Browsing by Subject "Planning"
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Item Advanced Work Packaging from project definition through site execution : driving successful implementation of WorkFace Planning(2013-08) Hamdi, Olfa; Leite, Fernanda; O'Brien, William J.Capital projects use work packaging to divide their projects' scope into manageable portions of work for planning and execution, all to achieve improved productivity and increased predictability. However, currently, no common industry standard for work packaging is widely and uniformly implemented within the North American capital projects industry. As documented by CII RT 272 Phase I (2009-2011), companies have been implementing a number of varied work packaging practices at different stages of the project lifecycle with emphasis on the construction phase. Due to the varied implementation, there is currently little evidence of the benefits of extending work packaging to the Front End Engineering Design (FEED) and the Detailed Engineering (DE) phases. To provide the best current evidence, this thesis describes new findings on Advanced Work Packaging (AWP) as an execution practice, with special emphasis on design activities. This research combines data collection methods such as interviews, observations and document review, as well as surveys. The reader will understand the current industry status on Advanced Work Packaging in terms of levels of implementation as well as evidence of benefits and implementation challenges across the project lifecycle. Documented benefits include productivity improvements on the order of 25% in the field, with corresponding reductions of 10% of total installed cost. Other significant benefits include improved safety, improved productivity, less rework, significant reduction in RFIs and increased stakeholder alignment. Documented AWP implementation challenges include lack of process formulization, persons’ resistance to change and lack of buy-in, stakeholders’ conflict of interest and working culture, incompatibility with some contractual scenarios as well as traditional change management practices.Item Autonomous trading in modern electricity markets(2015-12) Urieli, Daniel; Stone, Peter, 1971-; Mooney, Raymond; Ravikumar, Pradeep; Baldick, Ross; Kolter, ZicoThe smart grid is an electricity grid augmented with digital technologies that automate the management of electricity delivery. The smart grid is envisioned to be a main enabler of sustainable, clean, efficient, reliable, and secure energy supply. One of the milestones in the smart grid vision will be programs for customers to participate in electricity markets through demand-side management and distributed generation; electricity markets will (directly or indirectly) incentivize customers to adapt their demand to supply conditions, which in turn will help to utilize intermittent energy resources such as from solar and wind, and to reduce peak-demand. Since wholesale electricity markets are not designed for individual participation, retail brokers could represent customer populations in the wholesale market, and make profit while contributing to the electricity grid’s stability and reducing customer costs. A retail broker will need to operate continually and make real-time decisions in a complex, dynamic environment. Therefore, it will benefit from employing an autonomous broker agent. With this motivation in mind, this dissertation makes five main contributions to the areas of artificial intelligence, smart grids, and electricity markets. First, this dissertation formalizes the problem of autonomous trading by a retail broker in modern electricity markets. Since the trading problem is intractable to solve exactly, this formalization provides a guideline for approximate solutions. Second, this dissertation introduces a general algorithm for autonomous trading in modern electricity markets, named LATTE (Lookahead-policy for Autonomous Time-constrained Trading of Electricity). LATTE is a general framework that can be instantiated in different ways that tailor it to specific setups. Third, this dissertation contributes fully implemented and operational autonomous broker agents, each using a different instantiation of LATTE. These agents were successful in international competitions and controlled experiments and can serve as benchmarks for future research in this domain. Detailed descriptions of the agents’ behaviors as well as their source code are included in this dissertation. Fourth, this dissertation contributes extensive empirical analysis which validates the effectiveness of LATTE in different competition levels under a variety of environmental conditions, shedding light on the main reasons for its success by examining the importance of its constituent components. Fifth, this dissertation examines the impact of Time-Of-Use (TOU) tariffs in competitive electricity markets through empirical analysis. Time-Of-Use tariffs are proposed for demand-side management both in the literature and in the real-world. The success of the different instantiations of LATTE demonstrates its generality in the context of electricity markets. Ultimately, this dissertation demonstrates that an autonomous broker can act effectively in modern electricity markets by executing an efficient lookahead policy that optimizes its predicted utility, and by doing so the broker can benefit itself, its customers, and the economy.Item Autonomous vehicles : land use implications for Austin, Texas(2015-08) Palmer, Rebekah Mae; Wegmann, Jake; Jiao, JunfengAutonomous vehicles are said to be a disruptive technology that will transform the way we live in coming decades. Drawing from the historical context of conventional vehicles and their subsequent transformation of land use development patterns, this paper seeks to understand the ancillary implications of such advances in transport. I assert the argument that Austin will be amongst the first cities to experience these shifts due to its history of economic development strategy, large populous of technology 'first-adopters,' the city's struggle to accommodate rapid growth, and Austin's context within Texas' business-friendly regulatory environment. The literature review aims to cover a broad, high-level view of the current status of autonomous vehicle development and provide context for how the academy is researching the possibilities for autonomous vehicle commercialization. A second portion of this report summarizes the views of Austin-based traffic engineers, transit researchers, attorneys, and other experts serving on various policy advisory councils in Austin, Travis County, and Central Texas.Item Beyond books : interactive lessons for the college biology classroom(2011-12) Londeore, Cynthia Fay; Jansen, Robert K., 1954-; Fischer, JaniceCollege level science is frequently taught as a recitation of facts in a lecture hall, and the students are expected to gain understanding and insight with their own study. Interactive learning is more effective than lecture based learning and more memorable for the students. Teaching with hands on models has been shown to specifically be beneficial in a college level molecular biology context. Included here is a guide for the instructor leading her through topic selection, activity development, and presentation to the class, as well as five complete and tested lesson plans with notes on alteration made and the reasons for them.Item Business continuity planning and semiconductor manufacturing(2010-12) Urena, Enrique C.; Lewis, Kyle, 1961-; Duvic, Robert Conrad, 1947-In the current era of globalization in supply chain, business continuity planning should play an even more important role than previously. Business continuity planning provides company with an analysis of potential business threatening situations, everything from natural disasters to supply shortages, and ensures that actions are taken in order to mitigate the probability that those risks will become reality. Business continuity planning does not come without a cost, since companies will in some cases have to spend money in actions like redundancies (e.g. supplier). In the Semiconductor industry, supply chains might are extremely complex and globalized. These supply chains can go from having suppliers in the United States, to front-end manufacturing in Europe, to back-end manufacturing and packaging in Asia. Raw materials for semiconductor manufacturing, for example raw wafers, can be found for above $500 per wafer. It is due to not only the complexity of the supply chain in semiconductors, but also due to the high costs of raw materials and manufacturing, that it is crucial for companies in this particular industry to ensure business continuity planning is taken seriously, and adequate measures are taken to mitigate as many risks to their supply chain as possible.Item Community-based agriculture and the implications for Central Texas(2012-05) Witter, Claire Elise; Dooling, Sarah; Almy, DeanDue to health and climate change concerns, there is growing interest in a shift away from large-scale agricultural production towards a more localized, organic methodology. These practices help to preserve local ecosystems and require less energy than conventional farming. With this trend, a new form of community development is emerging. Developments that incorporate agriculture are a form of conservation development and have been in existence in their latest form in the United States for the past ten years. Most of the examples are located in the northern, eastern and western United States, including Vermont, Virginia, Illinois, Utah and Georgia. Why has this type of development not yet appeared in Texas? The purpose of this research is to identify the motivations behind creating these developments and to describe how they function, to identify the challenges in the development review process and how they were negotiated, to present a set of issues and lessons learned from the case studies about what matters to the development of a successful case and determine how this applies to potential Texas development. Is this a more sustainable model for development, as opposed to the traditional method for greenfield development? The research is aimed ultimately at exploring this newer type of development, determining whether it is more sustainable than traditional greenfield development and to present a set of issues and lessons drawn from the cases about what matters to the development of a successful case.Item Creating Austin : making visible the goals and norms of cultural planning(2010-05) Ogusky, Adam Daniel; Dooling, Sarah; Oden, MichaelThe practice of cultural planning proceeds largely in the absence of discussion regarding its purpose, norms and goals, either in academic literature or among its practitioners. This paper seeks to uncover the norms and goals of cultural planning, as understood by cultural planners working in Austin, TX, through a series of interviews with these individuals. Interviews also brought to light cultural planners’ understandings of the function of art in communities. Ultimately, little connection was found between cultural planners’ understandings of the function of art in communities and the norms and goals of cultural planning. It is argued herein that these two conversations must be closely linked and that cultural planner’s understandings of what art can and should do in communities must form the basis for the goals and norms of cultural planning practice.Item Determining existing, possible, and preferable urban tree canopy for Austin, Texas(2013-05) Halter, Alan Dale; Lee, Ming-ChunThis report analyzes urban tree canopy cover (UTC) in Austin, Texas in 2006 using a Geographic Information System (GIS) geoprocessing method developed by the U.S. Forest Service. Findings reveal where UTC exists, could exist, and where it could be prioritized (physically speaking) throughout the Austin region. Results are explained through the context of natural regions and land use to further characterize the urban forest distribution with the purpose of gaining valuable big-picture insights as to where environmental benefits have resulted from local land use planning decisions, development tendencies, and forestry management practices in Austin.Item Digital flood insurance rate maps and their influence on Cameron Parish, Louisiana, post-Hurricane Rita(2009-12) Pryll, Jaclyn Marie; Butler, Kent S.Cameron Parish, Louisiana, was impacted by one of the most devastating hurricane seasons in U.S. history in 2005. Three weeks after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, Hurricane Rita stormed over the Texas-Louisiana border delivering another debilitating blow to the Louisiana coast and creating devastation along the southwestern coastline. In March 2008, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) updated the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) for Cameron Parish. These maps rezoned much of Cameron Parish by placing a majority of the parish's land in a flood zone rating of V or higher. FEMA's reluctance to provide federal disaster funds to substantially redevelop and newly construct buildings in areas classified as a flood zone rating of V or higher makes it difficult for Cameron Parish to redevelop as they desperately need federal assistance. This research analyzes Cameron Parish's resources to protect against the hurricane before it hit as well as roles of the federal, state, and local governing bodies on its future development through planning initiatives after the hurricane. Using literature review, state and local media coverage, and interviews with professionals in the field of planning and engineering, this report found that it took a massive hurricane to convey the need for planning in Cameron Parish, and that the flood maps used to provide risk do not communicate risk management as efficiently or accurately as intended.Item The effect of local planning actions on environmental injustice : Corpus Christi's refinery row neighborhoods(2015-05) Beeler, Melissa Morgan; Mueller, Elizabeth J.; Rawlins, RachaelPublic health problems associated with industrial and hazardous waste facilities seriously and disproportionately impact some communities more than others and have been the subject of environmental justice research for decades. This report aims to 1) evaluate whether and how local planning policies have contributed to a concentration of minorities and poverty adjacent to industry in Corpus Christi's north side, and 2) examine actions that planners and city officials could take to successfully mitigate environmental justice problems. City plans, reports and zoning maps relating to the north side were reviewed to understand whether the City has contributed to the neighborhoods' proximity to industrial sites. These documents suggest that city actions have had some role in the minority neighborhoods' proximity to environmental hazards, especially in the early years of planning in Corpus Christi. Lessons learned from these planning documents are discussed, as well as recommendations for future planning efforts in the north side.Item Engaging freight stakeholders in Texas freight planning : needs, strategies, and performance measures(2011-05) Carrion Alers, Migdalia; Walton, C. Michael; Harrison, RobertEfficient, reliable, and safe freight transportation is critical to the economic prosperity of any region. In the U.S., the dramatic increase in freight volumes has resulted in the growing disparity between demand and capacity. Thus, freight planning is needed to ensure a seamless and effective Texas's transportation system. A clear understanding on the performance of Texas's transportation system, as perceived by the private sector is a critical component in the development of such planning efforts. Against this background, the objective of this research study was to start engaging Texas's shippers and freight stakeholders in a dialogue to provide insight into the adequacy of Texas's transportation system in serving business needs, and any improvements deemed necessary to better serve Texas businesses. The emphases of this study were on the freight concerns and needs, freight policies and strategies, and freight performance measures as expressed by Texas freight stakeholders.Item Engaging the Millennial Generation : public participation methods for Millennials in Austin’s planning processes(2016-05) Peris, Karen Emily; Wilson, Patricia Ann; Mueller, ElizabethPlanning processes include the necessary component of engaging the public in the process with a fair and equitable process. The difficulty with participatory planning processes is reaching all affected groups. One of these difficult to reach cohorts is the Millennial generation. It is a common misunderstanding that Millennials are unengaged and self-centered. Regardless, it is important to engaging the generation because Millennials are a large part of urban populations, especially in Austin. As Austin implements the 2012 comprehensive plan, there are many planning processes that will follow. Austin city planners have the opportunity to engage the Millennial cohort moving forward with these planning processes, starting with the activity corridors, which is the next task of the comprehensive plan. To understand how to engage the Millennials it is important to define the generation's characteristics. The literature review is research of the history of participation, generational differences, and analysis of the Millennials. Then, the report looks at case studies from four cities that have targeted the Millennial generation in engagement process to deduct important themes and understand lessons learned. Overall, the report realizes through the analysis of the characteristics and themes that Millennials engage in different ways than have been effective in the past, but they are, in fact, engaged in civic life. Millennial characteristics and motivations align with the modern landscape of public participation. Understanding the target audience will make planning processes more equitable.Item An evaluation of online participatory planning spaces : a case study of the Oak Hill Parkway Virtual Open House(2014-05) Ettelman, Benjamin Lamond; Mueller, Elizabeth J.State planning and transportation agencies continually face the escalating problem of increasing needs coupled with limited financial resources to meet those needs. In this difficult fiscal environment, the importance of meaningfully involving the public in the decisions that shape the future of our cities and regions becomes even more amplified. Proactively working with the public to gain buy-in from the early stages of the planning process is one of the most effective strategies to reduce project costs. The classic process in which state planning and transportation agencies have engaged the public is no longer an effective or efficient model as public meeting attendance has consistently decreased. As technology continues to shape the way that the public communicates with each other and their government, the onus falls on state planning and transportation agencies not only to continue to provide the traditional methods of engagement, but to look for new and innovative ways to gain increased public participation in the planning process. The traditional methods of public engagement will always be an important part of the planning process, but discovering the effectiveness of emerging technologies in order to develop new best practices for public engagement is the charge of the future. This report will evaluate whether a) online participatory planning spaces expand participation in the planning process and b) examine how evaluative metrics gathered by using online tools can inform decision makers of the utility of virtual planning spaces. This report will then present an evaluative criteria in order to establish a baseline by which to assess the performance of public involvement processes. This report will then present a case study of the Oak Hill Parkway Virtual Open House Pilot Project, a pilot study conducted in Austin, Texas to test the effectiveness of online participatory planning spaces in the field. This report will also share the results of interviews with Oak Hill Parkway Project representatives regarding the usefulness of virtual planning spaces. The report will conclude with a discussion of lessons learned and future research needs.Item Executive function processes: inhibition, working memory, planning and attention in children and youth with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder(Texas A&M University, 2006-04-12) Wolfe, Monica EileenThis study examines the roles of inhibition, attention, working memory, and planning in youth with and without ADHD. As conceptualized in theories of attention, inhibition, and working memory, difficulties with these executive processes interact to manifest in the behavioral syndrome(s) of ADHD. Barkley (1997) proposed disinhibition as the primary deficit of ADHD. Rapport, Chung, Shore, Denney, & Isaacs, (2000) theorized that ADHD results from a primary deficit in working memory. Mirsky (1987) proposed a model of attention which children with ADHD have deficits in abilities to focus/execute, encode and sustain attention. Posner and Petersen (1990) proposed that three attentional networks are responsible for attentional processes and those children with ADHD have deficits in the vigilance network. To investigate the contributions of inhibition, working memory, attention, and planning in executive dysfunction in children with ADHD, measures were selected from factor analytic studies. Children with ADHD-Combined Type demonstrated poorer inhibition and working memory than children with no diagnosis after controlling for IQ effects. No differences in planning and attention were indicated after controlling for IQ effects. However, a predictive discriminant analysis indicated that none of the executive processes contributed to the prediction of group membership. Given correlational and predictive discriminant analysis results, further analyses were conducted to investigate the contribution of the measures selected for the domains. The theoretical model did not represent a good fit of the data. A three-factor model indicated the best representation suggesting that inhibition and attention were not separable. There were no group differences with the revised measurement model for inhibition/attention, working memory and planning. Taken together, results indicated measures originally selected to tap executive function may not be clean measures of inhibition, working memory, planning, or attention processes. In addition, recently proposed theories overlap and conceptualize the multiple constructs involved in ADHD with a variety of methodologies, further contributing to difficulties in interpreting results and measurement issues.Item Generation capacity expansion planning using screening curves method(2013-05) Zhang, Tong, active 2013; Baldick, RossGeneration capacity expansion planning has been evolving in rencent decades. First, the long-term planning procedure is taking more detailed considerations of short-term operation impacts. Second, as more renewable resources being integrated into the grid, a new strategy of dealing with the non-dispatchable renewable energy should be developed, with more ancillary services needing to be procured from thermal units. These trends are expected to continue. This thesis describes a methodology in generation capacity expansion planning. The screening curves method can be used to estimate optimal generation mix for a target year. This thesis first introduces three screening curves methods, which are classified based on their ability to deal with detailed shortterm operational issues. It then includes ancillary service and wind integration impacts. Finally, it presents a case study of a projected ERCOT 2030 system.Item Highway case study investigation and sensitivity testing using the Project Evaluation Toolkit(2011-08) Fagnant, Daniel James; Kockelman, Kara; Xie, ChiAs transportation funding becomes increasingly constrained, it is imperative that decision makers invest precious resources wisely and effectively. Transportation planners need effective tools for anticipating outcomes (or ranges of outcomes) in order to select preferred project alternatives and evaluate funding options for competing projects. To this end, this thesis work describes multiple applications of a new Project Evaluation Toolkit (PET) for highway project assessment. The PET itself was developed over a two-year period by the thesis author, in conjunction with Dr. Kara Kockelman, Dr. Chi Xie, and some support by others, as described in Kockelman et al. (2010) and the PET Users Guidebook (Fagnant et al. 2011). Using just link-level traffic counts (and other parameter values, if users wish to change defaults), PET quickly estimates how transportation network changes impact traveler welfare (consisting of travel times and operating costs), travel time reliability, crashes, and emissions. Summary measures (such as net present values and benefit-cost ratios) are developed over multi-year/long-term horizons to quantify the relative merit of project scenarios. This thesis emphasizes three key topics: a background and description of PET, case study evaluations using PET, and sensitivity analysis (under uncertain inputs) using PET. The first section includes a discussion of PET’s purpose, operation and theoretical behavior, much of which is taken from Fagnant et al. (2010). The second section offers case studies on capacity expansion, road pricing, demand management, shoulder lane use, speed harmonization, incident management and work zone timing along key links in the Austin, Texas network. The final section conducts extensive sensitivity testing of results for two competing upgrade scenarios (one tolled, the other not); the work examines how input variations impact PET outputs over hundreds of model applications. Taken together, these investigations highlight PET’s capabilities while identifying potential shortcomings. Such findings allow transportation planners to better appreciate the impacts that various projects can have on the traveling public, how project evaluation may best be tackled, and how they may use PET to anticipate impacts of projects they may be considering, before embarking on more detailed analyses and finalizing investment decisions.Item Integrating autonomous vehicle behavior into planning models(2015-05) Levin, Michael William; Boyles, Stephen David, 1982-; Kockelman, Kara MAutonomous vehicles (AVs) may soon be publicly available and are expected to increase both network capacity and travel demand. Reduced safety margins from computer precision may increase network capacity and allow for more efficient intersection controls. AVs also offer the option of repositioning trips to avoid parking fees or share the vehicle between household members, which may increase the total number of vehicle trips and decrease the relative utility of transit. Since AVs may be available within one or two decades, which is within the span of long-term planning models, practitioners may soon wish to predict the effects of AVs on traffic networks. This thesis modifies the four-step planning model commonly used by practitioners to include AV behaviors and capacity improvements. Because dynamic traffic assignment (DTA) offers more realistic flow propagation and intersection control options, the four-step model is modified to incorporate DTA with endogenous departure time choices. To facilitate modeling of AV intersections, the tile-based reservation (TBR) control policy is simplified into a conflict region (CR) model compatible with general simulation-based DTA and with greatly improved computational tractability. Results suggest that although the total number of personal-vehicle trips may almost double (due to repositioning trips to the origin to avoid parking costs), increases in network and intersection capacity can mostly offset or even improve network conditions. Use of dynamic flow propagation instead of static travel time functions in the four-step model results in predictions of increased average travel speed although both static and dynamic planning models predict a high reliance on repositioning trips (i.e., empty-vehicle travel). To study AV behaviors in DTA, this thesis first integrates DTA into the four-step model with the addition of departure time choice. This model alone may be useful for practitioners as departure time modeling is a major concern with DTA planning models. Also, the TBR intersection policy has only been studied in micro-simulation with heuristic routing strategies. The CR model opens this new technique to study under UE behavior, which is the first step for the bridge between technology demonstration simulations to models practitioners can use to evaluate implementation. . Therefore, the models developed here for the purposes of predicting AV trip and mode choices may themselves become useful tools for other applications.Item Land transformations in the Bastrop County Colorado River Valley(2011-05) Prince, Benjamin John; Butler, Kent S.; Paterson, RobertThis study is an investigation of land transformations along the Colorado River in Bastrop County, Texas, and a presentation of planning suggestions to protect and improve the ecology of the river corridor. The rapid population growth experienced in central Texas over the last few decades has manifested itself in extensive land use changes. The Colorado River Valley in Bastrop County has experienced this development in some areas, although, as a whole, it has remained largely agricultural in nature, with more extensive changes occurring in adjacent Travis, Hays, and Williamson Counties to the west. As land values increase and the stock of undeveloped land dwindles, developers are turning their attention east to Bastrop County. This study primarily utilizes historic aerial maps to identify changes along the Colorado River corridor in Bastrop County. The choice of the river corridor as the extent of the study area was made because of the disproportionate importance of this land area for environmental systems services, the myriad contributions that the ecological community provides to humanity and agriculture. This study’s primary purpose is to create a baseline documentation of the corridor’s existing condition and a menu of recommendations to promote intelligent growth. The study pays special attention to the present and historic extent of the riparian forest (the forest that brackets the river), as this is the “natural” land use that existed prior to Anglo settlement. The study identifies specific instances and trends in land use, which, due to their degree and extent, are having adverse ecological and hydrological impacts. These include industrial, commercial, and residential development, as well as gravel mining and large infrastructure projects.Item Opportunities and challenges for high-speed rail corridors in Texas(2011-08) Carroll, Todd Davis; Walton, C. MichaelTexas features a growing economy and population. The state boasts a large and well-developed network of roads, freight railroads, and air facilities, which make the state a vital link in the movement of people and goods. However, as the state continues to grow in population and economic significance, these systems are straining to meet state, national, and even global needs. It is increasingly obvious to residents and state officials that Texas should consider implementing alternative modes of transport, including development of passenger rail, for which Texas currently lags behind many of its peer states. Passenger rail provides quantifiable benefits in displacing less energy-efficient and higher pollutant-emitting air and automobile modes while generating potential positive economic impacts and enhancing consumer choice and multimodalism. Conveniently, renewed national interest in rail has invigorated research measuring the applicability of passenger rail services to many different regions of the United States, with the possibility that future national transportation visions will include passenger rail as an essential element. This thesis seeks to clarify the potential for passenger rail specifically in Texas through comparison and contrast with other regions and nations in the midst of new national-level knowledge and the changing transportation opportunities and challenges facing the state. Some of the ideal characteristics of successful international passenger systems exist in Texas, including optimal city spacing and a well-established rail network, which have fuelled ongoing interest demonstrated by various system proposals for high-speed intercity transportation in Texas over the last four decades. Despite these characteristics, the state presents a number of barriers to rail transport rooted in low transit use coupled with generally lower density and ambivalent support from politicians and residents when officials present realities of eminent domain and land use changes. However, with revitalized national rail interest and new federal rail planning requirements, the state may yet be able to work through these challenges to exploit the opportunities the state possesses.Item Participants and Information Outcomes in Planning Organizations(2012-10-19) Bierling, DavidThis research presents empirical evidence and interpretation about the effects of planning participants and contextual factors on information selection in public organizations. The study addresses important research questions and gaps in the literature about applicability of planning theory to practice, about effects of planning participants and participant diversity on information selection, and about community and organizational factors that influence information selection in the planning process. The research informs emergency planning, practice, and guidance, as well as planning theory and practice in general. The research sample consists of survey data from 183 local emergency planning committees (LEPCs) about their conduct of hazardous materials commodity flow studies (HMCFS), along with data from other secondary sources. HMCFS projects collect information about hazardous materials (HazMat) transport that can be used in a wide range of local emergency planning and community planning applications. This study takes the perspective that socio-cultural frameworks, such as organizational norms and values, influence information behaviors of planning participants. Controlling for organizational and community factors, the participation of community planners in HMCFS projects has a significant positive effect on selection of communicative information sources. Participation of HazMat responders in HMCFS projects does not have a significant negative effect on selection of communicative information sources. The diversity of HMCFS participants has a significant positive effect on information selection diversity. Other organizational and community factors, such as vicarious experience, 'know-how' and direct experience, financial resources, and knowledge/perception of hazards and risks are also important influences on information selection behavior. Results of this study are applicable to planning entities that are likely to use planning information: proactive LEPCs, planning agencies, and planning consortiums. The results are also applicable to community planners in local planning agencies and emergency responders in local emergency response agencies, and public planning organizations in general. In addition to providing evidence about the applicability of communicative rationality in planning practice, this research suggests that institutional/contextual, bounded, instrumental, and political rationalities may also in influence conduct of planning projects. Four corresponding prescriptive recommendations are made for planning theory and practice.