WTI

Designing and Manufacturing a Removable Seed and Sediment Trap for the Undercarriage of Vehicles

Primary Investigator Contact Information

External Project Contact(s)

Report(s)

There are no reports associated with this project.

Project Objective

The purpose of this project is to design and manufacture a removable seed and sediment trap for the undercarriage of a vehicle, allowing for minimal seed damage when seeds are removed for inspection.

Project Abstract

Vehicles have been identified as a mode of seed transportation. As the impact of non-indigenous and noxious plant populations becomes a more pressing issue, it is important to know how and what species of plant seeds are being transported by vehicles. Current methods of determining what kinds of seeds are spread by vehicles involve an aggressive wash of the underside of the vehicle. The washwater is then collected and the seeds are sieved off and inspected. The seeds are then sprouted in order to more precisely identify the species of plant. This process, however, damages fragile seeds, limiting the ability to identify what was transported by the vehicle. Fixtures designed to replicate the shape and size of nooks and niches on the underside of a vehicle to catch soil and seeds, and engineered to attach and detach from the vehicle with simple hand tools or quick release mechanism hardware, can then be subjected to a gentler wash and rinse so that damage to seeds is minimized.

Task Descriptions

1. Design Process
   1. The design process will begin with an initial inspection of the vehicle including taking measurements and identifying specific mounting locations and methods for the fixtures.
2. Manufacturing Process
   1. Upon acceptance of the design, blueprints will be created, materials ordered and parts manufactured. The fixtures will then be assembled and mounted to the vehicle.

Milestones, Dates, Schedule

Student Involvement

False

Relationship to Other Research Projects

False

Technology Transfer Activities

False

Transportation Research Board Keywords

Seed, transport, vehicle

Partners

Montana State University - Land Resources and Environmental Sciences Department