Md. Jobair Bin Alam
Subsurface soil investigation is the primary phase of any civil engineering construction, land development, agricultural planning, and geo-environmental advancement. In Geo-Environmental application, effective design and selection of the appropriate materials for the landfill top cover can solve leaching problems and prevent groundwater contamination. Md. Jobair Bin Alam, Assistant Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, states, “Landfill top cover, being one of the most critical landfill components, requires effective design, material selection, and proper maintenance for environmental sustainability.” The National Science Foundation award of $299,267 will be a first attempt at conducting field research and hydraulic performance analysis of engineered turf cover to develop a decision-making tool that would determine whether engineered turf cover could be a sustainable waste containment system.
Jobair believes “it is crucial to explore new and innovative ideas and implement the ideas in the field to improve the existing methodology for landfill closure.” Considering the ‘Engineered Turf’ as a potential material for landfill closure, this research will allow for investigation of the hydraulic performance of Engineered Turf Cover (ETC) and comprehend its environmental and economic feasibility. This research will generate valuable data for the waste management industry.
The project will also support PVAMU students. Students participating in this research will benefit by gaining hands-on training, knowledge, and exposure to broad research on final landfill cover concerning waste management systems’ sustainability. Magesh Rajan, Vice President for Research & Innovation states, “As we focus on infrastructure as a nation, Jobair’s timely research will inform civil engineering design decisions for the development of roads, bridges, and other structures. We are committed to building this multidisciplinary intercollegiate group of investigators to facilitate large-scale field research, contribute to global and national conversations centered on subsurface soil investigation, and impact the PVAMU student body.” The project will promote the development of a course curriculum for the Civil and Environmental Engineering department of PVAMU. Through this project, Jobair expects to improve African American and women engineers’ participation in critical areas, thereby increasing diversity in STEM professions and encouraging future enrollment by increasing visibility and national recognition of PVAMU. Jobair adds, “I am optimistic that this research data will open a new direction of research to explore the applicability of Engineered Turf on earth infrastructure system to test the resiliency because the detrimental impact of varied weather conditions on earth infrastructure system demands a cost-effective and advanced solution for its durability.”
Md Jobair Alam, Ph.D., P.E., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Prairie View A&M University. Jobair specializes in geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering areas with a demonstrated history of working in the industry and university. His research interests involve Forensic Investigation using the Geophysical method, Unsaturated Soil, Expansive Soil, Foundation Engineering, and earth retaining structures, Sustainable Waste Management, Landfill Design, Operation, and Monitoring.
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Karen Cotton-Jones