{"id":{"repo_id":"vt","oai_identifier":"oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/140926"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/vt/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/140926","repository":{"repo_id":"vt","name":"Virginia Tech","base_url":"https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Envision's Influence on Engineering Design","abstract":"The purpose of this study is to gain a deeper understanding of how the Envision sustainable infrastructure framework is shaping engineering design decisions in infrastructure development. While existing studies analyze specific case studies in which Envision was applied and how the framework can be improved for broader application, there is a current gap in knowledge on how the framework shapes the thinking and approaches to sustainable infrastructure development taken by engineers, planners, investors, and owners. Due to the nation's deteriorating infrastructure and the need to adapt development patterns due to the changing climate and a diminishing supply of natural resources, this research is critical for the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI) and engineering design professionals (Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure, 2018). The study aims to answer three research questions through the collection of both qualitative and quantitative data: 1. How is Envision influencing engineering design decisions? 2. Is the use of Envision informing meaningful change? 3. In what ways is Envision impacting other non-Envision projects? A total of fourteen engineers and sustainability professionals were interviewed. The transcripts from each interview were coded in Dedoose to identify common themes that help answer the questions of this study. The results showed that Envision is helping professionals think about and apply greater sustainable planning and design practices. It is both a learning and guidance tool for all team members involved in infrastructure development. However, there are still issues preventing broader application, most notably the lack of incentives to apply Envision and awareness of the benefits of planning for and designing sustainable communities. This study provides valuable insights for ISI, policymakers, engineering design professionals, and students by highlighting Envision's current influence on land development and transportation projects and identifying opportunities for industry-wide improvement.","abstract_html":"The purpose of this study is to gain a deeper understanding of how the Envision sustainable infrastructure framework is shaping engineering design decisions in infrastructure development. While existing studies analyze specific case studies in which Envision was applied and how the framework can be improved for broader application, there is a current gap in knowledge on how the framework shapes the thinking and approaches to sustainable infrastructure development taken by engineers, planners, investors, and owners. Due to the nation's deteriorating infrastructure and the need to adapt development patterns due to the changing climate and a diminishing supply of natural resources, this research is critical for the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI) and engineering design professionals (Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure, 2018). The study aims to answer three research questions through the collection of both qualitative and quantitative data: 1. How is Envision influencing engineering design decisions? 2. Is the use of Envision informing meaningful change? 3. In what ways is Envision impacting other non-Envision projects? A total of fourteen engineers and sustainability professionals were interviewed. The transcripts from each interview were coded in Dedoose to identify common themes that help answer the questions of this study. The results showed that Envision is helping professionals think about and apply greater sustainable planning and design practices. It is both a learning and guidance tool for all team members involved in infrastructure development. However, there are still issues preventing broader application, most notably the lack of incentives to apply Envision and awareness of the benefits of planning for and designing sustainable communities. This study provides valuable insights for ISI, policymakers, engineering design professionals, and students by highlighting Envision's current influence on land development and transportation projects and identifying opportunities for industry-wide improvement.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Dorn, Nichole Catherine"],"institution":"Virginia Tech","degree_name":"Master of Science","degree_level":"masters","degree_discipline":"Civil Engineering","degree_department":"Civil and Environmental Engineering","school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":["Shealy, Earl Wade"],"committee_members":["White, Claire McKenzie","Young, Kevin David"],"year":2026,"date_issued":"2026-01-21","date_published":"2026-01-21","updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:19:15Z","subjects":["Sustainability","infrastructure","Envision","engineering","green","design"],"languages":["en"],"rights":["In Copyright"],"rights_urls":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"],"identifier_entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.other","label":"Dc Identifier Other","values":["vt_gsexam:45435"],"render_values":[{"text":"vt_gsexam:45435","href":null,"code":true}]}]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://hdl.handle.net/10919/140926","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.committeechair","label":"Committee Chair","values":["Shealy, Earl Wade"]},{"key":"dc:contributor.committeemember","label":"Committee Member","values":["White, Claire McKenzie","Young, Kevin David"]},{"key":"dc:contributor.department","label":"Department","values":["Civil and Environmental Engineering"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Dorn, Nichole Catherine"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2026-01-22T09:00:24Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2026-01-22T09:00:24Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2026-01-21"]},{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["Virginia Tech"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Civil Engineering"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["masters"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Sustainability","infrastructure","Envision","engineering","green","design"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language.iso","label":"Language (ISO)","values":["en"]},{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["In Copyright"]},{"key":"dc:rights.uri","label":"Rights URI","values":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.other","label":"Dc Identifier Other","values":["vt_gsexam:45435"]},{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://hdl.handle.net/10919/140926"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["The purpose of this study is to gain a deeper understanding of how the Envision sustainable infrastructure framework is shaping engineering design decisions in infrastructure development. While existing studies analyze specific case studies in which Envision was applied and how the framework can be improved for broader application, there is a current gap in knowledge on how the framework shapes the thinking and approaches to sustainable infrastructure development taken by engineers, planners, investors, and owners. Due to the nation's deteriorating infrastructure and the need to adapt development patterns due to the changing climate and a diminishing supply of natural resources, this research is critical for the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI) and engineering design professionals (Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure, 2018). The study aims to answer three research questions through the collection of both qualitative and quantitative data: 1. How is Envision influencing engineering design decisions? 2. Is the use of Envision informing meaningful change? 3. In what ways is Envision impacting other non-Envision projects? A total of fourteen engineers and sustainability professionals were interviewed. The transcripts from each interview were coded in Dedoose to identify common themes that help answer the questions of this study. The results showed that Envision is helping professionals think about and apply greater sustainable planning and design practices. It is both a learning and guidance tool for all team members involved in infrastructure development. However, there are still issues preventing broader application, most notably the lack of incentives to apply Envision and awareness of the benefits of planning for and designing sustainable communities. This study provides valuable insights for ISI, policymakers, engineering design professionals, and students by highlighting Envision's current influence on land development and transportation projects and identifying opportunities for industry-wide improvement."]},{"key":"dc:description.abstractgeneral","label":"General Abstract","values":["This study explores how the Envision sustainability framework is influencing the way infrastructure projects are planned and designed. Envision is a tool used by engineers and project teams to evaluate how infrastructure can better support environmental, social, and economic sustainability. While previous research has focused on individual projects that used Envision, less is known about how the framework affects the overall mindset and decision-making of the people involved, including engineers, planners, investors, and project owners. As infrastructure across the United States continues to age, and communities face increasing challenges from climate change and limited natural resources, understanding how sustainability tools like Envision are shaping development is increasingly important (Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure, 2018). This research examines whether Envision is leading to meaningful changes in how infrastructure is designed and whether its influence extends beyond projects that formally use the framework. The study addresses three main questions: 1. How does Envision influence engineering design decisions? 2. Does using Envision lead to meaningful change? 3. How does Envision affect projects that do not directly apply the framework? To answer these questions, fourteen engineers and sustainability professionals were interviewed. Their responses were analyzed to identify common themes and insights. The findings demonstrate that Envision enables project teams to think more broadly about sustainability and promotes more thoughtful planning and design practices. Participants described Envision as both a learning tool and a guide that supports collaboration across project teams. However, the study also found barriers to wider adoption, including limited incentives and a lack of awareness about the benefits of sustainable infrastructure planning. Overall, this research offers insights for policymakers, infrastructure professionals, educators, and the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure by highlighting Envision's current impact on land development and transportation projects and identifying opportunities to strengthen its role in shaping more sustainable communities."]},{"key":"dc:description.degree","label":"Dc Description Degree","values":["Master of Science"]},{"key":"dc:format.medium","label":"Dc Format Medium","values":["ETD"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Envision's Influence on Engineering Design"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.committeechair":["Shealy, Earl Wade"],"dc:contributor.committeemember":["White, Claire McKenzie","Young, Kevin David"],"dc:contributor.department":["Civil and Environmental Engineering"],"dc:creator":["Dorn, Nichole Catherine"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2026-01-22T09:00:24Z"],"dc:date.available":["2026-01-22T09:00:24Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2026-01-21"],"dc:description.abstract":["The purpose of this study is to gain a deeper understanding of how the Envision sustainable infrastructure framework is shaping engineering design decisions in infrastructure development. While existing studies analyze specific case studies in which Envision was applied and how the framework can be improved for broader application, there is a current gap in knowledge on how the framework shapes the thinking and approaches to sustainable infrastructure development taken by engineers, planners, investors, and owners. Due to the nation's deteriorating infrastructure and the need to adapt development patterns due to the changing climate and a diminishing supply of natural resources, this research is critical for the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI) and engineering design professionals (Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure, 2018). The study aims to answer three research questions through the collection of both qualitative and quantitative data: 1. How is Envision influencing engineering design decisions? 2. Is the use of Envision informing meaningful change? 3. In what ways is Envision impacting other non-Envision projects? A total of fourteen engineers and sustainability professionals were interviewed. The transcripts from each interview were coded in Dedoose to identify common themes that help answer the questions of this study. The results showed that Envision is helping professionals think about and apply greater sustainable planning and design practices. It is both a learning and guidance tool for all team members involved in infrastructure development. However, there are still issues preventing broader application, most notably the lack of incentives to apply Envision and awareness of the benefits of planning for and designing sustainable communities. This study provides valuable insights for ISI, policymakers, engineering design professionals, and students by highlighting Envision's current influence on land development and transportation projects and identifying opportunities for industry-wide improvement."],"dc:description.abstractgeneral":["This study explores how the Envision sustainability framework is influencing the way infrastructure projects are planned and designed. Envision is a tool used by engineers and project teams to evaluate how infrastructure can better support environmental, social, and economic sustainability. While previous research has focused on individual projects that used Envision, less is known about how the framework affects the overall mindset and decision-making of the people involved, including engineers, planners, investors, and project owners. As infrastructure across the United States continues to age, and communities face increasing challenges from climate change and limited natural resources, understanding how sustainability tools like Envision are shaping development is increasingly important (Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure, 2018). This research examines whether Envision is leading to meaningful changes in how infrastructure is designed and whether its influence extends beyond projects that formally use the framework. The study addresses three main questions: 1. How does Envision influence engineering design decisions? 2. Does using Envision lead to meaningful change? 3. How does Envision affect projects that do not directly apply the framework? To answer these questions, fourteen engineers and sustainability professionals were interviewed. Their responses were analyzed to identify common themes and insights. The findings demonstrate that Envision enables project teams to think more broadly about sustainability and promotes more thoughtful planning and design practices. Participants described Envision as both a learning tool and a guide that supports collaboration across project teams. However, the study also found barriers to wider adoption, including limited incentives and a lack of awareness about the benefits of sustainable infrastructure planning. Overall, this research offers insights for policymakers, infrastructure professionals, educators, and the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure by highlighting Envision's current impact on land development and transportation projects and identifying opportunities to strengthen its role in shaping more sustainable communities."],"dc:description.degree":["Master of Science"],"dc:format.medium":["ETD"],"dc:identifier.other":["vt_gsexam:45435"],"dc:identifier.uri":["https://hdl.handle.net/10919/140926"],"dc:language.iso":["en"],"dc:publisher":["Virginia Tech"],"dc:rights":["In Copyright"],"dc:rights.uri":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"],"dc:subject":["Sustainability","infrastructure","Envision","engineering","green","design"],"dc:title":["Envision's Influence on Engineering Design"],"dc:type":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Civil Engineering"],"thesis:degree_level":["masters"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science"],"thesis:institution_name":["Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:19:15Z"}