis in biological
and agricultural systems. The specific objectives of this program are
to develop standardized sensor calibration techniques for quantifying
the spectral and spatial response of image sensors properties of
biological and agricultural specimens; to explore methods for
characterizing a vision sensor response relative to the requirements
of specific biological and agricultural processes; and to identify
image processing suitable for real-time applications to biological and
agricultural systems.
Vision-based Bioprocess Control for In Vitro Production of Natural
Pigments
J. F. Reid,* M. A. Smith
University of Illinois
This research project investigates the development of tissue culture
methods for large-scale, commercially viable production of natural
plant pigments to substitute for synthetic pigments in food
processing. The research is developing ways of converting callus
production of plant cells to bioreactor systems for natural plant
pigment synthesis and recovery. Plant pigments, as secondary products
of metabolism, are assuming an increasingly important role as safe,
practical alternatives to currently disputed synthetic food colorants.
Machine vision sensing is used to quantify color changes with pigment
production to control the fermentation process.
Grain Quality Measurement and Preservation
M. R. Paulsen,* J. B. Litchfield, W. Xie
University of Illinois; U.S. Department of Agriculture
A machine vision algorithm was developed to detect and quantify
tetrazolium straining in corn kernels. The tetrazolium-machine vision
algorithm was used to predict heat damage in corn due to drying air
temperature and initial moisture content. The machine vision
tetrazolium test was able to predict viability loss and therefore
detrimental effects of heat on corn to be used for wet milling. Corn
harvested at 20% and 25% moisture was negatively affected by drying at
70°C. Corn harvested at 30% moisture was negatively affected by
heat at all drying temperatures above 25°C, and was more severely
affected as drying temperature increased.
Marketing and Delivery of High-Quality Cereals
M. R. Paulsen,* L. D. Hill (Agr. Econ.), S. R. Eckhoff,
University of Illinois; U.S. Department of Agriculture
Soft, medium, and hard endosperm corn varieties were harvested in
1996 at moistures of 30%, 25%, and 20% and dried at 25°,
50°, 60°, and 70°C. Samples were tested for starch
yield using a 100-g lab procedure and a NIR Systems spectrophotometer
from 400 nm to 2500 nm. Another set of 77 samples with drying
treatments and other samples representing a wide varietal range in
starch yield were also tested. A calibration for starch yield was
developed with a standard error of cross validation (SECV) of 0.7%.
The calibration has been expanded to the 1997 crop year with more
extreme drying conditions.
Fluid Power Systems
C. E. Goering,* R. S. Book, C. H. Chou
University of Illinois
A prototype mechatronics valve has been developed. Through use of
computer software which is being developed, the generic valve will be
able to perform the function of many specialized valves; the
mechatronics valve will also permit implementation for new control
strategies previously not achieveable. Also, a new algorithm was
developed for calculating more accurate values for the coefficient in
the classic orifice equation.
Vision-based Guidance and Control of Field Machinery
J. F. Reid*
University of Illinois; Illinois Council for Food and Agricultural
Research
Machine vision sensing has been developed as an information source
for a variety of applications in agricultural vehicle guidance and
control. Applications include vehicle guidance based on pathways
defined by crops, rows, or artificial markets. Machine vision as a
sensor for precision agriculture is a primary focus of this research.
Farm Machinery Selection and Management
J. C. Siemens*
University of Illinois
A computer program has been developed and released which determines
the optimum machinery set for a farm. With specification of the
desired field operations and corresponding work hours and areas to be
covered, the program schedules the operations and calculates the costs
of different machinery sets. The least cost (optimum) machinery set is
determined using an optimization procedure. Management details of the
least cost set or other sets are provided.
Soil Compaction Caused by Wheel Traffic
J. C. Siemens*
University of Illinois
A soil compaction study is underway to determine effects of wheel and
track traffic on crop growth and yield. Treatments include no extra
traffic, extra traffic on every other row, and traffic over the entire
plot area before planting. Crop yields have decreased due to soil
compac-tion in some years, especially in years when compaction causes
drainage to be inadequate.
Tillage Systems
J. C. Siemens,* J. W. Hummel, E. D. Nafziger (Crop Sci.)
University of Illinois
Several tillage systems for crop production are being evaluated at
Urbana and at five University of Illinois Agricultural Research
Demonstration Centers. Tillage treatments vary from moldboard plow or
chisel plow to no-tillage systems with monocropping and crop
rotations. Principal factors being studied are crop establishment,
growth, and yield; soil condition and fertility; soil erosion; weed
control; and economics.
Site-Specific Crop Management
C. E. Goering,* J. W. Hummel, J. Liu, R. Hornbaker
University of Illinois
Corn yields are a function of the independent variables that
influence yields. A neural network is being developed to approximate
that unknown function for specific fields. If successful, a neural
network could be trained to approximate the function for each
individual field, then used with weather records to predict realistic
target yields at various weather probability levels. Setting of
realistic target yields is a key step in making site-specific
applications in precision agriculture.
Development of Precision Herbicide Application System
L. F. Tian,* J. W. Hummel
University of Illinois
The goal of this project is to develop a precision herbicide
application (robotic) system for low-input pest control strategies in
soybean and maize production. Specific objectives include (1)
evaluating the agronomic and environmental benefits of low-input
herbicide applications and the status of current technology in this
area, (2) developing practical real-time prototype systems for
individual plant sensing and equipment control, (3) conducting on-farm
trials to evaluate the prototype under the constraints of normal farm
operation. With this precision system, herbicide would be only applied
to the target plants in the fields.
Improved Application of Pest Control Substances
L. F. Tian,* J. W. Hummel, R. E. Wolf
University of Illinois; U.S. Department of Agriculture
Equipment and techniques are being developed to improve the
application efficiency of agricultural chemicals. Droplet size spectra
from various atomizers are measured to determine target coverage
versus spray drift potential. Field studies of spray drift deposits
are used to verify the droplet size evaluations. Sensors and automatic
control systems are being developed to apply pest control substances
as a function of soil organic matter, travel speed, and other input
variables. Techniques for incorporation of herbicides in the soil
profile of conservation tillage systems are being developed and
evaluated.
Large-Scale Remote Sensing for Precision Farming
L. F. Tian*
University of Illinois
The research is concerned with innovation and further technological
development of living biological object high-resolution remote sensing
techniques. The project includes: (1) the sensor calibration and
outdoor image formation technologies and (2) the knowledge-based
image-processing algorithms. The first method is based on the concept
that the growth conditions are reflected in both the spectral and
morphological features of the biological objects. The second part
incorporates a priori chronological constraint into biological object
image interpretation procedure. It promises to provide a unique
capacity to reveal the living biological object's growth condition
with higher efficiency and accuracy.
Low-Input and Nonchemical Weed Control System
L. F. Tian,* J. F. Reid
Illinois Council on Food and Agricultural Research
In an effort to reduce herbicide application amounts, this research
will integrate a machine vision-sensing system with a herbicide
sprayer system to create an intelligent sensing and mapping system for
pest control. We will first develop a real-time plant-sensing and
spraying system based on field experiments to characterize the plant
features that can be used for crop detection. The integrated system
will be field tested under varying field conditions. Outcomes of this
research will provide a system for increasing farm sustainability and
protecting water quality through precision application of herbicides.
The vision technology will provide a precision sensor that can be
further developed for precision mapping of field weed infestations and
vehicle guidance.
The Effect of Water Table Management on Productivity and Water Quality
R. A. Cooke,* J. K. Mitchell
University of Illinois; U.S. Department of Agriculture
The primary objective of this project is to optimize the performance
of subsurface drainage systems. Procedures are being developed to map
existing drainage systems and to estimate the effective regions of
influence of random drainage systems or monotiles.
Modeling Flood Flows in Flat, Tile-drained Watersheds
R. A. Cooke*
Illinois Groundwater Consortium
Most flood flow models do not have the capability of including
subsurface drain flow. Drain flow models, on the other hand, are
mainly field-scale models that are virtuallyimpossible to apply at a
watershed scale. This project addresses the development of a composite
model in which a subsurface drainage model is subsumed into a flood
flow model. The amalgamation of these two components will potentially
result in better prediction of flood peaks and of flood water quality.
Control, Prediction, Economics, and Environmental Effect of Soil
Erosion
J. K. Mitchell,* M. C. Hirschi, G. F. McIsaac
University of Illinois; U.S. Department of Agriculture
Soil losses from a level surface of four Illinois soils under
simulated rainfall were measured. Several variables affecting soil
loss were measured, including soil moisture, bulk density, soil
aggregate stability, and variables for calculating rainfall energy
(i.e., raindrop fall velocity, drop size, and distribution). The
mathematical relationships of soil loss as a function of kinetic
energy for Tama, Catlin, Cisne, and Plainfield soils were developed. A
general prediction model of erosion as a function of kinetic energy,
as a function of kinetic energy and soil clay content, and as a
function of kinetic energy and organic matter content were proposed.
Management Practice Effects on Nitrate-N Concentrations in the LVR
J. K. Mitchell,* M. C. Hirschi, G. F. McIsaac
Illinois Council on Food and Agricultural Research; University of
Illinois
Nitrates in subsurface tile flow have been monitored for four years
from fields with various tillage and cropping management practices.
The effect of the application of large amounts of nitrogen fertilizer,
particularly as a preplant operation, was shown in the nitrate-N
concentrations from the drains. The preplant anhydrous-N application
systems with average nitrogen application of 110 kb/ha/yr had a mean
concentration of nitrate-N of 9.4 mg/L. The mean concentration of
nitrate-N from a permanent meadow field was 1.0 mg/L.
Modeling Agricultural Practices for Water Quality Improvement Using
GIS
J. K. Mitchell,* M. C. Hirschi, G. F. McIsaac, S. E. Walker
University of Illinois; U.S. Department of Agriculture
A rainfall runoff simulation model, developed from the TOPMODEL, was
applied to an agricultural watershed equipped with tile drains. In
order to calculate the spatial variation of the saturation tendency,
i.e., topographic index, a procedure was suggested to account for the
effect of a tile system on the fluctuation of groundwater elevation.
Detailed topographic information was provided by digital elevation
models (DEM) in the GRASS platform. The impact of a tile system on the
spatial variation of the groundwater table can be estimated by the
application of Laplace's equation to the DEM fixed boundary conditions
at the tile location.
Effect of Drainage System Layout on Yield, Yield Uniformity, and Water
Quality
R. A. Cooke*
Case Corp.
The overall goal of this research is to improve the characterization
of subsurface drainage processes in tile-drained watersheds and to
quantify the effect of several depth and spacing combinations on
yield, yield uniformity, and water quality. In the long run, the
results can be used to select subsurface drainage management practices
that optimize yield, water quality, or both.
Evaluation of Water Quality from Alternative Cropping Systems Using a
Multiple-Paired Design
R. A. Cooke,* G. F. McIsaac
Illinois Department of Agriculture
The main objective of this project is to quantify the concentration
of soil and agricultural chemicals in subsurface drain effluent from
sustainable (organic) and more conventional cropping practices used on
farms in Illinois. Sustainable systems are paired with conventional
systems with similar soils, crops, drainage system size, and climate,
and both are monitored. The pairing of organic with conventional
fields on similar soils effectively eliminates climatological and soil
differences, major sources of external variability. The use of
multiple pairs serves to provide the replicates necessary to broaden
the range of applicability of the research findings.
Machine Vision as a Sensor for Microbial Contamination in Water
J. F. Reid,* J. G. O'Brien
USDA National Needs Fellowship; University of Illinois
The focus of this research is to determine the feasibility for using
machine vision in the identification and enumeration of some
pathogenic protozoans in water. Microfluorescence techniques can be
employed to enhance morphological feature recognition in samples
through image analysis. Computer recognition of the microorganisms
Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium could aid in the development of
automated detection systems for water quality monitoring. Such systems
could be a fundamental control sensor of quality control in potable
water systems.
Agricultural Safety
AHERIN, R. A. Injury control. J. Agromed., 4 :3/4, 251-256 (1997).
PETREA, R. E. Lessons learned and hypotheses generated from the W. K. Kellogg Agricultural Health and Safety Initiative Cluster Evaluation. J. Agromed., 4 :1/2, 11-18 (1997).
Bioenvironmental Engineering
ALBRIGHT, J. L., J. V. CRAIG, T. GRANDIN, H. D. GUITHER, J. J. McGLONE, J. D. McKEAN, G. L. RISKOWSKI, W. R. STRICKLIN, and C. L. STULL. The Well-Being of Agricultural Animals. CAST-Council for Agricultural Science and Technology, Ames, Iowa (1997).
CHAMBERLIN, G. A., L. L. CHRISTIANSON, K. S. MAKI, and Z. H. LI. VAV system performance-field characteristics of airflow, diagnosis tools and operational design implications. ASHRAE Trans., BN-97-13-4 (1997).
CHRISTISTIANSON, L. L. and A. ZHIVOV. Space air diffusion. ASHRAE Handbook of Fundamentals, CL32 (1997).
SENTHILSELVAN, A., Y. ZHANG, J. A. DOSMAN, E. M. BARBER, S. P. KIRYCHUK, C. S. RHODES, and T. HURST. Positive human effects of dust suppression with canola oil in swine barns. Amer. J. Respiratory Critical Care Med., 156, 410-417 (1997).
SENTHILSELVAN, A., J. A. DOSMAN, S. P. KIRYCHUK, E. M. BARBER, C. S. RHODES, Y. ZHANG, and T. HURST. Accelerated lung function decline in confinement swine building workers. CHEST, 111 :6, 1733-1741 (1997).
ZHANG, Y. Sprinkling oil to reduce dust and odor in swine buildings. Agr. Engr. Digest No. 42 (MWPS Publ., Ames, Iowa) 1-10 (1997).
Food and Bioprocess Engineering
GHIRON, K. M. and J. B. LITCHFIELD. Magnetic thermometry in the aseptic processing of foods containing particulates. J. Appl. Phys., 81 :8, 4321 (1997).
LOPES-FILHO, J. F., P. BURIAK, M. E. TUMBLESON, and S. R. ECKHOFF. Intermittent milling and dynamic steeping (IMDS) process for corn starch recovery. Cereal Chem., 74 :5,633-638 (1997).
MEHRA, S. K. and S. R. ECKHOFF. Single stage short duration tempering of corn for dry milling. Cereal Chem., 74 :4, 484-488 (1997).
RAUSCH, K. D., S. R. ECKHOFF, and M. R. PAULSEN. Evaluation of the displacement value as a method to detect reduced corn wet milling quality. Cereal Chem., 74 :3,274-280 (1997).
SINGH, V., N. L. BARREIRO, J. McKINSTRY, P. BURIAK, and S. R. ECKHOFF. Popping characteristics of damaged popcorn. Cereal Chem., 74 :5, 672-675 (1997).
SINGH, V. and S. R. ECKHOFF. Economics of germ pre-separation for dry grind ethanol facilities. Cereal Chem., 74 :4, 462-466 (1997).
SINGH, V., A. E. HAKEN, Y. X. NIU, S. H. ZOU, and S. R. ECKHOFF. Hybrid-dependent effect of lactic acid on corn starch yields. Cereal Chem., 74 :3, 249-253 (1997).
SINGH, S. K., N. SINGH, L. DU, and S. R. ECKHOFF. Effect of sodium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide on debranning of corn. Cereal Chem., 74 :3, 254-257 (1997).
Grain Quality and Properties
MAGHIRANG, E. B., M. R. PAULSEN, L. D. HILL, and K. L. BENDER. Single kernel moisture variation and fungal growth of blended corn. Appl. Engr. Agr., 13 :1, 81-89 (1997).
NI, B., M. R. PAULSEN, K. LIAO, and J. F. REID. Design of an automated corn kernel inspection system for machine vision. Trans. ASAE, 40 :2, 491-497 (1997).
NI, B., M. R. PAULSEN, and J. F. REID. Corn kernel crown shape identification using image processing. Trans. ASAE, 40 :3, 833-838 (1997).
RAUSCH, K. D., S. R. ECKHOFF, and M. R. PAULSEN. Evaluation of the displacement value as a method to detect reduced corn wet milling quality. Cereal Chem., 74 :3, 274-280 (1997).
Machine Vision
TIAN, L., D. C. SLAUGTER, and R. NORRIS. Computer vision system for real-time tomato plant recognition. Trans. ASAE, 40 :6,1761-1768 (1997).
Off-Road Machinery
BOOK, R. and C. E. GOERING. Load sensing hydraulic system simulation. Appl. Engr. Agr., 13 :1, 17-25 (1997).
GOERING, C. E., C. R. NEUMANN, T. S. STOMBAUGH, and N. A. MARIMAN. Total engine performance monitor. Appl. Engr. Agr., 13 :1, 27-30 (1997).
PHILLIPS, S. R., K. R. OLSON, J. C. SIEMENS, and S. A. EBELHAR. Economics of conservation tillage systems for CRP land in Southern Illinois. J. Prod. Agr., 10 , 483-489 (1997).
SIEMENS, J. C. Field machinery selection using simulation and optimization. Chapt. 14, Agricultural Systems Modeling and Simulation (Peart and Curry, eds; Marcel Dekker) 543-566, ISBN O-8247-0041-4 (1997).
SIEMENS, J. C. Soil management and tillage systems. Chapt. 12, 1997-1998 Illinois Agronomy Handbook. Circular 1344 (Univ. of Illinois Cooperative Extension Service) 116-127 (1997).
SIEMENS, J. C. No-tillage. Chapt. 13, 1997-1998 Illinois Agronomy Handbook. Circular 1344 (Univ. of Illinois Cooperative Extension Service) 128-134 (1997).
TIAN, L. and L. LU. The matrix system for the analysis of planetary transmissions. J. Mech. Des., Trans. ASME, 119 :3, 333-337 (1997).
Site-Specific Agriculture
SUDDUTH, K. A., J. W. HUMMEL, and S. J. BIRRELL. Sensors for site-specific management. Chapt. 10, The State of Site-Specific Management for Agriculture (Pierce and Sadler, eds.; ASA-CSSA-SSSA, Madison Wis.) 183-210 (1997).
Soil and Water Resources
JIANG, N., M. C. HIRSCHI, R. A. COOKE, and J. K. MITCHELL. Equation for flow through filter fabric. Trans. ASAE, 40 , 987-991 (1997).
KIM, S., J. DELLEU, J. K. MITCHELL, G. F. McISAAC, and S. E. WALKER. Development of a physically based hydrological model of upland agricultural watershed equipped with tile drainage. Management of Landscapes Disturbed by Channel Incision (Wang, Langendoen, and Shield, eds.) (Center for Computational Hydrosci. and Engr., Univ. of Mississippi) 107-111 (1997).
MITCHELL, J. K. Teaching effectiveness. Paper by the Recipients of Paul A. Funk Awards in 1994. Special Publication 87. College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, UIUC (1997).
WALKER, S. E., S. KIM, G. F. McISAAC, J. K. MITCHELL, M. C. HIRSCHI, and R. A. COOKE. Modeling approaches for tile-drained watersheds. Management of Landscapes Disturbed by Channel Incision (Wang, Langendoen, and Shields, eds.) (Center for Computational Hydrosci. and Engr., Univ. of Mississippi) 203-208 (1997).
Water Quality
HIRSCHI, M. C., R. FRAZEE, G. CZAPAR, and D. PETERSON. 60 Ways Farmers Can Protect Surface Water. University of Illinois Cooperative Extension Service (1997).
KURIEN, V. M., R. A. COOKE, M. C. HIRSCHI, and J. K. MITCHELL. Estimating drain spacing of incomplete drainage systems. Trans. ASAE, 40 , 377-382 (1997).
McISAAC, G. F., J. K. MITCHELL, and S. E. WALKER. Phosphate concentrations in subsurface drainage effluent in East-Central Illinois. Management of Landscapes Disturbed by Channel Incision. (Wang, Langendoen, and Shield, eds.) (Center for Computational Hydrosci. and Engr., Univ. of Mississippi) 191-196 (1997).
MITCHELL, J. K., S. E. WALKER, M. C. HIRSCHI, and G. F. McISAAC. Nitrate losses under various nitrogen management systems. Management of Landscapes Disturbed by Channel Incision. (Wang, Langendoen, and Shields, eds.) (Center for Computational Hydrosci. and Engr., Univ. of Mississippi) 197-202 (1997).
MOSTAGHIMI, S., S. W. PARK, R. A. COOKE, and Y. WANG. Assessment of management alternatives on a small agricultural watershed. Water Res., 31, 1867-1878 (1997).
Agricultural Safety
PETREA, R. E. and R. A. AHERIN. Advantages and disadvantages of using the theory of planned behavior to target agricultural safety and health interventions. ASAE Ann. Int. Mtg., ASAE paper 97-5012 (1997).
PETREA, R. E. and R. A. AHERIN. A rural and agricultural community leadership development project: reflections on efforts after four years. Invited paper, 28th Ann. Conf., Community Development Soc. (Athens, Ga.,1997).
Bioenvironmental Engineering
AROGO, J., G. L. RISKOWSKI, and D. L. DAY. Using oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) to monitor the production and control of hydrogen sulfide in stored liquid swine manure. ASAE Ann. Int. Mtg., ASAE paper 97-4015 (1997).
CHEN, Y., Y. ZHANG, and E. M. BARBER. Sampling efficiency of the aerodynamic particle sizer. Proc. 5th Int. Livestock Environ. Symp., ASAE, 314-322 (1997).
DOSMAN, J. A., A. SENTHILSELVAN, E. M. BARBER, S. KIRYCHUK, C. RHODES, L. HOFELD, Y. ZHANG, Y. COMIER, and T. HURST. Lung function measurement in swine confinement workers: longitudinal decline, shift change, environmental intervention. Proc. 5th Int. Livestock Environ. Symp., ASAE, 15-17 (1997).
FUNK, T. L. and W. H. PETERSON. Application of stand-alone photovoltaic power to aeration processes. ASAE Ann. Int. Mtg., ASAE paper 97-4004 (1997).
PRIEST, J. B., A. M. ZHIVOV, and L. L. CHRISTIANSON. Kinetic energy balance for room air distribution. ASAE Ann. Int. Mtg., ASAE paper 97-4125 (1997).
TANAKA, A. and Y. ZHANG. Dust settling efficiency using a negative ionization system in a confinement swine building. Proc. 5th Int. Livestock Environ. Symp., ASAE, 528-536 (1997).
ZHANG, Y., B. J. HE, T. L. FUNK, G. L. RISKOWSKI, R. MACKIE, L. L. CHRISTIANSON, and M. TUMBLESON. Thermochemical conversion of swine manure to produce fuel and reduce odor: a feasibility study. Proc. Int. Symp. on Ammonia and Odor Contr. from Animal Production Facilities. (Vinkeloord, The Netherlands, Oct. 1997) 2, 429-435 (l997).
ZHANG, Y., A. TANAKA, J. A. DOSMAN, A. SENTHILSELVAN, E. M. BARBER, S. KIRYCHUK, and T. HURST. Respiratory responses of human subjects to air quality in a swine building. Proc. 5th Int. Livestock Environ. Symp., ASAE, 655-663 (1997).
ZHAO, G., Y. ZHANG, G. L. RISKOWSKI, and L. L. CHRISTIANSON. Sensitivity analysis of particle cut-size to deduster parameters. Proc. 5th Int. Livestock Environ. Symp., ASAE, 179-186 (1997).
Energy Generation and Utilization
SAVAGE, L. D., A. M. MEYER, B. D. BLISS, T. E. BRIGGS, and C. E. GOERING. Paired-cylinder evaluations of CI engine fuels. 88th Ann. AOCS Mtg. and Expo. (Seattle, Wash., May 1997).
WU, W. H., T. A. FOGLIA, W. N. MARMER, R. O. DUNN, C. E. GOERING, and T. E. BRIGGS. Low temperature property and engine performance evaluation of alkyl esters of tallow and grease. 88th Ann. AOCS Mtg. and Expo. (Seattle, Wash., May 1997).
Food and Bioprocess Engineering
GHIRON, K. M. and J. B. LITCHFIELD. Magnetic thermometry in the aseptic processing of multiphase foods. Proc. 7th Int. Congr. on Engr. and Food, 1 :C77- 80 (Brighton, England, Apr. 1997).
SPELLER, M. N., J. B. LITCHFIELD, and G. A. MUMMA. The development of a tropical fruit processing facility in Kenya: an application of appropriate processing technologies and economic evaluations. 4th Int. Africa-USA Conf. on Mfg. Technol. (Pittsburgh, Pa., Aug. 1997).
XU, L. L., K. M. GHIRON, and J. B. LITCHFIELD. Evaluation of thermal aseptic processing of multiphase foods: magnetic resonance temperature imaging and magnetic thermometry. Joint Int. Conf. on Agr. Engr. and Technol. Exhibition (Dhaka, Bangladesh, Dec. 1997).
Grain Quality and Properties
AHMAD, I. S., J. F. REID, and M. R. PAULSEN. Neuro-fuzzy inference of soybean seed. ASAE Ann. Int. Mtg., ASAE paper 97-3041 (1997).
LIU, J. and M. R. PAULSEN. Corn whiteness measurement and classification using machine vision. ASAE Ann. Int. Mtg., ASAE paper 97-3045 (1997).
NI, B. and M. R. PAULSEN. Size grading of corn kernels with machine vision. ASAE Ann. Int. Mtg., ASAE paper 97-3046 (1997).
PAULSEN, M. R. Managing moisture in grains and oilseeds. Grain Qual. Conf. (UIUC, Mar. 1997).
PAULSEN, M. R. and W. L. ODEKIRK. Layman's guide to planning grain drying handling and storage systems. ASAE Ann. Int. Mtg., ASAE paper 97-6029 (1997).
Xie, W. and M. R. PAULSEN. Machine vision detection of tetrazolium staining in corn. ASAE Ann. Int. Mtg., ASAE paper 97-3044 (1997).
Machine Vision
SU, M., L. TIAN, and J. F. REID. Spatial-frequency analysis for detection of weed-infestation areas with the wavelet decomposition. ASAE Ann. Int. Mtg., ASAE paper 97-3133 (1997).
Site-Specific Agriculture
BIRRELL, S. J. and J. W. HUMMEL. Multi-sensor ISFET system for soil analysis. Proc. 1st Euro. Conf. on Precision Agr. (Stafford, ed.; BIOS Scientific Publ., Oxford) (Warwick, England, Sept. 1997) 459-468 (1997).
HUMMEL, J. W. and S. J. BIRRELL. Sensors and the future of site-specific nutrient management. Proc. Symp. on Managing Diverse Nutrient Levels: Role of Site-Specific Mgt. (Warncke, ed.; ASA-CSSA-SSSA, Madison, Wis.) (Anaheim, Calif., Oct. 1997) 55-58 (1997).
PILLAI, S. and L. TIAN. Automatic spray control system for variable rate herbicide applications. ASAE Ann. Int. Mtg., ASAE paper 97-1050 (1997).
TIAN, L. Aerial field sensing and mapping for precision farming. NAAA/ASAE paper AA97-001 (1997).
TIAN, L., M. SU, and E. WASSINK. Development of a machine-vision controlled precision sprayer. ASAE Ann. Int. Mtg., ASAE paper 97-3055 (1997).
Soil and Water Resources
JIANG, N., M. C. HIRSCHI, R. A. COOKE, and J. K. MITCHELL. Hydraulic performance of rock fill. ASAE Ann. Int. Mtg., ASAE paper 97-2064 (1997).
VERMA, A. K., R. A. COOKE, M. C. HIRSCHI, and S. E. WALKER. Potential of integrating remote sensing and geographic information systems in soil erosion modeling. Proc. Conf. on Mgt. of Landscapes Disturbed by Channel Incision (Wang, Langendoen, and Shields, eds.) ISBN 0-937099-05-8 (1997).
WALKER, S. E., J. K. MITCHELL, and A. M. GARCIA. Hydrologic response of tile-drained watersheds. Nat. Watershed Water Qual. Project Symp. (Washington, D. C., Sept. 1997).
ZHAO, Y. and M. C. HIRSCHI. Analysis of raindrop erosion under simulated rainfall. Proc. AWRA Water Resour. Educ., Training and Practice: Opportunities for the Next Century Symp. (Keystone, Colo., Jun./Jul.1997) 657-663 (1997).
ZHAO, Y., M. C. HIRSCHI, J. K. MITCHELL, and R. A. COOKE. Effects of soil sample area on soil loss in laboratory studies. ASAE Ann. Int. Mtg., ASAE paper 97-2029 (1997).
ZHAO, Y., M. C. HIRSCHI, J. K. MITCHELL, T. R. ELLSWORTH, and R. A. COOKE. Effects of soil diversity on raindrop erosion under simulated rainfall. ASAE Ann. Int. Mtg., ASAE paper 97-2027 (1997).
Water Quality
COOKE, R. A., S. E. WALKER, M. C. HIRSCHI, and J. K. MITCHELL. Modeling flow and transport in the Little Vermilion River watershed. Invited paper, Spring Mtg., Amer. Geophys. Union (Baltimore, Md., May 1997).
McISAAC, G. F., J. K. MITCHELL, and S. E. WALKER. Phosphate concentration in subsurface drainage effluent in East-Central Illinois. ASAE Ann. Int. Mtg., ASAE paper 97-2205 (1997).
McISAAC, G. F., J. K. MITCHELL, and S. E. WALKER. Phosphate concentration in subsurface drainage effluent in East-Central Illinois. Nat. Watershed Water Qual. Project Symp. (Washington, D. C., Sept. 1997).
MILLER, P. S., J. K. MITCHELL, S. E. WALKER, and M. C. HIRSCHI. Subsurface drainage outflow improvement with constructed wetland. Nat. Watershed Water Qual. Project Symp. (Washington, D. C., Sept. 1997).
MITCHELL, J. K., S. E. WALKER, and M. C. HIRSCHI. Nitrate losses under various nitrogen management systems. Nat. Watershed Water Qual. Project Symp. (Washington, D. C., Sept. 1997).
NORTHCOTT, W. J., R. A. COOKE, A. K. VERMA, S. E. WALKER, M. C. HIRSCHI, and J. K. MITCHELL. Water quality modeling of an East-Central Illinois watershed in a GIS environment. AWRA's Ann. Conf. and Symp. on Conjunctive Use of Water Resources: Aquifer Storage and Recovery (Long Beach, Calif., Oct. 1997).
NORTHCOTT, W. J., S. E. WALKER, R. A. COOKE, J. K. MITCHELL, and M. C. HIRSCHI. Using GIS and remote sensing to model non-point source pollution in an East-Central Illinois watershed. Appl. of GIS, Remote Sensing, Geostatistics, and Solute Transport Modeling to the Assessment of Non-point Source Pollutants in the Vadose Zone. AGU and SSSA Conf. (Riverside, Calif., Oct. 1997).
VERMA, A., R. A. COOKE, M. C. HIRSCHI, and J. K. MITCHELL. Delineation of potential sites for mega-hog farms. Appl. of GIS, Remote Sensing, Geostatistics, and Solute Transport Modeling to the Assessment of Non-point Source Pollutants in the Vadose Zone. AGU and SSSA Conf. (Riverside, Calif., Oct. 1997).
VERMA, A. K., R. A. COOKE, M. C. HIRSCHI, and N. SIROTHIA. TESLOPE: a PC package for terrace design on sloping terrain. Int. Conf. on Agr. Engr. (Dhaka, Bangladesh, Dec. 1997).
VERMA, A. K., R. A. COOKE, W. J. NORTHCOTT, S. E. WALKER, M. C. HIRSCHI, and J. K. MITCHELL. Extraction of hydrologic land use and vegetation cover for water quality modeling. AWRA Ann. Conf. and Symp. on Conjunctive Use of Water Resources: Aquifer Storage and Recovery (Long Beach, Calif., Oct. 1997).
WALKER, S. E., R. A. COOKE, A. K. VERMA, S. KIM, W. J. NORTHCOTT, M. C. HIRSCHI, and J. K. MITCHELL. Estimating flow from irregularly spaced subsurface drainage systems. AWRA Ann. Conf. and Symp. on Conjunctive Use of Water Resources: Aquifer Storage and Recovery. (Long Beach, Calif., Oct. 1997).
WALKER, S. E., J. K. MITCHELL, M. C. HIRSCHI, and R. A. COOKE. Nitrate in agricultural watersheds: a comparison of two tile-drained watersheds in East-Central Illinois. ASAE Ann. Int. Mtg., ASAE paper 97-2154 (1997).
Bioenvironmental Engineering
AROGO, J. Hydrogen sulfide emission and control parameters from stored liquid swine manure. Ph.D. thesis, G. L. Riskowski, adviser (1997).
McLAUGHLIN, J. Supervisory control of a VAV air supply system. Ph.D. thesis, L. L. Christianson, adviser (1997).
ZHENG, N. Odor and dust reduction in ventilation exhaust from swine buildings. M.S. thesis, G. L. Riskowski, adviser (1997).
Energy Generation and Utilization
PARCELL, R. T. Endurance evaluation of a two-cycle CI engine running on hydrated ethanol. M.S. thesis, C. E. Goering, adviser (1997).
RITTER, C. P. Performance comparison between anhydrous and hydrated ethanol in Detroit Diesel 6V-92TA engine. M.S. thesis, C. E. Goering, adviser (1997).
Food and Bioprocess Engineering
DU, L. Evaluation of an alkali corn wet milling process. Ph.D thesis, S. R. Eckhoff, adviser (1997).
SINGH, N. Microfiltration of corn starch hydrolysate using ceramic membranes. Ph.D. thesis, M. Cheryan, adviser (1997).
Grain Quality and Properties
AHMAD, I. S. Image-based analysis of fungal damaged soybeans. Ph.D. thesis, J. F. Reid, adviser (1997).
Off-Road Machinery
CHOU, C. H. Re-evaluation of the hydraulic orifice equation. M.S. thesis, C. E. Goering, adviser (1997).
Site-Specific Agriculture
YU, J. Corn plant identification using spectral reflectance pattern recognition. M.S. thesis, J. W. Hummel, adviser (1997).
Soil and Water Quality
JIANG, N. Hydraulic performance of porous sediment control structures. Ph.D. thesis, M. C. Hirschi, adviser (1997).
SARASWATHY, S. Effects of vegetative filter strips--a field study. M.S. thesis, J. K. Mitchell, adviser (1997).
Robert A. Aherin
Maynard Coe National Agriculture Safety Award, National Institute for Farm Safety, 1980
Educational Aids Competition Blue Ribbons, American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 1980 (3), 1981 (4), 1982 (3), 1984 (3), 1986 (2), 1988, 1989, 1990
Outstanding Young Men of America Award, National Jaycees, 1981
Honorary State Farmer Degree, Minnesota FFA Association, 1983
Outstanding Service Award, American Lung Association, 1983
Agriculture Safety Professional-of-the-Year Award, Minnesota Safety Council, 1983
Packer Engineering Safety Award, American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 1987
Teaching Award -- Program, American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 1989
Young Faculty Award for Excellence in Extension, College of Agriculture, UIUC, 1993
Paul W. Benson
Teaching Excellence Award, Department of Agricultural Engineering, UIUC, 1993
Loren E. Bode
Fellow, American Society of Agricultural Engineers
Educational Aids Competition Blue Ribbons, American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 1976, 1981, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1993
Paper Award -- Honorable Mention, American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 1982
Young Extension Worker Award, American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 1983
Senior Faculty Award for Excellence in Extension, College of Agriculture, UIUC, 1990
Midwest Agricultural Chemical Association Educator's Award, 1991
Paul A. Funk Achievement Award, College of Agriculture, UIUC, 1993
Philip Buriak
Teaching Award of Merit, National Association of College Teachers of Agriculture, 1986
Honorary American Farmer Degree, National FFA Organization, 1987
Paper Award -- Outstanding Research Presentation, National Agricultural Education Research Meeting, 1988
Teaching Excellence Award, Department of Agricultural Engineering, UIUC, 1989, 1992, 1994
Karl E. Gardner Outstanding Undergraduate Advising Award, College of Agriculture, UIUC, 1993
Author of the Year, 1st Runner Up, Journal of Agricultural Education, 1994
Teaching Award of Excellence, College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences, UIUC, 1997
B. Jack Butler, Emeritus
Fellow, American Society of Agricultural Engineers
Leslie L. Christianson
Teaching Excellence Award, Department of Agricultural Engineering, UIUC, 1987, 1991
Stanley H. Pierce Award, College of Engineering, UIUC, 1989
Andersen Consulting Award for Excellence in Advising, College of Engineering, UIUC, 1989, 1990, 1991
Paper Award, American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 1994
Richard C. Coddington
Teaching Excellence Award, Department of Agricultural Engineering, UIUC, 1988, 1992
Amoco Award for Innovative Teaching, 1991
Richard A. Cooke
Dissertation Research Award, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Chapter of Sigma Xi, 1995
James O. Curtis, Emeritus
Fellow, American Society of Agricultural Engineers
Donald L. Day
Fellow, American Society of Agricultural Engineers
Paper Reviewers Award, American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 1989
Certificate for Distinguished Paper, University of Guadalajara, Mexico, 1990
Japan Society for Promotion of Science Travel/Research Fellowship, 1992
Steven R. Eckhoff
Dow Outstanding Young Educator Award -- Midwest Region, American Society for Engineering Education, 1986
Kansas State University Presidential Lecturer, 1986, 1987
Corn Refiners Association Outstanding Paper in Cereal Chemistry Award, 1989
Corn Refiners Association Research Fellowship, 1990, 1991
Teaching Excellence Award, Department of Agricultural Engineering, UIUC, 1993
Carroll E. Goering
Paper Awards, Outstanding Technical Paper, American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 1985, 1990, 1992; honorable mention, 1986, 1989
Everitt Award for Teaching Excellence, College of Engineering, UIUC, 1986
Senior Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence, College of Agriculture, UIUC, 1994
Paul A. Funk Recognition Award, College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, UIUC, 1996
Michael C. Hirschi
Paper Reviewers Award, American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 1988
Educational Aids Competition Blue Ribbons (4), American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 1991, 1994
Early Career Award, Alpha Nu Chapter, Epsilon Sigma Phi, 1992
Young Faculty Award for Excellence in Extension, College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, UIUC, 1995
Teaching Excellence Award, Department of Agricultural Engineering, UIUC, 1997
Donnell R. Hunt, Emeritus
Fellow, American Society of Agricultural Engineers
Donald G. Jedele, Emeritus
Fellow, American Society of Agricultural Engineers
Rural Builder Hall of Fame, Rural Building News, 1987
Certificate of Merit, Illinois Farm Electrification Council, 1988
Benjamin A. Jones, Jr., Emeritus
Fellow, American Society of Agricultural Engineers
J. Bruce Litchfield
Andersen Consulting Award for Excellence in Advising, College of Engineering, UIUC, 1989, 1993
Teaching Excellence Award, Department of Agricultural Engineering, UIUC, 1990
Everitt Award for Teaching Excellence, College of Engineering, UIUC, 1991
Corn Refiners Association Research Fellowship, 1991
Young Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching, College of Agriculture, UIUC, 1992
A. W. Farrall Young Educator Award, American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 1993
University Scholar, UIUC, 1994
Engineering Council Advisors List for Outstanding Advising, UIUC, 1995
Faculty Award for Excellence in Research, College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, UIUC, 1996
Harriet and Charles Luckman Undergraduate Distinguished Teaching Award, UIUC, 1997
Collins Award for Innovative Teaching, College of Engineering, UIUC, 1997
J. Kent Mitchell
Blue Ribbon, American Society of Agricultural Engineers Education Aids Competition, 1972, 1975, 1979, 1984
Alpha Zeta Outstanding Instructor, College of Agriculture, UIUC, 1986
Teaching Excellence Award, Department of Agricultural Engineering, UIUC, 1986
Everitt Award for Teaching Excellence, College of Engineering, UIUC, 1987
Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching, College of Agriculture, UIUC, 1989
Paul A. Funk Recognition Award, College of Agriculture, UIUC, 1994
Arthur J. Muehling, Emeritus
Fellow, American Society of Agricultural Engineers
Educational Award, Illinois Pork Producers Association, 1974
Paul A. Funk Award, College of Agriculture, UIUC, 1979
Inducted into Farm Builder Hall of Fame by Rural Builder Magazine, 1984
University of Illinois Cooperative Extension Award for Sustained Excellence, 1985
Bernon G. Perkins Award, National Farm Builders Association, 1993
Elwood F. Olver, Emeritus
Fellow, American Society of Agricultural Engineers
Marvin R. Paulsen
Paper Award -- Outstanding Technical Paper, American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 1987
Andersen Consulting Award for Excellence in Advising, College of Engineering, UIUC, 1994
Roscoe L. Pershing
Fellow, American Society of Agricultural Engineers
William H. Peterson, Emeritus
Appreciation Plaque, South Dakota Rural Electric Member Services Association, 1977
Educational Aids Competition Blue Ribbons, American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 1981, 1983, 1987
Certificate of Appreciation, Illinois Farm Electric Council, 1981
Certificate of Merit, Illinois Electric Council, 1996
Hoyle B. Puckett, Emeritus
Fellow, American Society of Agricultural Engineers
John F. Reid
Robert E. Stewart Graduate Excellence Award,
Department of Agricultural Engineering, Texas A & M University, 1987
Arch T. Colwell Merit Award, Society of Automotive Engineers, 1988
Paper Awards -- Outstanding Technical Paper, American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 1989, 1990
Teaching Excellence Award, Department of Agricultural Engineering, UIUC, 1995
University Scholar, UIUC, 1995
Karl E. Gardner Outstanding Undergraduate Advisor, College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences, UIUC, 1997
Advisers List for Advising Excellence, College of Engineering, 1997
Gerald L. Riskowski
Blue Ribbon, American Society of Agricultural Engineers, Education Aids Competition, 1983, 1985 (3), 1987, 1988, 1990, 1992
Teaching Excellence Award, Department of Agricultural Engineering, UIUC, 1991
Andersen Consulting Award for Excellence in Advising, College of Engineering, UIUC, 1991
Young Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching, College of Agriculture, UIUC, 1993
Paper Award, American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 1994
Errol D. Rodda, Emeritus
Stanley H. Pierce Award, College of Engineering, UIUC, 1977
John C. Siemens
Educational Aids Competition Blue Ribbon, American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 1985
Agronomic Educational Material Publication, American Society of Agricultrual Engineers, 1992
Senior Faculty Award for Excellence in Extension, College of Agriculture, UIUC, 1993
Gene C. Shove, Emeritus
Fellow, American Society of Agricultural Engineers
Paper Award -- Outstanding Technical Paper, American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 1987
Lei F. Tian
Novel Academic Idea Award for Young Faculty, Jilin University of Technology, 1988
Nominee for CGS Award by Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of California at Davis, as most distinguished dissertation of the program, 1995
Nominee, Kinsella Memorial Prize, University of California at Davis, 1995
Robert E. Wolf
Teaching Excellence Award, Department of Agricultural Engineering, UIUC, 1988, 1996
Educational Aids Competition Blue Ribbon, American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 1993, 1994
Roger R. Yoerger, Emeritus
Fellow, American Society of Agricultural Engineers
Past National President, Phi Kappa Phi
Massey-Ferguson Award, American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 1989
Yuanhui H. Zhang
Outstanding Paper Award, American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 1989
Honorarium Professorship, Shandong Institute of Technology, China, 1992
Honorarium Professorship, Beijing University of Agricultural Engineering, China, 1992
Everitt Award for Teaching Excellence, College of Engineering, UIUC, 1997
General Electric Scholar, UIUC, 1997