Urban Planning Portfolio

anna naomi dewey

Urban Planning Portfolio

content

It was not until I studied abroad in COPENHAGEN that I truly wanted to be an urban planner. My interests in transportation and urban design sparked after my experiences BIKING through Copenhagen, learning about its history and policies and the innovative ways in which the city has transformed itself into one of the most livable places in the world. This is the kind of living environment I would like Americans to strive for in the

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Price Hill

Cincinnati

Norwood

Budapest

Master’s Capstone Project

The Urban Future of Parking

Methods of Physical Planning

Urban Regeneration in Budapest

urban planning + design

urban planning + design

urban planning + design

urban planning + design

future and is why I decided to become a PLANNER.

Biking over the Cykelslangen in Copenhagen (Image: Anna Dewey)

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DAAPworks highlights the final projects of each year’s graduating class.

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Jakarta

China

Chicago*

Managing Urban Environments

Sustainable Urbanism

Assessment of Urban Sustainability

sustainability

sustainability

sustainability

DAAPcares showcases projects that promote + provide design services to those in need.

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Toronto*

Cincinnati

Ridership Growth Strategy

Transportation Demand & Planning

transit planning

transit planning

*Professional projects. The remainder are academic projects.

introduction ANNA N. DEWEY / cincinnati, ohio WHO AM I?

Hello, I’m a young, motivated urban planner from Cincinnati. I’m fascinated with transportation and urban design and I’m very interested in how to increase the accessibility and livability of urban spaces to improve the quality of our cities. Through my educational and work experiences, I have gained strong research, technical and organizational skills that I hope to expand in my career as a professional planner.

Each of the projects showcased in this portfolio has revealed to me the importance of the initial planning/design processes, the analysis of various parts to get a better understanding of a system at large, and the consideration of how decisions will impact the affected community. In addition, the thought and design processes used throughout these projects have taught me about the ways in which I can tackle future projects and questions related to improving the urban environment. I’ve chosen these projects based on their significant use of mapping, modeling, and design software, which have all contributed to the advancement of my technical skills.

Each of these projects relate to my interests of transportation and urban design and the themes have subsequently built on one another. My interest began with sustainability and it has evolved over time to integrate transportation planning and urban design as all three topics are important and interconnected elements when planning for the future of cities.

EDUCATION + WORK

University of Cincinnati Master of Community Planning

2018 - 2020

University of Michigan Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies

2012 - 2016

TTCriders - Student Intern Toronto, Canada

U.S. EPA - ORAU Student Contractor Cincinnati, Ohio November 2016 - July 2018

May 2019 - August 2019

COMPUTER SKILLS Microsoft Office, Excel, Word + PowerPoint ArcGIS Adobe InDesign, Illustrator + Photoshop SketchUp, AutoCAD

INTERESTS + LANGUAGES Interests Urban studies; urban transport systems; sustainable transportation; livable spaces; urban livability; structure, plan + design of cities Languages English (Native) | French (Limited Working Ability) | Spanish (Elementary) | Hungarian (Elementary)

CONTACT INFORMATION Address: 1715 Old Farm Drive, Loveland, Ohio 45140 Cell phone: +1 (513) 604-3252 Email: andewey93@gmail.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/anna-dewey-2a657a83/

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urban planning + design. 01 MASTER’S CAPSTONE PROJECT / price hill, cincinnati, ohio Team – 2 members (2 Graduate planners) Skills Used – Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, SketchUp, GIS, report writing, graphic communication, plan-making, street design techniques, data collection, presenting, public engagement My Role – Lead writer, designer of report, designer of street design graphics, conductor of onsite observations

OBJECTIVE Improve the vibrancy of Price Hill’s business districts through improved biking/walking connectivity and updated street design standards.

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Principles of Design: The planning process resulted in the formation of four key principles that were incorporated into the final designs. | Graphic: Jyutika Bhise

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Product – Alternate Mobility Plan 2020 | Among Cincinnati’s most distressed areas, Price Hill contains over 10% of the city’s residents and centers around several neighborhood business districts, which have been the hearts of the community for many generations. These business districts have provided residents with commercial, cultural, and social amenities. However, following social, economic, and demographic shifts, many of these neighborhood centers are struggling to keep their commercial and social relevance.

Shift to alternative transportation

Reconnect to the regional system

Increase interaction opportunities

Increase investment for better safety

The aim of this Capstone project was to think about the question: How can these neighborhood business districts best serve as the heart of their communities, and as gateways to the rest of Cincinnati?

The project involved active engagement from the Price Hill community and concluded with a final presentation and report provided to the community through a website designed by the students.

Link to website - https://www.sopdaapworks.com/actively-reviving-retail *Showcased at DAAPworks + DAAPcares 2020

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Proposed bike network map: Proposes the expansion of Price Hill’s bike infrastructure network to improve the connectivity and accessibility across the neighborhood. Includes dedicated bike lanes along main roads, which are connected by bike priority lanes along neighborhood roads. | Map: Jyutika Bhise

Temporary

Street hierarchy: Categorization of road types according to their function and capacities. Each type has a proposed street design to accommodate bikes and improve pedestrian safety. | Map: Anna Dewey

Before

Permanent

Tactical implementation: An incremental planning approach for how to carry out the proposed street design for a primary arterial road (below) with a temporary & permanent stage. | Graphic: Anna Dewey

After

Flex space Green space Dedicated bike lanes

Primary arterial current design: Mainly high traffic thoroughfares with four driving lanes to allow for higher vehicular traffic speeds. | Rendering: Anna Dewey

Primary arterial proposed design: Reduce width of drive & parking lanes to allow for dedicated bike lanes. Add more trees & lighting for better aesthetics and safety. | Rendering: Anna Dewey

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urban planning + design. 02 THE URBAN FUTURE OF PARKING / cincinnati, ohio Team – 4 members (1 Graduate planner, 1 Graduate architect + 2 Undergraduate planners)

MOVEMENT

PUBLIC/PRIVATE SPACE

OBJECTIVE

TREE INFILL

Design public and private spaces to help bring families back to downtown Cincinnati by transforming the gaps of inactivity into places where kids and adults can have fun.

Skills Used – Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, SketchUp, AutoCAD, report writing, graphic communication, plan-making, urban design techniques, presenting, storytelling My Role – Main data gatherer, lead writer, co-designer of report, co-designer of graphics

Concept mapping: Concentration of movement within the block & improved movement around the block; adequate mix of public & private spaces in the site’s interior; a heavy infill of trees in the interior as well as along the streetscapes. | Graphic: Paul Yoder

Product – Downtown plan

The course was designed as a competition (as a contribution to Uber’s Cincinnati Mobility Labs initiative) and culminated with each team presenting to a panel of judges about their vision of the future of downtown Cincinnati’s parking and what can be done with land that is freed up when demand for parking declines. *Final plan reports provided to Uber

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MIXED USE

ELEVATOR RESIDENTIAL

RETAIL PAVILION

DOUBLE LOADED RESIDENTIAL

Sycamore St.

The challenge of this plan-making workshop was to rethink the future of urban parking and to attempt to answer the main question: As our relationship to cars change, how will downtown Cincinnati and its parking lots and garages transform?

7th St.

Main St.

2019 | Ride-sharing services will be increasingly used over the coming decade instead of our own vehicles. One third of Americans are already using ride-hailing apps, such as Uber, and the market is rapidly expanding. Shared mobility has several potential benefits for cities and its citizens, particularly when considering the efficient use of space. Is it possible for Americans to swap car ownership for shared rides?

ROW HOUSES (WOONERFS)

6th St.

Site plan: Proposes a variety of building sizes & uses allowing for a vibrant space that will serve many different groups of people. | Graphic: Paul Yoder

FRONT YARDS

DESIGNATED PLAYSPACE Rendering of Woonerf: A Dutch concept of a “living street� where pedestrians take priority. | Rendering: Jianna Lee

NO ASPHALT

Axon model of Woonerf: Includes a semi-public playspace for local families, 10-ft transitional front yards and non-asphalt pavement designed to resemble public space rather than for mobility. | Graphic: Paul Yoder

PROPOSED PARKING PLAZA

CURB FLOW DESIGN Rendering of the proposed parking plaza: Incorporates site parking during the day but can also be closed off for various public events during the evening or day hours. | Rendering: Jianna Lee

GREEN STREET DESIGN

Axon model of 6th Street: Includes sidewalk & bike lanes at the same level as the street, enhanced stormwater infrastructure and an urban plaza that can incorporate parking. | Graphic: Paul Yoder

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urban planning + design. 03 METHODS OF PHYSICAL PLANNING + DESIGN ANALYSIS / norwood, ohio Team – 2 members (2 Graduate planners) Skills Used – GIS, Illustrator, Photoshop, report writing, data analysis, analysis of physical planning techniques, graphic communication, presenting My Role – Lead writer, co-data gatherer (using GIS), secondary graphics designer Product – Portfolio of physical planning analyses 2019 | The concern for the decline of the physical environment due to urbanization has become a central topic in the planning world and thus physical planning has expanded in order to accommodate new approaches toward land use & zoning, livable city center, accessible public spaces, and environmentally sensitive development.

The objective of this course was to become familiar with various methods and techniques used in plan-making for analyzing physical aspects of a city and its surrounding area.

My team did the majority of the analyses on the City of Norwood but also looked at Hamilton County and two rural townships outside of Cincinnati. Methods included land use/land cover classification, housing & building conditions, neighborhood character, urban image, historic evolution, transportation analysis, development capacity, and environmental analysis.

Link to portfolio https://andewey93.wixsite.com/methodsportfolio

Population + Density Analysis: Population density trends of Norwood from 1970-2017 (population per square mile) to understand how the distribution and pattern of population density changed over time. | Graphic: Anna Dewey + Swapna Natesh Babu

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Land Cover Analysis: Land cover in Norwood. The aim was to understand the physical characteristics and their distribution throughout the community. | Graphic: Anna Dewey + Swapna Natesh Babu

Building Condition Analysis: Evaluation of the building conditions for Norwood along a strip of the city’s business district to identify the character of the selected area. | Graphic: Anna Dewey + Swapna Natesh Babu

Historical Analysis: Analyzing Norwood’s business district with a comparison of historic 1917 conditions with current 2019 conditions to better understand historical elements and changes related to planning. | Graphic: Anna Dewey + Swapna Natesh Babu

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urban planning + design. 04 URBAN REGENERATION IN BUDAPEST / budapest, hungary Team – Individual project (undergraduate)

MAIN POINTS

Skills Used – Report writing, international education, observation techniques, data/information collection + analysis, communication with local planning agency

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My Role – Researcher + report writer based on findings

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Product – Final research paper 2015 | The unique architecture of Budapest has been in danger for a long time and has resulted in the deterioration of numerous buildings. At the local level, however, residents have fought to protect the cultural heritage in their neighborhoods, which has led to a few social regeneration pilot projects. The Magdolna Quarter Project is one such project and it is Hungary’s first integrated and socially sensitive urban regeneration program.

Deteriorating conditions of Magdolna Quarter: An example of the poor living conditions and poor housing quality of local residents. | Image: alfoldigyorgy.hu

Situated close to the city center in the 8th district, this neighborhood is the most run-down area of the district and is characterized by high unemployment, dilapidated housing, low public safety, and high crime rates. Very poor and socially disadvantaged families of the Roma minority live here in isolation. The project’s aim is to renovate this neglected area through improved living conditions and better social programs.

Deteriorating conditions of Magdolna Quarter: Although work has begun to improve the look and quality of the neighborhood, there are still many buildings that are continuing to decay. | Image: Anna Dewey

METHODOLOGY

Furthermore, the focus of my research paper was to investigate the ongoing progress of the project and to evaluate the improved livability of the neighborhood and the benefits to the city of Budapest as a whole.

• • • Deteriorating conditions of Magdolna Quarter: Much of the neighborhood’s housing stock has been in critical shape. | Image: alfoldigyorgy.hu

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Three phases of the project have been completed between the years 2005 and 2015.

The project manager is RÉV8 (a publicly owned urban renewal company).

The goal is to reverse the ongoing process of segregation, decrease unemployment, and increase economic activities.

It also focused on improving the living environments and fostering coexistence of social groups to form a multicultural environment.

For my research, I looked at online databases for background information and corresponded with local agencies for more in-depth details.

Went on a site visit with my class.

For the actual project, local communities were actively involved to help address the area’s social, economic + infrastructure problems.

Conversion of former Glove Factory: An empty glove factory has been converted into a community center for cultrual, educational, and entertainment programs. | Image: https://www.international3c.org/ node/41

hu

. rgy gyo

di fol

Restoration of Teleki Lászlo Square marketplace: Once a barren, crime-ridden and functionless space, the community has successfully transformed this area into a lively meeting place as well as establishing a vital neighborhood center. | Image: https://

BUDAPEST

l e: a urc So

jozsefvaros.hu/hir/1588/megujult-a-teleki-teri-piac

FINDINGS • • • • •

Living conditions were improved through the renovation of 25% of the housing stock.

Substandard housing has also been reduced.

The aesthetics of the neighborhood were improved with renovation of all green spaces.

Social, cultural, and educational services have expanded.

Economic activity has increased from 40.3% to 52.9%.

EVALUATION

Redesign of Mátyás Square: As one of the main centers of the district, the redesign of this public space was crucial. More green space has been added and more attention has been given to the needs of pedestrians and cyclists. | Image: ujrev8.epiteszforum.hu

Renovation of apartment buildings: Both municipally-owned housing and privately-owned housing have started to be refurbished. All the improvements have vastly increased the living conditions in the area. | Image: https://ingatlan. com/30354752

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Signs of gentrification have started with the upgrading of many apartment buildings and public spaces.

The district has become a center for social movements that aim to improve social justice and integration.

The establishment of community centers and events are bringing more people together.

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sustainability. 01 MANAGING URBAN ENVIRONMENT IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES / jakarta, indonesia Team – 3 members (2 Graduate planners + 1 Undergraduate planner) Skills Used – Data processing/analysis, international education, report writing, project budgeting, project proposals, presenting My Role – Lead writer, co-data gatherer, co-developer of project proposals Product – Chapter for class book 2019 | The state of the urban environment in cities worldwide has become increasingly difficult to cope with and requires a multidisciplinary approach because the problems being dealt with are multifaceted. Thus, the emerging field of Urban Environmental Management (UEM) has begun to play an important role.

The focus of this course is on UEM in developing countries, specifically on the city of Jakarta, Indonesia. As one of the fastest growing economies in the world with a population of over 10 million, Jakarta has severe environmental problems due to its rapid urbanization and lax environmental regulations.

Proposed Project #1: Aims to improve knowledge and understanding of sustainable energy by educating non-governmental organizations, the public, the state’s electricity utility corporation, and the national government. | Image: TheAseanPost

Proposed Project #2: Aims to replace all “dirty” household stoves with cleaner alternatives through production of biomass stoves and bio-digesters to supply fuel. | Image: Indonesia - Toward Universal Access to Clean Cooking

Looking at data from various environmental sectors, the aim was to create a plan of solutions (with a 5-year timeline, associated costs and proposed financing) to the city’s ongoing problems. My team focused on the energy sector. Our data included the current state of non-renewable & renewable resources, political support of renewable energy, subsidies/ regulations, and financing of energy projects. *Showcased at DAAPcares 2020

Proposed Project #3: Aims to create more geothermal plants in order to tap into Indonesia’s huge geothermal energy potential thereby increasing primary energy supply and promoting cleaner energy. | Image: https://www.sumitomocorp.com/en/jp/business/case/group/geothermal

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Timeline

Project

Cost (USD)

Total (USD) 755,000

Year 1 Education Clean Stoves Geothermal Plant

80,000 -675,000 177,785,350

Year 2 Education Clean Stoves Geothermal Plant

80,000 2,005,350 175.7 million 205,107,000

Year 3 Education Clean Stoves Geothermal Plant

-2,107,000 203 million 1,352,107,000

Year 4 Education Clean Stoves Geothermal Plant

-2,107,000 1.35 billion 1,352,107,000*

Year 5 Education Clean Stoves Geothermal Plant

-2,107,000 1.35 billion

Table of 5-year timeline of projects + cost: Education is a short-term project that is easily implemented. Partnerships are important for this project as well as raising public awareness about the benefits of clean energy through various campaigns.

The clean stoves initiative is a medium-term project. This also involves raising awareness about the health effects of the current “dirty” stoves and partnering with a local company to train locals on creating and installing clean stoves.

The geothermal project is long-term and requires an abundance of funding. These projects are risky investment but are very rewarding when successful. *continuation of the previous year

Heat map of Indonesian geothermal potential: Situated along the Ring of Fire in the Pacific Ocean, Indonesia is a geothermal-rich country and many of the abundant reserves (shown in red) are located near densely populated areas of the western islands and is in close proximity to the capital of Jakarta. | Image: Accelerating Geothermal Development

MAIN POINTS • • •

Indonesia is a coal-dependent country and the second largest coal exporter in the world.

The country has a huge geothermal potential of which only about 5% is being tapped.

Low governmental support and high subsidies for coal has made the switch to renewable energy difficult.

METHODOLOGY • •

Researched literature on Indonesia’s non-renewable and renewable resources, its political context and the constraints to adequate renewable energy infrastructure.

This research informed our selection of proposed projects.

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sustainability. 02 SUSTAINABLE URBANISM / beijing + changchun, china DONG MA FANG

Team – 6 members (1 Graduate planners, 1 Undergraduate architect, 1 Undergraduate engineer + 3 Chinese architecture students)

BEFORE

Proposed Project #1: Create a bicycle highway network to enhance the transportation network and connectivity of the village. Distance between surrounding villages is short, so this bike network can reduce the use of cars and can entice residents to switch modes of transport. | Graphic:

Skills Used – Information processing, project proposals, international education, report writing, presenting My Role – Lead writer, co-data gatherer, codeveloper of project proposals Product – Chapter for class book 2019 | Chinese villages are currently facing many problems: declining population, fading identities, lack of jobs, and disappearing opportunities. All of these factors contribute to unsustainable living.

The focus of this study abroad course was urban sustainability with an attempt to come up with strategies to stimulate the vitality of rural development and enhance the attraction of rural areas while also improving the quality of life for the residents.

Chinese students

Current condition of bike lanes | Image: Anna Dewey

Proposed Project #2: Convert to centralized parking rather than the current decentralized system. The aim is to alleviate irregular parking and open up the space that is currently used for parking for other purposes.

In Dong Ma Fang, outside of Beijing, the goal was to reduce rural-urban migration by fostering innovative rural lifestyles through several strategies: sustainable food systems, solar energy, alternative transportation, and rural-urban synergy culture.

In the village near Changchun (Jinjiang Muwu), the goal was to develop strategies to create a stronger identify for the village and to enhance the tourist experience while also benefiting the residents in a sustainable manner.

Current condition of parking | Image: Anna Dewey

My team focused on transportation/mobility. The strategies aimed to improve the residents’ accessibility to nearby amenities as well as to improve recreational opportunities and visitor experience. *Presented at Beijing Jiaotong University (Beijing) and Jilin Jianzhu University (Changchun)

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AFTER

Current condition of streetscapes | Image: Anna Dewey

| Graphic: Chinese students

Proposed Project #3: This is an example of repurposing spaces previously used for parking. This road reconstruction project would improve the road traffic and also enhance the aesthetic quality of these public spaces. | Graphic: Chinese students

JINJIANG MUWU MAIN POINTS • • • •

This is the last remaining all-wood village in China.

Tourism has been on the rise and it focuses on the local culture and food.

The main question was how to improve the visitor experience while also benefiting the locals.

Deterrents to visitors are lack of visitor facilities and lack of recreational opportunities.

METHODOLOGY • •

Site visit to the village to talk to the locals and get a first-hand experience of life in the village.

This visit informed our selection of improvement projects.

Proposed Project #1: Improve wayfinding by creating signs with universal icons to help those visitors who may not speak Chinese. The objective is to help visitors understand where things are located and to easily identify the different amenities. | Graphic: Matt Weiss

Proposed Project #2: Create a bicycle trail network to provide recreational opportunities. The surrounding forest is a significant part of the village and this project would allow the residents to take advantage of its importance. | Graphic: Anna Dewey

JILIN PROVINCE

Main village road: This is the only road in the village where most activity takes place. | Image: Anna Dewey

JINJIANG MUWU

Proposed Project #3: Improve tourist traffic management to regulate the amount of vehicle traffic allowed in the village. That means restriction of tourist vehicles while only allowing local vehicles to enter. This would enhance pedestrian safety while not changing the character of the village. | Graphic: Matt Weiss

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sustainability. 03 ASSESSMENT OF URBAN SUSTAINABILITY / chicago, illinois Team – EPA Cincinnati (OH) + EPA Narragansett (RI)

IMPORTANCE •

Partners – EPA Region 5, Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) + Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC)

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Skills Used – Data research, processing + analysis, Excel, GIS, report writing + editing

METHODOLOGY

My Role – Assisting with data gathering and calculations + analysis for the Ecological Footprint, Emergy Analysis, and Fisher Information metrics

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Final Product – Published EPA report *Note: This project is not yet published; therefore, this presentation of data and results may not be as up-to-date as that of the final report.

Figure 1: Evolution of the Chicago Metropolitan Area’s ecological footprint, biocapacity, and ecological remainder (ecological balance) between 1990 and 2015. | Graph: Anna Dewey

2016-18 | An important trend in the modern world is the growing concentration of people in cities so any research on sustainability should include urban areas as a major factor. For this project, the goal was to assess whether the Chicago Metropolitan Area is moving toward or away from sustainability, and then to understand if the underlying processes needed to uphold a sustainable urban system are being met.

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Calculations are based on four variables: region’s population, amount of bioproductive space, amount of consumed products per capita + amount of energy consumed per capita.

With this, the region’s ecologcial footprint, biocapacity + ecological balance can be determined.

TAKEAWAYS • • •

Regional demand for energy + pasture lands drive the figures.

The region is a consumer entity.

From 2005 onward, the trends indicate the region has been moving toward sustainability.

IMPLICATIONS

The area under examination was the 7-county Chicago Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). In order to assess the sustainability of the region, a few metrics were calculated representing ecological, energy, material and economic sustainability as well as system dynamic stability.

Several future scenarios were then developed to inform future planning and decision making in the city. These scenarios were discussed with CMAP and MPC in Chicago.

The footprint of a city can be used to determine if the area is becoming more or less sustainable.

Significance of consumption items can also be determined, which policymakers can then focus on and try to address.

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Results can guide polices to reduce consumption patterns and also to reduce fossil fuel demand.

Link to poster: https://cfpub.epa. gov/si/si_public_record_report. cfm?Lab=NRMRL&dirEntryId=343656

Figure 2: Contribution of various consumption items to the Chicago Metropolitan Area’s ecological footprint. | Graph: Andres Argoti

*Presented at the ISSST Symposium by Andres Argoti (lead for Ecological Footprint metric)

Energy systems diagram for Illinois Mineral Industry: A model using the Energy System Language, which will be used to calculate key emergy flows. This model represents materials entering and exiting the system of Illinois and which parts of its economy they influence. | Model: Anna Dewey

Chiago Metropolitan Area: The 7-county area that was the focus for the metric caluclations.

Some metrics also included other counties in Illinois as well as in Indiana and Wisconsin. | Image: https://bar. wikipedia.org/

IMPORTANCE • •

It is used as a tool to measure the flows and uses of energy, materials + information in urban systems.

Measuring the gains and losses to society and the environment from urbanization is essential when planning for a sustainable future for urban areas.

METHODOLOGY • • • •

IMPLICATIONS

Collected data on the agricultural and mineral • industries for Illinois and Indiana.

Calculated mass from agriculture data to determine energy of products.

Calculated excess mineral production for both • states.

Made energy systems diagrams for agriculture production and the minerals industry.

Final results will quantify the overall balance of energy flows into and out of the city, showing resources required to operate Chicago.

If the benefits gained by the outer areas of the city are in balance with the resources they contribute to operate the metro areas, then the urban area is performing well.

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transit planning. 01 RIDERSHIP GROWTH STRATEGY / toronto, canada Team – TTCriders staff + TTCriders volunteers Skills Used – Report writing + editing, citizen engagement, graphic communication, international education, media writing, social media campaigns My Role – Main editor, assisted with the document layout/design and with graphics + calculations, organizing meetings + events Product – Ridership Growth Strategy report 2019 | Good public transit is crucial to creating a well-connected and successful city. It can also help reduce traffic congestion thus mitigating climate change. Despite rapid urbanization and worsening traffic congestion, transit ridership in the Greater Toronto Area has stagnated since 2015.

All transit must be accessible: This should be a key priority in the design of Toronto’s transit network. This includes proper wayfinding and communication methods, accessible fare media, and safe access to the transit. | Image: Erin Nekervis on Flickr

Bus bunching on a heavily-used route: Delays and unreliable service are a common experience with Toronto’s transit.

Traffic congestion is a major cause because buses don’t have priority or their own right-of-ways. | Graphic: Aaron Millard

A major factor for this stagnation has been chronic underfunding of the TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) by all levels of government making it the least-subsidized major transit system in North America.

In order to address this issue, TTCriders (a nonprofit organization) prepared an Alternative Ridership Growth Strategy “Better Transit Now” to provide four clear paths for increasing ridership as well as outlining equitable ways to raise the revenue needed to pay for it. Additionally, greenhouse gas reduction has been estimated for each strategy to show how essential transit investment is for curbing climate change. *Presented to the Toronto Transit Commision

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Map of cross-boundary trip cost: The Greater Toronto Area contains numerous transit agencies and many agencies have transfer agreements.

Toronto’s agency (TTC) has been slow to adopt fare integration policies due to lack of funding. | Graphic: Aaron Millard

Seattle RapidRide Service Standards: An example of a BRT-like system that features numerous transit priority measures. Toronto’s bus service is in need of an upgrade and doing so would greatly expand the city’s rapid transit network. | Graphic: Seattle DOT

Transit subsidy comparison of major North America cities: Toronto’s transit has been underfunded since the 1990s and is now the least subsidized major transit system among Canadian and U.S. cities. As a result, it has been forced to compromise service quality and increase fares to fill the funding gap. | Graphic: Aaron Millard

MAIN POINTS • • •

Equitable Revenue Tools: For ridership to grow, the city needs increased service as well as reduced fares. New revenue tools are needed from all levels of government to make this happen. | Graphic: Aaron Millard

•

Toronto’s transit system is underfunded and is in need of substantial upgrades.

These upgrades aim to increase the city’s ridership.

The TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) presented a comprehensive multi-year plan in 2003 to increase ridership, but it was only partially implemented.

Rising fares, aging infrastructure, and unreliable service have disincentivized people from choosing transit.

METHODOLOGY Greenhouse gas emissions reduction: Strategies for improved streetcar and bus service to increase annual ridership and reduce CO2 emissions. | Graphic: Aaron

• • • •

Talked to local residents, local organizations, and some politicians concerned about the future of Toronto’s transit.

Attended city-led meetings to collect information on the political discussion about transit plans and potential policies.

Built local awareness through social media and canvasing.

Voiced local concerns to political leaders.

Millard

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transit planning. 02 TRANSPORTATION DEMAND + PLANNING SURVEY / cincinnati, ohio Team – 4 members (3 Graduate planners + 1 Undergraduate planner) Skills Used – Observation/surveying techniques, data processing/analysis, GIS, citizen engagement, Illustrator, statistical analysis (logistic regression), report writing, graphic communication, presenting My Role – Co-data gatherer/surveyor, lead writer, secondary graphics designer, secondary GIS mapper Product – Final poster + presentation

OBJECTIVE To understand if the current state of the transportation system satisfies people’s needs and demands for connected modes.

Sidewalk Width: Qualitative assessment with red indicating narrow widths and green showing wider widths. | Graphic: Hongyu Zhang

Sidewalk Buffer: Qualitative assessment with green indicating green space buffers and red for no buffer. | Graphic: Hongyu Zhang Parking No buffer

Infrastructure

Parking with green space

Study Area: Includes four blocks centered on the intersection of two main roads in the Uptown Area. | Graphic: Devyani Padubidri

Green space

2018 | The Uptown Innovation Corridor consists of several neighborhoods located immediately north of downtown Cincinnati and is the region’s largest center for economic growth and urban development outside of downtown.

The aim for the Uptown Consortium is to develop a connected transportation network and an accessible multimodal hub for the city. However, in order to create such a hub, information is needed about the current trends in transportation in the area.

For this course, the goal was to develop a transportation demand & planning survey to collect data from community stakeholders. The survey gathered information about the needs of future socioeconomic trends, demographic/employment changes, land use demand, a multimodal transportation vision and transportation infrastructure needs for Uptown development.

Pedestrian Shed: Shows a 1/4 mile and 1/2 mile walking distance from the neighborhood center with various amenities plotted in the area to show what is accessible. | Graphic: Hongyu Zhang

*Presented at the Uptown Innovation Transporation Corridor Forum

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Sidewalk Condition: Qualitative assessment with red showing higher levels of sidewalk deterioration and green indicating lower levels of deterioration. | Graphic: Hongyu Zhang

Demographics: Collected information on people’s occupation, race, where they live, income level, and education level. | Graphic: Helen Pratiwi

Travel behavior: Collected information on the mode of transportation most often used, what mode they would use if improvements were made in the area, and what their primary purpose is for coming to the area. | Graphic: Helen Pratiwi

METHODOLOGY • • • •

Phase 1 - Collected data Phase 2 - Designed an intercept survey and developed survey questions Phase 3 - Implemented survey in the Uptown area Phase 4 - Analyzed the data and developed recommendations

DATA COLLECTED • • • •

Demographics Land use + transportation infrastructure General travel patterns to/from/within/through study area Attitudes toward mode choice + future transportation

RECOMMENDATIONS • • Geographic mapping: The left map shows where people who live in the Uptown area work. The right map shows where people are coming from who work in the Uptown area. The center map highlights where the Cincinnati/Uptown region is. | Graphic: Hongyu Zhang

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Improving bus frequency and reliability to enhance the current efficiency of the area.

Adding bike lanes and connecting existing ones would boost the accessibility of the Uptown corridor.

Expanding pedestrian and bike infrastrucutre and providing better incentives to use alternative transportation modes would help encourage people to walk/bike more.

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