Community-Scale Sustainability Summer School

Below you may find the two mandatory pre-school assignments:

UNIT I - Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Neighborhood Development (LEED ND)

Description of Assignment No.1

In Unit I of the CSuM2026 Community-Scale Sustainability Summer School we will introduce principles of sustainable development and learn how to evaluate sustainability performance of projects in planning, design, or early construction stages using the LEED for Neighborhood Development (LEED ND) methodology. LEED ND is a rating system that certifies the sustainability of entire neighborhoods, rather than just individual buildings. Developed in the US by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and the Congress for the New Urbanism, it integrates smart growth, urbanism, and green design to create walkable, equitable, and sustainable communities. The methodology is applicable for projects in planning, design, or early construction stages, helping developers and cities implement sustainable development goals.

To put the methodology into practice, CSUM-26 Summer School participants will complete a two-step assignment that is structured as follows:

Pre-School: Each participant will review an assigned case study report prior to the CSuM2026 conference. The purpose of the review is to understand the scope of the plan/project and identify elements that support sustainability objectives. The participant is expected to mark portions of the report that promote sustainability and summarize findings in a 1-page long document.

The document should be submitted to vsisiopi@uab.edu in advance of the CSuM2026 Community-Scale Sustainability Summer School and no later than June 23, 2026.

During Summer School: Participants will team up to share observations from their reviews and work collaboratively to apply the LEED ND methodology and rate their case study according to Smart Location and Linkage, Neighborhood Pattern and Design, and Green Construction and Technology criteria.  The teams will summarize their case study, rating findings, and recommendations for potential improvements in a PowerPoint presentation that will be due at the conclusion of the CSuM2026 Community-Scale Sustainability Summer School (July 3, 2026).

Note: The submission of the individual’s 1-page report (pre-school) and team PowerPoint presentation (during summer school) are required for successful completion of the Summer School requirements and receipt of the CSuM2026 Summer School completion certificate.

Details of Pre-School Assignment

Case study

Assume that you represent a consulting firm that is tasked with the evaluation of a community development plan or redevelopment project with respect to meeting sustainability objectives. You are assigned to review a report and provide a preliminary assessment of how well the plan/project supports sustainability objectives based on the details provided in the report and your judgement.

Process and deliverables

  • Review the assigned case study report and mark portions that indicate sustainability considerations. In doing so, ask yourself questions such as:
    • Does the plan/project protect natural habitats, reduce water usage, lower energy consumption?
    • Does it encourage healthy active lifestyles through pedestrian-friendly design and public spaces?
    • Does it enhance neighborhood character, and support economic development?
  • Summarize your findings in a 1-page document. The document should include:
    • Your case study location
    • Your name
    • List of 5+ bullet points highlighting initiatives in your assigned case study report that support sustainability goals along with page references from your case study report
    • List of 2+ bullet points presenting recommendations for possible improvements

 

  • Submit your 1-page document to Dr. Virginia Sisiopiku via e-mail at vsisiopi@uab.edu by June 23, 2026.

UNIT II-Addressing Pedestrian and Bicycle Sustainable Design

Description of Assignment No.2

In Unit II of the CSuM2026 Community-Scale Sustainability Summer School we will discuss approaches for addressing sustainable designs to accommodate pedestrians and bicyclists. Critical to this effort is an understanding of the existing infrastructure that can lead in identification of issues and areas with successful designs. Assessment or audit of facilities is a useful process to help communities: 1) see/experience and discuss pedestrian and bicyclist issues and opportunities, 2) document concerns and needs through photos, and 3) engage stakeholders and decision-makers in the conversation about pedestrian and bicyclist safety. Formal audits are usually performed by a multidisciplinary team of trained professionals, including engineers, planners, transportation researchers, pedestrian and bicycle specialists, and others. In observing area pedestrian facilities, the needs of people with disabilities should be carefully considered. The American with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 provides specific measures to ensure compliance, but best practices include additional elements not required by ADA. People with disabilities encounter barriers to effectively navigating pedestrian facilities daily and are not limited to any one specific disability.

An important aspect of understanding transportation needs in order to properly plan and design solutions to address potential problems is fieldwork and observation. Transportation professionals use field observation to assess how all modes interact within the network either at the corridor or intersection level. Observations of pavement markings, signage, signals, roadway geometry, land uses, streetscape elements, and volumes of each mode at the given location are essential part of the assessment of exiting traffic conditions and identification of potential problem spots and issues. These can be used to develop design alternatives and recommendations that minimize potential issues and provide the most comfortable and convenient traffic patterns for all users.

To put the methodology into practice, CSuM2026 Summer School participants will complete a two-step assignment that is structured as follows:

Pre-School: Each participant will conduct a corridor field study (described below) prior to the CSUM-26 conference. The purpose of the filed study is to understand the process required for documenting existing infrastructure for pedestrians and bicyclists that can aid to designing appropriate facilities. The participant is expected to develop a scoring form to be used in their evaluation and a short report (250-300 words) that justifies their choices for the metrics used. The document should be submitted to nik.stamat@uky.edu in advance of the CSuM2026 Community-Scale Sustainability Summer School and no later than June 23, 2026.

During Summer School: Participants will team up to share their forms developed and work collaboratively to consolidate them. Each team will develop a PowerPoint presentation summarize their forms to a single proposed form and use representative elements of their corridor field observations in a PowerPoint presentation that will be due at the conclusion of the CSuM2026 Community-Scale Sustainability Summer School (July 3, 2026).

Note: The submission of the individual’s scoring form and report (pre-school) and team PowerPoint presentation (during summer school) are required for successful completion of the Summer School requirements and receipt of the CSuM2026 Summer School completion certificate.

Details of Pre-School Assignment

Field study
Assume that you are tasked with the evaluation of a corridor to document the existing infrastructure for pedestrians and bicyclists and develop a score for the corridor. Your goal is to conduct a field study for a corridor with a length of 500 m, develop a form to evaluate existing infrastructure, and devise a scoring scale that would allow for grading the performance of the corridor.

Process and deliverables

1. Select a corridor and develop a form that could help you evaluate the existing infrastructure. The form should identify infrastructure elements to be examined along with potential positive and negative aspects.
a. First names A-E: Bicycle infrastructure form
b. Fist names F-Z: Pedestrian infrastructure form

2. Conduct a field study for the selected corridor. Study the corridor before visiting using aerial photos or maps and determine possible areas of concern. Walk along the corridor to document your observations considering infrastructure and behavior issues that may affect all users. Take photographs documenting your observations including well-designed elements or those that may require improvements.

3. Summarize your findings in the form and develop the accompanying report. The submission should include:
a. A cover page with your name and the form you developed
b. The form developed with the scores and any comments
c. A 250-300 word report justifying your metrics

4. Submit this to Dr. Nikiforos Stamatiadis at nik.stamat@uky.edu by June 23, 2026.

Consider elements for your form such as:
– Overall corridor alignment and layout
– Land use along the corridor and in the vicinity of intersection approaches
– Curb radii at intersections (large or small)
– Number and type of lanes along the corridor
– Pedestrian accommodation (crosswalks, signal phasing, sidewalks, driveways, conflict points, pedestrian buttons, etc.)
– Bicycle accommodation (facility type, signal phasing, turning movements, driveways, conflict points, etc.)
– Pedestrian crossing behavior
– Bicyclist traveling behavior
– Vehicular driver traveling and yielding behavior
– Concerns with landscaping or other amenities
– Facilities in the vicinity of transit stops
– Other aspects of the built environment

Sources
The following sources could provide some background and ideas on the form development. However, do not simply copy a form that you may find online but rather review these critically and develop your own approach.
https://uta.pressbooks.pub/sustainablemobility/chapter/chapter-3-design-of-bicycle-facilities/#streetdesignelements
https://www.pedbikeinfo.org/topics/micromobility.php
https://uta.pressbooks.pub/sustainablemobility/chapter/chapter-4-design-of-pedestrian-facilities/
https://cyclingincities-spph.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2012/06/WintersVelocityBikeScore.pdf