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Virginia Tech

Distribution of Resource Use in an Informal Learning Environment: Using Sensor Technologies to Bring Geography Indoors

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

Indoor spaces have become increasingly prevalent in human lives. While scholarship in other fields has studied the relationship between humans and the indoors, it has not been readily investigated in Geography. This study draws from prior research in Building Design, Managerial Science, and Education to examine the relationship between building users and resources in indoor spaces. To better understand how users seek resources in an indoor, academic space, this research asks: (1) what spaces and resources do building users value?; and (2) how are their perceptions of value associated with observed measures of occupancy? This research takes place in Goodwin Hall, on the Blacksburg campus of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. This research relies on surveys conducted in 2018 as well accelerometer data collected in 2018 to examine the relationship between users' perception and use of resources in informal learning environments. Through quantitative analysis this research tests the ideal free distribution hypothesis. Findings indicate that certain measures of use and value support the ideal free distribution hypothesis. These results help to lay a groundwork for future geographic research in indoor spaces.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Geography
Department dc:contributor.department
Geography
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
2022

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Villarreal, Mark David
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Baird, Timothy D.
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Kniola, David J.
  • Tarazaga, Pablo Alberto

Subjects

dc:subject × 4

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright
Language dc:language.iso
en

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
vt_gsexam:35147
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/112014

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Villarreal, Mark David. Distribution of Resource Use in an Informal Learning Environment: Using Sensor Technologies to Bring Geography Indoors. masters thesis, Virginia Tech, 2022. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/112014