The population of unsheltered homeless in Tucson have been growing steadily in recent years. An emerging group that is at a high risk of encountering homelessness is elderly women. Research in this paper will investigate how the City of Tucson is prioritizing and combating elderly female homelessness. Many are facing this problem for the first time in their lives at the ages of 55+. This concerning information leads to the questions of what can be done to prevent the issue from starting as this group is not one that is facing chronic homelessness. There is a major concern with the availability of affordable housing in Tucson. Many of women who are becoming homeless at these older ages are dealing with increasing rent or loosing loved ones whom they were splitting bills with. Increasing affordable housing city-wise has the potential to prevent many elderly women from being homeless to begin with. The City of Tucson is aware of the issue of homelessness, but not enough programs are currently in place to help marginalized groups. While there are millions of funding allocated to several organizations there are not clear goals or quantities for each. Houston is an example of a city that has successfully decreased the homeless population by having nonprofit organizations and city funded public services work together for a common solution. This is a solution that could be helpful in Tucson as the homeless population remains at a steady number.

In 2025, Bellingham WA enacted a new infill housing program to promote the construction of middle housing. This type of policy follows a nationwide shift in development that challenges the use of single-family residential construction in favor of infill middle housing that better matches the needs of the population. Over the course of 2025, 98% of the middle housing in-fill units were constructed by professional real estate developers but the volume is still not enough to keep up with the pace of population growth in Bellingham. During this study I used professional interviews with real estate developers along with a systematic literature review to identify four main challenges to infill middle housing construction in Bellingham. The challenges identified are building codes, available property, financing/cost, and available contractors. Each of these issues present significant challenges to real estate developers trying to build more infill middle housing in Bellingham. Should policies or social measures resolve these problems, construction activity may surpass the levels recorded in 2025. This is a crucial step to address Bellingham’s national leading housing cost issue.

This study investigates how third spaces within the built environment influence social connection among students at the University of Arizona and how designed specifically impacts student well-being. Utilizing a qualitative data triangulation approach, research was conducted through an online Qualtrics survey of 19 students, three semi-structured in person interviews, and an observational case study of the sustainable ENR2 Slot Canyon courtyard. Results indicate that student’s primary motivation for visiting third spaces is to socialize with friends (84%), with a strong preference for design elements such as open floor plans (89%), convenient locations (84%), and flexible seating (74%). A central finding of the study was that despite the high environmental quality of an on-campus space like the ENR2 Slot Canyon, students mentally categorize these locations as “academic” environments, which limits their ability to function as true social third places. Consequently, students expressed a stronger social attachment to off-campus multifunctional spaces such as cafes and bars, which provide a greater sense of psychological escape and informal flexibility. The research concludes that universities must move beyond simple functional efficiency to create intentionally designed multifunctional spaces on campus that prioritize psychological comfort and a sense of openness to effectively support social health.

Food insecurity is a growing issue among many college students who often struggle with consistent access to affordable and healthy food. The problem is compounded by rising living costs, limited transportation options, and inadequate food infrastructure. This study aims to understand the prevalence of food insecurity on the University of Arizona campus and the factors that contribute to it. Data were collected using a 15-question survey distributed to 30 college students, along with informal interviews that provided further qualitative insights into the student experience. The main findings show that food insecurity is moderately prevalent among students. It is mainly affected by a lack of transportation, high food costs, and a lack of knowledge about assistance programs. These findings show the importance of understanding and addressing food insecurity as a systemic issue within the institutions of higher education. By improving transportation, expanding affordable food options, and increasing resource awareness, universities can create more equitable campuses and improve overall student well-being and success. This study is significant because it contributes to the understanding of food insecurity on U.S. university campuses.

This research examined the effects of environmental contamination on the built environment, focusing on land use patterns, infrastructure systems, and redevelopment feasibility. While previous studies on military contamination primarily addressed environmental and public health impacts, this study aimed to assess how contamination influences long-term planning, land markets and development opportunities. Comparative case studies of the Nevada Test Site and Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune were conducted to evaluate the impact of different contamination media (radiological versus chemical) on land-use restrictions and redevelopment feasibility. Triangulation was achieved through semi-structured interviews with military personnel at the Creech Air Force Base, analysis of federally produced environmental reports and secondary data review to identify wider trends. The results showed that contamination type determines the extent of land use restrictions and the degree of certainty regarding redevelopment, as reflected in continuing infrastructure concerns, remediation uncertainties and community confidence issues. Additional findings showed differences between institutional water quality reporting and user perceptions as well as wider environmental justice concerns, particularly for Indigenous and neighboring populations disproportionately affected by long-term military contamination. This study adds to the applied knowledge base on military environmental conditions and their effects on the built environment.

Lighting plays a major role in both energy performance and occupant experience within buildings. Although daylighting is often promoted as a sustainable design strategy, its success depends on how natural light is distributed, controlled, and experienced in real spaces. Many daylighting studies focus on energy efficiency or simulated performance, leaving less attention to how occupants respond to daylight in everyday academic environments. This study examines how daylighting affects occupant comfort, productivity, and perception in academic buildings at the University of Arizona. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research combines building observations, a pilot occupant survey, and an expert interview with a daylighting specialist. The findings show that occupants generally prefer natural daylight and associate it with greater comfort, focus, and satisfaction. However, glare, uneven daylight distribution, and limited occupant control can reduce these benefits, especially in perimeter spaces exposed to direct sunlight and interior spaces with limited daylight access. These findings suggest that effective daylighting requires more than simply increasing access to natural light. It must balance daylight availability, glare control, spatial distribution, and user control to support occupant well-being.

Pedestrian and bicyclist crashes are an ongoing concern in Wilmington, North Carolina, and examining where they cluster can help identify how street design contributes to risk for vulnerable road users. Previous research shows that factors such as speed, lane count, intersection design, and pedestrian and bicycle facilities can influence crash risk and severity, but less is known about how these factors affect crash clustering in Wilmington. Although earlier analysis showed that some areas of Wilmington experience higher crash concentrations than others, it did not examine hotspots at the street level or the street design features at those locations. This study used spatial and observational analyses to identify pedestrian and bicyclist crash hotspots and examine their street design characteristics. Crash data from 2019 to 2024 were analyzed in ArcGIS Pro using Kernel Density Estimation, and hotspot locations were then observed to document posted speeds, lane counts, intersection type, sidewalks, crosswalks, and bicycle facilities. The analysis identified five crash hotspots in Wilmington. All were located on arterial roads with posted speed limits between 35 and 45 mph and at least five travel lanes. Four of the hotspots were associated with 4-leg signalized intersections. Sidewalks were present at all hotspot locations, while crosswalks were present at four locations. Bicycle facilities were present at three hotspots and were unprotected. 80% of crashes in hotspot areas resulted in minor injuries, while only 8% resulted in severe or fatal injuries. Overall, the findings suggest that pedestrian and bicyclist crash clustering in Wilmington is more strongly associated with wide, vehicle-oriented arterial streets and intersections than with the presence or absence of pedestrian and bicycle facilities. These results can help identify priority locations for future safety improvements and support Wilmington’s Vision Zero goals.

This study examines the relationship between everyday use of artificial intelligence (AI), indirect water consumption, and the ethical implications of allocating water resources to AI infrastructure in water-scarce regions. In the southwestern United States, where water scarcity is a growing concern, increasing reliance on AI and data centers raises questions about how limited resources are distributed and who bears the environmental cost. While prior research has explored the water demands of AI infrastructure, less is known about how individual AI use contributes to this demand and how people perceive the fairness of water allocation to these systems. This study used a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative estimates of AI-related water consumption among college students with survey responses about perceptions of fairness, sustainability, and water allocation priorities. The results suggest that while individual AI use consumes relatively small amounts of water, the cumulative demand raises ethical concerns about prioritizing technological infrastructure over community needs, especially in areas that already experience water shortages. These findings highlight the importance of considering ethical and sustainability factors when planning AI infrastructure and managing water resources in arid regions. This study is significant because it translates everyday AI usage into estimated indirect water consumption and combines these findings with perceptions of water allocation to examine the environmental and ethical implications of AI infrastructure in arid regions.

This thesis examines how rapid urban growth between 2018 and 2025 has reshaped social sustainability in San Borja and how architectural and urban design strategies can help reconcile high residential density with the district’s community identity. It uses a mixed approach that combines a literature review, an observation sheet, and two structured surveys. The study identifies how recent high-density developments have affected residents’ daily activities, sense of belonging, and interest in participation in planning processes. The findings show that current tensions regarding densification stem from practical disruptions such as increased traffic, reduced parking availability, noise, and poor integration with the existing urban fabric. At the same time, residents express interest in contextual design solutions, such as transparent façades and the inclusion of restaurants, cafés, minimarkets, and bakeries in ground floors, which have the potential to increase street vitality and everyday sociability. These preferences highlight a gap between residents’ expectations and existing regulatory constraints limiting mixed-use buildings in San Borja. The study recommends the implementation of these strategies through conceptual plans and concludes that socially sustainable growth in the district depends on design strategies that strengthen street-level integration, promote diverse urban activity and incorporate resident input in planning processes to ensure density supports the social qualities that define it.

This study examines how the Corredor Rojo bus service operates along Av. Javier Prado Este in La Molina can prevent long commute times by integrating user perception with lessons learned from regional public bus transportation systems. La Molina’s mobility problem is caused by its dependence on a single public transport exit route, which concentrates demand, creating delays for residents who rely on this transportation mode. Previous research on transit efficiency highlights the importance of dedicated bus infrastructure and system management that prioritize and incentivize the use of public transport; however, these elements remain limited in the current infrastructure assigned to the Corredor Rojo service, the only formal bus service in the district. Addressing this gap is essential as commuting time not only affects the efficiency of travel but affects the social equity of users who cannot transition to private transport options. Using a mix-method approach, the study combines a document review of successful medium-scale bus systems in Bogota and Chile, surveys of frequent Corredor Rojo users in La Molina, and on-site observations along Av. Javier Prado Este key node in the mentioned district. Findings indicate that overall travel time irregularities and user dissatisfaction are caused by the absence of exclusive bus lanes, insufficient enforcement of policies that prohibit invasion of private vehicles into these bus lanes, and the inadequacy of the current management system. The surveys support this as the majority of respondents indicated that their travel times were longer than expected. By comparing the existing challenges in the district with successful examples of regional bus systems, this research provides practices and strategies to improve the operation of the Corredor Rojo, such as implementing continuous exclusive lanes, strengthening enforcement mechanisms, and improving system management could significantly reduce commute times and improve equity within La Molina’s urban mobility.