NDSU Theses & Dissertations

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Research performed to achieve a formal degree from NDSU. Includes theses, dissertations, master's papers, and videos. The Libraries are currently undertaking a scanning project to include all bound student theses, dissertations, and masters papers.

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Browsing NDSU Theses & Dissertations by browse.metadata.type "Theses"

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    Bismarck-Mandan Rail Bridge Park: Using Private-Public Infill to Create a Destination Waterfront Park in the City of Bismarck, North Dakota
    (North Dakota State University, 2020) Schmidt, Austin M.
    This study focuses on the preservation of the Bismarck-Mandan rail bridge and surrounding 200-acre site as a catalyst to transform the waterfront of North Dakota’s capital city into a 21st-Century urban park. Announced by the National Historic Trust for Historical Places, the iconic community structure has been listed as one of “America’s 11 most Most Endangered Historic Places” in 2019. With the backing of the Historic Trust, Preservation of North Dakota, community members, and the non-profit group, Friends of the Rail Bridge, the historic truss bridge has gained traction to be repurposed as a pedestrian bridge linking the parks and open spaces of the two cities. Much like the Brooklyn Bridge site, which the rail bridge predates, the city had turned its back on the river. Utilizing a comparative case study methodology to compare successful traits of transformative waterfronts, particularly in an urban context, this study resulted in a best-practices matrix to inform the urban park programming and design. This project expands on the role of a separate entity tasked with the re-purposing, operation, and maintenance of the bridge to include creating an adjacent park suitable enough to become a mixed-use destination and a city-shaping gateway to the West.
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    Fargo: Growing Upward: A Neon Living Wall
    (North Dakota State University, 2020) Kumpula, Benjamin
    There is an emotional connection humans have with plants and the aesthetics of natural elements that can directly influence our mood, productivity, and overall happiness. Emotional factors can directly impact and change a person’s attitude, direct our perspective of the world, and can affect the people around us. The aesthetics of plants have an emotional impact that is amplified in the built environment and can be used to develop a solution to improve current methods of introducing living walls. Living walls have been a way to introduce natural elements into urban settings that would otherwise have limitations by environmental factors, where solutions such as green space, plants, or trees are otherwise not possible. When plants are introduced into urban environments, the emotional effects and factors have rarely been completely understood and utilized to the fullest. This thesis project is going to explore the emotional affects and connections humans have with nature, through understanding the basic composition of natural forms and the study of existing living walls; developing a design model for living walls that can mimic natural aesthetics and emotional characteristics that natural forms have, for the integration into the built environment.
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    From Brownfield to Permaculture City: Converting a Brownfield Site by Creating a New Community Through Increased Density and Sustainable Permaculture.
    (North Dakota State University, 2020) Pierce, Kaylee
    Sustainable, permaculture living is a recurring trend in residential design. Society is becoming more aware of the impact humans have on the environment, along with learning ways to minimize an ecological footprint while living a happier and healthier life. Vegetable gardens, fruit orchards, and even chicken coops are becoming more popular to find in a backyard, especially in urban environments. As cities begin to feel the impact of diminishing untouched real estate, developers have turned to brown-field land for residential developments to assist with growing populations. Cities such as Salt Lake City, Utah are experiencing tremendous growth but the city is running out of room due to surrounding natural barriers (mountains and a lake). The purpose of this thesis research is to explore permaculture driven, community development in an urban setting while still providing a work, live, and play environment. The research will analyze sustainable design for a residential community through storm-water collection, waste-water filtration, and permaculture production; healthier living through active environments, and outdoor living all located within the Greater Salt Lake Area on a brown-field site. Through case study research of sustainable developments, permaculture, and brown-field construction, a creation of a criteria set of standards will be produced for further research and design content. Also, comparative analysis will help show the impacts of a mid-class development and benefits that affect society. Brownfield site developments are becoming more common in cities that are reaching their construction capacity. A brown-field site development will add a special challenge to this design goal due to strict rules and guidelines that are required for redevelopment. This project strives to create a successful and sustainable development in the Greater Salt Lake Area. Ideally this criteria and standards could be implemented in various urban areas experiencing the need to re-purpose brown-field land while remaining conscious of society’s impact on the environment. Ultimately, the hope for this thesis proposal is to persuade developers to create beautiful, sustainable, and environmentally focused spaces that modern culture craves.
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    Sustainable Framework for Lakeshore Communities
    (North Dakota State University, 2020) French, Ashlyn
    This study explores the 9-mile-long shoreline, along with the 700 acres of water in Lake Mitchell. The City of Mitchell has 15,600 people surrounding the polluted lake in South Dakota. Lake Mitchell's water is toxic, so outdoor recreational activities have decline. Portions of this lake's pollution is due to agriculture practices of fertilization, and concentrated animal feeding operations, CAFO. Lake Mitchell's water shed is 350,000 acres that run directly into the lake that needs a management plan. Other small cities in the Great Plains, like Mitchell have shrinking populations, lower budgets and high labor costs make lake management and maintenance difficult for Mitchell. There is a need to rethink the development strategy of city life on lakes in the Great Plains. This study revisits strategies of development and methods of the lake shore framework. In-water photo-respiration, as well as upstream agriculture management for the Northern Great Plains farmland. A city-wide online survey has been conducted to collect qualitative data of Mitchell, SD. From the survey people's experiences, concerns, and usages of Lake Mitchell will be reviewed. Focus group meetings of administrators and interviews of lake stakeholders let us gain a stronger understanding of patterns and issues of previous development models of Mitchell. Archival studies of reports, guidelines, case studies and the consultation with experts give knowledge on the ecological and economic factors. As a result, a framework will be developed regarding lake side development strategies that will include marinas, trails, and water management plans. In-lake management strategies such as aeration, water treatments, dredging along with upstream watershed developments will be introduced. Upstream watershed developments such as pothole conservation, agriculture planning and grassland conservation will be explored. Sustainable, comprehensive, and effective strategy will help improve the quality and well-being of Lake Mitchell along with the City of Mitchell. This result can also help inform similar lake shore cities throughout our Northern Great Plains region.