Week Four Lab

Today in lab, we finalized the point system to determine the best location for the bridge (Figure 1):

Figure 1: Decision Analysis

A point system from 1 to 3 was used to rank each topic, with 1 being the worst score and 3 being the best score. For instance, the area with the highest price received a score of 1, while the area with the highest volume of pedestrians received a score of 3.

We also started our Bill of Materials while researching not only the types of materials we plan to use, but the prices of those materials and the time it would take to reach campus. 

Week Three Outside Lab

This week, we finalized all traffic surveys and will come up with a point system to determine the best location for the skyway during lab Week 4. We also completed a Work Breakdown Structure system that we started during week one but had been updating over the course of these past few weeks (Figure 1):

Figure 1: Work Breakdown Structure 

Traffic analyses and counts of how many cars cross 33rd Street, how many people cross 33rd and Chestnut Street at the crosswalk, how many people jaywalk, etc. are put into an updated graph (Figure 2):

Figure 2: Chestnut Street Crossing Count

We also plan to research more design ideas, such as materials used, lighting fixtures needed, drainage systems, etc. We also plan on spending the next couple of weeks finalizing the exact measurements for where the bridge will start and end, how high it will be according to standards, and the slope of the handicap accessibility ramp. As soon as we determine which materials need to be used and the technical measurements, we can begin to put together a basic budget, where we may need to adjust our materials as needed.

Week Three Lab

Today in lab, we determined what we still need to do in terms of research and drafting.
Traffic analyses will be completed by the end of Week Three with these requirements:

• Survey Requirements:

-20 minutes

-Count Cars passing from 33rd to 32nd

-People crossing crossing 33rd & Chestnut

-People crossing 32nd & Chestnut

-Jaywalkers across Chestnut

In addition, we worked out what specifics we need to measure for our bridge design, including:

-Handicap Accessibility

-Guardrails

-Support Columns

-Roof

-Glass siding

-Garden along the sides

-Start and End

-Drainage

-Lighting

-Roof Support

In terms of technical constraints, we need to determine:

-Budget

-Materials

-Time

-Permits

-Stress Test

Week Two Outside Lab

This week we wrapped up our outside research on clearances and restrictions on building. Some useful sources were the American Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines that explained the maximum slope of any ramps attached to the skyway and other specific measurements that need to be followed and the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration clearances for minimum height above the street level the bridge must be.

The culmination of all surveys and additional traffic analyses will be recorded and updated during Week Three lab and by the end of Week Three.

Week Two Lab

Results for

• surveys taken from students on Drexel's campus → students were asked which location of the bridge they preferred (Chart 2)
• analyses of traffic and pedestrian patterns → the number of cars passing and students crossing were measured (Chart 1)

Today, we researched all lawful regulations and clearances in terms of building codes and American Disabilities Act (ADA) codes. We began drafting our bridge once more, but now with measurements for span and ramp angle. 

We also plan to conduct more surveys of students at a variety of locations around campus and more traffic information for every day of the week and different times of day.

This week we plan on researching more information regarding strength of materials and tensile tests. We also plan on surveying the land around the Korman Quad, provided we receive access to that equipment. 

Week One Outside Lab

This week, we finalized our Chestnut Street pedestrian walkway idea. We decided, based on surveys and other data, that the best place for the bridge would be through the middle of Chestnut Street between 32nd and 33rd Streets. It will connect the Korman Quad area with the Handschumacher and Creese Student Center area.

The data we used to come up with this decision were:

• surveys taken from students on Drexel's campus → students were asked which location of the bridge they preferred
• analyses of traffic and pedestrian patterns → the number of cars passing and students crossing were measured

A side view of the bridge was drafted (Figure 1):

Figure 1: Side View of Bridge Design

The Design Proposal for our project is in the process of being completed.

Week One Lab

Week one consisted of forming our groups and coming up with three ideas for skyways around Drexel. To start our planning, we thought of the locations on campus which are in need of better accessibility.

After picking between a bridge across Market Street, a bridge across 33rd Street, and a bridge across Chestnut Street, we landed on the idea for a walkway across Chestnut because we felt that there is a lot of pedestrian traffic across Chestnut Street across from the Handschumacher Dining Hall and into the Quad area between Papadakis Integrated Sciences Center, Korman Center, and Stratton Hall (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Rough Sketch of Bridge and Surrounding Area

We plan on conducting surveys with other students to determine whether or not they would benefit from this plan or another. The surveys would be online and conducted in person around campus, targeting students in the Handschumacher Dining Hall, the library, and around Chestnut Street.