Thank you for taking the time to participate. This survey is being conducted in conjunction with the
National Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Project 10-91A, which is titled "Sustainable Highway Construction." We want to ask you a few questions about sustainability and how it relates to construction. We want to know what you think (good or bad), as well as what you have done, seen, or heard about.
Even if you have not directly participated in highway/street construction, we still want to hear from you.
The survey should take less than 10 minutes.
The survey will cover the following items:
- Demographics. A little bit of information about you and the organization within which you work.
- Personal and organizational association with sustainability. Describe what "sustainability" means to you.
- Sustainability in highway construction practices. Describe those practices you have done, seen, or heard about that might be considered sustainable.
Informed Consent
This is the official version of what we are required to tell you about your participation in the survey.
Lead Researcher: Dr. Steve Muench,
Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle WA
(206) 616-1259
stmuench@uw.edu
Researchers’ statement
We are asking you to be in a research study. The purpose of this consent form is to give you the information you will need to help you decide whether to be in the study or not. Please read the form carefully. You may ask questions (send to Dr. Steve Muench at stmuench@uw.edu) about the purpose of the research, what we would ask you to do, the possible risks and benefits, your rights as a volunteer, and anything else about the research or this form that is not clear. When we have answered all your questions, you can decide if you want to be in the study or not. This process is called “informed consent.”
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The objectives of this research are to (1) identify effective sustainability practices that can be implemented during the construction of highway projects, and (2) prepare a guidebook that can be used by owners, contractors, and designers to aid them in identifying, evaluating, and selecting these sustainable construction practices.
STUDY PROCEDURES
For this research, you are being asked to take an online survey (estimated at <10 minutes) that will ask you about your experience regarding sustainability practices in construction. For example, we may ask you to describe sustainable construction practices that you have used on past highway jobs.
You may refuse to answer any of the questions we ask. You may also decide to stop participating during or after answering questions. Up to one month after providing answers, you may request that any answers you may have provided will be removed from the research database. After this time we will have removed all identifiable information from the data, meaning we will no longer be able to identify which answers you provided. Everything that you say will be confidential, and your identity will never be reported along with any research publications or reports.
RISKS, STRESS, OR DISCOMFORT
We do not anticipate any risks resulting from your participation in this study. However, it is likely that other contractors or agencies will learn about the sustainability practices you describe to us.
BENEFITS OF THE STUDY
There are no individual benefits to you for participating in this study. However, your participation will help define and disseminate best practices in sustainability for highway construction, which may have a significant positive impact on society and the environment.
SOURCE OF FUNDING
The study team is funded by the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) for the conduct of this project.
CONFIDENTIALITY OF RESEARCH INFORMATION
All of the information you provide will be confidential, and any links to your identity will be deleted one month after data collection. However, if we learn that you intend to harm yourself or others, we must report that to the authorities.
OTHER INFORMATION
You may refuse to participate and you are free to withdraw from this study at any time without penalty or loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled.
REQUIRED FINANCIAL INTEREST DISCLOSURE
One University of Washington researcher, Dr. Steve Muench, has appropriately disclosed his financial interest in the Greenroads Foundation, a collaborator in this research and a privately held not-for-profit entity formed with Intellectual Property licensed from the University of Washington. Dr. Muench is a Founder and Board Member of the Greenroads Foundation, services for which he has received no compensation since the company's inception in August 2010.