Thesis
Development of sustainability guidelines for infrastructure and their application to passenger ferry terminals
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
2009
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/102239
Abstract
The first definition of sustainability appeared in 1987 in the Brundtland report, as "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs," and is now described as the balance between society, economy and environment. This thesis is to sustainably improve passenger ferry terminals, which are complex facilities with various activities, impacts and issues. Current sustainability knowledge and expertise are not reflected in infrastructural facilities. This gap between possibilities and reality might be solvable by providing information and guidance to decisionmakers. To aid decision-makers in the green movement, many tools have been created and implemented to develop sustainable infrastructure. Existing rating systems or guidelines are not applicable to passenger ferry ports which are at the intersection of land and sea handling vehicles from bikes to cars, buses and vessels; include parking lots, roads, buildings and docks to serve employees, passengers and community; and are regulated and restricted by governments and agencies. This thesis develops a process to help decision-makers reduce the negative impacts of infrastructure while ensuring economic viability and prosperity. The process proposed to develop guidelines consists of: (1) identifying the stakeholders of infrastructure sustainability to work on the creation and implementation of the system, (2) listing all current and foreseen issues, (3) reaching consensus on goals sought after, (4) defining the specific targets, means and timelines towards these goals, (5) defining indicators to monitor the performance and provide a basis for analysis for decision-making, (6) and applying planned actions while rectifying them depending on the feedback provided by the indicators. This process is then applied to ferry terminals, for which involved interests, applicable regulations, and specifics were determined. The proposed guidelines address the seven categories which encompass the identified issues: traffic and parking; integration in the community; energy management; water management; materials management; site selection and air quality. These guidelines supply passenger ferry ports designers and owners as well as other decision-makers with clear and easy-to-use guidelines to aid them in realizing current and foreseen issues and providing possible solutions.
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Details
- Title
- Development of sustainability guidelines for infrastructure and their application to passenger ferry terminals
- Creators
- Inès de Sainte Marie D́agneaux
- Contributors
- Michael P. Wolcott (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; Pullman, Wash. :
- Identifiers
- 99900525174901842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis