Browsing by Author "Glick, Scott, committee member"
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Item Open Access Development of a decision support system for integrated urban water resources management(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2011) Reichel, Bradley I., author; Sharvelle, Sybil, advisor; Roesner, Larry, advisor; Glick, Scott, committee memberThe challenges of addressing the needs of aging water and wastewater infrastructure require new management approaches. Traditional municipal water management practices may not be the most cost effective solutions. Savings may be realized through the adoption of new integrated water management concepts such as treated wastewater effluent and/or graywater reuse, rainfall harvesting, etc. Determining which water management practices are best suited to a particular urban area can be a difficult task as costs, climate, and population characteristics vary across regions. The Integrated Urban Water Model (IUWM) has been developed by the Urban Water Center at Colorado State University to aid urban planners and utility managers in the assessment of which water management practices may prove most beneficial to their communities. These practices include: indoor conservation, irrigation conservation, wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) reuse for irrigation, graywater reuse for toilet flushing and irrigation, and stormwater capture reuse for irrigation. The model is native to the Windows operating environment and includes a graphical user interface through which the user can easily add information about the region and assess the potential benefits of the included water management practices. A case study application of the model to five cities in different climatological regions of the United States is included in the report. The case study serves as both an example of how the application may be used and demonstrates its capabilities. The results of the case study reveal that hydrologic conditions impact the effectiveness of selected water management practices.Item Open Access Evaluating high school electricity consumption and expenditure intensity in the Poudre School District of northern Colorado(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2010) Elliott, Jonathan W., author; Guggemos, Angela, advisor; Ore, Janet, committee member; Glick, Scott, committee memberWith the exception of personnel-related expenditures, utilities represent the largest cost in school budgets, but are one area where expenses can be trimmed without compromising educational quality (Consortium for Energy Efficiency, 2005). In the Poudre School District of Northern Colorado, Fort Collins High School (FCHS) and Fossil Ridge High School (FRHS) have similar building attributes (square footage, mechanical systems, and architectural capacities). In contrast to FCHS (built 1995), FRHS (built 2005) has many energy efficiency features and is LEED-Silver and Energy- Star (2009) certified. Yet in recent years, the electricity costs and electric use intensities (EUIs) were comparable. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to evaluate electricity consumption to understand electric use patterns at these schools. Overall analysis indicated significantly more electricity use for lighting at FCHS (44.04% of total) when compared to FRHS (36.90% to total). Also, HVAC represents 33.16% at FCHS compared to 29.17% at FRHS. However, plug loads account for 24.99% of use at FRHS but only 16.35% at FCHS. Comparing energy performance using whole-building EUI (total annual electric consumption divided by total conditioned floor area) ignores secondary building characteristics that influence consumption. In order to improve the whole building EUI and identify areas of high consumption, individual workspace EUIs were separated for analysis. Variations in workspace specific floor areas and workspace EUIs were seen at both schools. Workspace EUI values ranged from 2.60 kWh/ft2/yr in closet/storage spaces to 40.68 kWh/ft2/yr in the kitchen workspaces. Further, workspace EUIs were partitioned into their HVAC, lighting, plug load, food service and residual components for analysis. Component EUI analysis identified major consumptive differences at the two schools: High for lighting in the trades classrooms and gymnasium at FCHS and high for plug loads in the computer labs at FRHS. Since both high schools have the same educational goals, overly consumptive component EUIs (in one school compared to the other) indicate workspaces where reductions in electric consumption may be possible without detrimental effects on education quality. Educational workspace distribution and the amount of electricity-consuming equipment vary between the schools and hence traditional whole-building EUI (total consumption/total conditioned floor space) must be interpreted with caution. Major differences in the component EUIs observed between the two schools indicated that the high-wattage lighting in the trades classroom and gymnasium at FCHS and the computer density at FRHS should be investigated for possible renovations to reduce electric use at these schools.Item Open Access Evaluating the bond durability of FRP-concrete systems subjected to environmental exposures(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2012) Mata Carrillo, Oscar Rafael, author; Atadero, Rebecca, advisor; Heyliger, Paul, committee member; Glick, Scott, committee memberThe poor current condition of transportation infrastructure in the U.S. is well documented. With traffic volumes on the rise, as well as limited funding available to maintain and rehabilitate aging bridges, cost effective means of improving the performance and durability of these structures must be employed. Fiber Reinforced Polymers (FRPs) offer one potential solution. Their use has been progressively growing in the field of civil engineering as the material's high strength to weight ratio, non-corrosive nature, and ability to conform to existing geometry make it appealing in the reinforcement of existing reinforced concrete structures. In most applications of FRP to strengthen an existing structure, the FRP-concrete bond is essential. Bond is needed for proper transfer of stresses among interfaces. From a durability standpoint, the long-term bond performance is also a major concern. As a result, a long-term durability study was conducted in the laboratory to evaluate the behavior of the bond between the FRP and concrete. Small concrete specimens were prepared, reinforced with FRP material, and subjected to various environmental scenarios such as wet-dry cycles, freeze-thaw cycles, and constant immersion in water, as well as deicing agents. Direct tension pull-off tests and three-point flexural tests were conducted on these specimens to determine any degradation in bond strength over time. Finally, the pull-off test method was evaluated by means of previous research studies and recommendations about preparation procedures were made.Item Open Access Evaluation of decentralized alternatives for separate treatment and supply of indoor water: Fort Collins case study(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2015) Fourness, Daniel P., author; Sharvelle, Sybil, advisor; Grigg, Neil, committee member; Glick, Scott, committee memberThe replacement of aging water infrastructure in the City of Fort Collins, CO provides an opportunity to evaluate the applicability of dual distribution and decentralized water treatment alternatives in comparison to the existing conventional system. The purpose of an alternative approach is to meet future water demands and quality standards which can be achieved by treating less water through the separation of supply for outdoor irrigation and fire flow from potable demand. Energy consumption required for the production of potable water and deteriorating water quality due to water age provide motivation for this evaluation. Few existing projects have demonstrated the applicability of dual water supply and decentralized treatment at a city-wide scale. This study explores these alternative approaches separating supply of water for indoor use and how decentralized water treatment may integrate into such an approach. Four water treatment and distribution alternatives were considered in comparison to the existing system using a Multi-Criterion Decision Analysis (MCDA) tool with eleven performance metrics assessed from a triple bottom line of economic, social and environmental perspectives. Alternatives were defined as city-wide dual distribution, neighborhood-scale treatment with dual distribution, point-of-entry treatment, and separated irrigation. This study focused specifically on evaluation of dual water supply alternatives incorporating decentralized treatment which reduce additional distribution infrastructure and water age in comparison to centralized treatment. A common selection process for both neighborhood-scale and point-of-entry treatment was used to recommend the most applicable systems for decentralized alternatives. An ultrafiltration package system with chlorine disinfection was recommended neighborhood-scale system due to compact design, low chemical requirements, consistent water quality and amenability to remote monitoring. Activated Carbon/Kinetic Fluxion Media filtration with ultraviolet disinfection was recommended for point-of-entry treatment system based on low capital costs, simplistic operation, low chemical requirements, and small system size. Results of the evaluation illuminate key drivers which dictate the competitiveness of dual water supply with decentralized treatment alternatives with the existing centralized conventional model. The largest advantages are reduced chemical use, improved water age and quality, adaptability to new water management strategies and revenue opportunities from increased capacity at the existing treatment facility. Neighborhood-scale treatment and dual distribution incurs large capital costs while consuming substantially more energy due to pumping. Disruption associated with the installation of neighborhood-scale treatment facilities and dual distribution networks has a negative effect on society and intensifies environmental concerns for greenhouse gas emissions and stormwater pollution. Point-of-entry treatment increases the risk of rate changes related to drastically higher maintenance costs and personnel needs. Both alternatives are strongly affected by the lack of defined regulations for these approaches at a city-wide scale. Overall, dual distribution and decentralized water treatment alternatives were not economically competitive with the existing system and offered negligible social advantages. Environmental benefits were realized for both alternatives which can be largely attributed to improved water quality due to shorter water age. Dual distribution with central treatment alternative results suggest that separating potable water from irrigation and fire flow is a practical solution that may be competitive with conventional water production in a city-wide application. While dual water distribution for separate supply of indoor water may have some advantages over conventional systems, the decentralized alternatives do not appear to offer a competitive advantage compared to the existing conventional system.Item Open Access Failure mode analysis of a post-tension anchored dam using linear finite element analysis(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2014) Corn, Aimee, author; Heyliger, Paul, advisor; Bareither, Chris, committee member; Glick, Scott, committee member; Lund, Guy, committee memberThere are currently over 84,000 dams in the United States, and the average age of those dams is 52 years. Concrete gravity dams are the second most common dam type, with more than 3,000 in the United States. Current engineering technology and technical understanding of hydrologic and seismic events has resulted in significant increases to the required design loads for most dams; therefore, many older dams do not have adequate safety for extreme loading events. Concrete gravity dams designed and constructed in the early 20th century did not consider uplift pressures beneath the dam, which reduces the effective weight of the structure. One method that has been used to enhance the stability of older concrete gravity dams includes the post-tension anchor (PTA) system. Post-tensioning infers modifying cured concrete and using self-equilibrating elements to increase the weight of the section, which provides added stability. There is a lack of historical evidence regarding the potential failure mechanisms for PTA concrete gravity dams. Of particular interest, is how these systems behave during large seismic events. The objective of this thesis is to develop a method by which the potential failure modes during a seismic event for a PTA dam can be evaluated using the linear elastic finite element method of analysis. The most likely potential failure modes (PFM) for PTA designs are due to tensile failure and shear failure. A numerical model of a hypothetical project was developed to simulate PTAs in the dam. The model was subjected to acceleration time-history motions that simulated the seismic loads. The results were used to evaluate the likelihood of tendon failure due to both tension and shear. The results from the analysis indicated that the PTA load increased during the seismic event; however, the peak load in the tendons was less than the gross ultimate tensile strength (GUTS) and would not be expected to result in tensile failure at the assumed project. The analysis also indicated there was a potential for permanent horizontal displacement along the dam/foundation interface. The horizontal movement was not considered large enough to develop a shear failure of the tendons at the project. The results from this study indicate demand to capacity ratios (DCR) of 0.79 for the anchor head, 0.75 for the tendon, and 0.63 for the foundation cone failure, and a potential displacement of 0.33 inches, which is not large enough to shear the tendon. The methods developed are appropriate for the evaluation of the tensile and shear failure modes for the PTA tendons. Based on the results, it would appear that shear failure of the tendon is a more likely failure mechanism. Thus, shear failure of the tendon should be a focus of seismic evaluations.Item Open Access Graywater reuse guidance and demonstration using a constructed wetland treatment system(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2011) Bergdolt, Jesse Hawk, author; Sharvelle, Sybil E., advisor; Roesner, Larry A., advisor; Glick, Scott, committee memberCommunities throughout the United States and abroad are developing interest in innovative approaches to sustaining their freshwater resources. One method, graywater reuse for non-potable demands, is gaining popularity because it allows the reuse of minimally contaminated wash water generated at the home/office for non-potable demands, which then reduces the demand for treated water and preserves source waters. Graywater is defined as any wastewater generated at the home or office excluding water from the toilets, kitchen sinks, and dishwasher, but includes wastewater from the laundry, shower, and bathroom sinks. When compared to other wastewater generated in the home graywater is minimally contaminated with lower concentrations of organics, solids, nutrients, and pathogens, thereby rendering the water suitable for reuse with minimal treatment when compared to other domestic wastewater sources. Despite widespread interest in this innovative approach information on the separation and design of residential and/or commercial scale graywater systems have been limited. The objective of this study was 1) to provide a graywater reuse manual for home or business owners interested in separating sources of graywater from blackwater for graywater reuse and 2) to determine the first order removal rates (k) of graywater constituents using both a free water surface (FWS) and subsurface flow (SF) constructed wetlands, in order to provide design guidance for future constructed wetlands that will be used to treat graywater. Information regarding the separation and reuse of graywater is important to the success of graywater reuse systems. This thesis provides information to business and home owners about the separation of graywater from blackwater for graywater reuse. Part one of this thesis outlines the methods and equipment needed to install a dual plumbing system for the purpose of graywater reuse. Part one also describes how to design an individual graywater reuse system specific to the needs of the home or business owners, the technologies and equipment necessary for graywater reuse systems, known maintenance requirements for graywater systems, and best management practices to ensure safe reuse of graywater. Individual graywater reuse systems for the home or office are too small to treat large amounts of graywater produced by residential neighborhoods or communities. Consideration should be given to treatment options that can handle and treat a large amount of graywater. Constructed wetlands can offer a scalable, economically sound, low tech and easily maintained method of treating graywater for large scale irrigation reuse. While constructed wetlands are an appropriate technology for graywater treatment there is little research providing the removal rates for the design of constructed wetlands for graywater reuse. Determining removal rates is important for creating wetland design standards for graywater treatment and reuse. Part two of this thesis provides the experimental results for determining the seasonal flow adjusted removal rates (k) of graywater constituents using a free water surface (FWS) constructed wetland and a subsurface flow (SF) constructed wetland. Removal rates were evaluated over a two year period (2008-2010) for a FWS wetland and evaluated over the summer/fall of 2010 for a SF wetland. The results for the FWS included the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) removal rates of 15.9 (m yr-1) for summer removal, 15.2(m yr-1) for fall removal, and 5.6 (m yr-1) for winter/spring removal. The total nitrogen (TN) removal rates were 16.4 (m yr-1) for summer removal, 8.5 (m yr-1) for fall removal, and 5.5 (m yr-1) for winter removal. The total organic carbon (TOC) removal rates were 10.4 (m yr-1) for summer removal and inconclusive for the TOC removal in the fall and winter seasons. The results for the SF during the summer included a BOD5 removal rate of 19.1 (m yr-1), a TOC removal of 22.8 (m yr-1), a TN removal rate of 21.3 (m yr-1), and an ammonia removal rate of 32.6 (m yr-1). The results were inconclusive for the fall season due to a limited amount of data. When compared to other literature k values for sizing wetland for agricultural and municipal wastewater, results from this study had lower k values for BOD, which resulted in a larger required surface area (SA) for wetland design. The TN and ammonia k values were comparable to other literature design values.Item Open Access Implementation of graywater reuse in the State of Colorado(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2014) Vandegrift, Jillian, author; Sharvelle, Sybil, advisor; Glick, Scott, committee member; Grigg, Neil, committee memberThe United States is expected to see large population growth in the coming years. The southwest region of the country will see dramatic effects due to a higher demand for water paired with concerns associated with climate change resulting in less runoff, increased temperatures and evapotranspiration, and decreased precipitation (Barnett et al. 2007). Water conserving methods such as low-flow fixtures and appliances are believed to be approaching their maximum water saving potential and new techniques are needed in order to protect the world's most valuable resource. Graywater reuse is a strategy gaining popularity because it is a low-strength wastewater that is easier and less expensive to treat than domestic wastewater (Winward et al 2008). Graywater, or water discharged from showers, bathtubs, laundry machines, and laundry and bathroom faucets, constitutes approximately 44% of total indoor water use at the household level (REUWS, 2012). The reuse of graywater for toilet flushing and irrigation has been well studied at the household level, however little research has been done regarding water reuse at commercial facilities. Through a series of feasibility studies, water use at several business types was investigated in order to identify facilities that could benefit from simple water reuse methods. Conclusions from these studies show that research labs, hotels, and gyms have the potential to reduce their demand on municipal water by up to 21%. Overall, businesses that have balanced water use tendencies between graywater demand and graywater supply resulted in the largest estimated potential water savings. In contrast, businesses such as office buildings do not typically generate large amounts of graywater and therefore are not often ideal candidates for graywater reuse, unless there is on-site laundry effluent available for reuse. Water conservation also has its downfalls in terms of implementation. In the western region of the United States, water allocations and water rights are a serious consideration for municipalities. The City of Fort Collins Utilities was interested in investigating the potential impacts to return flows associated with graywater reuse. Adoption of graywater reuse in existing, and new and redevelopment populations in Fort Collins was estimated to be between 5-10%, and 80-100%, respectively. Results of the impact to return flows study show the City of Fort Collins could see a maximum reduction in return flows of 5.5% in realistic adoption rate scenarios. In hypothetical adoption rate scenarios, calculations were made in order to capture the effects of 100% adoption in existing, new and redevelopment areas of Fort Collins. Though this adoption rate is highly improbable, it illustrates the potential impacts that newer developing cities may see if graywater reuse is integrated as part of the infrastructure planning process. 100% adoption of graywater reuse resulted in an estimated 21% reduction from base flows to the wastewater treatment plant. Additionally, implementation of graywater reuse will be dependent upon city/county local ordinances when Regulation 86 is finalized in the future. In order to assist the development of a city ordinance for Fort Collins, as well as promote graywater reuse, a series of Best Management Practices documents and graywater factsheets were created with educational intentions. Recommendations for design criteria and permit requirements were provided in another series of documents attached in the appendices of this report. Operational experience was beneficial in terms of making the appropriate design criteria recommendations for graywater legislation. The graywater reuse system for toilet flushing at Aspen Residence Hall on Colorado State University's campus provided several valuable operational experiences when it underwent the first actual implementation period in the spring of 2014. The first operational period was generally successful aside from a few instances of unexpected malfunctions and equipment failures resulting in foul odors in student's toilets. Automatic chlorine residual monitoring was utilized in order to protect public health, and chlorine residuals were present during unexpected occurrences. Student survey results show mixed feelings towards the graywater reuse system, however most negativity was attributed to the isolated malfunction incidents and not normal operation periods. The fall of 2014 will serve as another pilot-phase period in which necessary system improvements will be made prior to start-up, and more frequent monitoring of chlorine residuals in student's toilet will occur in order to better gauge the functionality of the system.Item Open Access Integrating BIM as a teaching tool in existing construction management curricula: a case study(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2021) Rush, Jonathan M. Mike, author; Elliott, Jonathan, advisor; Glick, Scott, committee member; McLean, David, committee memberBuilding design and construction delivery methods are becoming more complex while construction durations are simultaneously being reduced. Today the construction industry is leveraging technologies including Building Information Modeling (BIM) to improve project delivery. BIM applications are used in the construction industry as the platform on which design build and integrated project delivery (IPD) is practiced to complete construction task such as: lift and shop drawings, cost estimating and cost management, generation and analysis of project schedules, logistics analysis, and project marketing. BIM technologies are also used to facilitate more clear communication between all members of a building project development team. Literature review and professional experience reveals that the construction industry needs graduates with some aptitude for BIM. Further, an experiential understanding of BIM applications is imperative for construction management graduates to navigate the growing complexities of project delivery to meet industry demand. This study investigated the integration of BIM within an existing graduate-level construction management course at Colorado State University (CSU). An exploratory sequential case study approach was implemented to conduct a cross-sectional study of quantitative and qualitative data. The investigation is grounded in the researcher's ongoing professional work in facilities management at CSU, and a review of literature to establish the need for BIM exposure, experience and aptitude in the construction industry. This study initially explored BIM integration and teaching methodologies in the architecture and engineering disciplines. The researcher applied the expanding use of BIM in architectural engineering education to inform technology integration within construction management curricula. A survey was distributed to gather data on the student experience with BIM as well as their pre- and post-class perceptions of the learning opportunities and outcomes of BIM integration in a graduate construction management course. After compiling the data from quantitative Likert scale items, the researcher conducted paired samples t-tests: comparing the same people on one variable, at the pre-test and post-test intervention for students taking the CON 571 class. The objective of running the paired t-tests was to determine if student perceptions of their experience with BIM and associated development planning assignments were significantly different before and after taking CON 571. A significant difference in the mean at pre-test and post-test was observed and results suggest that the students were learning the technology and the course materials at the same time. The study leveraged the researcher's work as University Architect and Manager of Capital Design and Construction at Colorado State University coupled with a parallel appointment to teach the Facility Planning and Management (CON 571) course. The researcher has taught CON 571, each fall, for eleven years, and this case study focuses on three semesters where BIM was fully integrated into the existing curricula. The course used actual projects in various stages of development on Colorado State University's campus and sequentially taught the project development process. The content and teaching used BIM to align assignments directly with the development process, starting with master planning, building, programming, project marketing, conceptual building design, building code analysis, cost estimating, scheduling with logistics planning and concluded with construction documentation. Through the integration of three-dimensional technologies, the building information models evolve through the duration of the course and result in a detailed facility that was originally identified on the student's conceptual master plan. An exploratory case study approach was implemented to conduct a cross-sectional study of quantitative and qualitative data through literature review research, professional experience and interactions, surveys and analysis. The investigation is grounded in the researcher's ongoing professional work, and a review of literature to establish the need for BIM exposure, experience and aptitude in the construction industry. The study provides evidence that BIM can be successfully integrated into existing construction management curricula to promote the critical thinking, planning and problem solving required of successful construction management graduates and practitioners. BIM was successfully used as a tool to teach the existing curriculum in CON 571 which focuses on the project development process at Colorado State University. The results revealed that the students learned the existing course material, emerging delivery methods, and the BIM technologies simultaneously. This study suggests that BIM can be integrated into existing curriculum and that separate classes focusing on the technology itself may not be needed. The study also illustrates teaching methodologies developed in the subject course that can be utilized in other courses to support the integration of BIM across existing AEC curricula. Identified in the literature review and supported by the researchers work experience, this research builds on current educational and professional practices using BIM technologies in design, construction and development. The results are helpful for professionals involved with both the teaching and practice of integrated project delivery, specifically, design-build. That said, continuing efforts to integrate BIM into Construction Management education is needed. Further research should focus on teaching methodologies, more mobile and site-based technologies, and the adaptation of this parametric, data driven tool to encourage discovery and innovation in both project documentation and delivery. BIM is rapidly changing the way buildings are procured, constructed and delivered. Preparing construction management students to leverage BIM applications, while still obtaining a solid foundational CM knowledge base, is paramount for preparing students to enter a quickly advancing Architectural Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry.Item Open Access Ipe: evaluation of orthotropic elastic properties and its application in roadside barriers(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2016) Lankford, Robert, author; Heyliger, Paul, advisor; Atadero, Rebecca, committee member; Glick, Scott, committee memberRoadside barriers are the primary structural safety device on surface roads. They can be made from any material as long as they can absorb the energy involved in an impact scenario. One material that has that potential is Ipe. Ipe is a hardwood material that has relatively high strength compared to common structural woods. Despite its high strength, the 9 independent material properties for Ipe has not studied in the literature. In this paper, those material properties are determined with various tests. With the material properties, dynamic finite element analyses were done with seven different roadside barrier configurations and were then compared to the performance of the commonly used steel W-beam barrier. Ipe showed great potential with certain configurations, but with a much higher cost. Realistic implementation of Ipe in roadside barriers would be more beneficial for roads with lower speed limits, thus lowering that cost.Item Open Access Life cycle assessment and life cycle cost of photovoltaic panels on Lake Street Parking Garage(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2014) Fan, Jiawei, author; Strong, Kelly, advisor; Glick, Scott, committee member; Paustian, Keith, committee memberIn the U.S., the capacity of photovoltaic panels has already reached a level close to 14GW in 2014. The goal of the solar power industry is to meet 10% of U.S. peak electricity generation capacity by 2030 (Dincer, 2011). Photovoltaic panel systems have become a new trend to produce electric power. Solar radiation is an abundant, inexhaustible, clean and cheap energy source. By using solar energy, solar panels are considered a clean and green method to produce electric power. However, photovoltaic panels have impacts on the environment in the production process and end-of-life process. This thesis uses a methodology that combines life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle cost (LCC) to analyze the life cycle impact and the cost of a PV system on a public garage located in Fort Collins, Colorado. The LCA method used in this thesis is a hybrid LCA, which is a combination of process based LCA and economic Input/Output LCA (EIO-LCA). The result of the analysis of LCA indicates that a solar panel power system does have some advantages in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and gaseous toxic releases. However, solar panel systems have higher toxic releases to water and land than a traditional power plant. The result of LCC points out that the solar panel system on the roof of Lake Street Parking Garage cannot recover its cost during its 25-year life span.Item Open Access Low impact development modeling to manage urban storm water runoff and restore predevelopment site hydrology(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2010) Simpson, Matthew G., author; Roesner, Larry A., advisor; Grigg, Neil S., committee member; Glick, Scott, committee memberThe hydrologic effects of urban development have been documented for some time. Urban streams experience dramatic changes to their natural flow regime, which is mostly due to the increased rate and volume of runoff. Conventional stormwater management focuses on peak rate control through the use of detention and retention basins while paying little attention to the increased volume of urban runoff. Low Impact Development (LID) is a land planning and stormwater management approach that seeks to control runoff as close as possible to its source. LID practices take advantage of natural processes, such as infiltration, to reduce the rate and volume of runoff while improving water quality at the same time. It is hypothesized that LID can be used to restore the predevelopment hydrology to a site. This thesis investigates if LID can be used exclusively to meet stormwater requirements and secondly whether LID can maintain the predevelopment site hydrology. In order to examine if LID can restore predevelopment site hydrology, an EPA SWMM model was created based upon a proposed development in Fort Collins, CO. Several different scenarios were evaluated including: rainfall from Fort Collins, CO and Atlanta, GA; a high and a low infiltration soil; and BMPs with partial infiltration (with underdrain) and with full infiltration (without underdrain). The amount of LID in each model was increased until predevelopment peak flow rates and water balance were met; this was accomplished using design storm simulations. Each model was then analyzed with a continuous simulation using historic rainfall data from both locations. The LID BMPs that were modeled include grassed swales, rain gardens, infiltration trenches, and permeable pavement. Finally, a cost review of the LID designs was performed to explore the financial practicality of LID. The results show that LID can restore predevelopment site hydrology, but the amount of LID required is substantial. However, the cost review shows that the extra LID expense could be recovered in certain locations through development of the detention pond land which is no longer needed.Item Open Access Quality control of front-end planning for electric power construction: a collaborative process-based approach using systems engineering(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2024) Nguyen, Frank Bao Thai, author; Grigg, Neil, advisor; Valdes-Vasquez, Rodolfo, advisor; Gallegos, Erika, committee member; Glick, Scott, committee memberControlling construction costs in the electric power industry will become more important as the nation responds to new energy demands due to the transition from gasoline to electric vehicles and to emerging trends such as artificial intelligence and use of cryptocurrency. However, managing electric utility construction project costs requires that the risk of field change orders (FCOs) during construction be controlled. In the electric power industry, utility companies face increasing risk from FCOs, due to conversion from overhead to underground systems required by security and climate change factors, and subgrade work is more challenging and less predictable than the more visible overhead work. Change orders cause cost overruns and schedule slippages and can occur for reasons such as changes in scope of work, unforeseen jobsite conditions, modifications of plans to meet existing field conditions, and correction of work required by field inspectors to meet safety standards. The best opportunity to control FCOs comes during front-end planning (FEP) when conditions leading to them can be identified and mitigated. This study utilized systems engineering methodologies to address risk of FCOs in three phases: (1) defining the root causes and identifying severities of FCOs, (2) evaluating stakeholder responsibilities to find and mitigate root causes of FCOs, and (3) developing a process to identify and find solutions for the risk of FCOs. The first phase involved using a descriptive statistical analysis of the project database of an electric utility company to identify and analyze the magnitude, frequency, and causes of FCOs in overhead and underground electrical construction. The results showed that FCOs with added scopes occurred more frequently in underground projects than in overhead projects. The analysis also indicated that most causes of FCOs could be managed during the FEP process, and it laid a foundation for the next phase, to promote collaboration among stakeholders to allocate responsibility to identify and mitigate risk of FCOs. In the second phase, the study used Analytical Hierarchy Process methodologies to distribute weights of stakeholder votes to create an integrated metric of front-end planning team confidence that a desired level of quality had been achieved. This study was significant in that it showed how effectiveness of collaborative working relationships across teams during front-end planning could be improved to create a quality control metric to capture risk of FCOs. In the third phase, the study used results from the first two phases and additional tools based on Swimlane diagrams and logical relationships between tasks and stakeholders to formulate a quality control roadmap model. This model is significant because it creates a roadmap to enhance the effectiveness of interdisciplinary teamwork through a critical path of the FEP process. The roadmap model shows a streamlined process for decision-making in each phase of front-end planning to minimize risk of FCOs through a logical path prior to final design. While there have been efforts to improve the design process, this study is the first one known to the researcher to address quality control of FEP using a roadmap process for quality control in electric power construction projects. The primary contribution is to enrich the body of knowledge about quality control of FEP by creating a roadmap model based on systems engineering and enhancing the effectiveness of collaborative working relationships in a logical process that captures risk of FCOs early in the FEP process. Besides the contribution of a method to reduce the risk of FCOs, the study points to another important concern to the construction industry about safety on the jobsite. The contractor normally requires a time extension to complete the work due to an FCO, but to reduce the impact to the project schedule, overtime is normally provided to the construction workers to perform the task. Additional research on this issue is required, but it is apparent that due to the fatigue of long working hours, this overtime may impact the task performance as well as the physical and psychological well-being of the construction workers, and they may lose safety awareness and have higher risk of accidents on the construction site. Thus, reducing the risk of FCOs will lead to less overtime and is an effective way for the construction project team to reduce the risk of construction accidents.Item Open Access Regulatory issues associated with graywater reuse(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2012) Glenn, Robert Triumph, author; Sharvelle, Sybil, advisor; Roesner, Larry, committee member; Glick, Scott, committee memberConcerns over limited water resources in arid and semi-arid regions in addition to overloaded and/or costly wastewater treatment facilities have resulted in utilities looking toward new concepts for water management. This is particularly true in the Southwestern United States. One approach which is increasingly gaining popularity is the reuse of graywater for nonpotable applications. Graywater reuse has been known to be prevalent in the U.S. for at least 10 years. A study conducted by the Water Conservation Alliance of Southern Arizona showed that 13% of homes were reusing graywater in the year 2000. Despite the prevalence of graywater reuse, most current regulations have not been based on science and states currently looking toward developing regulations and guidelines on the safe reuse of graywater are seeking guidance on doing so. Also, the link between graywater constituents and risk to human health has not been well studied. Therefore, the risks posed to human health by graywater reuse remain largely unknown. The objective of this project is to gather useful data on the water quality, currently available technologies and standards for integrating graywater systems into various types of localized sites. Additionally, surveys from state health officials (including states that allow graywater use and states that lack a graywater regulation) provide insight on the key issues associated with implementing graywater regulations. The data gathered will help regulatory agencies make decisions based on water quality information, available technologies and standards. A spreadsheet based end product was created to manage the vast amount of information and sort all the data on water quality, regulations and treatment technologies.Item Open Access The development of a simplified asset management model for fixed US Air Force installations(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2014) Gregory, Colby S., author; Grigg, Neil, advisor; Bailey, Ryan, committee member; Glick, Scott, committee memberWater utility infrastructures that support Air Force installations are not only important to but also expensive to maintain and repair. While the Air Force strategic asset management structure focuses on mid- to long-term planning for budget allocation, at the installation level many issues confront the effectiveness of this program. Problems arise at every level within the installation's utility asset management program from asset inventory to condition assessments and failure consequence assessment. With inaccurate asset inventories, data disparities and uncertain information on system condition, installations are forced to take a "worst first" approach to maintenance operations. The largest issues confronting utility management at the installation level are time and money. Reductions in force size and spending provide the impetus to create a simplified method for asset management. To solve this complex problem, an investigation of various approaches to utility asset management has been conducted to encompass the intent of the Air Force's existing activity management framework. Using pre-existing information and new methods, a risk management model was developed to bolster the efficacy of the pre-existing management system. Knowledge-based condition assessments and criticality assessments allow utilities engineers to calculate infrastructure risk for their planning horizons, rather than strategic planning horizons. This research includes analytical and mathematical approaches that formulate the backbone of the simplified process. This study also provides a user-focused data model and an implementation strategy to outline the processes required to improve management conditions. By laying the groundwork for how utility infrastructures can be better managed, conclusions about feasible approaches are made considering the Air Force's monetary and manpower constraints. The research was validated through a case study at Francis E. Warren Air Force Base. A discovery was made that through both a paradigm shift in the calculation and communication of failure consequences, improvements can be made to the process by which infrastructure is managed at the installation level. The research concludes with an analysis of the roles of key factors in the process of asset management as practiced by the defense industry and fee-based public utilities. The implications of this research primarily benefit multi-layered organizations that currently use a top-down approach to asset management. By aiding the ability for lower levels to aggregate data and determine priority, improved levels of service, more effective mission support and reduced outages may be realized.Item Open Access The impact of green building ratings programs on business decisions(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2014) Quiroga, Lisa Marie, author; Strong, Kelly, advisor; Glick, Scott, committee member; Tremblay, Kenneth, committee memberThe purpose of this research is to expand knowledge about the usefulness of green building rating programs for businesses which already participate in green building, and also for those considering participating in green building. This knowledge is important to both businesses interested in green building, and also for universities teaching classes with green building practices in mind. The research revealed that, while there is growing environmental concern among specialists in the energy design and construction industry, green building alternatives are generally cost prohibitive, and the life cycle cost benefits are insufficient to warrant the use of new material or systems without the support of government subsidies.Item Open Access The meaning of work for five Generation Y employees: a hermeneutic phenomenological study(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2014) Coates, Tabitha K. L., author; Lynham, Susan A., advisor; Glick, Scott, committee member; Jennings, Louise, committee member; Wallner, Barbara, committee memberResearch on Generation Y is inconsistent and incongruent, making it difficult to understand the organizational impact of this cohort in the workforce. This exploratory study sought to provide an in-depth examination of Generation Y to understand some work related patterns and meaning among the cohort at a deeper, more intrinsic level than prior studies. The purpose of the study was to explore and understand how five Generation Y employees perceived and described their notion of the meaning of work, based on their lived experience of the phenomenon. To understand and analyze the constructed meaning of the meaning of work, this study was grounded in the interpretive paradigm. The methodology used was that of hermeneutic phenomenology. The findings from this study are representative of the individual, shared, and co-constructions of ten essential themes including: the meaning of work is influenced by education; the meaning of work is the opportunity to do work that is meaningful; the meaning of work is balance; the meaning of work is completing tasks and being compensated to meet our basic needs; the meaning of work is the importance of social relationships; the meaning of work is considering and exploring all opportunities; the meaning of work is influenced by our social networks; the meaning of work is a reflection of who we are; and the meaning of work is working for an organization that functions well; and the meaning of work is influenced by the current state of the economy. The essential themes are presented using thick descriptive quotes from the participants and supporting literature. In addition, the ten essential themes were composed of essential sub-themes and essential sub-sub-themes that provided additional layers of depth in understanding the phenomenon for the five participants. This study provided a voice for the Generation Y participants, allowing researchers and practitioners to begin to build knowledge about the relationship between this generational cohort and the evolving nature of work. Recommendations are provided for using the findings to inform research, theory, and practice. First, suggestions are made for research regarding accumulating knowledge from diverse prospective, sampling, narrowly defining constructs, and improving methodology. Second, recommendations are provided for future theorizing and theory building. Last, I discuss how the findings of this study will inform practice related to the meaning of work phenomenon at the organizational, individual, and generational levels.