Abstract
Chester, Virginia, a town just South of Richmond, is in need of a new fire station. Due to the rapidly growing population of the greater Richmond area, the current fire station infrastructure in Chester is inadequate for the safety of the town constituents. My technical capstone team was tasked with creating the site design for a 9.5 acre parcel, not only designing for a new firestation, but a parks and recreational area as well. The park design required a 10’ multi-use path that connects to an off-site trail, 10 parking spaces, 3 shelters, and a restroom. The fire station design required a dumpster area, 24 parking spaces, concrete aprons, and sidewalk connectivity. It was important to follow restrictions set forth by the Chesterfield County Zoning Code, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. Not only was a general site layout required, but site grading, stormwater management design, and creating erosion and sediment controls was necessary for the completion of this project as well. Our team expanded on the scope, adding a basketball court and a playground to the site plan in order to cater to all members of the community.
For my STS research paper, I wanted to discover more about the disproportionate impact of water insecurity on women around the globe. Typically, women are burdened with the task of water collection and management for their families, allowing the men to engage in money earning activities. This is common all around the world, not just in developing countries, as seen through similar themes in Flint, Michigan and a town in Canada. Through an in-depth literature review, I was able to discover common themes regarding how women’s lives are unfairly impacted. From psychological impacts, to lost opportunities, to physical repercussions, my paper brings together evidence across different communities proving the uneven distribution of burden.
