Series
Master's Projects

Permanent Link
https://hdl.handle.net/1853/71003
Series Type
Publication Series
Description
Associated Organization(s)
Associated Organization(s)

Filters

2011 - 2013 72
72
72
Reset filters

Settings
End date: 2013 × Start date: 2011 × search.filters.applied.f.resourcesubtype: Applied Research Paper × search.filters.applied.f.resourcesubtype: Masters Project ×

Publication Search Results

Now showing 1 - 10 of 72
Thumbnail Image
Item

A Case Study on Street Design

2013-12 , Fambro, Sonya

This paper will look at several contemporary theories of street design in order to get a better understanding of how streets in Atlanta could be redesigned and repur¬posed with the understanding of streets as being “sym¬bolic, ceremonial, social, and political places [Jacobs 5].” I will begin first by analyzing the history of the street as it was established throughout ancient Rome, 15th century Renaissance, the Medieval era, Baroque, New York in the 1900s, and modern day suburbia in order to give context to the theoretical ideas that are currently being applied. Then I will look at some of the issues in the design of streets, in order to understand why streets are so difficult to design. Finally, I will analyze each theory through the use of case studies in order to understand how they dealt with and overcame the issues of street design and how these theories might be applicable to Atlanta.

View
Thumbnail Image
Item

Engaging Vulnerable Populations in Health Impact Assessment

2013-05 , Harkness, Anna Rose

This paper addresses the challenge of community engagement with vulnerable populations in the HIA process by considering two questions: 1. Which populations may be overlooked by common methods of community engagement? 2. What novel strategies can practitioners use to increase participation from vulnerable groups, particularly given the constraints of deadlines and tight budgets? The second section of the paper reviews existing literature on challenges in community engagement, working with vulnerable populations, and incorporating these elements into HIA. The third and fourth sections comprise two phases of original research. First, the third section reviews a selection of completed HIAs from eleven states to evaluate the current standard of community engagement with vulnerable populations. Then, in the fourth section, I report the results of interviews with selected HIA practitioners and policy experts on the role of community engagement in HIA and the challenges of working with vulnerable populations. The fifth section establishes a framework for practitioners for engaging vulnerable populations in HIA. The sixth section concludes.

View
Thumbnail Image
Item

Planning the Undocumented City: Unauthorized Immigrants and Planners in the 21st Century

2013-05 , Levin, Josh M.

A demographic hallmark of the 21st century has been the increasing dispersion of foreign-born populations from traditionally multicultural “gateway cities” like Los Angeles, New York, and Miami to a wide diversity of US communities, whether urban, suburban, or rural. Approximately one third of these foreign-born individuals are estimated to be unauthorized, or undocumented, immigrants. They represent not only an undeniable presence but also, in many communities, a key component of the local economy. Undocumented immigrants remain, however, an extremely vulnerable population; not only are the majority low-income, have low educational attainment, and frequently confront a significant language barrier, they also face additional challenges specifically related to their precarious legal situation. Given the responsibility of planners to “seek social justice by working to expand choice and opportunity for all persons”, as mandated by the American Institute of Certified Planners’ Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, what is our role in incorporating and addressing the needs of this controversial and vastly under-served population? How have planners conceived of this issue, and how have practitioners addressed or ignored undocumented immigrant communities in their actual, produced plans? The present report seeks to explore these questions.

View
Thumbnail Image
Item

Identifying and Solving the Entrepreneur Resource Gap in Atlanta

2013-05 , Ranney, Ted

Small businesses are the prime creators of jobs in the United States, as 72.1% of new jobs created from 1993-2006 are located within firms smaller than 20 employees (SBA, 2010). In an economy desperate for job growth, providing essential resources to these small businesses to ensure their success should be a key priority. There are numerous resources for entrepreneurs throughout Atlanta, but it is still of importance to identify demand gaps that may exist. This paper identifies resources available in Atlanta, examines underserved industries, and prescribes a solution to fill the necessary entrepreneur resource demand gap. The paper begins with a review of each of existing resources within Atlanta, with a particular focus on the accelerator/incubator and co-working spaces to conclude the type, quality, and number of resources available to start-up businesses. After performing the study on available resources, an analysis uncovers the “market” of entrepreneurs seeking assistance in Atlanta. Census County Business Patterns data are used to determine the distribution of industries and number of employees per firm in the study area. The data provides a snapshot of the current economic patterns in Metro Atlanta. Using the data, along with a further industry analysis yields a target set of industries requiring additional entrepreneurial resources. This paper includes a detailed business plan outlining all operational features of a new, proposed resource to fill a demand gap for entrepreneurial resources in Atlanta. This plan describes services to be offered, the location of the resources, marketing strategies, governance and staffing issues, operational procedures, and a financial analysis and projections to promote sustainability of the program

View
Thumbnail Image
Item

Urban Design and Georgia's Medium-Sized Towns: Issues and Prospects

2013-05 , Hampton, Travis N.

There are sixteen medium-sized rural towns in Georgia that are located outside a census-designated metropolitan area. The populations of these towns vary between 10,000 and 50,000 people with the majority located in the southern regions of the state. These towns have historically been consid ered the sub-regional nexuses for agriculture, transportation, and commerce that connect directly to the Georgia’s larger cities and regions. However, in recent decades along with other smaller-sized towns, some areas are experiencing job losses, outward migrations of younger people to larger cities, a lack of funding resources for new projects, and poverty rates which are often considerably higher than more urban/suburban areas. At the same time, these areas have also grown in sprawled patterns similar to larger metropolitan suburbs. This paper investigates this sprawled growth and focuses on whether any urban design methods or regulations have influenced the current development of these towns. This research is guided by three establishing questions. The first being, what constitutes the current urban morphology of these towns? Secondly, what are the aspirations and visions set forth by each of these towns? Thirdly, how has each town’s urban form been shaped over time through their primary regulatory documents to reflect or not reflect their aspirations and visions? The first question will be answered by employing a method of analysis similar to the urban morphology framework set out in Brenda Case Scheer’s essay “Anatomy of Sprawl.” This includes the mapping of static, elastic and campus tissues as well as resilient tissues with Google Earth and ESRI ArcGIS being the primary resources. The second question will be answered by a summary analysis and comparison of each town’s comprehensive planning documents available from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs and other agencies. The third question will be answered by examining the primary regulatory documents of these towns (e.g. zoning ordinances, subdivision regulations, etc.) to determine how the urban form has been shaped over time legally. This will involve examining the codes of ordinances via Municode () or from an additional government resource and comparing the analysis. By comparing and contrasting each town’s existing urban form conditions, their comprehensive plans, and their regulatory frameworks, planners and urban designers can gain a better understanding as to what a medium-sized town’s strengths and weaknesses are from an urban design and planning standpoint. This can then suggest what the next steps are in reforming regulations and methods that will in turn influence development patterns for future growth and cultural vitality.

View
Thumbnail Image
Item

A Food System Analysis of the City of Atlanta

2013-05 , Berry, Seanna

The study of local and regional food systems has been identified at the global and national levels as an important activity for municipalities to evaluate. Food security, or consumer access to safe, nutritious, and affordable food, is increasingly studied in public health and poverty research. Cities are utilizing urban agriculture as a tool for economic development, vacant land reuse, community building, and public health. The negative environmental and societal ramifications of the current food system necessitate a shift towards agriculture at varying scales of production. In the last five years, Atlanta public officials and food advocates have identified goals towards building a more localized and vibrant food system. This report provides further reasoning for promoting food systems planning, identifies mechanisms employed by other cities and regions to enhance the provision and consumption of locally grown food, and describes Atlanta’s current efforts in this regard. Strategic directions to guide Atlanta are recommended to help improve its efforts and overcome the identified barriers.

View
Thumbnail Image
Item

The Atlanta BeltLine: The Beginning of an Integrated Bike Network

2013-05 , Cardoni, Lauren

The City of Atlanta must develop a network of safe and comfortable routes in order to support those who use alternative transportation. The Atlanta BeltLine is a project currently underway that has the potential to initiate development of this greatly needed infrastructure. However, analysis has yet to be done showing if and how this project will contribute to a larger framework of connectivity for pedestrian and cyclists. This paper aims to answer the question, "How is the BeltLine impacting bicycle and pedestrian connectivity and how can Atlanta optimize this potential?" A literature review will summarize existing research supporting similar bike network development techniques in other cities throughout North America. The approach taken to establish additional research supporting the hypothesis will described prior to the revelation of the actual data analysis. finally, the paper will conclude with policy recommendations based on the outcome of the data analysis.

View
Thumbnail Image
Item

Innovations in Sustainable Airport Planning Efforts: A Case Study of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport

2013-05 , Kalinke, Lydia

This report explores the best airport facility design strategies that address environmental concerns of the future. Instead of focusing on facility expansion, airport facilities should learn to adapt - whether through progressive facility design standards or adding additional green space to the surrounding community. Specifically, the research focuses on the most sustainable practices in airport master planning that are oriented towards pleasing businesses, passengers, and the community. Airport area development has been considered until now only a "minor strand of urban transportation planning;" however, the subject is "slowly gaining prominence in the planning, urban geography, and economic development literature" and should therefore be increasingly research (Freestone and Baker, 2011, p. 263). Thoroughly researched practices will enable development guidelines to direct practices that ensure successful development.

View
Thumbnail Image
Item

Contextual Approaches in Food Access Measurement

2013-05 , Lee, Susannah

This study presents a set of geospatial methods to assessing food access that is sensitive to varying contexts across urban environments. This new methodology employs 1) a variable distance threshold for physical access, 2) transportation accessibility measurement for resource-based access, and 3) segmented analysis of food destination types. It is applied to the City of Atlanta, showing that good food access is driven primarily by large grocery retailers, but small scale food destinations contribute to food security in the neighborhoods experiencing the lowest levels of food access. This new approach advances the means for planning practitioners to accurately assess complex food landscape characteristics to better target food systems planning.

View
Thumbnail Image
Item

Community Improvement through Enhanced Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNAs)

2013-05 , Madden, Mackenzie

In this study of how Community Health Needs Assessments operate, I analyze the history behind a CHNA, the current legislation in America regarding them, and the current state of practice for conducting them. This paper will pose the questions of how a standardized self-assessment checklist for conducting a CHNA will be beneficial for hospitals, community members, and the Treasury and IRS. Based on a review of literature on the topic, previous CHNAs, analysis of existing tools, and interviews with experts, this paper will assess common issues that inhibit the CHNA process and address possible ways to alleviate them. Atlanta, Georgia will be the region of study to simplify and standardize examples and results. At present, the CHNA environment is constantly changing as the IRS adjusts the requirements based on formal comments. New literature is published daily on the topic, indicating that several groups are researching the CHNA process and seeking to provide resources and assistance to hospitals.

View