As climate change intensifies floods, landslides, and extreme weather events,

conventional civil engineering approaches are increasingly revealed as environmentally

unsustainable and socially disruptive. Large-scale river infrastructure such as dams is

often celebrated for renewable energy production, yet these projects fundamentally alter

hydrological systems, damage ecosystems, and displace Indigenous communities. The

prevailing human-centered model of development prioritizes technical efficiency and

economic gain while marginalizing ecological balance and Indigenous knowledge

systems.

This research investigates the environmental and social consequences of dam

construction alongside the growing movement to recognize the legal rights of rivers. By

braiding Indigenous ecological worldviews with modern engineering practice, the

project seeks to challenge the assumption that infrastructure must dominate or reshape

natural systems. Through qualitative and quantitative analysis including literature

reviews, environmental data, and case studies of dam projects and river personhood

laws, this study will identify patterns connecting climate vulnerability, ecological

degradation, and engineering design choices. Sources will include scholarly archives,

interdisciplinary research, and expert insight across engineering, environmental studies,

and law.

The goal is to propose a climate-responsive framework for civil engineering that works

with natural geological and hydrological processes rather than against them, while also

abiding to the river rights. This research is personally significant because I have

witnessed how flooding and landslides, intensified by human construction practices,

devastate communities. By integrating Indigenous perspectives into infrastructure

design, this project aims to contribute to policy, educational, and engineering shifts that

promote resilient, adaptive, and socially just development in a changing climate.

The purpose of this project is to examine the long-term operational viability of wave-energy harvesting systems from a Civil and Environmental Engineering perspective. The project focuses on identifying structural and environmental challenges - including cyclic and extreme wave loading, erosion, saltwater corrosion, and biofouling—that impact system longevity. Understanding these challenges is essential for advancing wave-energy technologies toward sustainable, long-term deployment.

In this project, besides reviewing literature on wave energy systems and marine infrastructure, several fundamental equations are used to illustrate fatigue mechanisms under periodic and extreme wave loading, erosion, and the influence of surface conditions (biofouling) on flow behavior and system performance. These analyses are performed based on mechanical principles, integrating fatigue theory, hydraulic loading, and surface roughness effects. Biofouling is not considered a barrier but rather a surface condition that may reduce system efficiency; its underlying processes are also examined to identify potential control measures. This research suggests that failures in wave energy harvesting systems arise from interacting structural and environmental factors operating in recurring cycles over long periods, underscoring the need for integrated engineering solutions.

The project hypothesizes that a thorough understanding of biofouling processes, combined with effective structural design strategies, can minimize the impact of biofouling on flow behavior and structural loading. This integrated approach underscores the importance of considering both mechanical and environmental processes in the design of marine energy systems. The research results aim to guide future research directions focusing on sustainable, long-lasting wave energy structures, contributing to the broader effort toward the deployment of clean, renewable energy.

Per‑ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), are persistent pollutants found in both natural and engineered water systems due to their chemical stability, attributed to the strength of carbon‑fluorine (C-F) bonds. Traditional water treatment processes including granular activated carbon, ion‑exchange and reverse osmosis physically separate PFAS from water, but generate concentrated waste streams that require further disposal and treatment to avoid recontamination. Emerging destructive technologies such as electrochemical oxidation (EO) using boron doped diamond (BDD) anodes have demonstrated the ability to break C–F bonds, however complex matrices and the presence of co-contaminants can alter reaction pathways, suppress degradation, or lead to the formation of intermediate species. Under these conditions, constituents can participate in simultaneous secondary reactions that generate disinfection byproducts (DBPs).

This work tests the hypothesis that DBPs form during the EO of highly concentrated PFAS waste streams in complex aqueous environments. Using perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) as a model PFAS in various electrolyte matrices, EO degradation is quantified. Additionally, formed DBPs are captured via liquid-liquid Extraction and quantified with a gas chromatography with electron capture detector. By investigating links between PFAS degradation and DBP formation potential, this study highlights that destruction does not guarantee safe water, underscoring the need to assess the formation, fate, and toxicity of unintended byproducts in emerging PFAS treatment strategies.