Urban Studies and Planning Commons^™

The Desert Southwest: Population Growth 2010-2020, Kelliann Beavers, Joshua Padilla, Katie M. Gilbertson, William E. Brown Jr.

Demography

In 2021 the United States Census Bureau identified the Desert Southwest as one of the fastest growing regions in the country. The Desert Southwest encompasses portions of five states (Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas) including forty counties and ten metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs). Using data from the Census Bureau, this fact sheet showcases population growth within Desert Southwest counties and metropolitan statistical areas from 2010 to 2020.

Festivals And The City: The Contested Geographies Of Urban Events, Andrew Smith, Guy Osborn, Bernadette Quinn

Books / Book chapters

This book explores how festivals and events affect urban places and public spaces, with a particular focus on their role in fostering inclusion. The ‘festivalisation’ of culture, politics and space in cities is often regarded as problematic, but this book examines the positive and negative ways that festivals affect cities by examining festive spaces as contested spaces. The book focuses on Western European cities, a particularly interesting context given the social and cultural pressures associated with high levels of in-migration and concerns over the commercialisation and privatisation of public spaces.

The key themes of this book are the quest for …

Detroit Food Metrics Report 2020 (With 2021 Update), Alex B. Hill, Amy Kuras

Urban Studies and Planning Faculty Research Publications

This report provides a snapshot of data and information on Detroit’s food system as well as trends over time. The report includes a broad range of programs and initiatives that local organizations, the Detroit Food Policy Council, and the City of Detroit are undertaking to address food insecurity, increase healthy food access and awareness, and support a more sustainable and just food system.

Comparative Analysis Of Zoning Of Food Retail And Urban Agriculture For Richmond, Virginia, Hannah Quigley Mph, Meghan Dinofrio, Sarah Shaughnessy Mph, Aicp, John C. Jones Mpa, Phd

Environmental Studies Publications

This research partnership between local public health practitioners and urban food systems scholars suggests improvements to City of Richmond, Virginia’s zoning code related to food retail and urban agriculture by drawing inspiration from other American central cities. The authors created an empirical process to identify potential sister cities to Richmond as a source for high quality comparative examples. Next, the authors then engaged in a non-empirical, purposive process of identifying potential zoning code improvements from both identified sister cities, as well as other communities. Time and capacity constraints dictated the non-empirical nature of this search. Recommendations for improvement to Richmond’s …

The Glorious Past And The Ecologically Modern: A Guided Journey Through Reconstructions Of China In Rural Shanxi, Melinda Herrold-Menzies

EnviroLab Asia

The article traces an EnviroLab Asia research trip designed to learn how “traditional” music and “folk” dance had been used to transform a loose configuration of farms into an integrated organic agricultural cooperative. This trip was second part of a multi-pronged case-study project looking at music, agriculture and sustainability in Indonesia and China. The importance of this research trip was to build collaborative relationships with our colleagues in Shanxi so that we will be able to produce interdisciplinary research with multinational partners in the future.

Navigating Urban Spaces: Indoor & Outdoor Wayfinding Technology For Vision-Impaired People, Martin Swobodzinski, Amy T. Parker

TREC Project Briefs

Navigating an unfamiliar place is uniquely challenging for people with disabilities. People with blindness, deafblindness, visual impairment or low vision, as well as those who use wheelchairs, can travel more independently in urban areas with the aid of effective wayfinding technology. A new report from the National Institute for Transportation and Communities (NITC) explores how to leverage low-cost methods to enable people to more easily move through public, urban indoor and outdoor spaces.

The study, led by Martin Swobodzinski and Amy Parker of Portland State University, used focus groups, two case studies, and an in-person structured wayfinding experience on the …

Catastrophe Is Not The End But The Beginning: Two Centuries Of Evolution In Us Disaster Law And Policy, Donovan Finn

School of Marine & Atmospheric Sciences Faculty Publications

Comprehensive history of the evolution of federal disaster law and policy in the United States including hazard mitigation, disaster recovery, civil defense, economic recovery, and other aspects of the federal disaster management structure. Empasizes practical, political, legal and policies influences and implications related to the dynamic and ever-changing process by which hazards and disasters are managed in the United States.

Moving From Cars To People, Kelly J. Clifton, Kristina M. Currans

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

The twenty-page comic includes a dialogue, taking place in various urban settings, between characters Kelly and Kristi who are based on National Institute for Transportation and Communities (NITC) researchers Kelly Clifton of the University of British Columbia and Kristina Currans of the University of Arizona. The two have a long history of collaboration around the data, methods, and processes used to plan for multimodal transportation impacts of new development. This short graphic synopsis is an engaging, approachable way for anyone – no matter their level of expertise in this topic – to learn about their findings.

Illustrated by PSU Master …

Data From: Statistical Inference For Multimodal Travel Time Reliability, Avinash Unnikrishnan, Miguel Figliozzi, Subhash C. Kochar

TREC Datasets and Databases

Travel time reliability is a key metric of interest to practitioners and researchers because it affects travel choice and the economic competitiveness of urban areas. This research focuses on three travel time reliability metrics – buffer index, modified buffer index, and the relative width of travel time distributions. The key novel contributions of this research include using the multivariate delta method to prove that the sampling distributions of the three travel time reliability metrics are asymptotically normal. The asymptotic standard error for the three reliability metrics is derived. The asymptotic normality and the standard error result are used to arrive …

Village Research & How-To Guide, Todd Ferry, Greg Townley, Marisa Zapata

Homelessness Research & Action Collaborative Publications and Presentations

The village model is an increasingly popular form of alternative shelter being explored by organizations, activists, and municipalities around the country. Portland’s Dignity Village is the country’s first and longest running village, serving as a touchstone for community dialogue in Oregon around the subject of supporting people experiencing homelessness since 2000. More recently, the region has seen the rapid increase in alternative shelters informed by or following the village model, sparked by a state of emergency declaration on housing and homelessness in Portland in 2015, and further accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. As the model continues to grow and morph …

Mitigating The Impact Of Climate Change On Egyptian Cities: Sustainable Building And Construction As A Strategy/ التخفيف من أثر تغير المناخ في المدن المصرية: استراتيجية البناء والتشييد المستدام, Mina Abdelmelek, Sahar El Ghandour, Sahar Ibrahiem, Tasneem H. Madi, Zeinab Nadeem

Papers, Posters, and Presentations

Egypt faces a wide range of challenges, including the high increase in population, the Nile water crisis, desertification and the issue of solid waste and encroachment on agricultural lands, and the current negative impacts of the natural and built environments. The construction sector consumes 28% of the total energy produced in Egypt. The high energy consumption and rise in energy prices along with the aforementioned issues are few of several key factors that urge the need to study how consumed energy could be reduced in the construction sector and consequently limit the sector’s impact on the environment (Navigant Energy Germany …

Opportunities And Challenges For Deploying Connected And Automated Vehicles To Address Transportation Disparities In Urban Areas, Erika Shepard, Kimberly Napoline, Frank Douma, Adeel Lari

Journal of Law and Mobility

As the development and testing of connected and automated vehicles (CAV) accelerates, it is important for government stakeholders, planners, and policymakers to have a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities CAVs will bring to infrastructure, communities, and lifestyles. There is general consensus among scholars and transportation practitioners that CAV will “disrupt” transportation systems, land use patterns, and socioeconomic power structures as they exist today.The implications of CAV on transportation infrastructure have been the subject of numerous academic and professional studies, suggesting both positive and negative effects may occur. Furthermore, in an American context, transportation planning has historically contributed to …

An Index Of Community Priorities To Inform Local Governance In New Haven, Max E. Teirstein

Library Map Prize

Environmental justice screening and mapping tools visually depict the distribution of environmental justice burden across a geographic area. How that burden is measured varies according to location—different communities face different challenges, and a mapping tool that represents the landscape of environmental justice in one community may not adequately capture the distribution of EJ burden in another area. Who decides what “burden” means for each community? In this study of environmental justice in New Haven, CT, I argue that it is residents and local community leaders whose perspectives are most critical to how environmental justice is defined. I create a census …

Revisiting Participatory Rural Appraisal (Pra) Related Studies And Exploring Pra's Success Determinants: A Content Analysis, Raquel Garcia-Agustin

Journal of Public Affairs and Development

Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) has shown that participation in development programs in poor communities can be empowering not only for the community members but also for the development workers. However, not all PRAs have seen successes especially in fulfilling their mission to encourage real participation. Hence, it is imperative to understand whether PRA has led to adequate understanding of indigenous perspective to call for action and the interest PRA serves. This analysis aims to provide critical insights and reflections from the experiences of previously conducted PRAs. It further aims to reveal whether PRAs were used effectively and successfully according to …

Public Procurement Practices And Policies: Implications For Public Research And Development In The Philippines, Nelson Jose Vincent B. Querijero, Rhea L. Gumasing, Arlene C. Gutierrez, Ruth Anne T. Ruelos, Charina Krissel D. Tingson

Journal of Public Affairs and Development

This study examines procurement practices and policies that hinder or facilitate public research and development. An online survey and interviews with key informants in 44 research development institutions (RDIs) in the Philippines were conducted. Participants include Project Leaders, members of the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), the BAC secretariat, chief accountants, technical working groups, and suppliers. The results show that some procurement policies, workflows, and capacities of the procuring entities contribute to procurement delays. A lack of qualified or suitable suppliers and a limited market of highly specialized and scientific equipment are also factors affecting procurement efficiency. It is recommended …

Taiwanese Perceptions Of China, Taiwan, And Us Relations From 2016 To 2021, Wan-Ling Liao, Armand Christopher C. Rola

Journal of Public Affairs and Development

In 2016, a dramatic shift in Taiwan's politics caught China's attention. After the inauguration of President Tsai Ing-wen, Beijing increased the pressure on Taiwan. Aside from limiting Taiwan's international space, Beijing had taken other steps. This study aims to review the policy regarding the relationship among Taiwan, the US, and China. The primary data were gathered through interviews with Taiwanese key informants of different age groups. Secondary data were gathered from official documents, online sources, journal and news articles, and books. Based on the analysis of informants' opinions on this issue, the study found that the majority of informants prefer …

Borrowed Capital And Factors Affecting Its Utilization Among Rice Farmers In The Province Of Albay, Philippines, Elmer A. Lorenzana

Journal of Public Affairs and Development

Agricultural credit programs provide opportunities for farmers to acquire the necessary farm inputs and apply appropriate technologies. However, it remains a challenge for farmers to use the credit for what it was intended for. This study aimed to measure the factors affecting the utilization of borrowed capital of 233 randomly selected rice farmers from the province of Albay using binary logit as its analytical procedure. The factors influencing the utilization of borrowed capital are the type of the optimization behavior of the farmers, sex, family size, and farm size. The output maximizers and the male farmers have a higher probability …

African American Male Ex-Offenders’ Experiences Of Housing Support And Other Postincarceration Services, Joyce Denise Mcphee

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract Many male African American ex-offenders lack resources that would allow them to become successful in reentering society. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of male African American ex-offenders regarding homelessness and the search for housing after release from incarceration. Schneider and Ingram’s theory of social construction of target populations was the framework for the investigation. Data were collected by conducting semistructured interviews with 12 adult African American male ex-offenders from the South Florida region of the United States who were experiencing homelessness. Participants self-selected by responding to a flyer posted at a shelter. Data analysis …

Evaluating Long-Range Transportation Plans For Mainstreaming Of Climate Adaptation Among Virginia Mpos, Sebastian L. Shetty

Theses and Dissertations

Despite the strides made towards addressing climate change through greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction strategies, it has become increasingly apparent that attempting to mitigate the crisis in such a manner alone is insufficient. This thesis joins a growing body of research on how our societies must adapt to a changing climate, contributing more evidence on common barriers to adaptation and how they might be overcome. Through an attempt to evaluate the progress made towards mainstreaming, or integrating, climate change concerns into five Virginia MPOs’ long-range transportation plans (LRTPs), this study provides support for prior hypotheses around the potential for MPOs …

Which Transportation Technologies Do We Want?, Michael Lewyn

Scholarly Works

A review of Todd Litman's book, New Mobilities- Smart Planning for Emerging Transportation Technologies

Policy Option To Address Low Rice Seed Technology Adoption Of Farmers In Sariaya, Quezon, Philippines, Meljun R. Banogon, Leilanie O. Barrion, Imelda Dg. Olvida, Ma. Theresa R. Sawit

Journal of Public Affairs and Development

The importance of access to and the proper utilization of technology in improving farm productivity is widely recognized. For this reason, many interventions focus on the development and promotion of farm technologies in rural areas. Sariaya, Quezon is one of the recipients of the programs of the Department of Agriculture (DA), particularly the Bayanihan Agri Clusters (BACs), the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), and the Rice Business Innovations Community Program (RiceBIS). While these programs are being implemented, the adoption of certified seeds technology in the community remains low. Policy Delphi technique was employed to formulate policy outcome forecast, issue statement, …

Intellectual Capital To Support Goat Farming Profitability In A Rural Area Of Banjarnegara Regency, Indonesia, Mochamad Sugiarto, Yusmi Nur Wakhidati, Siwi Gayatri, John Enorio M. Perez

Journal of Public Affairs and Development

Goat farming in Banjarnegara Regency, Indonesia has become a driver of the rural economy.　 Banjarnegara Regency, Indonesia has become a driver of the rural economy. Banjarnegara is a mountainous area which is divided into three agroecological zones, namely highland, middle land, and lowland. The research was conducted to　(1) identify the levels of goat farmers’　intellectual capital and goat farming profitability; and (2) analyze the relationship between goat farmers’ intellectual capital and goat farming profitability. A multistage sampling method was conducted to collect data from 180 goat farmers. The research on goat farmers’ intellectual capital was conducted using interviews and …

Does Democracy Justify Zoning?, Michael Lewyn

Scholarly Works

One common argument for restrictive zoning is that zoning is more democratic than allowing landowners to build what they please. This article critiques that claim, suggesting that free markets are equally democratic because they allow for self-rule. Moreover, zoning is less democratic than other forms of government decisionmaking, because zoning hearings are often sparsely attended, and commenters at public meetings are unrepresentative of the public as a whole.

Non-Linear And Weakly Monotonic Relationship Between School Quality And House Prices, Shishir Mathur

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

This study provides evidence for a non-linear and weakly monotonic relationship between school quality and house prices. Using Fremont, California, as the study area, the regression analysis shows that homeowners are unwilling to pay a premium for an increase in school quality from low to medium quality. However, they are willing to pay a) a large premium when all schools are top-quality schools and b) a premium for access to nationally-renowned schools, which is in addition to the premium for top-quality schools. These findings have important land use policy significance because they provide new insights into the homeowner’s residential location …

The Rights Of Children And Families: Local Initiatives In The Miami Valley, Kelly S. Johnson, Raymond L. Fitz, Vanessa Ward, Jan Lepore-Jentleson

Biennial Conference: The Social Practice of Human Rights

Dayton’s Committee on the Place-Based Two-Generation Approach to Poverty completed a working paper titled “A Call for Community Long-Term Recovery Plan” in January of 2021, arguing for an approach to recovery that is strategic, efficient, equity-focused, and regional. Practitioners and theorists connected to this document will address challenges and opportunities for addressing the rights of children in this area, particularly addressing the ways a regional approach can help to dismantle the legacy of historical injustices as we try to build back better.

A New Approach To Transportation Pricing: Lessons From The Poem Project, Shoshana Cohen, Emma Sagor

PSU Transportation Seminars

In October 2021, Portland City Council accepted the Pricing Options for Equitable Mobility (POEM) report. This was the culmination of 18 months of work by the POEM Task Force, a group of 19 volunteer community members who explored whether pricing tools—or charges related to driving or using road space—could be used to improve mobility, reduce climate impact, and make our transportation system more equitable. More information is available at Portland.gov/POEM.

At this seminar, POEM Project Managers Shoshana Cohen and Emma Sagor from the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) will share how this project took on the topic of …

Oportunidad En La Complejidad:Recomendaciones Para Una Resiliencia Climáticaequitativa En East Boston, Patricio Belloy, Antonio Raciti, Katsyris Rivera-Kientz, Rebecca Herst

Sustainable Solutions Lab

East Boston es un vecindario costero diverso y de clase trabajadora en la ciudad de Boston, el cual está experimentando una rápida gentrificación. Al mismo tiempo, problemas ambientales locales como la contaminación del aire y el ruido de la operación del cercano Aeropuerto Internacional Logan continúan perjudicando a los residentes, particularmente a las comunidades más marginadas. Además de las presiones inmobiliarias y la contaminación del aeropuerto Logan, las evaluaciones técnicas y científicas advierten que una gran parte del vecindario corre el riesgo de verse gravemente afectado por los impactos del cambio climático, como el aumento del nivel del mar, las …

The Healing Landscapes Of Usu: Discovering Spaces Of Potential Mental Restorativeness: A Geospatial Analysis Of Usu Campus, Amelia H. Wilcken

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

This project focuses on understanding an alternative resource that can be intentionally improved upon to help address the mental health crisis on university campuses. With ample research showing how nature and being outside can help improve, or be restorative for, the mental state of individuals, this project developed an analytical method for understanding the restorative potential within the campus landscape as a whole and within districts. The analysis uses nine separate elements that make up the campus landscape: (1) trees, (2) landscape plantings (grass, planters, etc.), (3) art pieces, (4) benches, (5) water features, (6) sidewalks, (7) roads, (8) parking …

Opportunity In The Complexity: Recommendations For Equitable Climate Resilience In East Boston, Patricio Belloy, Antonio Raciti, Katsyris Rivera-Kientz, Rebecca Herst

Sustainable Solutions Lab

East Boston is a diverse, working-class, coastal neighborhood of the City of Boston that is currently undergoing rapid gentrification. At the same time, local environmental problems – such as air and noise pollution from the operation of the nearby Logan International Airport – continue to harm residents, particularly the most marginalized communities. In addition to housing pressures and the pollution from Logan Airport, technical and scientific assessments warn that a large part of the neighborhood is at risk of being severely affected by climate change impacts such as sea-level rise, storm surges, and heatwaves. City-led planning efforts and climate resilience …

Rail Fixed Guideway Systems In Western U.S. Regions, Kelly A. Beavers

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This research explores the policy factors influencing the intraregional development of rail transit. For the purpose of this research, policy factors include: institutional arrangements, factors associated with governance, and factors in the policymaking process. The research questions are studied in five case study MSAs within the Pacific West and Mountain West regions of the United States: Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ; Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO; Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA; and Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR. The foundational problems that frame this research are the challenges of urban planning at a regional scale, specifically for transportation. The more specific challenge of transportation planning is situated within …