Building Sustainable Infrastructure
Copenhagen’s Case for Urban Farming: A Feasibility Study
Advisors: Holly Keyes Ault, Constance Clark,
Justin Tavares, Robert Rosen, Hannah Pope Olshansky, Gabriela Prado Hoops
Copenhagen seeks to be carbon neutral by 2025. Miljøpunkt Amager, a Copenhagen environmental organization, was curious about urban farming’s potential to further environmentalism in Amager. Our project examined the environmental, social, political, economic, civic, and public health implications of urban agriculture in order to identify the requirements for the realization of urban farms in the region. We analyzed the costs of an urban farm in order to create economic models of potential farm implementations. Through research and interviews, we were able to assess the potential of urban farming within Amager and provide recommendations to further promote urban agriculture in the community.
Analysis of Green Building Water – Infrastructure Technologies at the EPA NCER
Advisors: Kaveh Pahlavan, R. Creighton Peet
Adam James Brooks, Fidelis Wambui, Manh-Hung Vo Le, Brian Wilbur Robie
The National Center for Environmental Research (NCER) funds extramural research for the Environmental Protection Agency. Our goal was to provide future research recommendations concerning green building and more specifically water infrastructure. Categorizing NCER’s past projects and research, interviewing with principal investigators, and meeting with employees of various EPA offices have allowed us to identify existing research gaps. NCER’s future solicitations should consider water reuse, green roofs, and improving cooling towers. NCER should also focus on ways to improve social acceptance of green building, thus advancing implementation of green technologies, devices, and practices.
A Sustainable Accounting and Maintenance Management System for the Infrastructure of the West Boylston Water District
Advisors: Fabio Carrera, Chickery J. Kasouf,
Matthew Philip Burger, Travis Robert Smith, Daniel P. Mahoney
This project was intended to assist the Water District of the Town of West Boylston to manage its water infrastructure assets and comply with Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) Statement 34. After compiling information about The District’s assets, our project group developed a sustainable information system that allows the district to effectively maintain the water infrastructure and to estimate the value of the assets in compliance with GASB 34 standards.
Designing Green Infrastructure: Lawrence Rail Corridor
Advisors: Robert Hersh
Cullen Shea O’Brien, Bangyan Zhang, Simranjit Singh Rekhi, Duje Jelaska, Racheal Lynn Weinrick
The Manchester Lawrence Rail Trail conversion project is a rail-to-trail conversion that aims to convert the abandoned Lawrence portion of the rail corridor into a greenway. This greenway will bring recreational space, transportation opportunities, economic benefits and community identity to the local communities. Through site visiting, interviews with local activists, geographical information system analysis and other research, the project team completed a detailed information booklet which includes site analysis, trail design recommendations and cost estimates. The purpose of this booklet is to help local government and community groups plan and implement this rail trail conversion.