Browsing by Author "Xu, Yining"

Now showing 1 - 7 of 7
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    Cobbs Creek Reservoir Study Area Site Analysis
    Gilboy, Elizabeth; Steika, Kim; Kirkpatrick, Ryan; Visconti, Autumn; Xu, Yining (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2008-09-30)
    The Community Design Assistance Center (CDAC) was charged, as a part of the Virginia Tech/Virginia Commonwealth University project team, to prepare a site analysis for a study area of approximately 1000 feet around the Cobbs Creek Reservoir. The CDAC team began by obtaining base information, through the help of the Cumberland County Planning Department, related to current recreational sites/activities within the county, as well as cultural and physiological information related to the project study area. A site visit was made in May 2008 to tour the study area and visit other portions of the County. Information gathered by the CDAC team has been organized and is presented in this document as 11x17 maps with accompanying text descriptions. This information is intended to serve as a guide for future conceptual design development of the area.
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    Density and What Matters: A Study of People's Attitudes Toward and Perceptions of Urban Density
    Xu, Yining (Virginia Tech, 2010-02-08)
    As long as the population keeps growing and lands are desired, the research on how the city could be developed is needed. Higher density development, considered as the alternative for urban sprawl, is a new trend for future development. The barrier between advocacy of higher density environment and misconception of density asks for a descriptive and systematic interpretation for human perception of density. In response to this demand, this research aims to provide a description of the factors that influence people's perception of higher density environments. Also, it aims to identify people's important concerns while using outdoor environments. This study is based on data obtained from an online survey questionnaire that polled public attitudes toward density. The findings from the data indicate that the more important characteristics that people are concerned about the higher density environment are presence of nature, interaction opportunities, building identity and perceived safety. This study also points out that people's attitudes toward density vary based on certain factors. Those factors are age, occupation, place of residents and type of residents. This research could be used as a reference for future planning and design. Results of this study reflect participants' attitudes towards density. It initiates a discussion of future research and generates a frame work for future study for a larger population.
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    Ellis Acres Memorial Park, Dillwyn, VA
    Gilboy, Elizabeth; Steika, Kim; Doran, Lauren; Xu, Yining (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2007)
    Ellis Acres Memorial Park, Inc. is interested in renovating the remaining building on the historical Buckingham Training School property to serve as a community building. Among other things, it would house an historical exhibition and offer community meeting space, while creating a community park on the surrounding 9.25-acre site.
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    Montgomery County Outdoor Classroom and Learning Landscape Conceptual Master Plan
    Gilboy, Elizabeth; Steika, Kim; Ling, Daniel (Yu); Xu, Yining (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2010-06)
    The Izaak Walton League (IWL) is a national organization "formed in 1922 to save outdoor America for future generations. The League's founders, who were avid anglers, chose to name the organization after Izaak Walton, the 17th century author of The Complete Angler, one of the most famous books on fishing. The IWL is one of the earliest conservation organizations to set an aggressive course to defend wild America by changing public policy. Almost every major, successful conservation program that America has in place today can be traced directly to a League activity or initiative.

    Throughout more than 270 communities, IWL chapters advance the mission of the organization - restoring watersheds, reducing air pollution, fighting litter, protecting wildlife habitat and open spaces, and instilling conservation ethics in outdoor recreationists." (http://www.iwla.org/index.php?id=9).

    In line with this mission, the Christiansburg-Montgomery Chapter of the IWL has initiated a partnership with the Montgomery County Public School System (MCPS) to utilize portions of their site as a county-wide outdoor classroom. The site's central location in the county as well as its existing resources and opportunities make it an excellent site for watershed education. Here county teachers can engage their students in hands-on learning opportunities and instill a love of and appreciation for the natural environment, particularly watersheds and fishing. Some key site attributes include a spring, a fish run, two ponds, a stream, a wetland area, and a small trail system. Site habitat areas include wetland, meadow, stream, spring, pond, and wooded hillslope.

    The Community Design Assistance Center, an outreach Center in the College of Architecture and Urban Studies, was asked to assist Montgomery County Public Schools in preparing a conceptual site master plan for the site. The conceptual master plan looks to enhance safe and ADA accessible access to site resources and develop additional learning opportunities on site as well. Support facilities and structures such as ADA restrooms, adequate bus turn-arounds, parking, and storage are also addressed.
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    The Ormond Keister and Catherine Booth Evans Park conceptual master plan
    Gilboy, Elizabeth; Steika, Kim; Ling, Daniel; Xu, Yining; Abu Bakar, Shamsul; Marion, Kyle (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2010-08-01)
    The city of Danville received a gift of a 105-acre family tobacco farm. The sons of the late Ormand K. and Catherine Evans donated the property for passive recreation, conservation and educational use.
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    Royal Shenandoah Greenway conceptual master plan : prepared for the Front Royal Tree Stewards, the town of Front Royal, and Warren County, May 2009
    Steika, Kim; Furedy, Eliza; Xu, Yining (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2009-05)
    The Community Design Assistance Center (CDAC) was asked by the Front Royal Tree Stewards, in conjunction with the Town of Front Royal, to develop a conceptual master plan for a greenway. The Royal Shenandoah Greenway, that would utilize the constructed portion of Happy Creek Trail and create a loop connecting Burrell Brooks Jr. Community Park, Samuels Public Library, Ressie Jeffries Elementary School, Skyline High School, and the proposed Eastham Park along the South Fork of the Shenandoah.
    The project study area is within the Town of Front Royal. Front Royal is located in Warren County, 70 miles west of Washington, D.C., near the junction of I-66 and I-81. The North and South Forks of the Shenandoah River join here to form the main stem of the Shenandoah River. The Town is bounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains on the east and the Massanutten Mountains on the west. Elevations in the area range from 566 feet in downtown to over 3,300 feet in the surrounding mountains. The mountain ridges visually dominate the landscape, looming 1,000 to 2,900 feet over the central lowland. Topography in these mountainous parts includes steep-walled valleys with fast flowing streams and wooded slopes.
    With the help of Town and County staff , and the Tree Stewards, the CDAC team developed conceptual design recommendations for the Royal Shenandoah Greenway. The project team also received feedback, guidance, and support from National Park Service staff related to trail connections to and through the Shenandoah National Forest and from the Virginia Department of Transportation related to road crossings.
    The conceptual design provides multiple access points throughout the Town that allow residents and visitors to enjoy the variety of the Royal Shenandoah Greenway. Six greenway zones join to result in a complete looped trail system which has unique qualities and experiences along its entirety. A smaller loop within the larger greenway loop allows for increased user choices and opportunities.
    The final report includes descriptions of the conceptual master plan, illustrative sketches, and documentation of the entire design process.
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    Scenery Management Study of Claytor Lake
    Miller, Patrick; Lui, Song; Gilboy, Elizabeth; Steika, Kim; Calorusso, Christine; Philen, Melissa; Abu Bakar, Shamsul; Chen, Zheng; Xu, Yining (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2009-05-01)
    This study focuses on Claytor Lake in Pulaski County, Virginia. Claytor Lake is an important water-oriented recreation destination in Southwest Virginia, as well as being home to many local residents. The scenic experience of the lake is important to both recreationists and residents (Recreation Assessment Study: Claytor Project, Ferc No. 739). This particular scenery management study helps identify and protect the scenic integrity and desirable landscape characteristics for the Claytor Lake region. It also proposes scenery management guidelines to keep this area attractive, while also accommodating appropriate development and land uses.