Summary of Technology / Public Policy Project Courses

Date: Spring 2009

Title: "Evaluating the Carrying Capacity of the United States"

Instructors: Cranor, Fischbeck

Client: Public

Description: The carrying capacity of a region measures the number of people the region can sustainably accommodate. A number of factors contribute to a region’s carrying capacity – including the region’s production and consumption of food and energy, the treatment and disposal of wastes, and other factors necessary to sustain the region’s population without deteriorating the natural environment. The goal of this project was to evaluate the U.S. national carrying capacity using county-level indicators. The students assembled a database of county-level indicators including agricultural production, land-use, water resources and usage, and energy production and consumption (both for residential and industrial uses), and industry and manufacturing production. The students used the indicators to evaluate resource usage patterns at the county and national level, and to assess the nation’s ability to support current and future consumption patterns.

Date: Spring 2009

Title: "Nuclear Power and Communities"

Instructors: Florig, Robinson

Client: Nuclear Power Industry and Regulators

Description: Studies of peoples’ perceptions of technological risk show that nuclear power plants (NPPs) evoke substantial safety concerns among the general public, and that this concern is driven in part by the lack of control that people feel that they have over the risk. If nuclear power is to play an expanding role in a future low-carbon energy system, NPP managers may need a new approach to their relationship with host communities and the larger public, to provide them with a greater sense of control over NPP risks. This project investigated current community involvement practices within the nuclear industry and identified new practices that could enhance residents' level of comfort with the risks posed by their local NPP.

Date: Fall 2008

Title: "How Pittsburgh Residents Can Significantly Reduce Their Energy Consumption"

Instructors: Fischhoff, Rubin

Client: Pittsburgh Climate Initiative

Description: Currently, efforts to reduce energy use have focused on nations, states, and corporations.  Ultimately, though, individuals are responsible for the majority of energy consumed worldwide.  This project focused on how Pittsburgh residents can achieve significant reductions in energy use without sacrificing their current standard of living. The Pittsburgh Climate Initiative had already established broad goals for sustainable energy consumption in its Climate Action Plan, but much of the Plan focused on critical city infrastructure and services rather than the choices made by Pittsburgh residents.

The project examined three key domains of individual energy use – home energy, transportation and goods and services – looking at the potential for significant reduction in energy consumption in each. Students were asked to identify gaps between residents' awareness of the need for a reduction in energy consumption and their adoption of the actions necessary to accomplish this goal. Within this context, the project examined the institutional and economic barriers to action, including inconsistent incentives, such as those of landlords and tenants with regard to energy efficiency. The end goal for the project was to provide the Pittsburgh Climate Initiative with recommendations on the most effective government, technology, and education-based solutions for reducing Pittsburgh residents' energy consumption.

Date: Fall 2008

Title:"The Digital Television (DTV) Transition"

Instructors: Sirbu, Hill

Client: Public

Description: After February 17, 2009, all high-power television broadcasters, which now transmit in analog format, will start broadcasting in digital format. This transition will allow broadcasters to make better use of the bandwidth available in each channel to transmit at a higher quality, possibly in high definition, or to transmit more than one simultaneous content feed (multicast). As a consequence, valuable spectrum will be released for other uses, such as public safety communications. This spectrum has already been auctioned and needs to be reallocated soon after the transition. The transition from analog to digital will affect all TV viewers that rely on receiving Over-The-Air (OTA) television signals. In order to be able to receive the new digital transmissions, TV viewers may need to purchase equipment that is able to decode digital signals: either new digital television sets or digital-to-analog converters that can convert the digital signal into their old analog televisions. The government has put in place a campaign to inform customers of the DTV transition, as well as a program to subsidize the purchase of digital-to-analog converters to allow people to keep using their old television sets without having to incur great expense. In this project, the students will identify and address problems in several facets of the DTV transition, with a special focus on problems that users that rely on Over-The-Air television may face through February 18, 2009. Their approach is to create a troubleshooting resource in the form of a wiki, whose goal is to assist individuals by providing information on DTV transition issues.

Date: Spring 2008

Title: "Policy Dimensions of New Space Technologies"

Instructors: Florig, Casman

Client: Public

Description: The commercial spaceflight industry has long consisted of large aerospace firms funded primarily by government contracts.   In recent years, however, a new set of small private firms has entered the commercial spaceflight market.  Their goal is to make access to space cheap and reliable enough to attract a variety of new users, and turn a profit in the process.  The advent of a commercially driven manned space industry presents many opportunities for the opening of space to commercial exploitation, the development of new technological transportation paradigms and fulfillment a dream of generations to 'touch the stars.' However, before these laudable goals can be accomplished, many arising issues must be identified and resolved in order to allow a viable new space industry to emerge. Substantial unaddressed issues exist with regard to government policy, business models, technical development, and social aspects.  The project addressed the safety, economic, legal, and social dimensions of the New Space phenomenon.

Date: Spring 2008

Title:"Sustainable Campuses"

Instructors: Fischbeck, Matthews

Client: Carnegie Mellon University

Description: With the rising concerns of climate change and other environmental problems, campus sustainability has become an important issue for most U.S. universities, namely in what concerns greenhouse gas direct and indirect emissions. This project proposes a streamlined and transparent method for assessing the carbon footprint of colleges and universities by using publicly available data. Also, fair metrics for campus carbon footprint comparisons were developed, accounting for structural differences between universities. Other environmental metrics, besides the carbon footprint, were also considered.  Student perceptions and attitudes on "green" issues were studied trough a CMU campus survey analysis.  A set of carbon mitigation strategies and an action plan for CMU was developed.Finally, recommendations from this project provide an alternative framework for campus decision-making on climate change mitigation issues.

Date: Spring 2008

Title: "Policy Dimensions of New Space Technologies"

Instructors: Florig, Casman

Client: Public

Description: The commercial spaceflight industry has long consisted of large aerospace firms funded primarily by government contracts.   In recent years, however, a new set of small private firms has entered the commercial spaceflight market.  Their goal is to make access to space cheap and reliable enough to attract a variety of new users, and turn a profit in the process.  The advent of a commercially driven manned space industry presents many opportunities for the opening of space to commercial exploitation, the development of new technological transportation paradigms and fulfillment a dream of generations to 'touch the stars.' However, before these laudable goals can be accomplished, many arising issues must be identified and resolved in order to allow a viable new space industry to emerge. Substantial unaddressed issues exist with regard to government policy, business models, technical development, and social aspects.  The project addressed the safety, economic, legal, and social dimensions of the New Space phenomenon.

Date: Fall 2007

Title: "Preparing for the Worst"

Instructors: Fischhoff, Rubin

Client: Public

Description: Individuals need sound information in order to understand how to prepare for and respond to a disaster.  Providing this advice is extraordinarily difficult, as the range of potential hazards is large, and the needs of the U.S. population vary greatly.  The purpose of this study is to diagnose inadequacies in existing recommendations and to provide sound information and advice that is sensitive to the many scientific, economic, and social constraints that affect individual disaster preparedness.  This project focuses on natural disasters and regional case studies in Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C.

Date: Fall 2007

Title: "Mobile Computing in Pittsburgh Law Enforcement"

Instructors: Peha, Sirbu

Description: This report examines Pittsburgh Bureau of Police deployment of
wireless broadband connected mobile computers (MDTs) in vehicles. This includes a study of utilization data of three applications on the laptops: a report writing suite; an application which enables officers to query information from law enforcement databases; and an application which enables officers to send text based messages within the department.  A survey was developed and is ready to be deployed to those police officers who have used the MDTs the results of which can be combined with the analysis of utilization data.  Several technologies which can leverage the existing MDT system and provide additional or improved functionality were also studied.

Additionally, the City of Pittsburgh has begun strategic planning for the implementation of a video surveillance network. There are important legal and privacy issues associated with the storage and use of information collected through this program as well as policies should be developed that define how accessible this information will be.

Date: Spring, 2007

Title: "Unmanned Aircraft in the National Airspace System"

Instructors: Florig

Client: Public

Description: This report is a study on unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and their potential integration into the national air space (NAS). There has been increasing demand for UASs in military applications, as well as a growing awareness for the potential use of UASs in civil applications. This report hopes to address some of the issues involved in integrating UASs into the NAS and make policy recommendations to the regulatory stakeholders, like the FAA. Some of these issues include the risks associated with UASs and defining an equivalent level of safety to create a measure for tracking safety performance; performing an economic analysis to determine the market viability of UASs versus manned alternatives in civil applications; gauging public opinion of risks associated with UAVs in civil applications; and analyzing the current system for deliberation and decision making on UAS access to see what improvement can be made. In the end these different analyses will provide policy insights for the integration of UASs in the NAS.

Date: Spring, 2007

Title: "Post-market Recommendations for Unanticipated Complications from Implanted Cardiac Devices"

Instructors: Fischbeck, Piehler

Client: Public

Description: Unanticipated complications in implanted medical devices are likely to increase due to developments in medical and materials technology. The seminal case of the unanticipated, post-market implanted cardiac device problem is that of the Bjork-Shiley 60 degree convexo-concave heart valve, which lead to hundreds of deaths and a class-action lawsuit. An unanticipated, post-market problem that is currently under development is that of the drug-eluting stent (DES). Initially approved for its ability to ward off restenosis (arterial collapse), concern has grown that it may increase the risk of serious complications from in-stent thrombosis (clotting). Actors at multiple levels now face hard sequential and double-risk decision dilemmas. Research questions include: Would an increased risk of thrombosis nullify the benefit of decreased restenonsis? Should new cardiac patients avoid DESs? What should patients who already have DESs implanted do? At what point, and in what ways, should the FDA intervene to ensure that the safety of patients is protected? Finally how would the general public react to government intervention -- particularly device recall?

Date: Fall, 2006

Title: "The Siting of LNG Terminals: Public perception and community impacts"

Instructors: Rubin, Fischhoff

Client: Paul Parfomak, Congressional Research Service

Description: This project examines citizens' responses to the siting of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) marine import terminals. The project summarizes evidence regarding the economic, environmental, and security impacts of a terminal on a community, and also presents the results of a survey of the citizens in the two communities, eliciting their beliefs and attitudes toward these issues and the siting process.

Date: Fall, 2006

Title: "Bringing Municipal Wireless Internet to the City of Pittsburgh"

Instructors: Peha

Client: Pittsburgh City Council

Description: This project investigates the financial feasibility of the Wireless metropolitan area network (WiMAN) in Pittsburgh, and the relevant business models that can meet the following public policy objectives: ubiquitous coverage, competition between providers, minimum subsidies, financial sustainability. We examined the extent to which these goals can be met with four basic models for a wireless metropolitan-area network: one city-wide monopoly WiMAN provider, facilities-based competition from multiple city-wide WiMAN providers, one city-wide WiMAN offering wholesale services to competing retail service providers, and open competition where multiple providers are free to serve only the more profitable neighborhoods. We estimate costs for constructing and operating a WiMAN in Pittsburgh using a sample architecture. We develop a regression model to roughly predict subscription rates and revenues based on city demographics, and apply that model to Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and Minneapolis. Using these rough estimates, we determine the extent to which competition can be sustained and service can be provided city-wide.

Date: Spring, 2006

Title: "Environmental Justice and Air Toxics in Allegheny County"

Instructors: Robinson, Veloso

Client: Public

Description: Environmental injustice is defined as a spatially uneven distribution of pollution that adversely affects certain groups of the population more than others. This project analyzed whether environmental injustice due to air toxics exists in Allegheny County. The overall objectives of the project were to address the following questions: What are the health risks associated with air toxics in Allegheny County? Do certain subpopulations (African-Americans, the elderly, the poor) bear a disproportionate amount of risk? What are the factors that might contribute to environmental injustice, including changes in population with time, public perception, and regulation enforcement? Spatial distribution of air toxics concentrations and subsequent risks were determined using a dispersion model and emissions data from point sources, area sources, and mobile sources. To identify potential environmental injustice, spatially resolved risks were correlated with population demographics using regression analyses. With additional data from census and enforcement records, statistical methods were applied to determine if population changes with time or regulation enforcement were significant contributing factors to environmental injustice. Furthermore, a door-to-door survey of residents was conducted to ascertain the degree of public concern about environmental justice issues. The results of these analytical components were used to develop recommendations regarding concrete actions policy makers can take to address environmental justice issues.

Date: Fall, 2005

Title: "US Oil Refineries: Spatial Dimensions of Economics, Regulatory Policy & Environmental Justice"

Instructors: Fischbeck, Gerard, Griffin

Client: Public

Description: The purpose of this project was to provide an analysis of the U.S. oil refining industry. Spikes in gas prices and shortages resulting from a series of hurricanes striking southern states brought some of the vulnerabilities of the U.S. gasoline supply chain into the public discourse. Our report is a survey of the issues surrounding United States oil refineries. We examine whether the US is outsourcing our pollution by importing refined petroleum products and having other countries refine our gasoline. Air quality changes caused by oil refinery operation are modeled and estimations of the related health effects are made. We investigated how refineries might disproportionately affect low-income and minority populations. A series of surveys investigating what buyers already knew about gasoline prices and how a change in price would affect gasoline consumption were performed Geographic information systems (GIS) were applied to these four primary areas of research to represent spatial data and allow for the creation of maps and quantitative analysis. Each area of study contributed to our conclusions about the U.S. oil refining industry over the past forty years.

Date: Fall, 2005

Title: "The Impact of Spyware"

Instructors: Peha and Rubin

Client: Public - project worked heavily with CMU Computing service and included participants from AOL, CERT/CC, Federal Trade Commission, US Senate, The Center for Democracy and Technology, and CMU on the review panel

Description: Spyware is a bane to computer administrators and users alike. Published media estimates put the prevalence of spyware on computers from 50% to more then 90%, with many computers having literally dozens of infections. However, what do these numbers mean? How does spyware actually impact our use of computers? What, if anything, can be done about it? This project utilized a multi-pronged approach to evaluate the overall impact of spyware. First, a large-scale survey of more than 800 people was conducted to understand computer usage habits and risk perception. Second, an experiment examined how different methods of education about spyware can impact a user. Third, an economic model was constructed to estimate the overall costs of spyware. Fourth, an ambitious project to scan all campus network traffic for signs of spyware was undertaken. Together these were combined to provide a robust picture of the spyware problem and understand better where and how the impact may be felt.

Date: Spring, 2005

Title: "Hybrids and Diesels in the American Automobile Fleet: 2005-2020"

Instructors: Fischbeck, Gerard, Matthews

Client: Public

Description: Students examined two automobile technologies likely to achieve significant market share by 2020. The technologies studied were hybrid electric and clean diesel vehicles. Seven projects were completed that provide a complete picture of issues surrounding the future American automobile fleet in 2020. First, projections on the rate of market penetration and potential market share of the technologies are presented. Second, public policy mechanisms capable of affecting the market share of these technologies are analyzed. Third, average fuel efficiency and emissions of each vehicle technology are quantified. Fourth, using the BASE Model (Basic Analytical Spreadsheet for Emissions) developed in class and the PM-CAMx Air Quality Model changes in ambient air quality due to the market penetration of hybrids and diesels are analyzed. Fifth, the health effects of the changes in ambient air quality are quantified. Sixth, a life cycle assessment of the technologies is performed. Seventh, a future of automobiles survey was developed to estimate public acceptance of the technologies as well as the current performance of hybrids and diesels.

Date: Spring, 2005

Title: "Hybrids and Diesels in the American Automobile Fleet: 2005-2020"

Instructors: Fischbeck, Gerard, Matthews

Client: Public

Description: Students examined two automobile technologies likely to achieve significant market share by 2020. The technologies studied were hybrid electric and clean diesel vehicles. Seven projects were completed that provide a complete picture of issues surrounding the future American automobile fleet in 2020. First, projections on the rate of market penetration and potential market share of the technologies are presented. Second, public policy mechanisms capable of affecting the market share of these technologies are analyzed. Third, average fuel efficiency and emissions of each vehicle technology are quantified. Fourth, using the BASE Model (Basic Analytical Spreadsheet for Emissions) developed in class and the PM-CAMx Air Quality Model changes in ambient air quality due to the market penetration of hybrids and diesels are analyzed. Fifth, the health effects of the changes in ambient air quality are quantified. Sixth, a life cycle assessment of the technologies is performed. Seventh, a future of automobiles survey was developed to estimate public acceptance of the technologies as well as the current performance of hybrids and diesels.

Date: Fall, 2004

Title: "Traveling in a Risky World"

Instructors: Fischhoff, Rubin

Client: Public

Description: The purpose of this project was to develop guidelines for the content and presentation of risk information and warnings related to international travel. After identifying the major risks posed to travelers, the project examined the existing sources of information on warnings and advisories issued currently by government agencies, free private websites, and subscription services. Surveys, of 234 travelers and 10 travel agents, were conducted to characterize the market for travel risk information in terms of potential users' needs and beliefs. Based on these analyses, the project proposes a two-stage decision making model for issuing travel warnings/advisories, with three levels: low, elevated, or exceptional. This process is illustrated with case studies. Its implementation could diminish some of the inconsistencies identified in existing sources. Finally, a prototype website for publishing travel advisories is offered, bringing together recommendations for both content and design to make them more comprehensive and accessible to the user.

Date: Fall, 2004

Title: "Wireless Communications Systems for Emergency Responders"

Instructors: Dekay, Peha

Client: Public

Description: Communications systems for emergency responders such as police, firefighters, and medical personnel are essential to public safety. Students in this interdisciplinary project focused on Allegheny County and how improvements can be made to its wireless emergency communications infrastructure. Areas of research centered on assessing spectrum usage in a set of municipalities, characterizing the efficiency of antenna placement with respect to RF propagation and the number of antennas used, assessing the extent of current interoperability problems among emergency response agencies via a survey of emergency responders, creating a multi-attribute comparison of different technologies to improve interoperability between agencies, and evaluating the County's current use of non-voice, wireless technologies and the potential usefulness of other technologies not currently used in the County.

Date: Spring, 2004

Title: "Sustaining Pittsburgh's Vital Services When the Power Goes Out"

Instructors: Apt, Ilic, Morgan, Perekhodtsev

Client: State of Pennsylvania, City of Pittsburgh public and private sector officials

Description: Electric power outages affect customers several times annually, for periods of several hours. Longer outages affecting large areas are not uncommon. Designing an electrical power system to be invulnerable is both impossible and economically impractical. Continuing essential services in the face of a power failure is both possible and practical for certain public and private services. For this project, students defined a set of potentially life critical and economically important services in the Pittsburgh region, studied how these services would be affected by a set of reference power disruptions, and analyzed a variety of policies that could improve the availability of important services during a power disruption. Each local service was classified into one of the following categories: emergency services, public utilities, private services, fuel supply, ground transportation, and the Pittsburgh International Airport. The students found that while many services, such as hospitals and emergency response systems, currently have adequate backup facilities, many services, such as ground transportation and police stations, are vulnerable to failures in the power supply and that cost effective means exist to mitigate these vulnerabilities.

Date: Spring, 2004

Title: "Pittsburgh CivicNet: Broadband for a better Pittsburgh"

Instructors: Robinson, Sirbu

Client: Public

Description: The Pittsburgh CivicNet project assessed the feasibility of providing a large-scale optical fiber-based Gigabit network that provides high-speed broadband services to public and private schools, universities, museums, libraries, governmental entities, and other non-profits in the Pittsburgh area. Students developed a network design, organizational and pricing structure, and assessed economic feasibility. In proposing an optimal network design, students collected data on the current demand for both commodity and research Wide-Area Network (WAN) access and compared available services in the Pittsburgh area. Based on findings from the economic feasibility assessment of the optimal design, students provided guidance for successfully implementing the Pittsburgh CivicNet.

Date: Fall, 2003

Title: "Personal Safety on Campus"

Instructors: Fischhoff, Rubin

Client: Carnegie Mellon's Campus Community

Description: This project analyzed how Carnegie Mellon can best reduce the threat of crime, especially violent crime, to the members of the University community. A campus-wide survey was conducted to assess the perceived level of safety on and near campus, and to measure people's opinions of various safety measures in place. Both technology-based measures (i.e. emergency phones, security cameras) and people-oriented services (i.e. transportation services, campus police) were analyzed. The class focused on the relationships between the perceptions of safety, effectiveness of the measures and the actual level of safety on campus.

Date: Fall, 2003

Title: "Human Capital: Attraction and Retention in Pittsburgh"

Instructors: Lewis, Veloso

Client: Southwestern Office of the Pennsylvanian Department of Community and Economic Development; Pittsburgh Regional Alliance; and Pittsburgh Social Enterprise Forum

Description: The objective of this study was to determine the severity of the "Brain Drain" problem (i.e. the loss of skilled workers) in Pittsburgh and identify possible avenues policy makers should pursue in addressing it. This project addressed two distinct aspects of the problem; migration and business growth. Benchmarking was a tool used to compare Pittsburgh to other cities in the U.S. In addition, regression analysis was used to understand the historic population and business trends in Pittsburgh and throughout the U.S.

Date: Spring, 2003

Title: "Black Boxes in Automobiles"

Instructors: Piehler, Sirbu

Client: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Public

Description: Students performed a cost-benefit analysis of event data recorders (EDR) (i.e. black boxes) in automobiles for accident reconstruction, medical intervention, and aggregated data applications. An accident reconstruction survey was developed to estimate the potential time savings in analysis, cost savings in litigation, and reduction in frivolous lawsuits as a result of black boxes in automobiles. A simulation of accident response times to near-fatal accidents by emergency medical service (EMS) personnel revealed that a significant number of lives can be saved annually by automatic crash notification (ACN) systems, which notify EMS dispatch centers the instant an airbag is deployed and transfer vital crash data collected by an EDR. Laws, statutes, and legal cases were reviewed to develop policy recommendations for the protection of individual privacy during criminal and civil court proceedings, the use of EDR data by insurance companies, and the transfer of ownership of a vehicle with EDR.

Date: Spring, 2003

Title: "Abandoned Mine Drainage in Pennsylvania"

Instructors: Adams, Pandis

Client: Brad Clemenson - Office of Representative John P. Murtha Bob Hedin - Hedin Environ-mental and Chartier's Creek Nature Conservancy

Description: The project course focused on treatment and resource recovery options for mine drainage, and designed several options for treating polluted water at Gladden discharge. Students predicted profitability of resource recovery operations at mine drainage sites and suggested several public policy options for encouraging these businesses.

Date: Fall, 2002

Title: "Implementing Tissue Engineering: Financial and regulatory guidance"

Instructors: DeKay, Small

Client: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Pittsburgh Tissue Engineering Institute

Description: Students designed practical tools and gathered important information to help firms, researchers, and regulators cultivate new "living" technologies for medical treatment of damaged tissues and organs. A decision model was developed to formalize and extend the FDA's system for regulatory classification of tissue-engineered therapies, which frequently combine biologic treatments with implantable devices. Difficulties with product development were identified and a prototypical web-based tool was designed to help developers navigate FDA requirements. A survey to assess public opinion about tissue-engineered therapies revealed wariness of potential risks to patients, with particular concern about disruptions to the body's hormonal functions.

Date: Fall, 2002

Title: "Untangling the Wires: Assessing the feasibility of underground utilities in Pittsburgh"

Instructors: Fischhoff, Rubin

Client: City of Pittsburgh and neighborhood development associations

Description: Both beautification of the city and improved reliability of the utilities could be achieved by placing the electric, telephone and cable wires underground. A detailed study, using a generalizable method, was conducted of the net benefit of undergrounding utilities in one neighborhood on the South Side. The set of analyses was then used to develop policy recommendations on how to coordinate and finance such a project at the neighborhood and city levels.

Date: Spring, 2002

Title: "Evaluating the Environmental Effectiveness of Recycling in Pittsburgh"

Instructors: Keith, Robinson

Client: City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Works

Description: A comprehensive assessment of Pittsburgh's solid waste recycling program, including an historical overview, budgetary analysis, assessment of public perceptions, life cycle environmental impact analysis, and comparison to commercial recycling in order to determine the efficacy of the Pittsburgh recycling program.

Date: Spring, 2002

Title: "The Medium of Wireless: An analysis of spectrum measurement, demand, and policy. "

Instructors: Peha, Sirbu

Client: Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

Description: This project explored the topic of radio frequency (RF) spectrum allocation. A strategy for measuring and assessing spectrum utilization was developed. Measurements at two Pittsburgh locations were taken over a one-month period. The demand for new wireless services (concentrating on unlicensed and cellular phone spectra) was projected through 2007. The prediction of interference created by this demand was evaluated. A case study of the unlicensed PCS band led to recommendations for future FCC actions. The currently available tools to search the spectrum allocations in the United States were reviewed and new tools that would permit more dynamic studies and examinations were explored.

Date: Fall, 2001

Title: "From Carnegie Mellon to Kyoto: How far can we go?"

Instructors: Fischhoff, Rubin

Client: Public

Description: The Kyoto Protocol calls for reducing absolute emissions of greenhouse gases, below a baseline level from the early 1990's. Although the U.S. is not currently a signator to the agreement, firms and institutions are free to seek their own reductions. Focusing on CO2 emissions, the project determined that Carnegie Mellon University could do a lot, with some of the most cost-effective steps arising from an audit of the "little" ways in which energy is used.

Date: Fall, 2001

Title: "We Know Where You Are: A study of location tracking"

Instructors: Piehler, Sirbu

Client: Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Pittsburgh Emergency Management Center

Description: The project focused on location tracking technologies for enhanced 911 and their impacts on the privacy of cellular consumers. The class focused on the actual implementation of the technologies, using this information for commercial purposes and governmental use of this information.

Date: Spring, 2001

Title: "Voting System Transitions: What are the options for Pennsylvania?"

Instructors: Fischbeck, McMichael, Pandis

Client: County election officials from eight counties

Description: The project class studied the Pennsylvania voting system and the options for improving and/or standardizing this system. The study dealt with public opinion, voter registration, voting technologies, and policy issues. The voting public and county election directors were surveyed to determine public opinion on various voting system issues. Through a systems-approach to the voting process, the class studied issues and attributes affecting a transition to a new registration system and a new voting technology. The study produced a quantitative transition-cost, security, and reliability model for comparing a variety of voting technologies. Optical scanning equipment, punch cards, direct recording equipment, the Internet, and Vote-by-Mail systems were among the technologies listed.

Date: Fall, 2000

Title: "Environmental Impacts of E-commerce - A case study of book purchasing"

Instructors: Fischhoff, Rubin

Client: Public

Description: In this report, we ask what the relationship is between e-commerce, energy consumption, and environmental impacts. We select book purchasing as a case study to explore this relationship because 1) on-line book purchasing is one of mature e-commerce activities, and 2) net environmental impacts can be obtained by comparing traditional and on-line book purchasing. We first developed a book life cycle analysis in order to study the environmental impacts due to on-line book purchasing. We then conducted quantitative analyses of the total environmental impacts associated with on-line book purchasing, using 1999 statistics as a base case. Derived from this based case, we built ten future scenarios. Each scenario manipulates another feature of the evolving industry, simulating possible changes in commercial activity, consumer behavior, recycling rate, and technology development. In addition, we not only review existing surveys of e-commerce consumer behavior but also present results from our survey, which contains questions on on-line book purchasing. In conclusions, we found that on-line book industry already (in 1999) had increasing environmental impacts. The magnitude of the impacts varies by pollutant. We suggested that policy makers should be aware of the energy and environmental impacts caused by booming e-commerce activities, and find ways to mitigate their negative influences on energy use and environmental protection.

Date: Fall, 2000

Title: "Hydrogen-based Energy System: The Next Ten Years"

Instructors: DeKay, Dowlatabadi

Client: National Energy Technology Laboratory

Description: This project focuses on the implementation of a hydrogen-based energy system. Based on a specific set of objective criteria, the ability of seven selected applications to be successfully introduced in the next ten years is evaluated. These applications include automobiles, transit buses, maritime vessels, consumer electronics power sources, and stationary power generation. The evaluation criteria consider environmental impacts, technical performance, and cost, all relative to the existing comparative technology. Fuel delivery requirements, development and deployment concerns, and application drivers and diffusion are also assessed by appropriate criteria. This report determines that, among the surveyed applications, fuel cells as consumer electronics power sources are very appealing as a technology to further hydrogen as a fuel. Other applications have strengths in differing areas. However, some applications currently enjoying strong support from government and industry are not the most likely to succeed.

Date: Spring, 2000

Title: "Safety and the Light Truck Craze: Who Wins? Who Loses? Who Cares?"

Instructors: Keith, Robinson

Client: Public

Description: Over the past quarter century, the percentage of light truck vehicles (LTVs) in the overall vehicle population has undergone a steady increase. Differences in mass and vehicle dimensions between passenger cars and LTVs present potential safety concerns for drivers of passenger cars. We analyze the effect of the changing US vehicle fleet on the risks (health and financial) to both LTV and passenger car occupants. Risk is defined as the risk of injury and fatality that is both personally assumed and which is imposed on the occupants of other vehicles as a result of vehicle choice. This analysis includes a study of the effects of specific physical vehicle characteristics and driver characteristics on fatalities and severe injuries. In addition, we compare the public's perception of their safety in a LTV vs. a passenger car to what accident injury and fatality statistics tell us about factors that influence vehicle safety. Finally, we study the influence of legislation and marketing on public perception. Conclusions of this study answer questions of who the winners and losers are in the issue of safety and the light truck craze and how these answers relate to stakeholder interest in the issue.

Date: Fall, 1999

Title: "Weapons of Mass Destruction: The Potential Threat of Biological and Chemical Weapons to Allegheny County and Surrounding Areas"

Instructors: Fischbeck, Piehler

Client: Allegheny County Health Dept.

Description: Like other areas of the United States, western Pennsylvania faces a threat of chemical and biological attacks, but there is little experience responding to such incidents. This study works to assess the demand on the emergency response system that would result from an attack. This is accomplished by developing four realistic chemical and biological weapon attack scenarios to estimate morbidity and mortality effects. These results are also used to identify preferred response strategies and potential improvements in the response system. Results of these four scenarios suggest that there are few preemptive improvements in the existing response system that would effectively reduce morbidity or mortality. However, results do show the importance of early agent identification and patient treatment to reduce mortality. This project illustrates how quantitative analysis can be used to shed light on policy issues and help direct policy choices, even when there is little experience dealing with the problem at issue.

Date: Fall, 1999

Title: "Noise Pollution on the CMU Campus"

Instructors: Fischhoff, Rubin

Client: Public

Description: The project investigated the impact of noise on the CMU campus. Physical measurements of sound levels on campus were made, and a survey of the campus community's perceptions of noise was conducted. In general sound levels on campus weren't found to pose a serious risk of hearing loss, but in some cases were high enough to disrupt sleep and studying. Recommendations included designating a computer cluster as a "quiet cluster" on a trial basis and stricter enforcement of the university's existing quiet hours policy.

Date: Spring, 1999

Title: "Non-Profit Organization and E-Commerce"

Instructors: Mertz, Joseph

Client: 100 Black Men of Western PA, Inc.

Description: Students in this project researched the issues involved in developing a sustainable e-commerce capability within a community group, and helped the 100 Black Men of Western Pennsylvania, Inc. understand those issues by making presentations and creating documents

Date: Spring, 1999

Title: "Pittsburghers Saving Energy"

Instructors: Pandis, Small

Client: Conservation Consultants Inc.

Description: Anthropogenic climate change is an undesirable product of contemporary living, yet it is difficult for individuals to understand the global impact of their lifestyle choices. The project surveyed residents of the Pittsburgh metropolitan region to assess their beliefs and knowledge concerning energy consumption, developed a personal energy-use calculator to estimate individual carbon dioxide emissions, assessed current and proposed policy initiatives aimed at reducing energy consumption in the Pittsburgh area, and evaluated regional impacts of energy use in the residential and transportation sectors. The goal of increasing personal awareness was seen to be a prerequisite of more substantial changes in energy consumption. A World Wide Web page was therefore developed to facilitate this objective (http://www.epp.cmu.edu/ energy use).

Date: Fall, 1998

Title: "Improving the Usefulness of the Toxics Release Inventory"

Instructors: Fischhoff, Rubin

Client: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Description: This project examined the accessibility and usefulness of current Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) information. Surveys were designed to investigate the public awareness of the TRI and its use by environmental organizations and industries. A case study of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, was undertaken to address the application of hazard weighting schemes to the TRI data as well as the implications of these schemes on industries and communities. A mass balance of total chemicals released in the county was conducted to gain a better understanding on the chemicals transferred off-site and to discover how to better utilize the TRI. Recommendations on how to improve the accessibility and usefulness of the TRI were addressed.

Date: Spring, 1998

Title: "Food Irradiation"

Instructors: Pandis, Small

Client: Public

Description: Food irradiation is a technology for killing microbial pathogens in meats, fruits, and other foods. This project analyzed the technical practicability of food irradiation, compared it with other methods for achieving food safety, studied consumer attitudes, and made regulatory and policy recommendations. Food irradiation is a safe and effective technology for increasing food safety. It deserves further research and has great potential for application.

Date: Spring, 1998

Title: "Carnegie Mellon Research and the Public: Avenues for Communication"

Instructors: Nair, Pantazidou

Client: Public

Description: With a goal "to develop means for better communication of Carnegie Mellon research to the public and to involve students in the process," the project developed proposals and proof-of-concept material for three possible avenues for communication - a Carnegie Mellon printed publication, a revision of the Carnegie Mellon research World Wide Web page, and an enhanced University outreach program. A survey of faculty assessed faculty's willingness to participate in such communication to the public. Recommendations include explicit recognition of Carnegie Mellon's commitment to considering the wider public in fulfilling its responsibility for knowledge dissemination and modification of reward structures.

Date: Fall, 1997

Title: "Organ Transplantation: Donation, Demand, and Allocation"

Instructors: Davis, DeKay

Client: Public

Description: The serious shortage of organs available for transplantation can be addressed by increasing the rate of organ donation and by ensuring that organ allocation policies are designed to maximize the benefits to prospective patients. Donation may be increased through the use of an encephalic and non-heart-beating donors, enactment of presumed-consent or binding-informed-consent legislation, and adoption of other efficiency measurers. The public prefers a policy that allocates organs on the basis of need without respect to geography, but physicians are likely to adapt to any allocation policy in ways that benefit their own patients.

Date: Fall, 1997

Title: "Airbags: Help or Harm?"

Instructors: Fischbeck, McMichael

Client: Public

Description: This project investigates the airbag problem from three viewpoints; the publics, the manufacturers, and the regulators and we also examine the technology, economics, and regulatory policy for alternative airbag systems. Both qualitative and quantitative methods are developed to conduct the analysis. Surveys are designed to find out what the public knows about airbags, what they expect from this safety technology and how the public ranks alternate safety options. A spreadsheet model is also developed to investigate both the costs and benefits of changing the relative composition of the U.S. fleet of vehicles by accounting for expected changes in the numbers of persons in the MAIS injury categories for different airbag systems.

Date: Spring, 1997

Title: "Nine Mile Run: A Study of the Reclamation and Sustainable Redevelopment of a Brownfield Site"

Instructors: Appold, Arunachalam, Dekay, Nair

Client: The STUDIO for Creative Inquiry, Carnegie Mellon University

Description: Analysis of environmental problems and development options at the Nine Mile Run slag heaps in Pittsburgh; focus on stream remediation, stability and potential toxicity of slag, and sustainable development.

Date: Fall, 1996

Title: "Advanced Transit Technologies: Improving the Operation of Port Authority Transit's East Busway"

Instructors: Fischhoff, McNeil, Rubin

Client: Port Authority Transit

Description: This project analyzed the potential of intelligent transport systems (ITS) for improving urban transit systems such as PAT's East Busway. ITS applications were studied from technical, socio-political and economic perspectives. While there are significant uncertainties in costs and performance, some ITS applications appear to hold promise.

Date: Fall, 1996

Title: "Computer and Information Services for Low-Income Communities"

Instructors: Appold, Davis, Fischbeck, Peha

Client: Public

Description: This project examined the role of community organizations such as community centers, libraries, and public housing in providing computer and information services to residents of low-income communities in Allegheny County. The students are evaluating the wants and needs of Allegheny County residents by surveying community center patrons, interviewing reference librarians, and installing a World-Wide Web proxy server to measure usage of the web from library workstations. In addition, the feasibility of providing computer and internet access in public housing was also examined.

Date: Spring, 1996

Title: "Ensuring Equal Access to Information and Computer Technology in Allegheny County"

Instructors: Appold, Arunachalam, Small

Client: Public

Description: The gap between information haves and have-nots in Allegheny County was evaluated by using census data, information on existing public resources and Geographic Information System Model. Research covered the necessary technology, descriptions of existing technology programs in Allegheny County, and a survey to identify user needs and wants. Recommendations were made for improved access to computers and the Internet for residents of Allegheny County.

Date: Spring, 1996

Title: "The Future of Home Appliance Recycling in Allegheny County"

Instructors: Fischbeck, McMichael, Nair

Client: Public

Description: This project examines the collection of used home appliances in Allegheny County to determine if there is need for implementing a formal home appliance recycling program. The project also includes economic and technical analysis of the existing appliance recycling process technology. Appliance design trends including dematerialization and increased energy efficiency are also evaluated.

Date: Fall, 1995

Title: "Issues in Bulk Mail"

Instructors: Davis, Dowlatabadi, Pandis

Client: Public

Description: Direct marketing is a major industry in the United States, with direct mail marketing (or bulk mail) as a primary segment of this industry. This study addresses the effectiveness of bulk mail to meet the intended requirements, evaluated related externalities such as environmental costs and discusses social implications such as privacy concerns. The study developed criteria with which to rank alternatives to bulk mail, including electronic media (internet and e-mail), and interactive television broadcasts.

Date: Fall, 1995

Title: "Computer-Related Repetitive Strain Injuries: A Methodology and Carnegie Mellon University Case Study"

Instructors: Fischhoff, Rubin

Client: The University Community

Description: Over 300 CMU faculty, staff, and graduate students were surveyed to determine the incidence of Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI) at CMU. Local health professionals were surveyed to determine their perception of RSI problems. The use of ergonomic equipment to alleviate RSI was examined, and a series of policy recommendations to reduce its effects were presented. It led to the establishment of CMU's RSI Prevention Task Force and of the most comprehensive at a university.

Date: Spring, 1995

Title: "Alternative Emissions Programs for Pennsylvania"

Instructors: Appold, Fischbeck, Piehler, Small

Client: Public

Description: In 1990, Congress enacted the Clean Air Act (CAA) Amendments. A key feature of the CAA amendments was a provision for automotive emissions testing. The goals of this project were to evaluate the merits of several automotive emissions testing methods and provide guidance to policy makers regarding the effectiveness of the testing alternatives in improving air quality in the State of Pennsylvania.

Date: Fall, 1994

Title: "University Transportation Systems: An Analysis of the Shuttle Systems of Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh"

Instructors: Davis, Lewis, McMichael

Client: Public

Description: This project focused on the transportation systems at CMU and the University of Pittsburgh. An alternative routing scheme for the CMU student shuttle was developed to improve service with existing resources and is being examined by the CMU administration for possible implementation.

Date: Fall, 1994

Title: "Pittsburgh's Urban Forest: Planting for the Future"

Instructors: Rubin, Fischhoff

Client: City of Pittsburgh Department of Forestry

Description: The project examined the current status and critical needs in maintaining and improving Pittsburgh's urban forest. One of its recommendations helped to prompt the City of Pittsburgh to reestablish its Shade Tree Commission, which had last met in 1914.

Date: Spring, 1994

Title: "Urban Risks in the Lawrenceville Community"

Instructors: Fischbeck, Larkey, Sirbu

Client: Lawrenceville Citizens Council

Description: Older urban communities face a unique spectrum of both technological and social risks. This project took a comprehensive view of the risks that may be present in Lawrenceville, the oldest community in Pittsburgh. The project included: a survey of the citizens' concerns and perceptions; an analysis of existing data on environmental, crime and fire risks; and home inspections to determine the presence of household risks such as radon, EMF and lead contamination.

Date: Spring, 1994

Title: "Weatherization for Low-Income Homeowners in Pittsburgh"

Instructors: Lewis, Small, Pandis

Client: Public

Description: The project studied the activities of local gas and electric utilities, government agencies and other community groups in delivering energy-conservation services to low-income homes in the Pittsburgh area. The project examined historical program development, measured performance, technology choice, program administration and cost-effectiveness.

Date: Fall, 1993

Title: "The Internet in K-12 Education"

Instructors: Davis, Lewis, Peha

Client: Pittsburgh Public Schools, University of Pittsburgh LRDC, and Common Knowledge Pittsburgh

Description: This project studied the challenges and benefits of introduction of internet access on the K-12 educational environment of the Pittsburgh Public School system. Issues explored include evaluation of training programs, analysis of effects on curricula and teaching styles, establishment of school policies regarding e-mail privacy and student access to "inappropriate information".

Date: Fall, 1993

Title: "Environmental Labeling of Consumer Products"

Instructors: Fischhoff, Nair, Rubin

Client: Public

Description: This project focused on the issues involved in creating credible environmental labels for consumer products. Topics include: Consumer understanding, Technical requirements, Label formats, and Organizational options.

Date: Spring, 1993

Title: "Personal Communication Systems: A Policy Analysis"

Instructors: Fischhoff, Peha

Client: Bell Atlantic

Description: Personal Communications Systems (PCS) are telecommunication devices and services, such as the telephone, that are associated with an individual rather than a location or vehicle. This project focused on five key areas: 1) possible effects of PCS on existing telecommunications systems; 2) allocation and licensing of spectrum; 3) potential user demands; 4) potential violations of users' privacy; and 5) potential health effects.

Date: Fall, 1992

Title: "The Automobile and the Environment: A Greener Automobile through Materials Substitution"

Instructors: Davis, Piehler, Rubin

Client: Manufacturers of automobiles and automobile materials.

Description: A lifecycle approach is used to assess the environmental impact of high-aluminum, high-plastic, and high-steel content automobile designs during each stage of automobile life. Technologies and policies that could reduce environmental impacts, energy and raw material taxes, and manufacturer take-back regulations, were investigated. Analysis concluded that aluminum and plastic produced the least environmental impact though a lack of a recycling infrastructure and high costs may limit application.

Date: Fall, 1992

Title: "Impacts of Defense Cuts and Economic Conversion"

Instructors: Arora, Morel, Small

Client: Government and Industry Policy Makers

Description: This project explores the issues related to defense cutbacks and economic conversion. A case study analysis was performed to assess the financial health and adaptive capacity of large airframe manufacturers and small defense contractors. The report considers the potential for direct conversion to civilian based manufacturing, and export of existing military hardware, exploring institutional and technical constraints on each. Also explored are policy options for lessening the adverse impacts of defense cuts on federal state, and local economies.

Date: Spring, 1992

Title: "Design for a High Performance Manufacturing Infrastructure"

Instructors: Florida, Peha

Client: Southwestern Pennsylvania Industrial Resources Centers

Description: This project evaluated: current state of the region's manufacturing base; technological and organizational capabilities of the region's suppliers; broader regional environment affecting supplier performance and manufacturing practices; and relative strength of various critical industries. Policy options and strategic investments to revitalize the manufacturing infrastructures in the Southwestern Pennsylvania region were developed.

Date: Spring, 1992

Title: "An Evaluation of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center"

Instructors: Kelley, Arora

Client: Southwestern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Centers

Description: Evaluation of the impact of quasi-public Industrial Resource Centers (IRC) intended to spur organizational and technological modernization of small to medium-sized manufacturing firms with a focus on Southwestern Pennsylvania metalworking plants.

Date: Spring, 1992

Title: "Aral Sea Regional Ecological Crisis"

Instructors: Fischhoff, Lubin

Client: Senator Gore (D-Tennessee)

Description: Comprehensive analysis of the Aral Sea crisis including: the state of human health and local ecology, methods of water use and distribution, political structure, and economic vitality of Soviet Central Asia. Proposals include potential solutions to help the people of the region while considering the interests and goals of possible project funders. Recommendations are designed to stabilize and improve regional conditions; they cover short-and long-term projects, with both large and small budgets.

Date: Fall, 1991

Title: "Design Issues in Waste Avoidance"

Instructors: Ayres, Davis

Client: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources (DER)

Description: Examination of the waste streams of exemplary products in three industries: personal computers, refrigerators, and telephones. Evaluation of design phase policies that can make the waste stream more amenable to reuse, remanufacturing, or recycling. A policy of cradle-to-grave manufacturer responsibility was found to be the most promising.

Date: Fall, 1991

Title: "Solid Waste Management at Carnegie Mellon University"

Instructors: McMichael, Nair

Client: CMU Dept. of Environmental Health & Safety

Description: Assessment of solid waste management system at Carnegie Mellon revealed several aspects that could lead to more efficiency and economy. Recommendations included relocating dumpsters, changing collection schemes, and incentives for increased recycling by students.

Date: "Hazardous Waste Facilities Siting"

Title: Spring, 1991

Instructors: Fischbeck, Small

Client: Public

Description: Evaluation of the siting of a hazardous waste treatment facility in the context of the then ongoing attempt to locate a facility in Clarion County, Pennsylvania. Analysis included: technical risk issues, legal and regulatory background, economic impacts, and public perception and participation in siting efforts. Recommendations were made concerning the approach taken by private developers, and citizens that could lead to more successful siting.

Date: Spring, 1991

Title: "Safety with Fuel Efficiency: Alternatives to CAFE"

Instructors: Caulkins, Fischhoff, Rubin

Client: Public

Description: Analysis of possible Congressional approaches to reducing U.S. automobile fuel consumption. The analysis suggests that the traditional intervention (corporate average fuel economy requirements) may not be optimal. Alternatives such as Slide Scale Tax and Rebate (STAR) seem to achieve equivalent reductions in fuel consumption with fewer costly side effect, including less adverse impact on occupant safety.

Date: Fall, 1990

Title: "Magnetic Levitation Transportation: The Pittsburgh Frontier"

Instructors: Ayres, Davis, Kurfess

Client: Public

Description: Exploration of issues raised by the proposed highspeed "Mag-Lev" link between downtown Pittsburgh and the airport. Main questions involved the appropriateness of the technology for the application, its potential for bringing manufacturing investment and employment to the area and of potential benefits to the local public.

Date: Fall, 1990

Title: "Municipal Solid Waste Management in Allegheny County"

Instructors: Nair, Lewis, Morel

Client: Allegheny County Division of Solid Waste Management

Description: Analysis of then current Allegheny County Municipal Solid Waste Management Plan in the context of a ten-year time frame. Recommendations include continuing landfilling, and defining the County's role as data collector, information resource, "watchdog" and educator.

Date: Spring, 1990

Title: "Pennsylvania's Responses to Global Climate Change"

Instructors: Duncan, Fischhoff, Rubin

Client: Public

Description: Identification analysis of policy options for institutions in the state of Pennsylvania to mitigate the effects of climate change caused by global warming. Recommendations for "no-regrets" policies, offering environmental benefits such as energy conservation in addition to reductions in the emission of greenhouse gases.

Date: Spring, 1990

Title: "Plastic recycling: the Potential for Pittsburgh"

Instructors: McRae, Small, Wade

Client: Public

Description: This project focus on the management of plastic in the City of Pittsburgh curbside collection program including: technical, logistic, and public policy issues related to plastics recycling; collection and separation of plastics from the waste stream; and processing of the collected materials into marketable pellets. Recommendations are made concerning optimal program implementation.

Date: Fall, 1989

Title: "Catastrophic Oil Spills on the Great Lakes"

Instructors: Farrow, Lewis

Client: Public

Description: This report provides: an analysis of the likelihood of catastrophic spills in the Great Lakes based on case studies; organizations, equipment and technologies available for prevention and remediation; spill scenarios for Chicago and Detroit/Sarnia regions. Recommendations emphasize prevention training; codification of equipment capabilities; investigation of need for an industry response organization and strengthening of organizational command structures.

Date: Fall, 1989

Title: "Household Batteries: Is there a Need for Change in Regulation and Disposal Procedure?"

Instructors: McMichael, Miller, Nair

Client: Public

Description: Strategies for controlling pollution from household batteries were examined. Recommendations include reduction of heavy metals in manufacture, separating batteries from incinerables, household hazardous waste management programs, and public education. The study includes a comparison of life cycle analyses for disposable and rechargeable batteries.

Date: Spring, 1989

Title: "International Cooperation in Space Project"

Instructors: Babcock, Morel, Moses, Stewman

Client: Public

Description: At a time where fundamental choices have to be made in space policy, this project examined what international cooperation could bring to American space programs. The areas studied were: the space station; the mission to Mars; arms control; and the environment.

Date: Spring, 1989

Title: "Effects of Windshear in Aviation"

Instructors: Engberg, Fischhoff, Small

Client: Public

Description: Examination of technology and policy issues associated with windshear detection and avoidance including: performance of on-ground and in-flight detection equipment; decision-making by pilots and air traffic controllers; and the economic and political feasibility of alternatives for detection equipment, pilot training and institutional and financial arrangements.

Date: Spring, 1989

Title: "Allegheny Health Department, Bureau of Environmental Health"

Instructors: Lewis, McRae, Wade

Client: Public

Description: This report examines several issues in the management of Allegheny County's Bureau of Environmental Health. The issues are: environmental health needs assessment, measurement of goal attainment, organizational structure, human resources management and information management.

Date: Fall, 1988

Title: "Water Supply for the Greater Pittsburgh Area: 1988 and Beyond"

Instructors: Ayres, Carey, Cohen, McMichael

Client: Municipalities in Allegheny County

Description: Evaluation of local water supply planning by public & private water utilities. Determination of the role of new drinking water regulations on the cost of water to the consumer. Identification of alternative cost effective actions for 129 municipalities and 22 water suppliers. Evaluation of the role of water storage in planning for reliability & safety for communities with aging treatment plant & distribution systems.

Date: Spring, 1988

Title: "The Study of Key Programs of Modernization of NATO"

Instructors: Morel

Client: Public

Description: The study performed a critical assessment of a variety of advanced technologies for surveillance, targeting and communication in the central European theater.

Date: Spring, 1988

Title: "Waste Minimization: Educational Solutions"

Instructors: Carey, Gifford, McRae, Small

Client: PA State Committee for Policy Research and Development

Description: Examination of existing hazardous waste minimization programs, and economic analysis of costs/benefits and incentives, a determination of the technical opportunities for hazardous waste minimization in PA, and an assessment of the existing attitudes toward waste minimization.

Date: Spring, 1988

Title: "Risk to Children in Allegheny County"

Instructors: Dunn, Fischhoff, Florida, Nair

Client: Public

Description: The project examined the primary physical and psychological risks faced by children in the age range 5 to 14 years in Allegheny County and the institutional structures providing assistance for the reduction of these risks. Students provided recommendations to a panel of representatives from youth service agencies in the area.

Date: Fall, 1987

Title: "Regulation and Disposal of Used Motor Oil"

Instructors: Ayres, Cohen, Lewis, Rubin

Client: Public

Description: Evaluation of the environmental and health effects resulting form improper disposal of used motor oil. An analysis of the sources, destinations and regulation of used motor oil is the basis for policy recommendations.

Date: Spring, 1987

Title: "The Effect of Economic Transformation on Monongahela River Valley Milltowns: Some Selected Problems"

Instructors: Small, Tarr, Wade, Young

Client: Steel Valley Council of Governments

Description: Analysis of selected problems in the milltowns of the Monongahela River Valley heavily impacted by the decline of steel manufacture. Problems included: the position of minorities, health status of the population and availability of health care, fiscal conditions of the towns, and possibilities for economic revitalization.

Date: Spring, 1987

Title: "Drug Testing in the Workplace"

Instructors: Carey, Farrow, McRae

Client: Public

Description: An examination of the technical, legal, economic and social issues surrounding drug testing in the workplaces. Information necessary for unions making policy in response to employer drug-testing programs is compiled.

Date: Fall, 1986

Title: "Commercial Applications of Genetically Engineered Microorganisms: Public Perception, Regulation, Economics and the State of Technology"

Instructors: Gifford, Lynn, McMichael, Nair

Client: Public

Description: An examination of the state of genetic engineering technology and the relevant economic, regulation, and public opinion environment, through case studies of insulin and delta endotoxin pesticides, and a public opinion survey.

Date: Fall, 1986

Title: "Telecommunications Alternatives for Carnegie Mellon"

Instructors: Henrion, Lewis, Mazur, Sirbu

Client: Carnegie Mellon

Description: Evaluation of the needs and technological option available to CMU for the provision of voice and video telecommunication services. Comparison of PBX vendors and Centrex; applications and delivery mechanisms for educational video and telex, facsimile and teleconference support.

Date: Spring, 1986

Title: "The Indoor Radon Problems: focus on Pennsylvania"

Instructors: McKeown, Rubin, Small, Tarr

Client: Public

Description: An examination of the technical, health, social and policy issues of the indoor radon hazard in Pennsylvania. A survey of Realtors and builders in the Reading Prong area provided information about the impact on the housing market. Current and potential government policies on information dissemination and remedial action were evaluated.

Date: Spring, 1986

Title: "Local Emergency Response to Hazardous Materials Transportation Accidents in Allegheny County"

Instructors: Carey, Lazarus, Lewis, Nair

Client: Allegheny County Emergency Management Office

Description: An analysis of the existing resources and plans for emergency response to hazards arising from chemical transportation accident. Recommendations for better coordination of resources and communication are provided, including the development of a computerized data base for information and resource allocation management.

Date: Fall, 1985

Title: "Technical Barriers to Trade"

Instructors: Ayres, Blumstein, DiPasquale, Lynn, Piehler

Client: U.S. Department of Commerce

Description: Identification, analysis and assessment of impact in the balance of trade of those technical issues which stem from historical and current standards and certification procedures across nations. Emphasis was placed on Telecommunications, the Automobile Industry, High Tech Medical Equipment, and Consumer Electronics.

Date: Spring, 1985

Title: "Seabed Mining of Cobalt-Rich Manganese Crusts in the Pacific United States Exclusive Economic Zone"

Instructors: Coulam, Farrow, Hahn, McMichael

Client: U.S. Bureau of Mines

Description: An assessment of the technical feasibility, profitability and legal status of mining cobalt in crustal deposits within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone. Past and potential U.S. government involvement in seabed mining was considered.

Date: Fall, 1984

Title: "Hazardous Waste Production by the Metal Finishing Industry: New Regulations and Possible Reductions"

Instructors: Lynn, McRae, Mowery, Small

Client: Public

Description: As assessment of the impacts on the metal finishing industry of more stringent standards and regulation for the disposal of hazardous wastes. With the focus on businesses in western Pennsylvania.

Date: Fall, 1984

Title: "Strategies to Reduce Population Exposure to 60 Hz Electric and Magnetic Fields"

Instructors: Graham, Montgomery, Morgan, Rubin

Client: Public

Description: An evaluation of ways to reduce peoples' exposure to 60 Hz fields produced by high voltage transmission lines, distribution circuits, and sources in the home and office such as lighting, appliances, and power cords. Control strategies are ranked by cost effectiveness of exposure reduction.

Date: Spring, 1984

Title: "The Impact of Automation on Information Processing in the Office"

Instructors: Ayres, Lewis, Lynn, Miller

Client: Public

Description: An analysis of the functioning of five offices, and a description of how automation changed their productivity, staffing, and processing. These five case studies are compared to each other and to national trends.

Date: Spring, 1984

Title: "The Potential of Surface Treatment Techniques in Reducing U.S. Vulnerability to Strategic Materials"

Instructors: Davis, Farrow, Nair, Wynblatt

Client: Public

Description: An assessment of the potential eight selected new surface treatment techniques to conserve the amounts of eleven strategic materials used to enhance desirable surface properties; through a forecast of the vulnerability to supply disruption of the growth of the technologies to promote through the R&D funding.

Date: Fall, 1983

Title: "Acid Deposition: A Pennsylvania Viewpoint"

Instructors: Hahn, Rubin, Small, Mowery

Client: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources

Description: An examination of the technical, economic, environmental and policy implication of acid deposition in Pennsylvania. These attributes are investigated for numerous existing and hypothetical legislature scenarios.

Date: Fall, 1983

Title: "Human Factors in Automated Office Systems"

Instructors: Lincoln, Nair

Client: Public

Description: Analysis of hardware and software-related factors of importance to user interface of automated office systems. An experiment of user preferences in accessing data bases was also analyzed. Recommendations were made as to the best systems on the market.

Date: Spring, 1983

Title: "Milltowns in the Pittsburgh Region: Conditions and Prospects"

Instructors: Ayres, Lynn, Onaka, Tarr

Client: Allegheny County Dept. of Development

Description: An examination of the impact of the decline of the steel industry on milltowns. Analysis was done of demographic, housing, social and economic conditions in the towns. Past policies to deal with milltown problem were analyzed and new polices recommended.

Date: Spring, 1983

Title: "Financing the Upper Ohio River Basin Navigation System: Alternatives and Impacts"

Instructors: DiPasquale, Nair, Roth, Wynblatt

Client: Public

Description: Analysis of the methods of revenue generation through user charges for maintenance of the Upper Ohio River Basin Navigation System and possible impacts on selected industrial users.

Date: Fall, 1982

Title: "Applications to Industrial Protection to Allegheny County"

Instructors: Callaham, Davis, Farrow, McMichael, Mowery

Client: Emergency Management division of the Allegheny County Police Department

Description: Analyzed industrial protection techniques against nuclear attack for Allegheny County. Problems and possibilities were found for three area industries: Fuels transportation, electric power generation, health care services.

Date: Fall, 1982

Title: "Compensation for Delayed Disease from Exposure to Chemicals and Drugs"

Instructors: Hahn, Lincoln, Lynn, Piehler

Client: Public

Description: An examination of: the scientific problems in determining the link between chemical exposure and disease; and the alternatives for compensating exported individual form toxic tort litigation and workmens' compensation.

Date: Spring, 1982

Title: "Automobile Recycling: Issue for America"

Instructors: Carey, Cohen, Piehler, Public, Wynblatt

Client: Public

Description: Analyzed the efficiency with which automobiles are recycled, policy options for reducing automobile abandonment and likely effects of auto weight reduction on the future robustness of the auto recycling industry.

Date: Spring, 1982

Title: "Pentachlorophenol: A Case Study in Pesticide Regulation"

Instructors: Blau, Garber, Montgomery, Nair

Client: Public

Description: An examination of the RPAR Process, used by EPA to evaluate pesticides, with particular reference to the wood-preservative pentachlorophenol and its alternates creosote and inorganic arsenates.

Date: Spring, 1982

Title: "Computers in Primary and Secondary Education: Analysis and Recommendations for the Wilkinsburg School District"

Instructors: Ayres, Duncan, Leinhardt, Rubin

Client: Wilkinsburg School District

Description: An examination of current and potential uses of computers in the Wilkinsburg School District in administration and education.

Date: Fall, 1981

Title: "Underground Capital Project Decision-Making in the City of Pittsburgh"

Instructors: Larkey, McMichael, Onaka, Powers, Roth, Sibley, Tarr

Client: City of Pittsburgh

Description: The process of selecting and budgeting projects to construct, maintain, replace, or improve the city's potable water distribution and wastewater collection systems was modeled. Procedures for improving the informational and analytical bases for project selection and budgeting were proposed.

Date: Fall, 1981

Title: "An Analysis of Federal Policy on Toxic Trace Metals"

Instructors: Davidson, Fischer, Leinhardt, Lincoln

Client: Public

Description: An analysis of which metals deserve consideration for additional regulation, and identification of those metals for which further research is needed before regulations can be considered.

Date: Spring, 1981

Title: "An Assessment of the Resource & Procedural Constraints on the Development of a Coal Derived Synthetic Fuels Industry in Northern Appalachia"

Instructors: Carey, Coulam, Leinhardt, Nagin, Rubin

Client: Public

Description: An analysis of air and water quality transportation and water availability and public opposition with regards to the development of a synthetic fuels industry in West Virginia and Pennsylvania.

Date: Spring, 1981

Title: "Impacts of Robotics on Workforce and Workplace"

Instructors: Ayres, Baybars, Davis, Lewis, Lynn

Client: Public

Description: An analysis of robot users, of the workers whose jobs would be robotized, and of human resources and labor policies dealing with technological change.

Date: Spring, 1981

Title: "Fire Safety: A Comparative Risk Assessment"

Instructors: Duncan, Nair, Piehler, Roth

Client: Public

Description: An examination of fire loss reduction in three different areas: Recommendations for a set of priorities for risk reduction in each area.

Date: Fall, 1980

Title: "Social and Economic Impacts of Sitting a high Level Radioactive Waste Repository"

Instructors: Callaham, Duncan, Leinhardt, Nair

Client: Public

Description: Examination of social mechanisms to deal with the problem of high level radioactive waste repository siting.

Date: Fall, 1980

Title: "The Future of Hazardous Waste Management in Pennsylvania"

Instructors: Ayres, Bloom, Carey, Davis, Lincoln

Client: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources

Description: Private and public sector actions available for handling existing disposal sites and disposing wastes in the future.

Date: Spring, 1980

Title: "An Assessment of Civil Sector Uses of Digital Data Encryption"

Instructors: Lewis, Morgan, Weingarten

Client: Public

Description: An examination of current and expected technologies and uses of digital data encryption in the civil sector.

Date: Spring, 1980

Title: "Strategies for Improving Safety in Underground Coal Mines"

Instructors: Baybars, Carey, Larkey, Weinstein

Client: Public

Description: An analysis of the alternatives available to Government and the mining industry for reducing injuries and fatalities in underground coal mining in U.S.

Date: Fall, 1979

Title: "Building Codes and Rehabilitation: Is a 'Rehabilitation Code' Appropriate for Pittsburgh"

Instructors: Ayres, Davis, DePasquale, Lewis

Client: Pittsburgh Public Housing Agencies

Description: A study of options available for regulation of modifications to existing buildings in Pittsburgh.

Date: Fall, 1979

Title: "Reducing Risks from Diagnostic X-Radiation: Personal Record Keeping and other strategies"

Instructors: Davidson, Garber, Lincoln, Nair

Client: Public

Description: An evaluation of the factors that can be instrumental in reducing public exposure to diagnostic x-radiation.

Date: Spring, 1979

Title: "Total Suspended Particles in Allegheny County: Reconciling Economic Growth and Air Quality"

Instructors: Baybars, Davidson, Lincoln, Oliver

Client: Allegheny County Air Pollution Bureau

Description: An analysis of the impacts of non-traditional particulate sources and measurement problems on area emission off-set policy.

Date: Spring, 1979

Title: "Product Liability Tort Reform: Crisis of Uncertainty"

Instructors: Ayres, Haseman, Lewis, Piehler

Client: Pennsylvania State Legislators

Description: An analysis of the current status of product liability litigation in Pennsylvania and the potential impact of proposed new laws.

Date: Fall, 1978

Title: "An Examination of the Federal Role in the Promotion of Rural Television"

Instructors: Lewis, Morgan, Serber

Client: Public

Description: A study of whether the federal government should subsidize broadband communication technology in rural areas.

Date: Fall, 1978

Title: "Policy on Recombinant DNA Activities: Relaxing Guidelines While Increasing Safety"

Instructors: Lincoln, Ordeshook, Spader, Stewman

Client: National Institutes of Health

Description: Analysis of five components needed in a benefit-risk evaluation of RDNA activities.

Date: Spring, 1978

Title: "Instructional Television: Prospects for Application to Continuing Education in Pittsburgh and the Surrounding Tri-State Area"

Instructors: Haseman, Lewis, Morgan, Tuma

Client: Area Colleges and Universities

Description: Analyzed the cost attractiveness of alternative technologies to deliver continuing professional education and addressed local and national regulatory and other policy problems.

Date: Spring, 1978

Title: "Air Pollution Control Analyses for State Implementation Plan Revisions in Allegheny County"

Instructors: Hirsch, Johnson, Lave, Lincoln, Rubin

Client: Allegheny County Air Pollution

Description: Developed recommendations for use by the county in the process of designing the new State Implementation Plan required under the new amendments to the Clean Air Act.

Date: Fall, 1977

Title: "Conservation Alternatives for Residential Space Heating in Allegheny County"

Instructors: Davidson, Larkey, Lincoln, Morgan, Ordeshook

Client: Public

Description: Analyzed strategies for winterization of private homes in Pittsburgh and recommended improvements in existing winterization programs.

Date: Fall, 1977

Title: "School Bus Safety: A Public Policy Puzzle"

Instructors: Weinstein, Morgan, Angrist, Piehler

Client: Local School Districts

Description: Examined the effectiveness of existing federal and state safety regulations and proposed driver training improvements.

Date: Spring, 1977

Title: "An Assessment of the Bridge Crisis in Allegheny County"

Instructors: Davis, Johnson, McMichael, Rubin

Client: Public, PennDOT, County Department of Works, City of Pittsburgh, SPRPC

Description: Recommended criteria and priorities for bridge repair and maintenance.

Date: Spring, 1977

Title: "Planning and Evaluation Aids for a Community-Based Mental Health/Mental Retardation System: the Allegheny County MH/MR Program"

Instructors: Lewis, Massey, McKelvey

Client: Allegheny County Mental Health Retardation Program, Local Catchment Agencies

Description: Developed methodology for estimating the number of clients who will use an agency (Base Service Unit), determined services provided to different mental health populations, and recommended a structure for evaluation research on mental health service delivery.

Date: Fall, 1976

Title: "An Analysis of Electric Power Load Management for the Residential Sector in Pennsylvania"

Instructors: Burman, Lewis, Morgan, Oliver

Client: Pennsylvania Public utility Commission

Description: Examined impacts of electric power load management on the residential sector and developed policy recommendations for the PUC.

Date: Fall, 1976

Title: "Regulation of Orthopedic Surgical Implants: An Investigation of the Effects of the 1976 Medical Devices Amendments"

Instructors: Angrist, Burman, Piehler, Weinstein

Client: Public

Description: Analyzed risk data for devices of the hip and concluded that emphasis should be placed on responsive monitoring rather than pre-market approval. Presented results at meeting of Orthopedic Classification Panel of the Bureau of Medical Devices and Diagnostic Products of the FDA.

Date: Spring, 1976

Title: "Power Plant Siting Policy Alternatives for Pennsylvania"

Instructors: Haseman, McKelvey, McMichael, Rubin

Client: Governor's Energy council, Governor's Science Advisory Committee

Description: Suggestions for revised power plant siting procedures in Pennsylvania.

Date: Spring, 1976

Title: "The Pittsburgh Housing Court and the Code Enforcement Process"

Instructors: Burman, Dunlap, Hua

Client: Allegheny County Health & Welfare Planning Association

Description: Legislative recommendation to empower County-wide Court with broad powers.

Date: Fall, 1975

Title: "The Effect of the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act on Water Supply Systems"

Instructors: Angrist, Haseman, McMichael, Shane

Client: Water Supply Companies

Description: Assessment of impact of federal legislation at County levels.

Date: Fall, 1975

Title: "An Assessment of Pennsylvania's Periodic Motor Vehicle Inspection System"

Instructors: Burman, Dunlap, Piehler, Weinstein

Client: Public

Description: Study of effectiveness of present system, with recommendations to legislature to modify program and increase cost effectiveness.

Date: Spring, 1975

Title: "Housing Need and Rehabilitation in Pittsburgh: City and Neighborhoods"

Instructors: Au, Dunlap, Hua, Stewman

Client: Housing Subcommittee, Pittsburgh City Council

Description: Analysis of housing need in Pittsburgh, including modeling of early warning indicator for neighborhoods, procedure for allocating rehabilitation funds.

Date: Spring, 1975

Title: "Coal Utilization in Pennsylvania's Electric Utilities: Assessment of Public Policy"

Instructors: Dunlap, Rubin, Tarr, Wallace

Client: Governor's Energy Council

Description: Analysis of energy requirements for State, particularly the feasibility of increased coal utilization. Presented formally to Lt. Governor and other State officials, May 1975.

Date: Fall, 1974

Title: "Residential Solid Waste Systems for the Pittsburgh Region: Analysis of Five Alternatives"

Instructors: Angrist, Wallace, Wendell

Client: City of Pittsburgh, County Department of Works

Description: Re-analysis of solid waste management after City-County split on alternatives. Action by County pending; interns placed in City and County offices, Summer 1975.

Date: Fall, 1974

Title: "A Contingency Plan for Hazardous Material Incidents in Allegheny County"

Instructors: Dunlap, McMichael, Stewman, Broughton

Client: Allegheny County Health Department

Description: Precursor for County management plan and office. Action by County Commissioners scheduled in 1975.

Date: Spring, 1974

Title: "Girtys Run: A Study in Urban Watershed Management"

Instructors: Dunlap, Lewis, McMichael, Wojick

Client: North Area Environmental Council, Pittsburgh

Description: Management priorities for an urbanized watershed; provided basis for municipality sewerage study, resulted in formation of watershed association; given award by local environmental council.

Date: Spring, 1974

Title: "Lead Poisoning in Allegheny County"

Instructors: Krokosky, Walters

Client: Allegheny County Health Department

Description: Analysis of causes of elevated blood- lead levels in urban children; basis of US NBS grant to County Health Department for further study.

Date: Fall, 1973

Title: "Transportation Control Plan Strategies for Pittsburgh"

Instructors: Dunlap, Lewis, Rubin, Stewman, Tolle, Wendell

Client: Public, Environmental Protection agency (Region III)

Description: Analysis of environmentally-related transportation controls; EPA modified its promulgated plan on basis of this analysis.

Date: Spring, 1973

Title: "Noise Abatement in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania"

Instructors: Gouse, Krokosky, Walters

Client: Allegheny County Health Department

Description: Precursor to County plan for noise control; given recognition and an award by local environmental council.

Date: Spring, 1973

Title: "An Analysis of Urban Watershed Waste-Water Control in Allegheny County Pennsylvania"

Instructors: Dunlap, McMichael

Client: Allegheny County Health Department

Description: Assessment of control priorities and agency requirements for watershed management; initiated County program.

Date: Fall, 1972

Title: "Study of Road Maintenance in the Pittsburgh Area"

Instructors: Dunlap, Gouse, Krokosky, Walters

Client: Public, City of Pittsburgh, County Department of Public Works

Description: Analysis of technological capabilities and benefits for improved road maintenance; cited by Governor.

Date: Spring, 1972

Title: "A Study of Solid Waste Management Systems in Allegheny County"

Instructors: Gouse, Walters

Client: Allegheny County Bureau of solid Waste Management

Description: First analysis of local location problems for transfer station/ landfill disposal method, used in solid waste management planning.

Date: Fall, 1971

Title: "The New City"

Instructors: Baumann, Dunlap, Gouse, Krot, Paul, Purcupile, Reilly, Rubin, Walters

Client: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Description: Nine inter-related project tasks concerning urban problems (transit, health care delivery, environment).

Date: Spring, 1971

Title: "Design of an Air Pollution Alert Warning Emergency System"

Instructors: Dunlap, Reilly, Walters

Client: Allegheny County Air Pollution Control Bureau

Description: Precursor to plan for air pollution emergencies for Allegheny County.

Date: Fall, 1970

Title: "The Coking Process: Technology, Economics, and Regulatory Activity"

Instructors: Blumstein, Dunlap, Reilly, Walters

Client: Allegheny County Air Pollution Control Bureau

Description: Analysis of control priorities which focused regulatory action; first assessment of feasibility of coke oven gas desulfurization; first modeling of air quality in Allegheny County.

Date: Spring, 1970

Title: "A Study of Air Pollution Control for Allegheny County, Pennsylvania"

Instructors: Dunlap, Ragone, Toor

Client: Allegheny County Air Pollution Control Variance Board

Description: Blueprint of local control priorities; used as such by government agencies, industries.