Thomas Saf-T-Liner C2

For my E90 senior engineering design project, I will be working on pollution reduction at the local school bus yard.  I enjoyed my first visit to the bus yard, and it was great to learn about some of the particulate filtration systems already in use.

No Idling Sign

Parrish falling into disrepair

Faculty members from the Engineering Department were called in to provide emergency consultation after part of the facade fell off of the rear of Parrish this morning.  They apparently found massive structural defects and believe collapse is imminent.  Non-essential personnel who work in Parrish’s Center Wing were evacuated this afternoon.

For my final project in Engineering 57 (Operations Research), I implemented a linear programming formulation that optimizes the scheduling of Writing Associates in the Swarthmore Writing Center.  My final report [download .pdf] was due today, and it’s a big relief to have it done.  This was a fun project, and I especially enjoyed working with AMPL.  Next semester, I’ll be doing more operations research work in Engineering 66 (Environmental Systems).

On the way to Chester

I recently had the honor of driving the Engineering Department’s 1986 Suburban Scottsdale. I first encountered this vehicle, a veritable institution of the Department first acquired as a chase car for a solar car race, in my freshman year trips to Chester to tutor with the Engineering Department. Until being instructed to drive to a water quality sampling site the other day, I never thought I would have the honor of driving this esteemed vehicle. (Esteemed meaning that the brakes are questionable, there’s no power locks or windows, and the lining on the back ceiling is falling down so as to obstruct the view out the rear-view mirror).

My Small Liberal Arts College Unexpected and Possibly Too Close for Comfort Vehicle and Professor Accessibility Index (SLACUPTCCVPAI) is now currently:

• Number of Faculty/Administrators I’ve been driven by: 8
• Number of Faculty/Administrators’ houses I’ve dined at: 3
• Number of Faculty/Administrators’ vehicles I’ve driven: 1

Gross looking runoff under the Baltimore Pike overpass

On Wednesday while studying for my first exam in Water Quality and Pollution Control, I decided that I needed to go for a jog up the Crum Creek.  I could get some exercise while at the same time exploring a local impaired stream – what better way to prepare for a test on urban runoff?

I’ve wanted to go explore Smedley Park, which is north of Baltimore Pike, for a while.  What had stopped me up to this point was having to cross the creek, Paper Mill Road, and Baltimore Pike, all without any clear pedestrian markings.  This means getting from the lower right to upper left corner of this picture unscathed:

I found the appropriate paths and made it to the park.  The quiet woods and fat groundhog were enjoyable.  I’m definitely glad I found the way up to the park and plan on returning there soon.  Things should be gorgeous when the leaves change.

One lane road in Smedley Park

Groundhog

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