Bassok, Alon; Hurvitz, Phil M.; Bae, C-H. Christine; Larson, Timothy. (2010). Measuring Neighbourhood Air Pollution: The Case of Seattle’s International District. Journal Of Environmental Planning & Management, 53(1), 23 – 39.
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Abstract
Current US regulatory air quality monitoring networks measure ambient levels of pollutants and cannot capture the effects of mobile sources at the micro-scale. Despite the fact that overall air quality has been getting better, more vulnerable populations (children, the elderly, minorities and the poor) continue to suffer from traffic-related air pollution. As development intensifies in urban areas, more people are exposed to road-related air pollution. However, the only consideration given to air quality, if any, is based on ambient measures. This paper uses an inexpensive, portable Particle Soot Absorption Photometer (PSAP) to measure Black Carbon (BC) emissions, a surrogate for diesel fuels emissions, in Seattle's International District. With the aid of a GPS receiver, street-level BC data were geocoded in real space-time. It was found that pollution levels differed substantially across the study area. The results show the need for street-level air pollution monitoring, revisions in current land use and transportation policies, and air quality planning practice.
Keywords
Emission Standards; Air Pollution; Atmospheric Deposition; Social Groups; Waste Products; Sanitary Landfills; Black Carbon; Freeway Air Pollution Sheds (faps); Land Use; Mobile Monitoring; Neighbourhood Air Quality; Aerosol Light-absorption; Respiratory Health; Coefficient; Exposure; Symptoms; Children; Pollutants; Particles; Exhaust; Asthma
Shach-Pinsly, Dalit. (2010). Visual Openness and Visual Exposure Analysis Models Used as Evaluation Tools During the Urban Design Development Process. Journal Of Urbanism, 3(2), 161 – 184.
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Abstract
This paper reports on the preliminary development of visibility analysis models used as evaluation tools during the urban design development process. This paper proposes a measurable morphological approach that can contribute to the planning and design process as a control and evaluation model. The models are applied to an urban case study that is based on the garden city theory. The complex being evaluated is the Bat-Galim neighborhood, located on the northern shore of Haifa, Israel that was constructed in the middle of the last century. The goal is to try to overcome the problematic results and to suggest other spatial morphological configurations that support better results. Doing so improves the quality of the environment with respect to visual permeability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]; Copyright of Journal of Urbanism is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Keywords
Urban Planning; Urbanization; Urban Growth; Garden Cities; Haifa (israel); Israel; Comparative Evaluation; Sustainable Urban Environment; Visual Analysis; Visual Exposure; Visual Openness
Rowe, Daniel H.; Bae, Christine; Shen, Qing. (2011). Evaluating the Impact of Transit Service on Parking Demand and Requirements. Transportation Research Record, 2245, 56 – 62.
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Abstract
Many jurisdictions in the United States typically set minimum parking requirements for residential multifamily developments based on old data that were collected in suburban settings with little transit availability. Such parking requirements applied to urban settings with adequate transit service often result in an oversupply of parking, which in turn creates a barrier to smart growth. Not only does the oversupply of parking encourage automobile use and reduce housing affordability, but it also increases development costs, consumes land and natural resources, and increases associated air and water pollution. This research examines the relationship of parking demand and transit service in First Hill Capitol Hill (FHCH) and Redmond, two urban centers in King County, Washington. An alternative method to collect parking demand data is explored. The results show a strong relationship between transit service and parking demand. The FHCH urban center, which abuts downtown Seattle, exhibited higher levels of transit service and lower parking demand. Parking demand in FHCH was observed to be 0.52 parking space per dwelling unit, which was about 50% less than parking demand observed in Redmond, a growing mixed-use suburban center, and 50% less than data reported by the Institute of Transportation Engineers. After a review of the parking policies of each urban center, opportunities to improve regulations including adjusting minimum parking requirements and allowing for reductions in required parking when developers implement solutions to reduce demand for parking were identified.
Sohn, Dong Wook; Moudon, Anne Vernez; Lee, Jeasun. (2012). The Economic Value of Walkable Neighborhoods. Urban Design International, 17(2), 115 – 128.
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Abstract
This study investigated how the benefits of a walkable neighborhood were reflected in the American real estate market by examining the economic values of urban environmental factors supporting walking activities. Property values were used as a proxy measure for economic value and analyzed in relation to land use characteristics that have been known to correlate with walking at the neighborhood scale. Four aspects of the built environment supporting walking were included in the analyses: development density, land use mix, public open space and pedestrian infrastructure. Hedonic models were employed where the property value was regressed on the measures of the four sets of correlates of walking in a neighborhood. Models were estimated for four land use types - single-family residential, rental multi-family residential, commercial and office. The findings did not support previous arguments that increasing density weakens the quality of a neighborhood. To the contrary, the positive association of higher development density with the value of single-family residential properties detected in King County suggested that high development density might increase surrounding property values. The pedestrian infrastructure and land use mix significantly contributed to increases in rental multi-family residential property values. Higher development density with higher street and sidewalk coverage were also favored by retail service uses. In relation to land use mix, mixing retail service uses and rental multi-family residential uses helped make rental housings more attractive. URBAN DESIGN International (2012) 17, 115-128. doi:10.1057/udi.2012.1; published online 4 April 2012
Keywords
Land-use; Physical-activity; Travel Behavior; Smart Growth; Mode Choice; Urban Form; Walking; Gis; Transportation; Accessibility; Mixed Land Use; Neighborhood; Urban Design
Gatti, U.; Migliaccio, G.; Bogus, S.M.; Priyadarshini, S.; Scharrer, A. (2013). Using Workforce’s Physiological Strain Monitoring to Enhance Social Sustainability of Construction. Journal Of Architectural Engineering, 19(3), 179 – 85.
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Abstract
Sustainability is often described in terms of the triple bottom line, which refers to its environmental, economic, and social dimensions. However, the economic and environmental impacts of decisions have been easier to determine than have been the social impacts. One area of social sustainability that is particularly applicable to construction projects is that of construction workforce safety and well-being. This is a critical part of sustainability, and a socially sustainable construction industry needs to consider the safety and well-being of construction workers. However, construction activities are generally physically demanding and performed in harsh environments. Monitoring workers' physical strain may be an important step toward enhancing the social sustainability of construction. Recently introduced physiological status monitors (PSMs) have overcome the past limitations, allowing physical strain to be monitored without hindering workers' activities. Three commercially available PSMs have been selected and tested to assess their reliability in monitoring a construction workforce during dynamic activities. The results show that two of the PSMs are suitable candidates for monitoring the physiological conditions of construction workers. A survey was also conducted among industry practitioners to gain insight into industry needs and challenges for physical strain monitoring.
Keywords
Construction Industry; Environmental Factors; Labour Resources; Occupational Safety; Socio-economic Effects; Sustainable Development; Workforce Physiological Strain Monitoring; Social Sustainability; Socioeconomic Impacts; Environmental Impacts; Social Impacts; Construction Projects; Construction Workforce Safety; Physical Strain
Berke, Ethan M.; Vernez-Moudon, Anne. (2014). Built Environment Change: A Framework to Support Health-Enhancing Behaviour through Environmental Policy and Health Research. Journal Of Epidemiology And Community Health, 68(6), 586 – 590.
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Abstract
As research examining the effect of the built environment on health accelerates, it is critical for health and planning researchers to conduct studies and make recommendations in the context of a robust theoretical framework. We propose a framework for built environment change (BEC) related to improving health. BEC consists of elements of the built environment, how people are exposed to and interact with them perceptually and functionally, and how this exposure may affect health-related behaviours. Integrated into this framework are the legal and regulatory mechanisms and instruments that are commonly used to effect change in the built environment. This framework would be applicable to medical research as well as to issues of policy and community planning.
Keywords
Geographic Information-systems; Physical-activity; Obesity; Place; Associations; Walkability; Risk; Care
Gatti, Umberto C.; Schneider, Suzanne; Migliaccio, Giovanni C. (2014). Physiological Condition Monitoring of Construction Workers. Automation In Construction, 44, 227 – 233.
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Abstract
Monitoring of workers' physiological conditions can potentially enhance construction workforce productivity, safety, and well-being. Recently, Physiological Status Monitors (PSMs) were validated as an accurate technology to assess physiological conditions during typical sport science and medicine testing procedures (e.g., treadmill and cycle ergometer protocols). However, sport science and medicine testing procedures cannot simulate routine construction worker movements in a comprehensive manner. Thus, this paper investigated the validity of two PSMs by comparing their measurements with gold standard laboratory instruments' measurements at rest and during dynamic activities resembling construction workforce's routine activities. Two physiological parameters such as heart rate and breathing rate were considered. Ten apparently healthy subjects participated in the study. One of the PSMs proved to be a viable technology in assessing construction workers' heart rate (correlation coefficient >= 0.74; percentage of differences within +/- 11 bpm >= 84.8%). (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved,
Keywords
Construction Workers; Labor Supply; Labor Productivity; Well-being; Health Status Indicators; Heart Rate Monitoring; Physiology; Construction Management; Construction Worker; Ergonomics; Occupational Health And Safety; Physiological Status Monitoring Technology; Productivity; Work Physiological Demand; Work Physiology; Construction Industry; Monitoring; Occupational Safety; Medicine Testing; Sport Science; Psm; Physiological Status Monitors; Safety; Construction Workforce Productivity; Workers Monitoring; Physiological Condition Monitoring; Heart-rate Monitors; R-r Intervals; Statistical-methods; Respiratory Rate; Physical Load; Polar S810; Strain; Validity; Reliability; Validation
Saelens, Brian E.; Moudon, Anne Vernez; Kang, Bumjoon; Hurvitz, Philip M.; Zhou, Chuan. (2014). Relation between Higher Physical Activity and Public Transit Use. American Journal Of Public Health, 104(5), 854 – 859.
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Abstract
Objectives. We isolated physical activity attributable to transit use to examine issues of substitution between types of physical activity and potential confounding of transit-related walking with other walking. Methods. Physical activity and transit use data were collected in 2008 to 2009 from 693 Travel Assessment and Community study participants from King County, Washington, equipped with an accelerometer, a portable Global Positioning System, and a 7-day travel log. Physical activity was classified into transit-and non-transit-related walking and nonwalking time. Analyses compared physical activity by type between transit users and nonusers, between less and more frequent transit users, and between transit and nontransit days for transit users. Results. Transit users had more daily overall physical activity and more total walking than did nontransit users but did not differ on either non-transit-related walking or nonwalking physical activity. Most frequent transit users had more walking time than least frequent transit users. Higher physical activity levels for transit users were observed only on transit days, with 14.6 minutes (12.4 minutes when adjusted for demographics) of daily physical activity directly linked with transit use. Conclusions. Because transit use was directly related to higher physical activity, future research should examine whether substantive increases in transit access and use lead to more physical activity and related health improvements.
Keywords
Transportation; Analysis Of Covariance; Analysis Of Variance; Chi-squared Test; Comparative Studies; Confidence Intervals; Geographic Information Systems; Research Funding; Statistics; Walking; Data Analysis; Accelerometry; Cross-sectional Method; Exercise Intensity; Physical Activity; Diary (literary Form); Descriptive Statistics; Washington (state); Work; Car; Impact
Dyson, Karen; Yocom, Ken. (2015). Ecological Design For Urban Waterfronts. Urban Ecosystems, 18(1), 189 – 208.
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Abstract
Urban waterfronts are rarely designed to support biodiversity and other ecosystem services, yet have the potential to provide these services. New approaches that integrate ecological research into the design of docks and seawalls provide opportunities to mitigate the environmental impacts of urbanization and recover ecosystem function in urban waterfronts. A review of current examples of ecological design in temperate cities informs suggestions for future action. Conventional infrastructures have significant and diverse impacts on aquatic ecosystems. The impacts of conventional infrastructure are reduced where ecological designs have been implemented, particularly by projects adding microhabitat, creating more shallow water habitat, and reconstructing missing or altered rocky benthic habitats. Opportunities for future research include expanding current research into additional ecosystems, examining ecological processes and emergent properties to better address ecosystem function in ecological design, and addressing the impact of and best practices for continuing maintenance. Planned ecological infrastructure to replace aging and obsolete structures will benefit from design feedback derived from carefully executed in situ pilot studies.
Keywords
Coastal Defense Structures; Fixed Artificial Habitats; Marine Habitats; Intertidal Seawalls; Benthic Communities; Reconciliation Ecology; Subtidal Epibiota; Rocky Shores; Reef; Biodiversity; Ecological Design; Seawalls; Habitat; Waterfront; Urban Infrastructure; Aquatic Ecology
Wilson, A. Meriwether W.; Mugerauer, Robert; Klinger, Terrie. (2015). Rethinking Marine Infrastructure Policy and Practice: Insights from Three Large-Scale Marina Developments in Seattle. Marine Policy, 53, 67 – 82.
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Abstract
The global transformation of the marine nearshore is generating profound losses of ecological and geomorphological functions and ecosystem services, as natural environments are replaced with built. With conservation a diminishing option and restoration often unrealistic, there is a need to rethink development and the potential for marine infrastructure to contribute to net environmental gain. Through analysis of 150 years of change associated with the development of three large-scale marinas in the Seattle area, this research identifies the ways in which evolving policy frameworks and ecological understanding determine the nature, efficiency and environmental outcomes of coastal marine developments. Decisions on infrastructure design, mitigation strategies and policy interpretations directly determined the ecological fate of marine biota inhabiting these structures as well as surrounding ecosystems. In spite of increasing evidence of environmental legislation driving mitigation and innovative engineering, the net ecological trajectories remained negative. There were no tested demonstrations of marine mitigation to confirm which measures would succeed. Where scientific understanding existed, the uptake into planning and legislation was slow. More broadly, this research highlights a need and opportunity to consider marine infrastructure as living laboratories to inform a policy shift from a no-net-loss paradigm to net-environmental-gain. This evolution is timely, with sea level rise requiring new approaches to coastal defenses and with marine energy infrastructure increasingly being located offshore, where there is little knowledge of the ecological changes occurring in both time and space. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords
Coastal; Restoration; Landscape; Habitats; Science; Driver; Areas; Act; Marine Coastal Infrastructure; Ecological Mitigation; Novel Marine Habitats; Environmental Governance; Pacific Northwest