Modeling the Impact of Space Suit Components and Anthropometry on the Center of Mass of a Seated Crewmember

The Crew Impact Attenuation System (CIAS) is the energy-absorbing strut concept that dampens Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) landing loads to levels sustainable by the crew. Significant COM variations across suited crew configurations would amplify the inertial effects of the pallet and potentially create unacceptable crew loading during launch and landing. The objective of this study was to obtain data needed for dynamic simulation models by quantifying the effects of posture, suit components, and the expected range of anthropometry on the COM of a seated individual. Several elements are required for the COM calculation of a suited human in a seated position: anthropometry, body segment mass, suit component mass, suit component location relative to the body, and joint angles defining the seated posture. Three-dimensional (3D) human body models, suit mass data, and vector calculus were utilized to compute the COM positions for 12 boundary manikins in two different seated postures. The analysis focused on two objectives: (1) quantify how much the wholebody COM varied from the smallest to largest subject and (2) quantify the effects of the suit components on the overall COM in each seat configuration. The location of the anterior-posterior COM varied across all boundary manikins by about 7 cm, and the vertical COM varied by approximately 9 to 10 cm. The mediolateral COM varied by 1.2 cm from the midline sagittal plane for both seat configurations. The suit components caused an anterior shift of the total COM by approximately 2 cm and a shift to the right along the mediolateral axis of 0.4 cm for both seat configurations. When the seat configuration was in the standard posture the suited vertical COM shifted inferiorly by as much as 1 cm, whereas in the CEV posture the vertical COM had no appreciable change. These general differences were due to the high proportion of suit mass located in the boots and lower legs and their corresponding distance from the body COM, as well as to the prevalence of suit components on the right side of the body

Metropolitan Centers: Evaluating Local Implementation of Regional Plans and Policies

The Denver and Salt Lake City Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) have embarked upon regional visioning strategies that promote development around higher density, mixed use centers with current or future access to transit. This study examines the programs and policies in the Salt Lake City and Denver regions to examine regional vision influence on local planning and the opportunities and constraints facing centers. The research team analyzed local plans over the past several decades, interviewed planners, and examined demographic, land use and transportation characteristics in select centers across the region. We found that the regional vision had a moderate influence on local planning, due to vague definitions and criteria. However, light rail investment and market forces have had a more substantial influence—resulting in cities developing supportive transit oriented development policies. While over 100 centers have been designated, many face significant challenges to support regional goals, particularly because many light rail lines were located along rail and freeway alignments. A limited number of “tipping point centers” already contain the necessary elements to be successful with city and private investment. Many “greenfield centers” offer significant future opportunity for development, but their suburban location and infrastructure needs present significant costs and challenges. Many other “redevelopment centers” are dominated by industrial, commercial or office development, and the land use and transportation patterns within these centers present substantial hurdles that may limit their potential to achieve regional goals

Regional Transportation and Land Use Decision Making in Metropolitan Regions: Findings from Four Case Studies

Throughout the United States, metropolitan regions face increasingly complex issues related to transportation and land use. The diffuse nature of decision making creates a need to better coordinate land use and transportation to address issues such as: congestion, infrastructure costs, and greenhouse gas emissions. Key players in this decision making are regional metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) with transportation planning authority, regional planning responsibilities, and in some cases regional land use planning authority. The goal of this study was to describe and assess efforts by regional agencies to coordinate land use and transportation. Policies and processes in four key topic areas were examined: 1) Governance: formal and informal decision making approaches; 2) Coordination: strategies used to coordinate land use and transportation; 3) Growth Centers: policies to encourage development in higher density centers; and 4) Transportation Improvement Program (TIP): policies to incorporate smart growth criteria in TIP funding decisions

Redmond’s Midtown Neighborhood: Five Visions

97 pagesIn the fall term of 2015, graduate planning students at the University of Oregon developed concept plans for the Midtown Neighborhood in Redmond, Oregon. Redmond wanted ideas for revitalizing Midtown, an area seen as struggling somewhat given its adjacency to the city’s revitalized downtown core. As part of this project, the city also asked the student teams to examine the neighborhood through the lens of its Great Neighborhood Planning Principles, a set of guidelines the city had adopted for new development, to see if there were ways the principles could be better adapted to existing neighborhoods. Common elements such as background research, site analysis, and an overall analysis of the Great Neighborhood Principles are presented as a synthesis of the teams’ findings. Each team’s vision for the neighborhood is also presented

Metropolitan smart growth centers: An assessment of incentive policies in four regions

JTLU vol. 6, no. 2, pp 21-32 (2013)Across the United States, metropolitan areas face challenges related to transportation and land use. An emerging policy in many regions is to promote development around higher-density, mixed-use (smart-growth) centers that create locally accessible nodes; many of these nodes are also linked to transit stops. Some metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) have developed regional plans and incentive programs to encourage local governments to develop these centers. Incentives include grants as well as funding criteria in transportation improvement programs (TIP) that favor projects supporting centers. This paper assesses these policies as they have been applied in: (1) Puget Sound, Washington; (2) Portland, Oregon; (3) Denver, Colorado; and (4) San Diego, California. For the four regions we reviewed documents, conducted 40 interviews with key individuals, administered an online survey of 450 experts (response rate = 44 percent), and held a two-day forum involving 40 participants. We found that incentive policies by themselves were having a limited impact because they are new and offer small amounts of funding relative to local government needs and market forces. However, when incentives are combined with plans, policies, and transit investment, they provide a significant foundation for promoting growth around centers. There are a number of ways these policies can be improved, and many policies are transferable to other metropolitan regions

Oregon's acts, cross-jurisdictional collaboration and improved transportation planning

73 pp. References, maps, tables, figures, appendices

Curriculum for Collaborative Learning in Sustainability at Queensland University of Technology

Academic staff from four disciplines formed an interdisciplinary team to develop a curriculum for collaborative learning across three schools. The curriculum focused on the ability of students to translate the principles of sustainability into practical design solutions for the Gardens Point campus of QUT. The teaching and learning opportunities associated with the project encouraged students to investigate the sustainability issues within a precinct of the campus, produce a concept plan to improve the site and study a particular issue in further detail to inform detailed proposals for QUT. Most students said they had a positive experience in working with colleagues and staff from other disciplines and further joint projects should be developed to involve students from allied disciplines. This paper describes how the curriculum for collaborative learning in sustainability was designed and the lessons learned from its implementation

Oregon\u27s Acts, Cross-jurisdictional Collaboration and Improved Transportation Planning

The Oregon Transportation Commission (OTC) created Area Commissions on Transportation (ACTs) to improve coordination, help prioritize infrastructure investment, and provide input on statewide transportation issues. The structure of the ACTs is designed to provide a cross-section of input from the state, regional, local, private, and community sectors. A research project was initiated to: assess the role and experiences of ACTs, research comparative approaches in the state and nationally, and develop and assess options for improving coordination and increasing effectiveness. This study used interviews, an on-line survey, case studies from Oregon and comparative studies from three other states to assess ACTs and identify options. The findings reveal that ACTs have improved the state prioritization process and increased communication across the parties involved, but they face challenges in relation to cross-regional coordination, strategic investment decisions, and regional problems such as urban travelsheds. The study highlights a range of options for improving ACT functioning under its current structure, and more significant options that would require policy and structural changes. Note: ACT appendices are included here as a supplemental file

Governance and effectiveness in regional planning: an analysis of north american, european, and australasian practice

Over the past several years, there has been resurgent interest in regional planning in North America, Europe and Australasia. Spurred by issues such as metropolitan growth, transportation infrastructure, environmental management and economic development, many states and metropolitan regions are undertaking new planning initiatives. These regional efforts have also raised significant question about governance structures, accountability and measures of effectiveness.n this paper, the authors conducted an international review of ten case studies from the United States, Canada, England, Belgium, New Zealand and Australia to explore several critical questions. Using qualitative data template, the research team reviewed plans, documents, web sites and published literature to address three questions. First, what are the governance arrangements for delivering regional planning? Second, what are the mechanisms linking regional plans with state plans (when relevant) and local plans? Third, what means and mechanisms do these regional plans use to evaluate and measure effectiveness? The case study analysis revealed several common themes. First, there is an increasing focus on goverance at the regional level, which is being driven by a range of trends, including regional spatial development initiatives in Europe, regional transportation issues in the US, and the growth of metropolitan regions generally. However, there is considerable variation in how regional governance arrangements are being played out. Similarly, there is a range of processes being used at the regional level to guide planning that range from broad ranging (thick) processes to narrow and limited (thin) approaches. Finally, evaluation and monitoring of regional planning efforts are compiling data on inputs, processes, outputs and outcomes. Although there is increased attention being paid to indicators and monitoring, most of it falls into outcome evaluations such as Agenda 21 or sustainability reporting. Based on our review we suggest there is a need for increased attention on input, process and output indicators and clearer linkages of these indicators in monitoring and evaluation frameworks. The focus on outcome indicators, such as sustainability indicators, creates feedback systems that are too long-term and remote for effective monitoring and feedback. Although we found some examples of where these kinds of monitoring frameworks are linked into a system of governance, there is a need for clearer conceptual development for both theory and practice