Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “data guidelines”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,243 records · Page 69
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2014

A Study of Future Communications Concepts and Technologies for the National Airspace System-Part III

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Glenn Research Center (GRC) is investigating current and anticipated wireless communications concepts and technologies that the National Airspace System (NAS) may need in the next 50 years. NASA has awarded three NASA Research Announcements (NAR) studies with the objective to determine the most promising candidate technologies for air-to-air and air-to-ground data exchange and analyze their suitability in a post-NextGen NAS environment. This paper will present progress made in the studies and describe the communications challenges and opportunities that have been identified as part of the study. NASA's NextGen Concepts and Technology Development (CTD) Project integrates solutions for a safe, efficient and high-capacity airspace system through joint research efforts and partnerships with other government agencies. The CTD Project is one of two within NASA's Airspace Systems Program and is managed by the NASA Ames Research Center. Research within the CTD Project is in support the 2011 NASA Strategic Plan Sub-Goal 4.1: Develop innovative solutions and advanced technologies, through a balanced research portfolio, to improve current and future air transportation. The focus of CTD is on developing capabilities in traffic flow management, dynamic airspace configuration, separation assurance, super density operations and airport surface operations. Important to its research is the development of human/automation information requirements and decisionmaking guidelines for human-human and human-machine airportal decision-making. Airborne separation, oceanic intrail climb/descent and interval management applications depend on location and intent information of surrounding aircraft. ADS-B has been proposed to provide the information exchange, but other candidates such as satellite-based receivers, broadband or airborne internet, and cellular communications are possible candidate's.

Navigation↗
DOE OSTI2025

Geochemistry and Strontium Isotopes for Coal Creek Watershed, Colorado, 2021-2022

The geochemistry and strontium isotope data for Coal Creek Watershed, Colorado, consists of cation, anion, and 87Sr/87Sr isotope values from samples collected at 8 stream location along Coal Creek, samples from two groundwater springs within the watershed, and a shallow subsurface piezometer. All stream and spring samples were collected between June and October, 2021, and the shallow, near stream piezometer sample was collected in July of 2022. These data were collected to evaluate how groundwater contributions to Coal Creek originating from shallow vs deep flow paths respond seasonal drying. Understanding of groundwater-surface water interactions in montane systems in critical for the future of water availability in the Western US as groundwater contributions are expected to become more important for sustaining summer stream flows. This data package contains: (1) a csv of all cation samples; (2) a csv of all anion samples; (3) a csv of all 87Sr/87Sr isotope samples; and (4) a csv of locations for each sampling site. The dataset additionally includes a file-level metadata (flmd.csv) file that lists each file contained in the dataset with associated metadata; and a data dictionary (dd.csv) file that contains column/row headers used throughout the files along with a definition, units, and data type.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2026

Processed sap flow and fine-root trait data associated with summer drought responses in temperate trees in Lisle, Illinois, USA (2019–2021)

These data support the manuscript “Acquisitive root exploration strategies help maintain higher peak sap flux rates during summer drought, but more root biomass does not”. The dataset includes processed sap flow measurements and fine-root trait data collected between 2019 and 2021 from temperate monodominant tree plots established in the 1920s to 1930s ranging in size from 0.05 to 0.8 ha at The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, IL. Sap flow was measured with ICT sap flow sensors using the heat ratio method. Fine-root traits were measured from soil cores which includes specific root length (SRL), specific root area (SRA), diameter, biomass, and length for diameter classes ≤1 mm and ≤2 mm. The package contains comma separated value (CSV) data files and associated metadata that can be viewed and analyzed using common software such as spreadsheet programs, R, and Python. These data are used to investigate how variation in fine-root traits relate to tree water use and drought response during summer drought linking belowground root traits and aboveground physiological responses.

drought↗
DOE OSTI2025

SPRUCE Redox-Active Subsurface Organic Matter, Marcell Experimental Forest, Minnesota, 2023

This dataset contains measurements that report on the effects of the SPRUCE experimental treatments on redox-active organic matter (RAOM) reduction (Valenzuela and Cervantes, 2021). Measurements occurred at the SPRUCE Experiment site in the Marcell Experimental Forest in northern Minnesota, USA. This work is also a follow-up to Rush et al. (2021a) which investigated effects of temperature on RAOM reduction after two years of experimental warming (Rush et al. 2021b). This follow-up dataset addresses two main questions; (i) How does warming and elevated carbon dioxide (CO2) directly affect in situ RAOM reduction, and subsequent methane (CH4) and CO2 production, across the peat depth profile? and (ii) How has long-term warming and elevated CO2 changed the total RAOM pool, and subsequent CH4 and CO2 production, across the peat depth profile? This dataset reports electron shuttling capacity (a proxy for RAOM reduction; Keller, and Takagi, 2013) and carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) concentrations both in one-week in situ incubations (2023-05-31 to 2023-08-01) and 42-day laboratory incubations from peat collected in 2023 (2023-05-31 to 2023-06-26). Laboratory incubations also measured acetate concentrations. The 2023 laboratory incubations were also compared with laboratory incubations conducted on peat collected in 2016 (Rush et al. 2021b). This dataset contains three data files in comma-separate (.csv) format. Additional metadata are provided: three data dictionaries and a file-level metadata file in comma separate (.csv) format and a user guide in PDF (*.pdf) format.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2026

CHESS 2025: Crown polygons and extracted reflectance for field sampling sites

This dataset contains (1) crown polygons for each tree, meadow, and shrub site sampled in the 2025 Colorado Headwaters Ecological Spectroscopy Study (CHESS) campaign (in geojson format, .geojson) and (2) extracted reflectance, uncertainty, and shade estimates for each crown polygon from the 2018 National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) and 2025 CHESS campaigns. (in CSV format, .csv). Additional metadata are provided in a data dictionary describing column names and definitions (dd.csv), and in a file-level metadata file (flmd.csv). Crown polygons were manually delineated for each site in the 2025 campaign using a combination of field-collected GPS data (doi:10.15485/3022418), RGB (red, green, blue) and false color reflectance mosaics (doi:10.15485/3013535), and LiDAR-derived (Light Detection and Ranging) canopy height (CHM) and digital surface (DSM) models (DOI and citation to be added upon publication). Where there was misalignment between the spectrometer- and LiDAR-derived data products, polygons prioritized alignment with the spectrometer-derived data products. Polygons were delineated conservatively to only select pixels representative of vegetation samples collected in the field. Crown polygons for 2018 are published at (doi:10.15485/1618130) and were developed using the same protocol. For each polygon, all pixels from all flightlines were extracted where the pixel centroid was contained within the polygon. For each pixel, we extracted the surface reflectance, uncertainty, and shade estimates. Details on the extracted datasets are available at (doi:10.15485/3013527, doi:10.15485/3013535). CHESS Project Description: The Colorado Headwaters Ecological Spectroscopy Study (CHESS) comprised a multi-week airborne remote sensing and field observation campaign in the Upper Gunnison Basin, Colorado, conducted in June and July of 2025. Airborne remote sensing was conducted by the National Ecological Observatory Network Airborne Observation Platform (NEON AOP), concurrent with a field campaign run by the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL), the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory Watershed Function Science Focus Area (SFA), and NASA-JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory) Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation (EMIT) program. Between June 10 and July 18, 2025, the NEON AOP flight team collected high-resolution aerial imaging spectroscopy and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data over three domains: the Upper East River (CRBU), Almont Triangle (ALMO), and the Upper Taylor Basin (UPTA). In coordination with the flights, a field campaign acquired ground-truth observations, including observations of vegetation composition, foliar traits, forest demography, and subsurface properties in 18 core sampling areas within the domains. Additional surface water observations were taken at over 380 point locations. All CHESS campaign datasets can be found within the CHESS ESS-DIVE data portal: https://data.ess-dive.lbl.gov/portals/chess. Funding Acknowledgment: This research was carried out at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (80NM0018D0004) and was funded by EMIT Extended Mission Phase E Science.

2018 NEON and 2025 CHESS Campaigns↗
DOE OSTI2023

SPRUCE Sphagnum Phytobiome Responses to Whole Ecosystem Warming and Elevated Atmospheric CO2 in July, 2017-2021

This dataset reports the carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) isotopic composition of Sphagnum moss tissue collected from the Spruce and Peatland Responses Under Changing Environments (SPRUCE) experimental site within the Marcell Experimental Forest in northern Minnesota, USA. Tissues were collected inside the SPRUCE experimental study plot, where air and peat warming are combined in whole-ecosystem warming treatments, from 2019-2021. Additionally, rates of nitrogen fixation and methane oxidation measured for Sphagnum from 2017, 2019, and 2021. Sphagnum tissue % water content was measured at all timepoints. This dataset was used to conduct analyses within Petro et al (2023). Sphagnum C and N concentrations and 13C and 15N isotopic natural abundance were determined for three replicate Sphagnum tissue samples collected from inside the SPRUCE enclosures in July 2019-2021. Elemental and isotope analyses were conducted at the University of Georgia – Center for Applied Isotope Studies (CAIS; https://cais.uga.edu/). Plant elemental analysis was performed by the micro-Dumas method, while isotopic natural abundance was measured by isotope ratio mass spectrometry. 13C natural abundance is expressed as the per mille (‰) deviation from the Pee Dee Belemnite standard (PDB) 13C:12C ratio (δ13C), while 15N natural abundance is expressed as the ‰ deviation from the N2 atmospheric 15N:14N ratio (δ15N). Rates of nitrogen fixation and methane oxidation were measured using serum bottle incubations performed with Sphagnum collected inside the SPRUCE enclosures in July 2017, 2019, and 2021. Rates were calculated according to the amount of 15N-N2 or 13C-CH4 (methane) incorporated into the Sphagnum tissue or incubation headspace over the 48-hour intion period. In 2017, incubations were performed in growth chambers set to the temperature of the experimental plots during Sphagnum sampling. In 2019 and 2021, the incubations were performed directly inside the experimental plots. The 13C and 15N isotopic natural abundance data and rate measurements presented in this dataset provide insight into the impacts of whole-ecosystem warming and elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) on N and C cycling within the Sphagnum phytobiome. This dataset contains two data files in comma-separate values (*.csv) format. Additional metadata are provided: two data dictionaries and a file-level metadata file in comma-separate values (.csv) format and a user guide in PDF (*.pdf) format. Additional datasets on NH4-N availability, porewater concentrations of CH4 and CO2, and Sphagnum groundcover within the SPRUCE experimental plots are available. These are outlined in the Related Datasets section in the user guide.

delta 13 carbon↗
DOE OSTI2022

Identifying mitigation strategies for $\mathrm{COVID}$-$\mathrm{19}$ superspreading on flights using models that account for passenger movement

Despite commercial airlines mandating masks, there have been multiple documented events of COVID-19 superspreading on flights. Conventional models do not adequately explain superspreading patterns on flights, with infection spread wider than expected from proximity based on passenger seating. An important reason for this is that models typically do not consider the movement of passengers during the flight, boarding, or deplaning. Understanding the risks for each of these aspects could provide insight into effective mitigation measures. We modeled infection risk from seating and fine-grained movement patterns – boarding, deplaning, and inflight movement. We estimated infection model parameters from a prior superspreading event. We validated the model and the impact of interventions using available data from three flights, including cabin layout and seat locations of infected and uninfected passengers, to suggest interventions to mitigate COVID-19 superspreading events during air travel. Specifically, we studied: 1) London to Hanoi with 201 passengers, including 13 secondary infections among passengers; 2) Singapore to Hangzhou with 321 passengers, including 12 to 14 secondary infections; 3) a non-superspreading event on a private jet in Japan with 9 passengers and no secondary infections. Here our results show that the inclusion of passenger movement better explains the infection spread patterns than conventional models do. We also found that FFP2/N95 mask usage would have reduced infection by 95–100%, while cloth masks would have reduced it by only 40–80%. Results indicate that leaving the middle seat vacant is effective in reducing infection, and the effectiveness increases when combined with good quality masks. However, with a good mask, the risk is quite low even without the middle seats being empty. Our results suggest the need for more stringent guidelines to reduce aviation-related superspreading events of COVID-19.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

R&D to Ensure a Scientific Basis for Qualification Tests and Standards (Final Report)

Project return on investment in a photovoltaic (PV) system depends increasingly on maintaining high energy yields, and the system lifetime is a major factor in levelized cost of electricity (LCOE). Thus, the rate of PV deployment and the success of these assets depends upon reliable long-term power generation. The overarching objective of this program is to improve photovoltaic (PV) module reliability via development of tests and standards. Where reliability problems or risk are discovered, we can design tests to ensure that these liabilities don't affect future generations of products. Customers can use these tests to understand which products are susceptible to certain degradation mechanisms, and manufacturers can use the tests to design unwanted characteristics out of their products. The work under this program identifies PV reliability needs, performs characterization that provides scientific understanding of targeted degradation mechanisms, and translates those data into practical and predictive test protocols and standards. Major accomplishments include: A model for polarization-type potential induced degradation (PID-p) was developed and validated against experimental data. NREL is currently leading a new edition of IEC 62804-1 for PID detection. PID-p can cause large losses in current and voltage for some module designs on cloudy days. Finite element modeling (FEM) and experiment was used to determine when cells crack in a module. It was shown that cells in landscape orientation are much more likely to crack than those on portrait orientation. Shortly thereafter, the first products with portrait-oriented cells were introduced. Studies of how to test for light and elevated temperature degradation (LeTID) culminated with the publication of IEC TS 63342. Software to predict the progression of LeTID was developed, validated, and made publicly available. Field validated tests and international standards for durability of PV module coatings abrasion, backsheets, and encapsulants were developed. Examples are IEC 62788-1-1, IEC 62788-2 ED2, IEC TS 62788-7-2, IEC 62788-7-3 ED1, IEC 63209-2. NREL led the development a high-temperature testing technical specification, and published guidelines that enable installers to determine whether higher-temperature testing is needed, simply based on location and mounting configuration. In a number of our case studies, variations in the bills of materials or workmanship have been associated with variations in reliability. These observations emphasize the importance of quality assurance to reliability. A framework for criticality (i.e. Pareto) analysis was developed and published. The framework helps us and other researchers determine what problems should be addressed for reliability research to have the biggest industry impact. NREL continues to participate actively in international standards development and stakeholder engagement activities, including organizing an annual PV Reliability Workshop. These activities are important for ensuring we address issues that are relevant and timely, and that we convey our results to those who may benefit.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS1994

Technology Benefit Estimator (T/BEST): User's Manual

The Technology Benefit Estimator (T/BEST) system is a formal method to assess advanced technologies and quantify the benefit contributions for prioritization. T/BEST may be used to provide guidelines to identify and prioritize high payoff research areas, help manage research and limited resources, show the link between advanced concepts and the bottom line, i.e., accrued benefit and value, and to communicate credibly the benefits of research. The T/BEST software computer program is specifically designed to estimating benefits, and benefit sensitivities, of introducing new technologies into existing propulsion systems. Key engine cycle, structural, fluid, mission and cost analysis modules are used to provide a framework for interfacing with advanced technologies. An open-ended, modular approach is used to allow for modification and addition of both key and advanced technology modules. T/BEST has a hierarchical framework that yields varying levels of benefit estimation accuracy that are dependent on the degree of input detail available. This hierarchical feature permits rapid estimation of technology benefits even when the technology is at the conceptual stage. As knowledge of the technology details increases the accuracy of the benefit analysis increases. Included in T/BEST's framework are correlations developed from a statistical data base that is relied upon if there is insufficient information given in a particular area, e.g., fuel capacity or aircraft landing weight. Statistical predictions are not required if these data are specified in the mission requirements. The engine cycle, structural fluid, cost, noise, and emissions analyses interact with the default or user material and component libraries to yield estimates of specific global benefits: range, speed, thrust, capacity, component life, noise, emissions, specific fuel consumption, component and engine weights, pre-certification test, mission performance engine cost, direct operating cost, life cycle cost, manufacturing cost, development cost, risk, and development time. Currently, T/BEST operates on stand-alone or networked workstations, and uses a UNIX shell or script to control the operation of interfaced FORTRAN based analyses. T/BEST's interface structure works equally well with non-FORTRAN or mixed software analysis. This interface structure is designed to maintain the integrity of the expert's analyses by interfacing with expert's existing input and output files. Parameter input and output data (e.g., number of blades, hub diameters, etc.) are passed via T/BEST's neutral file, while copious data (e.g., finite element models, profiles, etc.) are passed via file pointers that point to the expert's analyses output files. In order to make the communications between the T/BEST's neutral file and attached analyses codes simple, only two software commands, PUT and GET, are required. This simplicity permits easy access to all input and output variables contained within the neutral file. Both public domain and proprietary analyses codes may be attached with a minimal amount of effort, while maintaining full data and analysis integrity, and security. T/BESt's sotware framework, status, beginner-to-expert operation, interface architecture, analysis module addition, and key analysis modules are discussed. Representative examples of T/BEST benefit analyses are shown.

Generazio, Edward R.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Pinus ponderosa physiology data from the 2022 shade manipulation field experiment at Game Ridge, Missoula County, Montana, USA

This dataset contains physiology data on Pinus ponderosa saplings, including: leaf water potential (MPa, megapascals), leaf osmotic potential (MPa, megapascals), leaf pressure potential (MPa, megapascals), leaf relative water content (% saturated mass), as well as soluble sugars (% dry mass),starch (% dry mass), and total nonstructural carbohydrates (% dry mass) found in branch phloem and xylem. Data files and data dictionary(ies) are uploaded as .csv files and .xlsx files. The Users Guide is a .pdf file. Location data can be found in the Google Earth file GameRidge_SitePlotCoordinates.kmz.kml included here. These datasets were collected for Plant Carbohydrate Depletion, Mycorrhizal Networks, and Vulnerability to Drought: An Experimental Test in the Field. This experiment examined the interdependency between plant hydraulics and carbohydrate availability and sought to develop ways to incorporate interactions with below ground symbiotic organisms to better model and quantify forest response to drought.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2026

Synoptic NO3 in Slate River Watershed, Colorado (2022)

The synoptic nitrate (NO3) dataset in the Slate River Watershed, Colorado consists of NO3 data collected at 19 locations three times during the summer of 2022. Stream samples were collected in early summer (early July), mid summer (late August), and late summer (late September). The samples include mainstem, tributary, and point source input water samples. These data were collected to evaluate spatiotemporal variability in stream NO3 during the summer, and evaluate anthropogenic controls on stream NO3 dynamics. This data package contains: (1) a csv of all NO3 samples and (2) a csv of locations for each sampling site. The dataset additionally includes a file-level metadata (flmd.csv) file that lists each file contained in the dataset with associated metadata; and a data dictionary (dd.csv) file that contains column/row headers used throughout the files along with a definition, units, and data type. This work was supported by the Watershed Function Science Focus Area at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory funded by the US Department of Energy, Office of Science, Biological and Environmental Research under Contract No. DE-AC02-05CH11231.

EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > ECOSYSTEMS > FRESHWATE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Data and scripts associated with a manuscript investigating dissolved organic matter and microbial community linkages across seven globally distributed rivers

This data package is associated with the publication “Meta-metabolome ecology reveals that geochemistry and microbial functional potential are linked to organic matter development across seven rivers” submitted to Science of the Total Environment. This data package includes the data necessary to replicate the analyses presented within the manuscript to investigate dissolved organic matter (DOM) development across broad spatial distances and within divergent biomes. Specifically, we included the Fourier transform ion cyclotron mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS) data, geochemistry data, annotated metagenomic data, and results from ecological null modeling analyses in this data package. Additionally, we included the scripts necessary to generate the figures from the manuscript. Complete metagenomic data associated with this data package can be found at the National Center for Biotechnology (NCBI) under Bioproject PRJNA946291. This dataset consists of (1) four folders; (2) a file-level metadata (flmd) file; (3) a data dictionary (dd) file; (4) a factor sheet describing samples; and (5) a readme. The FTICR Data folder contains (1) the processed Fourier transform ion cyclotron mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS) data; (2) a transformation-weighted characteristics dendrogram generated from the FTICR-MS data; and (3) the script used to generate all FTICR-MS related figures. The Geochemical Data folder contains (1) the single geochemistry data file and (2) the R script responsible for generating associated figures. The Metagenomic Data folder contains (1) annotation information across different levels; (2) carbohydrate active enzyme (CAZyme) information from the dbCAN database (Yin et al., 2012); (3) phylogenetic tree data (FASTAs, alignments, and tree file); and (4) the scripts necessary to analyze all of these data and generate figures. The Null Modeling Data folder contains (1) data generated during null modeling for each river and all rivers combined and (2) the R scripts necessary to process the data. All files are .csv, .pdf, .tsv, .tre, .faa, .afa, .tree, or .R.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

Quality-Controlled Meteorological Data from the Flood Control District of Maricopa County (FCDMC) Network, Phoenix, Arizona (1987-2024)

This dataset contains 15- or 30-minute interval meteorological data from the Flood Control District of Maricopa County (FCDMC), Arizona, USA, covering eight key variables across multiple sensor stations between 1987 and 2024. Each variable is stored as a separate CSV file, containing time-series data that have undergone rigorous quality control (QC) procedures and, where appropriate, short-gap interpolation for consistency. The quality control (QC) pipeline consisted of four sequential tests: (1) a range test to ensure all values fall within physically realistic limits, (2) a step test to identify abrupt and implausible changes between consecutive records, (3) a proximity test that validates flagged values from step test using data from nearby stations and exceedance probability thresholds, and (4) a persistence test to detect and remove periods of unrealistically constant readings. These thresholds were calibrated to Arizona’s environmental conditions and sensor specifications. After QC, short gaps (≤2 hours) were linearly interpolated to ensure consistent temporal resolution, except for wind variables. Due to a major upgrade in FCDMC’s data transmission system, only ALERT-2 protocol data (2016–2024) for wind variables are included; earlier ALERT-1 data were excluded because of irregular sampling and high missing rates. This dataset supports regional climate and infrastructure resilience studies by providing standardized, high-resolution meteorological data for the greater Phoenix metropolitan area.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS2015

Can We Trust Computational Modeling for Medical Applications?

Operations in extreme environments such as spaceflight pose human health risks that are currently not well understood and potentially unanticipated. In addition, there are limited clinical and research data to inform development and implementation of therapeutics for these unique health risks. In this light, NASA's Human Research Program (HRP) is leveraging biomedical computational models and simulations (M&S) to help inform, predict, assess and mitigate spaceflight health and performance risks, and enhance countermeasure development. To ensure that these M&S can be applied with confidence to the space environment, it is imperative to incorporate a rigorous verification, validation and credibility assessment (VV&C) processes to ensure that the computational tools are sufficiently reliable to answer questions within their intended use domain. In this presentation, we will discuss how NASA's Integrated Medical Model (IMM) and Digital Astronaut Project (DAP) have successfully adapted NASA's Standard for Models and Simulations, NASA-STD-7009 (7009) to achieve this goal. These VV&C methods are also being leveraged by organization such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), National Institute of Health (NIH) and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) to establish new M&S VV&C standards and guidelines for healthcare applications. Similarly, we hope to provide some insight to the greater aerospace medicine community on how to develop and implement M&S with sufficient confidence to augment medical research and operations.

Mulugeta, Lealem↗
DOE OSTI2020

Modernization of Technical Requirements for Licensing of Advanced Non-Light Water Reactors: Risk-Informed and Performance-Based Evaluation of Defense-in-Depth Adequacy

This document supports the work contained in Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) 18-04 “Risk-Informed Performance-Based Technology Inclusive Guidance for Advanced Reactor Licensing Basis Development” Revision 0. NEI 18-04 presents a modern, technology-inclusive, risk-informed, and performance-based (TI-RIPB) process for selection of Licensing Basis Events (LBEs); safety classification of structures, systems, and components (SSCs) and associated risk-informed special treatments; and determination of defense-in-depth (DID) adequacy for non-LWRs. The NEI guidance document provides one acceptable means for addressing the aforementioned topics as part of demonstrating a specific design provides reasonable assurance of adequate radiological protection. This report provides the framework and associated methodology guidelines and discussion for establishing, then evaluating, confirming, and documenting the adequacy of defense-in-depth (DID) for advanced non-light-water reactor technologies. It was developed as part of the Licensing Modernization Project led by Southern Company and cost-shared by the United States Department of Energy and has benefited from considerable NRC formal reviews and public workshops. The methodology converts the DID philosophy into a structured process that is implementable, embraces existing United States and international definitions and philosophies of DID that set the foundation for the process. It builds on the DID framework developed in the Department of Energy Next Generation Nuclear Plant Project and earlier works on this subject. The approach to establishing DID adequacy involves the incorporation of DID attributes into the plant capabilities and programmatic elements of DID. The integrated evaluation of DID adequacy includes both quantitative elements to incorporate risk-informed and performance-based (RIPB) considerations and qualitative elements that address uncertainties and limitations in the quantitative models and supporting data. Demonstration of DID adequacy ensures that there are multiple layers of defense for risk-significant challenges to the design and that the plant capabilities and programs that support each layer are provided in a manner that minimizes dependencies among these layers. The focus of this report is assurance of DID adequacy with respect to protection of the public from radiological exposures resulting from accidental releases of radioactive material. While other hazards are not specifically addressed, this methodology is expected to be beneficial for determining DID adequacy for them as well. Risk-informed evaluation of DID considers the integrated performance of all plant SSCs and associated programs to manage daily operational activities, transients, and accidents, including the evaluation of strategies for accident prevention and mitigation. The RIPB LBE scenario methodology used in this evaluation defines the challenges to the plant safety features included in the plant design basis and beyond, and the scope of all deterministic and probabilistic safety evaluations. By examining event sequences across the whole spectrum of LBEs, a systematic assessment of DID can be accomplished.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2020

WHONDRS Summer 2019 Sampling Campaign: Global River Corridor Surface Water FTICR-MS, NPOC, TN, Anions, Stable Isotopes, Bacterial Abundance, and Dissolved Inorganic Carbon (v8)

The WHONDRS Summer 2019 Sampling (S19S) Campaign collected samples in 97 globally distributed river corridor systems between July and September 2019. Surficial streambed sediments were collected at three locations within each site (upstream, midstream, and downstream). Surface water was collected at the downstream site. This dataset includes a portion of the data types produced from the surface water samples and does not include any results from the sediment. Sediment data can be found at https://data.ess-dive.lbl.gov/view/doi:10.15485/1729719. The S19S campaign was designed with the science community to ask questions associated with links among core/transient metabolomes, microbial metabolism, biogeochemical function, and physical properties of watershed and river corridor systems. This data package was originally published in March 2020. It was updated in October 2020 (v2, new and modified files), July 2021 (v3, new and modified files), January 2023 (v4, new and modified files), February 2023 (v5, new and modified files), August 2023 (v6, new and modified files), July 2025 (v7,new and modified files), and August 2026 (v8, new and modified files). Version 8 includes major restructuring of the files and their formats. See the change history section in readme for more details. In addition to a readme, this data package also includes a file-level metadata (FLMD) file that describes each file and a data dictionary (DD) that describes all column/row headers and variable definitions. This dataset contains (1) readme, (2) data dictionary, (3) file level metadata, (4) sampling protocol, (5) a data checks report, (6) field metadata, (7) international generic sample number (IGSN) mapping file, (8) joint genome institute (JGI) mapping file, and (9) a folder of sample data. The sample data folder contains (1) dissolved organic carbon (DOC, measured as non-purgeable organic carbon, NPOC) and FTICR methods, (2) dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), (3) stable water isotopes (O and H), (4) specific conductivity, (5) total dissolved nitrogen (TN), (6) anions, (7) flow cytometry bacterial abundance data, (8) laboratory methods, and (9) a folder containing unaligned, peak-picked high resolution characterization of dissolved organic matter from sediment via 12 Tesla Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS) through the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL, https://www.pnnl.gov/environmental-molecular-sciences-laboratory), and (12) a folder containing processed FTICR-MS data. All files are .msa, .txt, .spx, .xml, .csv, .pdf, .txt, .html, .jpg, or .jpeg.

18-O↗
DOE OSTI2024

Soil carbon, nitrogen, and ice content data (2014-2018) at Happy Valley and Sagwon Hills in Northern Alaska, United States

This dataset contains three data files from soil data collected by sampling soil cores and pits across a toposequence on two hillslopes in permafrost affected soils in Northern Alaska, USA. Soil cores and profiles were excavated to 3m or until auger refusal. Samples were collected by genetic soil horizons for laboratory analysis and organized into complete soil profiles ordered depth. Soil carbon, nitrogen, and ice stocks (stocks_by_core.csv) were calculated from the core dataset . Data for mean values by depth increments (20,50,100,150,200 cm) of total soc, total nitrogen, bulk density, and ice content were determined and made available in this dataset (soc-tn-bd-ice-slab_tables.csv). Stocks by site are included in a separate file (stocks_by_site.csv). Each of these three files also has an associated data dictionary file (stocks_by_core_dd.csv, soc-tn-bd-ice-slab_tables_dd.csv, stocks_by_site_dd.csv). Finally, an FLMD file is also included (FLMD_Happy_Valley_Sagwon.csv).

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

Data and scripts associated with “Point-scale organic-matter decomposition in streambeds is weakly associated with reach-scale respiration”

This data package is associated with “Point-scale organic-matter decomposition in streambeds is weakly associated with reach-scale respiration” published in EGU Biogeosciences (Stegen et al., 2026; https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-3981-2026). It contains cotton strip decomposition rates (Kcd and Kdd) collected across the Yakima River Basin (YRB), Washington, USA. These data were collected to support a broader study examining the drivers of spatial variability in sediment respiration rates in the Yakima River Basin. Associated data used in analysis, metadata, and field protocols can be accessed at https://data.ess-dive.lbl.gov/datasets/doi:10.15485/1923689, https://data.ess-dive.lbl.gov/datasets/doi:10.15485/1969566, and https://data.ess-dive.lbl.gov/datasets/doi:10.15485/1987520. This data package is associated with the repository found at https://github.com/river-corridors-sfa/rcsfa-ST-2B-SSS-cotton-strip. A preliminary version of this data package was published in December 2025 at the time of manuscript submission. It was updated in June 2026, at the time of manuscript acceptance, to include additional metadata (this readme, data dictionary, and file level metadata). The data did not change. For details on how to navigate data packages generated by this project, see https://data.ess-dive.lbl.gov/portals/PNNLRiverCorridorSFA/About. In addition to a readme, this data package also includes a file-level metadata (FLMD) file that describes each file and a data dictionary (DD) that describes all column/row headers and variable definitions. This data package consists of (1) readme; (2) data dictionary (dd); (3) file level metadata (flmd); and (4) four folders: (1) R-scripts; (2) figures; (3) outputs from the scripts; and (4) published data. The published data folder contains a readme directing the user to download data in order to run the R-scripts. All files are .csv, .pdf, .R, .Rmd, and .txt. We acknowledge the Yakama Nation as owners and caretakers of the lands where we collected these data. We thank the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation Tribal Council and Yakama Nation Fisheries for working with us to facilitate sample collection and optimization of data usage according to their values and worldview.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗