The introduction of electric autonomous Unmanned Arial Vehicles (UAVs) in cities is considered the ultimate disruptive sustainable technological solution due to the promised speed, affordability, and significant greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions. The integration of UAVs into the future smart city fabric offers a wide range of applications. In particular, UAVs are ideal for last-mile operation, which is expected to reduce delivery costs, GHG emissions, and delivery time compared to light trucks and other traditional delivery methods. As UAVs operate in the city airspace, and with the current generation of older cities, several technological challenges arise with the anticipated proliferation of heterogeneous UAV fleets in low-altitude airspace of dense urban areas. Being a fairly new disruptive technology with no real-world operation data, the literature only considers a few of the system design parameters and often disregards the impact of other essential parameters such as Kinematics and airspace policies. This leads to significant uncertainty in the estimated UAV energy consumption, ranges, and emissions yielding inaccurate conclusions regarding the full system design predilections. Therefore, an effective UAV system design should strive to understand the broad spectrum of parameters’ impacts to optimize the integration and operation. Towards that end, this research aims at investigating the different UAV system design parameters and their intertwined impacts on operation efficiency to obtain accurate system optimization results. The research utilized several datasets for the delivery demand and digital-twin city model data of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The research employed a state-of-the-art flexible energy use model for UAVs calibrated to experimental measurements to generate a minimum-energy trajectory along with several proposed novel airspace discretization, trajectory optimization, and charging infrastructure allocation optimization models. In this respect, this dissertation quantified the impact of airspace policies, discretization, and trajectory generation on the energy consumption of UAVs. Furthermore, it unveiled the operation uncertainties and their implications on the cost, emissions, and allocated charging infrastructure demand. Unlike the UAV literature, our research included all system design parameters and their impact on the performance metrics. The dissertation also proposes a novel combined airspace discretization and trajectory generation algorithm for optimal UAV energy consumption, airspace capacity maximization, airspace traffic control, and off-grid solar charging station allocation. For instance, it is found that UAV deployment with carefully tailored airspace policies in delivery could reduce GHG emissions in the freight sector by up to 35% compared to EVs. Furthermore, the research highlighted how building integrated photovoltaic BIPV upgrades with associated buildings can eliminate GHG emissions and significantly reduce the decarbonization price through associated savings and excess generated electricity. Overall, this research presents a unique contribution to the knowledge of UAV research for practitioners, policymakers, and academia. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

yes / Managing global water resources and providing water services to the world¿s people raises a continuing series of challenges, driven by increasing expectations, and a growing competition for water, which will be exacerbated by climate change. This paper explores how concepts of water governance and sustainability may help us to meet those challenges. Water governance is often equated with the role of government or management in the provision of water services. By contrast, we see governance as the system of actors, resources, mechanisms and processes, which mediate society¿s access to water. A broad conceptual framework is presented for the analysis of water governance, based on linkages between the resources available to society, the mechanisms that shape access to water and the outcomes of those mechanisms, both for people and the ecosystem. These linkages are mediated both by stakeholders and by management processes. It is argued that this conceptual framework offers a robust analytical tool for planning for sustainability as it is able to account for the complexities of water governance (of contexts, stakeholders, arrangements and uses). The paper concludes with observations about the ways in which the framework can be used to understand how different water governance arrangements produce variable outcomes in terms of sustainability.

Globally, two-thirds of the population face significant water shortages and eighty percent of the U.S. states' water managers predict water shortages in the near future. Additionally, the current centralized system in the United States is facing significant problems of scarcity, groundwater depletion, high energy consumption and needs a trillion dollars investment in repairs, replacement, and expansion. Furthermore, due to increased urban/suburban development, runoff (stormwater) pollutes our waterways and is causing increased flooding. The status quo is unsustainable in its present form and the water security of the nation is at risk. Fortunately, in recent decades there has been a resurgence in the use of a millenniums old approach, rainwater harvesting (RWH), that if deployed broadly, will mitigate those issues created by the current centralized municipal water system and the expanding development of our cities, suburbs, and towns reducing permeable surface area and lower water security vulnerabilities. This study enlists Multi-Level Perspective (MLP) to examine the transitioning that is occurring from the current centralized municipal water system to one in which it is significantly complemented by an alternative water source, RWH. MLP posits that pressures originating in the broader landscape exerts pressures on the existing regime, as well as the community as a whole, creating an opportunity for the niche to emerge and either replace or change the regime. In the case of RWH, the myriad of pressures are only partially placed on the current centralized water supply regime providing them less pressure to change. Alongside water shortages another significant pressure being placed on the public and governing authorities is increased flooding and pollution resulting in the RWH niche emerging in the construction industry. In response to these pressures a RWH niche formed, largely outside of the existing water supply regime, and grew until it was joined by actors within the regime (e.g., plumbers, plumbing engineers, standards development organizations). This research is framed using MLP's three phases Start-up (niche), Acceleration, and Stabilization. This dissertation does three things. First it shows the internal processes occurring between the MLP levels (landscape, sociotechnical regime, and niche) and mechanisms created that foster the broader adoption of RWH. Secondly, it reveals that while the incumbent regime is not being significantly influenced by the RWH niche, the construction industry is embracing RWH (especially the commercial sector) and following the MLP pathway of Reconfiguration. Third, it looks at RWH in a phase of stabilization. / Doctor of Philosophy / Today the world, as well as the United States, faces significant water problems. These problems include scarcity, groundwater depletion, high energy consumption, and is in need of a trillion dollars to repair or replace US water infrastructure. Additionally, due to urban sprawl and diminishment of permeable surfaces, runoff is a problem causing flooding and pollution. One mitigation is the use of a millennium old technology, rainwater harvesting (RWH). This research uses Multi-Level Perspective (MLP) framework to examine the transition occurring today in the construction industry to build sustainable RWH into new construction, especially commercial buildings. This research examines the dynamic processes and the mechanisms used to grow the RWH niche and then accelerate its adoption. Those mechanisms include building demonstration projects, manuals, standards, and incentive programs. This research also looks at RWH in the U.S. Virgin Islands where RWH has been mandated since 1964. The practical value of this research is to provide policy makers insight into the useful mechanisms aiding a transition to sustainable infrastructure. The theoretical value is that it reveals a transition occurring outside of the dominate regime, the centralized water suppliers, in the construction industry. Additionally, it shows that the creation of RWH standards and the administration of building code has created a new form of water governance.

The Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) region is one of the fastest developing in the world, however, some of its countries are the slowest in implementing sustainable construction practices. One of these countries is Kuwait, which contributes one and a half times more global greenhouse gas emissions per capita than the U.S. The dissertation starts by identifying potential barriers to more sustainable design and construction practices among professionals in Kuwait. The barriers identified are not technological, but behavioral, related to perceptions of risk and awareness. Behavioral science offers potential solutions to address these barriers through a concept called choice architecture. Professionals who design and construct our built environment use decision tools such as rating systems to inform their design decision making. These tools are inherently embedded with choice architecture. More intentional choice architecture among rating systems that align individual preferences and beliefs may increase the pursuit of more environmentally sustainable design solutions. One form of choice architecture is called goal framing, which describes the outcome of a choice as either a positive consequence of engaging in a behavior or a negative consequence of not engaging in a behavior. Goal framing was applied to the Envision rating system for sustainable infrastructure to emphasize how long-term sustainable outcomes align with decision makers immediate project needs, preferences, and values. Engineering professionals from the U.S. and Kuwait were randomly assigned either the original version of Envision or the goal framed version. The results indicate that goal framing the credits about people and finances, not just the impact on the environment, increased participants motivation and encouraged them to set higher goals for sustainable performance, specifically among professionals who hold a pro-social paradigm of the world. These findings have relevance to those who design, use, and mandate the use of rating systems during the design and construction process of buildings and infrastructure. Future research should continue to explore how engineering professionals make decisions and what choice architecture modifications can support design and engineering towards more sustainable outcomes. / Doctor of Philosophy / The Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) region is one of the fastest developing in the world, however, some of its countries are the slowest in implementing sustainable construction practices. One of these countries is Kuwait, which contributes one and a half times more global greenhouse gas emissions per capita than the U.S. The dissertation starts by identifying potential barriers to more sustainable design and construction practices among professionals in Kuwait. The barriers identified are not technological, but behavioral, related to perceptions of risk and awareness. Behavioral science offers potential solutions to address these barriers through a concept called choice architecture. Professionals who design and construct our built environment use decision tools such as rating systems to inform their design decision making. These tools are inherently embedded with choice architecture. More intentional choice architecture among rating systems that align individual preferences and beliefs may increase the pursuit of more environmentally sustainable design solutions. One form of choice architecture is called goal framing, which describes the outcome of a choice as either a positive consequence of engaging in a behavior or a negative consequence of not engaging in a behavior. Goal framing was applied to the Envision rating system for sustainable infrastructure to emphasize how long-term sustainable outcomes align with decision makers immediate project needs, preferences, and values. Engineering professionals from the U.S. and Kuwait were randomly assigned either the original version of Envision or the goal framed version. The results indicate that goal framing the credits about people and finances, not just the impact on the environment, increased participants motivation and encouraged them to set higher goals for sustainable performance, specifically among professionals who hold a pro-social paradigm of the world. These findings have relevance to those who design, use, and mandate the use of rating systems during the design and construction process of buildings and infrastructure.

Despite the building industry's commendable efforts for creating sustainable environments, numerous studies have shown buildings are not achieving the environmental goals designers and architects are predicting during the design phase. This has been attributed to a number of factors including occupants' unsustainable behavior patterns which affect the amount of energy and resources a building consumes. The effect of human behavior on sustainability has been studied by experts in various fields, it has not however, been sufficiently analyzed by interior designers. Although interior design authors have argued the field has transformed itself to an area concerned with human behavior, there currently are no established design processes or knowledge domains that can help interior designers understand and design to encourage sustainable behaviors. On the other hand, industrial designers have advanced Design for Sustainable Behavior DfSB, an area of research that intentionally uses design solutions to encourage sustainable behaviors. This research argued DfSB can help overcome the gap identified in interior design (ID) by providing ID with design strategies, design processes and precedent. As such this research focused on analyzing the current state of designing with the intention of changing behavior within ID education in order to reach recommendations for the integration of DfSB into ID. The first phase of the study involved a nationwide questionnaire distributed to ID faculty members to gauge the current state of DfSB within ID, including faculty members' attitudes towards it, barriers to integrating it, recommendations for content and teaching methods along with any ethical concerns that may arise from intentionally changing behavior through design. Concurrently, a review of top ID programs online material was conducted to identify the presence of DfSB within existing courses. This phase demonstrated faculty members hold positive attitudes towards DfSB despite their limited familiarity and knowledge of the field which was identified as one of the major barriers to its integration. Additionally, despite none of the programs indicating students are taught how to encourage sustainable behavior through design, it was apparent a foundation for DfSB exists within ID due to the presence of sustainable design courses, human factors, and some social science courses. Findings from the questionnaire spurred a group of questions that required a nuanced investigation through interviews with a sample of ID faculty. These interviews painted a clearer image of the current educational terrain and general directions within ID education. They also allowed the researcher to collate ideas for overcoming barriers to DfSB integration along with establishing recommendations for disseminating DfSB into ID education and practice in a manner that capitalizes on the resources currently available in ID and removes identified hindrances. / Ph. D.

Green Streets, a stormwater management practice that is implemented within the public right of way, can effectively treat stormwater runoff on-site by closely mimicking natural processes. By providing multiple benefits, Green Streets can, purportedly, be a more sustainable alternative compared to conventional storm systems. However, there is no empirical research that evaluates how, or to what extent, the supposed or potential benefits of Green Streets are actually realized in projects built to date. Thus, planners and designers (or the public who are concerned about their watersheds) will find the literature on the subject to be of limited assistance in assessing many aspects of Green Street projects: their cost in terms of time, money, and resources; challenges; and whether the projects actually achieve the benefits touted by their proponents. This study is conducted to address these issues through two analyses. The first analysis looks at Green Street projects that were nominated by experts as the most successful additions to their communities. This portion of the study reveals that, in current practice, for a Green Street project to be successful, not only does it have to treat stormwater runoff but it also has to offer additional benefits, particularly in relation to the social aspects. The second analysis examines Green Street implementation processes in six sample cities, and four successful Green Street projects that appear to offer additional benefits were chosen for more detailed studies. Finally, a model process was developed with emphasis on the following: site analyses on multiple scales, the formation of interdisciplinary teams, and public outreach throughout the implementation process. The case studies elucidate the given challenges and suggest best practices for ensuring more sustainable outcomes in future projects. The study sheds light on the importance of incorporating multiple benefits in the implementation process and presents eight recommendations for successful Green Street implementation regarding the need for individuals who champion the project, interdisciplinary collaboration, opportunities for the public to voice their concerns, need of expanding the design scope, securing funds as delivering benefits, consideration of the maintenance plan, documentation of knowledge, and development of a model process. / Ph. D.

Yes / This chapter is an attempt at reflecting on applying the capability approach to cities and the challenges of inclusive and sustainable cities. The chapter starts with a brief literature review of some of the previous studies that have attempted to extend capability approach and human development thinking to urban issues. Then the chapter proceeds to look at a number of urban and city issues from the lens of expanding substantive freedoms. The paper includes analysis of evidence on life expectancy and living in urban areas. Some conclusions are identified.

The aim of the research is to identify core conditions that support increased delivery of sustainability in the built environment. The selected methodology is constructive research, which is distinguished by the dual focus on practical industry perspectives and theoretical knowledge. The first research question examines how Target Value Design (TVD), an integrated design management process, can elicit better delivery of sustainability values. This is developed through case study research of an exemplary design team and project. The findings identify a gap in the capability of the team to adopt a whole systems approach in order to make explicit the values of sustainable prosperity and develop a unified vision. This provides the basis for the second research question - how can design teams gain an understanding of the systemic nature of sustainability, and how can this understanding impact the design process? �The research proposes an intervention method that aligns learning models from the disciplines of experiential learning cycles, design thinking, behavior modeling, systems thinking and unified vision. This integrated approach leverages creative design activities to capture the learning potential for individual skills and team building. �While the research acknowledges the limitations from the testing of a single workshop experiment, post-workshop data suggests the intervention framework is sufficiently robust and versatile enough to adapt to individual workshop circumstances. �The key research outcome is the importance of the people in the process of collaborative design, in their ability to envision a future state of sustainable prosperity and articulate explicit actionable values. / Ph. D.

The objectives of this 8-week study were to assess the amount (weight) of pre-consumer (production) food waste at a large university, serving 18,000 meal plan holders, and identify major contributors of food waste (i.e. food categories, types of waste). Dining facility managers and waste coordinators (WCs) were voluntarily recruited from three dining facilities to oversee all food waste data collection and entry by dining staff, and attend weekly meetings with the research team. Food waste was weighed by staff at the designated facilities using institutional food scales. Information about the food waste was then written on tracking sheets and entered into an online database. The tracking sheet and database contained information on: product description (i.e. food type), reason for waste, weight of food (lbs), disposal method (compost/food scraps, diverted, or trash), and any related comments. Waste analysis included aggregating weekly data by total waste (lbs), facility, food type, food groups of MyPlate, and reason for food waste. Quantitative results from this study reveal that thousands of pounds of food waste are disposed of each week, especially for proteins and grains. Results derived from qualitative interviews and focus groups indicated that waste tracking is beneficial for staff buy-in, creating waste standards to improve efficiency, and adjusting food production schedules. Implications from these results indicate ability to help guide policy and practice, and provide insight into major contributors of institutional food waste. / Master of Science

Many utility asset management programs have been developed following the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) core definition of maintaining a level of service at the lowest life cycle cost. Most utilities, however, only incorporate performance measures into their asset management plans. A holistic approach to asset management is more beneficial because it takes into account the short and long term goals of the utility and can provide better service socially, economically, and environmentally. An analysis of the Town of Blacksburg wastewater utility's practices and data collection was performed using a holistic asset management framework developed at Virginia Tech. This theoretical framework supports the three key aspects of asset management: performance, sustainability, and resilience. Where gaps were identified, recommendations were made as to what practices, goals, and data the Town can add to their current plan so that their program is more holistic. Research has shown that many utilities have trouble adapting to asset management plans because job roles and responsibilities change and are often not well defined. To help the Town of Blacksburg adapt to their new asset management plan with performance, sustainability and resiliency goals, a work process flow was designed. A work process flow allows for visible changes in job responsibility to be more easily recognized as well as allow for future changes to be made. / Master of Science