Architecture Commons^™

Integrated Assessment Of Shallow-Aquifer Vulnerability To Multiple Contaminants And Drinking-Water Exposure Pathways In Holliston, Massachusetts, Birgit Claus Henn, Yelena Ogneva-Himmelberger, Allegra Denehy, Marcie Randall, Nichole Cordon, Bilin Basu, Brian Caccavale, Stefanie Covino, Ravi Hanumantha, Kevin Longo, Ariel Maiorano, Spring Pillsbury, Gabrielle Rigutto, Kelsey Shields, Marianne Sarkis, Timothy Downs

Sustainability and Social Justice

Half of U.S. drinking water comes from aquifers, and very shallow ones (table) are especially vulnerable to anthropogenic contamination. We present the case of Holliston, a Boston, Massachusetts suburb that draws its drinking water from very shallow aquifers, and where metals and solvents have been reported in groundwater. Community concerns focus on water discolored by naturally occurring manganese (Mn), despite reports stating regulatory aesthetic compliance. Epidemiologic studies suggest Mn is a potentially toxic element (PTE) for children exposed by the drinking-water pathway at levels near the regulatory aesthetic level. We designed an integrated, community-based project: five sites were profiled for …

Progress For Whom, Toward What? Progressive Politics And New York City’S Mandatory Inclusionary Housing, Samuel Stein

Publications and Research

In both its historical Progressive Era roots and its contemporary manifestations, U.S. urban progressivism has evinced a contradictory tendency toward promoting the interests of capital and property while ostensibly protecting labor and tenants, thus producing policies that undermine its central claims. This article interrogates past and present appeals to urban progressive politics, particularly around housing and planning, and offers an in-depth case study of one of the most highly touted examples of the new urban progressivism: New York City’s recently adopted Mandatory Inclusionary Housing program. This case serves to identify the ways in which progressive rhetoric can disguise neoliberal policies. …

Garden Building Design Project, Gena Farley, Vanessa Villanueva, Jayanne Asuncion

Building Information Modeling Final Projects

Final project from the EMGT 193/293 Building Information Modeling (BIM) course in the School of Engineering and Computer Science as part of the Bachelor of Science in Engineering Management degree. A student group designed and modeled a one-story building to house the Pacific Garden Program on campus.

Robb Garden Building, Staysha Delgado, Lillian Sam, Ryan Teixeira, Courtney Vierra

Building Information Modeling Final Projects

Final project from the EMGT 193/293 Building Information Modeling (BIM) course in the School of Engineering and Computer Science as part of the Bachelor of Science in Engineering Management degree. A student group designed and modeled a one-story building to house the Pacific Garden Program on campus.

Robb Garden Building, Joseph Cliscagne, Joseph Prescott, Tamara Turton, Saima Uz-Zaman

Building Information Modeling Final Projects

Final project from the EMGT 193/293 Building Information Modeling (BIM) course in the School of Engineering and Computer Science as part of the Bachelor of Science in Engineering Management degree. A student group designed and modeled a one-story building to house the Pacific Garden Program on campus.

Analyzing Communities In Black America: How Urban And Regional Planners Can Plan For Prosperous Black Communities, Tatiana Height

Community and Regional Planning Program: Theses and Student Projects

The black community in the United States has evolved out of a unique set of circumstances which have led to few black neighborhoods being able to prosper. Considering the negative influences on the black community such as wide-spread discrimination, mass incarceration, concentrations of poverty, and poor housing quality this community requires unique considerations to prosper. Given that only 10% of urban and regional planners are black, this research is meant to be a guide for urban and regional planners at large to plan in such a way that allows black communities to thrive. The results of this research indicate that …

Evaluating Mobile-Based Citizen Science In Increasing Citizen Participants In Environmental Management, Wenqi Ou

Community and Regional Planning Program: Theses and Student Projects

Mobile-based citizen science as thriving citizen education tool increases the non-expert citizen involvement in the scientific world by encouraging the public upload nature observation to assist scientific research while learning scientific knowledge. Mobile-base citizen science as social media has potential to facilitate citizen engagement in the environmental management. Based on the conceptual framework of citizen science incorporation with environmental management, large users in the program foster the citizen involvement in the environmental management. Research here applies SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, Threats) analysis to evaluate mobile based citizen science regarding data management, citizen participation, and partnership. It revealed the current status …

What Lessons Can Be Learned From The Delivery Of The First Building On The Grangegorman Campus Using Building Information Management (Bim)?, Pat O'Sullivan, Avril Behan

Conference papers

There is an acceptance that BIM, via data management, can be integrated with FM to reduce costs during the Operations and Maintenance stage of a project. However, what has not been documented is the ‘on the ground’ reality which can be reviewed as a lessons learnt exercise to improve the implementation of BIM FM for future projects. This case study sets out to explore the realities of a client’s adoption of BIM based upon the actual experience of the Greenway Hub. Rather than relying on anecdotal evidence the research was based upon the real practices and experiences of the Dublin …

Influence Of Street Trees On Roadway User Safety, Maggie Harthoorn

Community and Regional Planning Program: Theses and Student Projects

This thesis aims to understand trends of trees in transportation planning and to determine if street trees have a negative or positive influence on crash frequency and severity. As roadways become more walkable and livable, they become safer. Street trees are a vital component of this trend. Planners must understand the impacts of trees on roadway user safety as they work to reduce crash risk. Although spatial analysis suggests there may be a negative relationship between trees and crash frequency, correlation models find a significant correlation between trees and crash severity, but no significant correlation between trees and crash frequency. …

How Useful Is Gsv As An Environmental Observation Tool? An Analysis Of The Evidence So Far., Katherine Nesse, Leah Airt

SPU Works

Researchers in many disciplines have turned to Google Street View to replace pedestrian- or carbased in-person observation of streetscapes. It is most prevalent within the research literature on the relationship between neighborhood environments and public health but has been used as diverse as disaster recovery, ecology and wildlife habitat, and urban design. Evaluations of the tool have found that the results of GSV-based observation are similar to the results from in-person observation although the similarity depends on the type of characteristic being observed. Larger, permanent and discrete features showed more consistency between the two methods and smaller, transient and judgmental …

Housing Availability, Accessibility And Affordability For Nebraska's Rural Aging Populations, Jordan G. Grummert Rasmussen

Community and Regional Planning Program: Theses and Student Projects

Rural America and the nation as a whole has entered a phase of significant demographic change, as the number of Americans over the age of 65 is estimated to double by 2050. Nebraska counties and the state are, too, experiencing this shift in the age demographic. As the population ages, consideration must be given to the housing options for older adults, specifically those who reside and wish to remain in rural areas.

While broad consideration is given to either population aging or housing in rural areas, there is limited county level analysis adjoining these demographic and housing realities. This study …

Understanding Sanitation Preferences: An Exploratory Study In The Sirohi District Of Rajasthan, Karen Mac

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Of all the countries in the world, India has the highest number of people practicing open defecation, causing adverse health outcomes from the unconfined spread of faecal matter. The Government of India is ambitiously aiming to end this practice through the construction of 12 million toilets by 2019, but historically, many toilets across India have gone unused. This study focused on understanding: (1) the reasons why people continue to openly defecate despite having toilets and (2) the requirements of a toilet that rural households would be willing to use. Along with 36 observations of household toilets, semi-structured group (n=8) and …

Geological Principles Illustrated In The Art Along The Antelope Valley Hiker/Biker Trail – The Big X (Salt Creek Roadway/Antelope Valley Parkway) South To Q Street, Robert Diffendal, Jr.

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

When the weather is good (and even sometimes when it isn’t) I occasionally walk around the periphery of the UNL city campus, often over the lunch hour, now that the trails and the sidewalks allow one to walk a complete circuit. The walk along Antelope Creek from the Big X to Q Street is beautiful. The designers of the project made nice art works on the floor of the creek and on the retaining walls on the valley sides that add to the beauty of nature.

I am a geologist and wondered about some of the art and its meaning …

Tallahassee Central City Planning Study, Tallahassee-Leon County Planning Department

City and Regional Planning -- Florida

Study on Developing Downtown Tallahassee

Flood Plan Management: An Evaluation Of Nebraska’S Comprehensive Plans For Flooding, Rashad J. Moxey

Community and Regional Planning Program: Professional Projects

This study examined Comprehensive Plans for 53 Nebraska communities to determine how well 60 indicators of flood risk information were incorporated. The indicators were divided into three categories, factual base information, goals and actions and implementation. The majority of plans were created by independent firms as Nebraska does not require state-level oversight. Detailed review of each community plan identified general areas of weakness and opportunities for improvement. The average number of indicators present in the 53 plans was 4.84. None of the three categories was found to be well represented. Indicators per category showed low overall representation; Factual Base 12.0%, …

Shower Atomization, Chirag Ayappa Ravishankar,

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The research will help to design a shower for Dr. Chelson’s shelter, which can control the water flow, pressure and duration of the shower, which optimizes the utilization of water. The showers could be used in drought-hit areas where water is very scarce, as daily sanitation needs are necessary to keep a person safe and healthy without wasting water. The report from, World Health Organization shows that showers consume the most water. A timed shower could help resolve this issue through eliminating the wastage. Eco-friendly environmentalists may also be attracted to the showers, as their main purposes are to save …

An Evidence-Based Approach To Designing Low-Income Housing Communities, Kaitlin Ward

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

In the field of interior design, functionality and aesthetics are combined to create spaces that are beautiful, but also serve a variety of purposes. Broadly categorized into residential and commercial sectors, interior design considers the health and wellness of users in a space, and strives to improve the standard of living. Quality interior design is often treated as a luxury afforded only to the wealthy, although the field can and should be applied to benefit a wider demographic. Intelligent design and space planning can be used as a tool for community-building, especially among populations often overlooked due to reasons such …

Crp 463: Active Transportation Plan For The City Of Paso Robles, William W. Riggs, Alex Chapman, Kristan Anaya, Eric Sindel, Joel Ingrassia, Jason Mas, Dillan Murray, Tanya Ramirez, Maribel Covarrubias, Dan Losey, Sam Ricklefs, Colin Patterson, Kyle Finger, Chistopher Luu, Crp 463 Senior Project Professional Practice

City and Regional Planning Studios and Projects

As a part of CRP 463 led by Dr. William Riggs, this report provided an analysis of the bicycle, pedestrian and transit travel in the City of Paso Robles and produced a draft Active Transportation Plan for the City.

An Incremental Intervention In Jakarta: An Empowering Infrastructural Approach For Upgrading Informal Settelments, Christopher H. Counihan

Landscape Architecture Masters Theses Collection

Incrementalism is a growing movement within multiple design disciplines that approaches design with sustainable, social, and resilient aims structured around participatory, infrastructural, and phased approaches to design. Carefully considered structural and independent infrastructural frameworks allow infill and accretion according to the demands and needs of individuals and communities. This paper outlines the theories, case studies, and conditions driving incrementalism. My research has informed my project proposal for an incremental upgrade of a slum located in Jakarta using a phased, soft infrastructural, resident facilitated upgrade and development strategy creating new housing units, productive landscapes, and urban form. Incremental development will foster …

Springfield Climate Action & Resiliency Plan Vulnerability And Resilience, Elisabeth Hamin, August Williams-Eynon, Catherine Ratte

Landscape Architecture & Regional Planning Studio and Student Research and Creative Activity

No abstract provided.

Compiled Research & Materials, Appendix F: Valuable Solar Resources, Andrew Tarutani, Laura Kunas, Conor Mcgrail, Colin Joern, Madalyn Beban

Sustainability and Energy

This document lists several URLs that may offer valuable information as it pertains to solar energy and solar initiatives across the U.S.

Compiled Research & Materials, Appendix H: Tiny Homes Ideas, Andrew Tarutani, Laura Kunas, Madalyn Beban, Conor Mcgrail, Colin Joern

Sustainability and Energy

This document explains some of the ideas developed by the team that relate to the implementation of a tiny homes neighborhood.

Compiled Research & Materials, Appendix I: Tiny Homes Survey, Andrew Tarutani

Sustainability and Energy

This document represents a survey that could be used to gauge student interest for a tiny homes neighborhood.

Compiled Research & Materials, Appendix G: Tiny Homes Consideration, Andrew Tarutani, Laura Kunas, Conor Mcgrail, Colin Joern, Madalyn Beban

Sustainability and Energy

This document reviews several considerations identified by the team that relate to the concept of a tiny homes neighborhood.

Compiled Research & Materials, Appendix L: Solar America Initiative, S. Grover

Sustainability and Energy

This National Renewable Energy Laboratory resource details the benefits of the Solar America Initiative.

Compiled Research & Materials, Appendix K: Economic Impact Potential Of Solar Photovoltaics In Illinois, Illinois State University. Center For Renewable Energy

Sustainability and Energy

This 2013 study reviews the potential for economic impact of solar photovoltaics in the state of Illinois.

Compiled Research & Materials, Appendix Q: Energysage Interview, Andrew Tarutani, Conor Mcgrail, Colin Joern, Madalyn Beban, Laura Kunas

Sustainability and Energy

This document reviews several of the topics discussed in an informational interview with a representative with EnergySage.

Compiled Research & Materials, Appendix N: Keybank Interview, Andrew Tarutani, Laura Kunas, Madalyn Beban, Colin Joern, Conor Mcgrail

Sustainability and Energy

This document reviews several of the topics discussed in an informational interview with KeyBank regarding financing options for solar projects.

Compiled Research & Materials, Appendix O: Energywize Interview, Andrew Tarutani, Madalyn Beban, Laura Kunas, Colin Joern, Conor Mcgrail

Sustainability and Energy

This document reviews several of the topics discussed in an informational interview with Wendell Ott of EnergyWize.

Compiled Research & Materials, Appendix P: Current Solar Pricing, Andrew Tarutani, Laura Kunas, Madalyn Beban, Colin Joern, Conor Mcgrail

Sustainability and Energy

This document reviews the current state of solar costs as defined in an informational interview with Wendell Ott of EnergyWize.