Engineering seniors showcase real-world projects at Senior Design Symposium

From flood monitoring systems designed for Southeast Texas to rocket control technology aimed at improving flight stability, Lamar University engineering students presented a wide range of real-world solutions during the university's annual Senior Design Symposium on May 1.

Held in the Cherry Engineering Building, the event showcased capstone projects developed by seniors in the College of Engineering over the course of the academic year. Working in teams, students applied engineering concepts, technical skills and industry standards to projects often completed in partnership with outside sponsors and community organizations.

Throughout the symposium, students shared research, prototypes and design plans with faculty, classmates, industry representatives, family members and community visitors.

For chemical engineering senior Abraham Asabi, the project involved designing an ethylene production facility capable of producing ethylene along with co-products such as propylene, hydrogen, methane and butadiene.

"We were essentially commissioned to create an ethylene production plant," Asabi said.

While the technical aspects of the project were demanding, Asabi said the experience also reinforced the importance of planning and teamwork.

"There was no greater lesson than learning the beauty of scheduling and planning and being meticulous," he said. "There were several days each week where we devoted long hours to the project just to make sure we stayed ahead."

The project also gave students experience using industry simulation software such as Aspen Plus and Aspen HYSYS.

Mechanical and electrical engineering students presented "Air Command," a project focused on developing an active control system for rockets.

Mechanical engineering senior Jonah Smith said the system was designed to help rockets maintain stability during flight by adjusting for wind conditions and trajectory changes.

"The flight of a rocket is never going to be perfect," Smith said. "It might overshoot or start tilting off course, so our system helps control that."

Smith said the project helped his team develop skills in software and manufacturing tools such as Fusion 360, SolidWorks and CNC machining while also providing experience in large-scale problem solving.

"It's allowed me to see how engineers solve problems from a macro perspective," he said.

The team also worked with community sponsors, including Beaumont Manufacturing and Distribution Company and Clover Aerospace, which assisted with manufacturing components for the project.

Other projects focused on infrastructure and industrial systems already in use across the region.

Electrical engineering senior Micah Hampton worked on a project sponsored by OxyChem that focused on upgrading obsolete motor protection relays used in industrial plants.

"When parts become obsolete, manufacturers stop supporting them, so replacing them becomes difficult," Hampton said. "Upgrading them is important because those systems still have to operate safely and reliably."

Hampton said the project gave him a stronger understanding of how engineering concepts translate into plant operations and field work.

"This gave me real-world examples," he said. "I learned more about motor systems, redlining and how those things apply in an actual plant environment."

Civil engineering students in the group Wave Crest partnered with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on a boat basin rehabilitation project designed to improve waterway access and infrastructure.

The project included dredging plans, a redesigned boat ramp, structural upgrades and a complete construction schedule and budget.

Civil engineering senior Jewell Capps, who served as project manager, said the experience strengthened her leadership and communication skills.

"It taught me how to navigate different personalities, manage multiple priorities and solve unexpected problems," Capps said. "That's exactly what happens in the real world."

Industrial engineering students also focused on challenges affecting the Southeast Texas community.

Victoria Nguyen and her team, Cardinal Flow, partnered with the Southeast Texas Flood Control District to create a reliability and maintenance planning tool for regional flood sensors.

"These sensors provide critical information during flooding events," Nguyen said. "If they go down, it can affect how emergency teams respond and how residents are informed."

The system tracks sensor reliability, downtime and maintenance needs while helping agencies plan repair schedules and maintenance trips more efficiently.

"Living in this area, we know how important flood information is," Nguyen said. "Knowing our project could help provide more reliable data made the work meaningful."

Nguyen said the experience also introduced students to emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence tools used to organize information and assist with system development.

As students presented their work throughout the symposium, the projects reflected not only the engineering concepts developed over the course of their college career, but also the collaboration and problem-solving skills they will carry into their careers after graduation.

To learn more about the College of Engineering, visit https://www.lamar.edu/engineering/.