Capstone Project
All students in the online Master of Infrastructure Planning & Management program complete a capstone project. This two-quarter project allows you to synthesize the knowledge you've gained by conducting research and applying it to a real-world infrastructure problem.
Planning and Execution
Students are encouraged to start contemplating a capstone topic as soon as they enter the program. All program instructors, your program adviser, employer and fellow students are all potential sources of input, ideas and feedback on your topic selection.
Capstones can be a traditional research project or set up as an experiential learning experience. For experiential learning, we can help you identify a partner organization to work with for the duration of the project. It's important that you notify the capstone instructors at the start of your second year in the program if you want to do an experiential project.
In winter quarter of your second year, you’ll finalize your topic and outline a timetable for the research required to complete the project by the end of spring quarter. You’ll carry out the majority of the research and the writing of the project in spring quarter. Although capstones are individual projects, the work is semi-collaborative and students will give and receive feedback throughout the process.
Capstone Project Examples
Final capstone topics can vary tremendously. Below is a list of recent capstone projects by infrastructure field related topics. Once you apply to our program, if you have an interest in seeing a sample capstone project, please email a request to mipm@uw.edu. This list is provided as a way to understand the variety of topics that the program can support through the capstone experience.
Communications/Cyber Security
Cloud Computing: Considerations for Municipal Government (2013)
Improving Holistic Security Through Business Continuity for Response to Cyber Security Incidents (2016)
Pervasive Sensing and Industrial Control System Cyber Risk Implications (2015)
Emergency Management/Resiliency/Housing
Emergency Sheltering Plan and Private Sector Roles/Responsibilities (2017)
Preparing for the Next Hurricane: Improving Resiliency and Preparedness for Savannah, GA (2018)
Energy
Distributed Generation: Challenges Facing Integration of Energy Resilience (2019)
Sub-Saharan Microgrids: An Approach to Addressing Energy Challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa (2018)
Finance
The Pre-Investment Phase of the Infrastructure Project Cycle in Latin America and the Caribbean (2014)
Food Systems
Examining the Roles of Cooperative Grocery Stores as a Tool for Local Food System Planning (2018)
Resilience as a Function of the Relationship Between Emergency Management and the Food System (2015)
Public Health
Stakeholder and Health Assessment in Countries with Shale Gas Resources: A Case Study (2017)
Transportation
Helping Communities Become More Resilient Through the Use of Asset Based Risk-Assessment for Transportation Systems (2014)
Transportation-Oriented Development Solutions for California's Housing Shortages (2019)
Water Resources Management
Accounting for Climate Change Impacts on Transnational Rivers Transecting the Netherlands (2019)
Case for Improving Davenport, Iowa's CRS Score to a Class 5 (2018)
Green Infrastructure: Stormwater and Big Business, a Changing Landscape (2017)
Reexamining Justification for Floodplain Acquisition (2018)
The Water and Energy Nexus in California: A Risk Analysis of the Impacts of the Carlsbad Seawater Desalination Facility (2015)