PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to measure student perceptions of accessibility at a public university based on campus, new building, and old building accessibility and perceived impacts this may have on the student's quality of education.Design/methodology/approachA survey was administered to students registered with the office of Resources for Disabled Students at a large university. ANOVA and regression were used to evaluate the survey results.FindingsThe campus was found to be Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant, with several areas identified for improvements based on disabled students' reported perceptions. Many of the improvements were between groups with cognitive and mobility impairments. All groups reported a positive relationship between improved accessibility and improved educational experience.Research limitations/implicationsThe study focused on one institution but the results and existing literature may be useful to other facility management departments.Practical implicationsThe results of this work may help facility managers and resource for disabled student groups target limited resources to improve the quality of education at public universities.Social implicationsThe ability to fine‐tune institutional facilities to improve the experiences of disabled persons improves the outcomes and stated goals of the ADA.Originality/valueThis work supports many previous studies while expanding the population studied to include looking at building users on a college campus with both physical and mental impairments. This helps facility managers increase their understanding of the accessibility issues that may still remain on college campuses that are technically ADA compliant.
The historical mixed liquor settling performance of the CiW\ RI 3RUWODQG 2UHJRQ ¶V &ROXPELD Boulevard Wastewater Treatment Plant (CBWTP) has been erratic at times with sludge volume index (SVI) values periodically greater than 400 mL/g. Tests were conducted at full-scale during winter operating conditions to test the feasibility of improving biological selector performance to lower SVI below historical records and postpone the need for additional secondary clarifiers. One of eight parallel activated sludge treatment trains (the pilot) was isolated from the remaining seven trains (the control) to measure the effect on SVI of operating the pilot in a different manner from the control and to identify design features that would ensure operation at a low SVI.
The City of Portland, Bureau of Environmental Services, uses a few different technologies to control odors at its main wastewater treatment plant. The most recent additions to the odor control facilities at the Columbia Boulevard Wastewater Treatment Plant are biofilters that treat odorous air from the plant's solids processing areas. Three large-scale biofilters were constructed by reusing existing composting vessels. The system treats up to 49,000 cfm and began operation in November of 2002.Prior to proceeding with design of the full-scale biofilters, pilot plant testing was conducted during the fall of the year 2000. The pilot testing was conducted on two different types of organic media. Biofilter design variables evaluated included airflow or empty bed retention time, H2S removal, and pressure loss. An odor panel was assembled to evaluate the failure threshold.The biofiltration process was selected in part because it does not rely on chemicals. Each biofilter uses a locally supplied organic media. Part of the media may consist of wood waste from local parks. Biofiltration was also selected because it was compatible with reuse of existing tanks and material handling equipment in the composter.The solids processing building facilities were modified to include tank covers for waste sludge, thickened waste sludge and filtrate storage tanks, gravity belt thickener covers, air supply, exhaust and odorous air collection systems, and foul air fans. The composting system was modified by converting composting vessels to biofilters and adding a screw conveyor to move the media into the existing material handling system. The bottom of each vessel was modified to accommodate a new odorous air distribution system. Humidification systems and associated monitors and controls were also added. Process variables monitored include total odorous airflow and its distribution between the biofilters, H2S concentrations in and out, and media moisture content.The paper presents an overview of the pilot testing program, highlights of the construction project, and up-to-date system performance data. Information to be presented includes monitoring and control of the full-scale system, odor removal and pressure loss trends, the improved environment of the solids processing building, and lessons learned.
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