UROP Research Mentor Project Submission Portal: Submission #1270

Research Mentor Information
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Primary Research Mentor Name: Juyeong Choi
Research Mentor Preferred Pronouns: Juyeong
When potential research assistants are reaching out via email, what is your preferred honorific?: Dr.
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated): jchoi3@fsu.edu
Position Title: Faculty
FSU College (if applicable): FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
FSU Department or Non-FSU Organization Affiliation: Civil and Environmental Engineering
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Additional Research Mentor(s)
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Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from above): Roshan Panahi
Research Assistant Supervisor Preferred Pronouns: Roshan
Research Assistant Supervisor Preferred Honorific?: Dr.
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated): rp25q@fsu.edu
Name of Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) (if applicable): {Empty}
Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) Preferred Pronouns: {Empty}
Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) Preferred Honorific?: {Empty}
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated): {Empty}

Overall Project Details
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Title of the Project: Development of a digital twin model to improve disaster debris collection operation
Project Keywords: Digital twin, computer simulation, sensing, and small-scale construction equipment
Are you currently looking for research assistants?: Yes
Number of Research Assistants Needed : 4
Relevant Research Assistant Major(s):
- Computer science, science computing, industrial engineering, mechanical engineering, or civil engineering.

Project Location:: RIDER Center (1753 W Paul Dirac Dr, Tallahassee, FL 32310)
If the project location is off campus, does the research assistant(s) need to provide their own transportation?: Yes
Please select the choice that most accurately describes your expectations for the research assistant(s):: In-person
Approximately how many hours a week would the research assistant(s) need to work?: 7
Roughly what time frame do you expect research assistant(s) to work?: During business hours
Overall Research Project Description:
Major extreme events, such as hurricanes, generate substantial amounts of debris—most of which is vegetative debris in the Florida Panhandle. This overwhelming volume often exceeds the capacity of local waste management systems, creating serious environmental and public health concerns. While sustainable strategies such as recycling and reuse are frequently proposed as alternatives, their implementation is limited by logistical challenges. Specifically, maximizing post-disaster material recovery requires separating debris by quality and condition at the collection site, prior to transporting it to staging areas. However, this process demands significantly more physical space for segregated material storage—space that most communities lack.

To address this constraint, this UROP project proposes a digital twin approach that synchronizes simulated on-site debris conditions and collection operations (modeled at a 1:14 lab scale) with a computer-based simulation of debris removal activities.  As a pilot project (i.e., before implementing it to real-world debris operations), the integration of physical and digital environments in this project will demonstrate real-time communication between simulated field operations and virtual planning tools, allowing for more efficient management of limited staging area space and enhancing the feasibility of sustainable debris management practices.

Research Tasks:
- Conduct a comprehensive literature review on digital twin technologies, sustainable disaster debris management, and computer simulation methods.
- Utilize various sensors (e.g., motion sensors, video cameras) to capture and monitor debris removal operations at a laboratory scale.
- Operate 1:14 scale grapple trucks to simulate field-like debris collection activities.
- Develop a computer-based simulation model of debris removal operations, synchronized with sensor data collected during the simulated activities.

Skills that research assistant(s) may need::
- [REQUIRED] This project requires good understanding of computer programming and sensors (motion sensors)
- [RECOMMENDED] Some experiences with computer simulation and digital twin would be recommended.

Mentoring Philosophy:
I believe that open and consistent communication is essential to a successful mentor-mentee relationship. To support this, I will hold bi-weekly meetings with my UROP students to help them define their goals, monitor their progress, and reflect on their development. In addition, I will invite them to my research group’s Slack channel, where they can easily reach out to me or other mentors at any time for guidance, feedback, or support.

Please provide a link to your publications, a video clip, or a website for your research project (if applicable):: {Empty}
Please add any additional information here (if applicable)::
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Are you interested in participating in the UROP Research Mentor Roundtable?: Yes
Roundtable times and Zoom links:
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Roundtable Info:
- Day: Tuesday, September 2
  Start Time: 1:00
  End Time: 1:30
  Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/93647688852
- Day: Thursday, September 4
  Start Time: 1:00
  End Time: 1:30
  Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/93647688852
- Day: Friday, September 5
  Start Time: 1:00
  End Time: 1:30
  Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/93647688852

UROP Program Elements
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Mentor Handbook, FAQs, and Communication: Yes
UROP Performance Evaluation: Yes
Materials Grant: Yes
UROP Poster Presentation: Yes

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Year: 2025
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