UROP Project

***Development of a digital twin model to improve disaster debris collection operation

Digital twin, computer simulation, sensing, and small-scale construction equipment

Research Mentor: Dr. Juyeong Choi, Juyeong
Department, College, Affiliation: Civil and Environmental Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
Contact Email: jchoi3@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Dr. Roshan Panahi Roshan
Research Assistant Supervisor Email: rp25q@fsu.edu
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:

Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 4
Relevant Majors: - Computer science, science computing, industrial engineering, mechanical engineering, or civil engineering.
Project Location: RIDER Center (1753 W Paul Dirac Dr, Tallahassee, FL 32310)
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Yes
Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 7, During business hours
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:

• 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

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.