dc.contributor.author	Newcomb, Cecile Gaines	en
dc.contributor.committeechair	Schenk, Todd	en
dc.contributor.committeemember	Skuzinski, Thomas	en
dc.contributor.committeemember	Dunay, Donna W.	en
dc.contributor.department	Public and International Affairs	en
dc.date.accessioned	2017-10-04T06:00:28Z	en
dc.date.available	2017-10-04T06:00:28Z	en
dc.date.issued	2017-06-06	en
dc.description.abstract	This project explores the challenges of increasing density in a college town grappling with how to appropriately respond to expected population growth. It presents a concept idea for a section of Downtown Blacksburg, Virginia that meets the various planning goals for the community. It also experiments with an innovative way of presenting and fostering discussion around this kind of vision by inviting stakeholders to experience models of the concept in an immersive three dimensional environment. Common negative perceptions of density lead to resistance to increased density projects by the public and elected representatives. While there seems to be a consensus of understanding that denser development is preferable to sprawl, Americans in communities across the country have been resisting efforts to increase density. In Blacksburg higher density is often met with fear of student housing located too close to single family neighborhoods. Density resistance is rooted largely in the lack of general knowledge of what density looks like, how it is built, and how it feels once built. The negative aspects of high density neighborhoods, which have caused fearful reactions, are results of poor design, not an inevitability caused by density. This thesis uses two approaches to argue for the advantages of higher density development. Methods include background research of densification elsewhere, a neighborhood redevelopment proposal, and a research event in which a select group of participants completed surveys, viewed presentations of 3D computer models of virtual developments in Blacksburg, and discussed their opinions and thoughts about the models and proposal. This project has demonstrated that 3D modeling is a more effective planning tool for helping decision-makers perceive density and understand the value of quality designs than typical planning tools based on 2D presentations.	en
dc.description.abstractgeneral	This project explores the difficulties of increasing density in a college town struggling with how to plan for population growth. It presents a concept idea for a section of Downtown Blacksburg, Virginia that meets the various planning goals for the community. It also experiments with an innovative way of presenting plans with 3D computer models to prompt discussion about the vision by inviting a group of people to experience 3D models of the concept in an immersive display. Many citizens and elected representatives have negative preconceptions of density which make them leery of projects that increase density in the neighborhood in which they are proposed. Even though there seems to be a common understanding that denser development is preferable to sprawl, Americans in communities across the country have been resisting efforts to increase density. In Blacksburg higher density is often met with fear of student housing located too close to single family neighborhoods. Density resistance is rooted largely in the lack of general knowledge of what density looks like, how it is built, and how it feels once built. The negative aspects of high density neighborhoods are results of poor design, not inherent traits of density.2 This thesis uses two approaches to argue for the advantages of higher density development. Methods include background research of densification elsewhere, a neighborhood redevelopment proposal, and a research event in which a select group of participants completed surveys, viewed presentations of 3D computer models of conceptual developments in Blacksburg, and discussed their opinions and thoughts about the models and proposed ideas. This project has shown that 3D modeling is a better planning tool for helping decision-makers understand density and quality design than typical planning tools based on 2D presentations.	en
dc.description.degree	Master of Urban and Regional Planning	en
dc.format.medium	ETD	en
dc.identifier.other	vt_gsexam:11330	en
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10919/79485	en
dc.publisher	Virginia Tech	en
dc.rights	In Copyright	en
dc.rights.uri	http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/	en
dc.subject	Planning	en
dc.subject	Alley	en
dc.subject	Urbanism	en
dc.title	Imagine Blacksburg: Using immersive 3D models to explore density	en
dc.type	Thesis	en
thesis.degree.discipline	Urban and Regional Planning	en
thesis.degree.grantor	Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University	en
thesis.degree.level	masters	en
thesis.degree.name	Master of Urban and Regional Planning	en

Imagine Blacksburg: Using immersive 3D models to explore density

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