ENGL 602/ET 625 - Technical Communications (UNH Manchester): Activity

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this session, students will:

• Understand the differences between scholarly publications, trade publications, conference proceedings, government reports, and white papers.
• Develop search strategies for finding engineering research on making solar energy economically viable (specifically foundation design for solar panels on closed landfills).
• Evaluate the credibility and relevance of various information sources.
• Recognize the iterative nature of engineering research.

Lesson Outline:

1. Introduction to Engineering Research (5 minutes)

• Overview: Engineering research is iterative and draws from a variety of sources, each with different uses and authority.
• Discussion Prompts:
  • What types of publications have you used before?
  • How do you assess the reliability and relevance of a source?

2. Understanding Source Types (10 minutes)

• Scholarly Publications: Peer-reviewed, in-depth research for academic audiences.

  • Example: IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews

• Trade Publications: Practical, industry-oriented information.

  • Example: Engineering News-Record (ENR), Canadian Consulting Engineer

• Conference Proceedings: collections of research papers from professional conferences, offering early insights into new engineering innovations and trends. They're valuable for learning about cutting-edge research before it appears in journals, often covering practical applications and ongoing projects.

  • Example: Proceedings of the IEEE International Conference, ASHRAE Transactions, Geo-Frontiers 2011
  • Geotechnical Frontiers 2025

• Government Reports: Authoritative guidance from agencies.

  • Example: EPA Best Practices for Siting Solar Photovoltaics on Municipal Solid Waste Landfill

• White Papers: White papers are detailed reports that explain specific engineering issues and solutions. Written by industry experts, they focus on practical challenges, new technologies, and recommended solutions. Unlike academic papers, they aim to inform readers about real-world applications and industry trends.

  • Example: Sanborn Head Solar Projects

3. Research Process and Framing the Challenge (10 minutes)

• Key Question: How can civil and environmental engineers design stable foundations for solar panels on closed landfills, aligning with the Grand Challenge to make solar energy more economical?
  • Use this to develop keywords and search strings.
• Target Audience: What type of engineers does your research target?

4. Developing Search Strategies (10 minutes)

• Exercise: Create search strings based on the engineering challenge.
  • Example search strings:
    • landfill AND solar AND engineer 
    • landfill AND solar 
    • foundation AND landfill AND solar AND construction 
    • foundation AND landfill AND solar panel 
    • foundation AND landfill AND solar 
• Search Tools: IEEE Xplore, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, Business Source Ultimate.
• Source Evaluation: Compare academic journal articles and trade publications on foundation design. Use SIFT and PROVEN to ensure sources are relevant to your research question.
  • Relevance: Does the source fit your needs and assignment?
    • Usefulness: Does it answer your question or support your argument better than others?
    • New Insights: Does it add important, new information?
    • Detail: Is it too general, specific, basic, or advanced?

5. Ethical Research and Stakeholders (5 minutes)

• Ethical Research: Discuss the importance of proper attribution and the value of information.
• Stakeholders: Identify key stakeholders such as environmental agencies and local governments.

6. Closing and Reflection (5 minutes)

• Final Discussion: How will you ensure your engineering solutions are viable?
• Wrap-Up: Provide resources like interlibrary loan services and research consultations.

Key Sources for Foundation Design for Solar Panels on Closed Landfills

1. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Report
   Source Type: Government Report
   Title: Best Practices for Siting Solar Photovoltaics on Municipal Solid Waste Landfills
   Link: NREL Report
   Summary: Outlines best practices for solar projects on closed landfills, addressing site assessments, environmental considerations, and technical challenges including foundation design and wind loads.

2. Tansel, B. (2013)
   Source Type: Peer-Reviewed Article
   Title: Solar Energy Harvesting at Closed Landfills: Energy Yield and Wind Loads on Solar Panels on Top and Side Slopes
   Journal: Sustainable Cities and Society
   Link: Tansel Article
   Summary: Examines solar energy harvesting efficiency on landfills, focusing on wind loads and performance differences between top and side slope installations.

3. American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) – Proceedings of Geo-Frontiers 2011
   Source Type: Conference Proceeding
   Title: Foundation Design for Installing Solar Harvesting Systems on Closed Landfills
   Link: ASCE Publication
   Summary: Provides guidance on foundation design for solar energy on landfills, addressing soil conditions, settlement, and structural stability under environmental loads.

4. Szabó, S. (2017)
   Source Type: Peer-Reviewed Article
   Title: A Methodology for Maximizing the Benefits of Solar Landfills on Closed Sites
   Journal: Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews
   Link: Szabó Article
   Summary: Discusses methodologies for optimizing solar installations on closed landfills, balancing cost-efficiency and engineering challenges.

5. Sanborn Head Engineering
   Source Type: Website for Local Consulting Firm. White Papers
   Link: Sanborn Head – Landfill Solar Projects
   Summary: Specializes in engineering solutions for landfill solar projects, offering expertise in design and implementation to enhance performance and minimize environmental impacts.

6. Kent, Heather
   Source Type: Trade Publication Article
   Title: Future Promise
   Publication: Canadian Consulting Engineer
   Summary: Describes a project converting landfill methane—accounting for 33% of Canada’s emissions—into hydrogen using solar power as a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels.

7. Salasovich, Jimmy (2012)
   Source Type: Conference Proceeding
   Title: Photovoltaics on Landfills in Puerto Rico
   Journal: ASHRAE Transactions 2011
   Summary: Focuses on a feasibility study by the EPA for installing solar PV systems on landfills in Puerto Rico, evaluating potential sites, installation options, and financing.