No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

A General System Planning Methodology (G.S.P.M.) has been proposed in this dissertation with the objective to promote planning practices improvements regardless to the characteristics of the planning context and to the nature of the planning field where it may be applied. The G.S.P.M. is a normative planning methodology based on procedural theory of planning, and it is addressed mainly to the multi-disciplinary planning actors dealing with the multi-objective planning context. The G.S.P.M. has been given a "procedural framework" supported by two Axiomatic Theories, and three objectives of planning have been selected to express simultaneously the G.S.P.M. effectiveness and the aimed Planning Improvement, and they are; Planning Adequacy, Planning Flexibility and Planning Continuity. The National Airport System Planning (N.A.S.P.) has been selected to be the planning field test for the G.S.P.M. and two different planning contexts have been selected to be respectively, the investigation field and the application field for the G.S.P.M. test. A sample of five developed countries have been chosen to represent the investigation field as follows; Norway, U.S.A., United Kingdom, Federal Republic of Germany, and Canada. A sample of four Middle Income and Economically Active Countries(M.I.E.A.C.) have been chosen as the application field, and Brazil has been selected the prime country with three further Brazilian Scenarios designed with the help of Developmental Scenarios Writing to represent that sample. A Multiple Cross System Analysis Matrix(M.C.S.A.M.) has been designed to be an instrument for the G.S.P.M. operational process within the application test in the N.A.S.P. of the two sample of countries. The M.C.S.A.M. is a bidimensional assessment matrix supported by planning theories and operated by multi-disciplinary planning actors to select the preferred aspects of planning which have been used to identify the characteristics of the planning context and planning environment. The M.C.S.A.M. has been designed to select also the preferred planning factors and goals which may represent the potentially most effective planning factors and goals within the given planning context. A Developed Countries Realist N.A.S.P. Methodology Model has been identified within the investigation field which would express the common N.A.S.P. framework within the developed countries, representing the "emphatical understanding" from which we supposed to learn their planning practices. A M.I.E.A.C. N.A.S.P. Realist Methodology Model has been identified within the application field which would express the common N.A.S.P. framework within the M.I.E.A. Countries. This realist model which has been obtained from the Brazilian Scenarios has been also called the Brazilian Planned Scenario N.A.S.P. which is supposed to be the ideal planning context hypothetically designed to improve the actual Brazilian N.A.S.P. practices, as a planning exercise of "predictable understanding". The comparative analyses of the two N.A.S.P. Realist Methodology Models has defined a Tailoring Process of Planning where the adequate planning method can be identified with the appropriate level of technology to the identified planning context.

Master of Science / Department of Architectural Engineering and Construction Science / Fred L. Hasler / Typical building power supplied from power plants has significantly evolved over the last century. After power is generated and transferred from the power plant, it is distributed to the customer. The concept of Microgrid was introduced to address increasing concerns with power reliability requirements for some facilities. The Microgrid is a localized electric grid that can operate autonomously from the traditional electric grid (Macrogrid). Compared with generator sets, a Microgrid provides a faster system response and recovery to either whole or part of the electric load for a facility. The Microgrid can operate under two operation conditions: grid-tied mode and island mode. When it is working individually like an “island”, the system is not providing or receiving disturbance to or from the Macrogrid. The purpose of this paper is to give a detailed introduction of Microgrid and present research and conclusion about its feasibility. This report references previously published research to explain what a Microgrid is. Also, two detailed case studies provide a discussion about the feasibility of the Microgrid in terms of its reliability, economics and environmental impact - air quality. Although there are many challenges that Microgrids are facing, there are quite a number of reasons to consider them. The goal is to balance the benefits and challenges of Microgrids depend on each case. No doubt, the existing power grid will still provide the majority of power supply for global population. However, many companies and government-funded laboratories are investing time and money into research and development of Microgrids. With the advancement of the Microgrids, it is likely that Microgrids will be playing a larger role in providing secure, reliable energy to the building industry.

The construction industry is responsible for approximately $1 trillion in work annually. A large percentage of this work is tied to the renovation of older structures. Due to increases in sustainable initiatives and the growing lack of green field development sites, the renovation of older buildings is becoming an even more substantial portion of construction work. Old, or urban based, college and university campuses require renovation of their buildings to sustain an efficient and comfortable campus. Renovations on a college or university campus are often the effect of a change in space requirements, and the planning of the space in a building is a major driver for renovations. The renovation of an older structure on a college or university campus has many inherent issues associated with it. Included among these is the likelihood of unknown existing conditions, constantly evolving needs of the campus, cost implications of minor changes, and scheduling and phasing conflicts. Improvements in technology have the potential to increase the efficiency of the renovation and space planning process. One particular technology that could be of particular benefit is Building Information Modeling (BIM), a technology based collaborative process utilizing 3-Dimensional visualization software as its tool. It was the objective of this research project to explore the benefits of using Building Information Modeling (BIM) in the delivery of renovation projects as well as its possible utilization in space utilization management. This study attempted to identify opportunities for BIM to improve upon the process that universities and institutions, in particular, currently use for their renovations and space utilization management. This research project collected information from the WPI facilities management department specifically and from surveys of other institutions to better understand the current issues associated with renovations and space planning and to attempt to validate the use of BIM as a viable solution. A case study was performed on a building on the WPI campus, Salisbury Laboratories as part of this research study. The case study utilized 3-Dimensional Building Information Model to validate the possible use of the platform to streamline the delivery of renovation projects as well as its ability to benefit space planning process. The study was able to identify several benefits of utilizing BIM in the delivery of renovation projects, including increased efficiency in the design phase and generation of conceptual estimates and phasing plans for the owner. The principal benefit found by the study in the utilization of BIM was the ability for spatial visualizations and the ease of modifying the design in a consistent and efficient fashion. There were several observed barriers to the utilization of BIM in this regard, namely the lack of knowledge of the software and the cost of implementing and updating the system.

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This quantitative study investigates the adequacy and quality of middle school facilities in Humble ISD middle schools as reported by the primary users of these facilities, the teachers and administrators. These middle school educators also provide an assessment of the impact that these facilities have on the learning environment. This study also assesses the quality and adequacy of these middle school facilities through a purely quantitative evaluation conducted by an unbiased assessment team. Humble ISD is undergoing unprecedented growth at all levels and has addressed the burgeoning elementary and high school aged growth occurring in the district by constructing and renovating these facilities. At the middle level, however, new facility construction is occurring at a slower pace. The purpose of this research is to ascertain which factors in each of these six facilities have the greatest quality and adequacy and the impact that they have on the learning environment. Furthermore, it is the purpose of this research to provide valuable and practical data, to which Humble ISD and others can refer in developing future building plans, renovating existing facilities, allocating funds, and creating student centered learning environments. This study also investigates the relationship between what educators perceive as adequate and quality facility factors and their perception of the impact that these factors have on the learning environment. Finally, this study reviews any congruency or agreement between educator’s perception of adequacy and quality and architect assessment of adequacy and quality. Middle level students are the most influential group of adolescents and it is important that we provide facilities that meet their very specific needs. This research will ultimately and positively impact the learning environment for these children.

Thesis PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis--PlanA (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references.