The Project

In accordance with the Campus Master Plan for Texas State University, the Environmental Service Committee must replace all recycling bins within the proscribed guidelines of style to maintain uniformity. The E.S.C. presented a RFP to GeoSolve to find optimal locations of recycling bins on campus. GeoSolve’s goal is to deliver a ranked set of locations for bin placement using a geographic information system.

Data

Data was collected from various Texas State contacts, which provided shape files for buildings, sidewalks, parking lots, contours, bus stops, bus traffic flow, and number of students per building throughout the day. Satellite images from Capco were downloaded and merged for a visual reference. All secondary data were collected by 22 February 2006. Because no current source file existed for trashcan and vending locations, we determined that fieldwork was required to yield exact locational data. GPS locations of the number of trash cans and outdoor vending machines were collected during the week of spring break, 13-17 March 2006. The following week, 20-25 March 2006, GeoSolve conducted a survey to find number and type of vending machines present per building.

Methodology

After collecting all of our primary data (trashcan and vending machine locations), collected with a Topcon Hiper Plus GPS system, and secondary data from the university, we  then cleaned up the data using Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Access to condense the data down and prep it for ArcMap 9.1. It was then downloaded into the software and a base map was added along with the aerial image of campus. Once the import was completed, we then performed a series of density analyses to show the locations across campus with the highest density concentrations of trash cans and vending machines (either glass or aluminum) and then overlaid them with a data set showing where the population is concentrated throughout a particular week. With the three major criteria (population, source or recyclables, and current trashcan locations) we were able to come up with our final results. 

Implications

The final result is a ranked set of locations of where GeoSolve recommends recycling bins should be located on the main campus.  The Environmental Service Committee can then look at the ranking system and decide what areas would best suit their needs.  E.S.C. could focus on the areas they think are high priorities and know where each recycling bins should be located. 

Budget **

Timeline

•  Data Collection. This stage of the project will take four weeks to complete. The entire team will work together to gather all the appropriate data that will be incorporated into a GIS. Throughout this stage of the project the team will not only collect the existing data available for this project, but will also begin any necessary digitizing and data collection themselves.

•  Analysis. The entire team will work together to analyze the data in a duration of 4 weeks.

•  Project Preparation. This stage of the project will take two weeks. Team members will work together to complete the final deliverables by interpreting our final results.

Timetable

Results

Based on our analysis of the data, GeoSolve recommends a minimum of twelve recycling bins to be minimally effective in collection. These "Dirty Dozen," at $750 each, will cost $9,000 and include the following sites: (1) Blanco Hall, (2) the northwest side of LBJ Student Center, (3) the southeast side of LBJ Student Center, (4) at the entrance to Alkek Library, (5) at the Paws N Go, (6) the north side of Evans Liberal Arts, (7) the quad side of Derrick Hall, (8) in the central court of Smith Hall(s), (9) the northwest corner of Flowers Hall, (10) south side of Centennial, (11) the bus stop in the parking lot of Strahan Coliseum, (12) and the bus stop in the parking lot of Bobcat Stadium. However, for best use, GeoSolve recommends placing twenty-four bins at $750 each for a total cost of $18,000.  In addition to the "Dirty Dozen" listed above, bin locations should include: (13) an additional receptacle at Alkek Library, (14) the north side of  The Tower, (15) one at Arnold Hall, (16) one between Hornsby and Burleson Halls, (17) one on the south side of Jackson Hall, (18) a bin at the southeastern side of the Health Science Center, (19) one in between Elliot Hall and the McCoy Business Building, (20) in front of the south entrance of Taylor-Murphy History building, (21) the south side of Hines Academic Center, (22) at the main entrance to the Music Building, (23) the southeast corner of Lantana hall, (24) and between the Outdoor Center in Sewell Park and Jowers Building.

Central Campus Map (.pdf)        North Campus Map (.pdf)        West Campus Map (.pdf)       South Campus Map (.pdf)       East Campus Map (.pdf)

Summary

The activities of recycling, especially in developed countries, are getting popular in order to dealing with the lack of resources. Texas State University-San Marcos is now interested in recycling because many people visit the campus with many recyclable goods. The goal of our study is to identify where recycle bins are supposed to be placed in order to receive maximum number of recyclable goods as possible. By careful analysis of averaged campus population data and existing locations of sources of recyclables, we came up with these results:

**The budget included in this website reflects the corrected version of the budget and may not agree with versions found in the initial proposal or progress report.

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