Synergetic Algal Infrastructure: Investigating the Benefits of Algae Production in an Airport Environment

This thesis will explore how algae can perform an integral function in sustaining airport environmental practices. Airports are dynamic connectors of our landscape that provide transportation, jobs and are an essential element in our infrastructure. De-icing aircraft strategies have contributed to polluted streams and ecosystems in the form of storm water runoff. Energy that is used for eradicating ice from aircraft surfaces poses environmental issues in the form of excessive nutrient and chemical waste runoff. These substances contaminate groundwater and surface water resources. It is imperative to the environmental sustainability of an airport to develop and practice a method of capturing this “waste” and transferring the energy it represents back into the system, ideally, within a closed loop circuit. This thesis will propose a design that integrates current algae production technology into a self-sustaining modular land machine. The emerging potential of algae production in a landscape is escalating. Biofuel research and development gained significant ground when a bill to broaden tax incentives for algae derived fuel passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in late 2010.(Energy.gov, 2010) The study consists of topical research and a design proposal for submission to the 2013 FAA Design Competition for Universities. The process and outcomes will be documented through a research paper that identifies and analyzes relevant literature and design criteria. The concept design will respond to common airport site configurations across a range of climatic conditions to be specified as a research outcome. The modular design is not intended to be site-specific. Rather, it incorporates a modularized systemic approach to a “land machine” responsive to a spectrum of site specifications.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Landscape Architecture

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Landscape Architecture

Grantor dc:publisher

The Ohio State University

Year dc:date

2013

Author dc:creator

• Hiatt, Michael John

Contributors dc:contributor

• Bennett, Katherine

• Landscape Architecture
• algae biofuel
• aircraft deicing fluid

Statement dc:rights

• unrestricted
• This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1366241697

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:etd.ohiolink.edu:osu1366241697