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Year: 2025

AI-driven control algorithm using machine learning and genetic optimization for enhancing visual comfort in adaptive façades

Tabatabaei Manesh, M., Rajaian Hoonejani, M., Ghafari Gousheh, S., Abdolmaleki, A., Nikkhah Dehnavi, A., & Shahrashoob, A. (2025). AI-driven control algorithm using machine learning and genetic optimization for enhancing visual comfort in adaptive façades. Automation in Construction, 179, Article 106474. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2025.106474.

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Abstract

Effective management of daylight and visual comfort in office spaces remains a challenge, as existing shading systems often lack adaptability to changing environmental conditions and occupant needs. This paper presents an AI-driven real-time shading control algorithm that optimizes visual comfort using machine learning-based surrogate models and evolutionary optimization. A non-conventional adaptive façade was simulated using Radiance and Ladybug Tools across nine U.S. climates. Four machine learning models were evaluated for predicting Task Illuminance (Et) and Vertical Eye Illuminance (Ev), with Extra Trees achieving the highest accuracy (R2
= 0.95). A Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II) balances glare reduction and daylight utilization by optimizing façade configurations in real time. In contrast to prior approaches constrained to fixed geometries and single-objective control, this paper introduces a generalizable multi-objective control framework. Results show that AI-driven optimization significantly improves adaptive façade performance, offering a scalable solution for intelligent daylight and comfort management.

Keywords

Smart façade control; Machine learning; Surrogate models; Visual comfort; Task illuminance; Vertical eye illuminance; Dynamic shading

A Comparative Evaluation of Polymer-Modified Rapid-Set Calcium Sulfoaluminate Concrete: Bridging the Gap Between Laboratory Shrinkage and the Field Strain Performance

Akerele, D. D., & Aguayo, F. (2025). A Comparative Evaluation of Polymer-Modified Rapid-Set Calcium Sulfoaluminate Concrete: Bridging the Gap Between Laboratory Shrinkage and the Field Strain Performance. Buildings (Basel), 15(15), 2759. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15152759.

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Abstract

Rapid pavement repair demands materials that combine accelerated strength gains, dimensional stability, long-term durability, and sustainability. However, finding materials or formulations that offer these balances remains a critical challenge. This study systematically evaluates two polymer-modified belitic calcium sulfoaluminate (CSA) concretes—CSAP (powdered polymer) and CSA-LLP (liquid polymer admixture)—against a traditional Type III Portland cement (OPC) control under both laboratory and realistic outdoor conditions. Laboratory specimens were tested for fresh properties, early-age and later-age compressive, flexural, and splitting tensile strengths, as well as drying shrinkage according to ASTM standards. Outdoor 5 × 4 × 12-inch slabs mimicking typical jointed plain concrete panels (JPCPs), instrumented with vibrating wire strain gauges and thermocouples, recorded the strain and temperature at 5 min intervals over 16 weeks, with 24 h wet-burlap curing to replicate field practices. Laboratory findings show that CSA mixes exceeded 3200 psi of compressive strength at 4 h, but cold outdoor casting (~48 °F) delayed the early-age strength development. The CSA-LLP exhibited the lowest drying shrinkage (0.036% at 16 weeks), and outdoor CSA slabs captured the initial ettringite-driven expansion, resulting in a net expansion (+200 µε) rather than contraction. Approximately 80% of the total strain evolved within the first 48 h, driven by autogenous and plastic effects. CSA mixes generated lower peak internal temperatures and reduced thermal strain amplitudes compared to the OPC, improving dimensional stability and mitigating restraint-induced cracking. These results underscore the necessity of field validation for shrinkage compensation mechanisms and highlight the critical roles of the polymer type and curing protocol in optimizing CSA-based repairs for durable, low-carbon pavement rehabilitation.

Keywords

calcium sulfoaluminate cement (CSA); polymer-modified confrete (PMC); rapid-set concrete; early-age shrinkage; temperature-induced strain; outdoor vs. laboratory performance; sustainable concrete; field performance; mechanical properties

The effects of urbanization on species interactions

Moreno-García, P., Savage, A., Salgado, A. L., Tartaglia, E. S., Cocciardi, J. M., Aronson, M. F. J., Jarzyna, M. A., Alberti, M., & Li, D. (2025). The effects of urbanization on species interactions. Nature Cities, 2(8), 693–702. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44284-025-00288-w.

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Abstract

Cities are renowned for catalyzing human interactions, but their distinctive environments also affect the interactions of other species. We discuss how urbanization affects species interactions and identify key knowledge gaps. With this context and using an eco-evolutionary lens, we frame urban environments as providing three consecutive filters: the presence of species, their co-occurrence and their relationships. Our framework offers a structured model for studying and managing urban species and environments to facilitate conservation and ecosystem services, benefiting urbanites of all stripes.

Legacy effects of religion, politics and war on urban evolutionary biology

Carlen, E. J., Caizergues, A. E., Jagiello, Z., Kuzyo, H., Munshi-South, J., Alberti, M., Angeoletto, F., Bonilla-Bedoya, S., Booth, W., Charmantier, A., Cocciardi, J. M., Cook, E. M., Gotanda, K. M., Govaert, L., Johnson, L. E., Li, D., Malesis, A. N., Martin, E., Marzluff, J. M., … Szulkin, M. (2025). Legacy effects of religion, politics and war on urban evolutionary biology. Nature Cities, 2(7), 593–602. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44284-025-00249-3.

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Abstract

Urbanization has been a defining feature of the past four centuries, with most of the global population now living in highly modified environments shared with wildlife. Traditionally, biological urban evolutionary research has focused on physical factors such as habitat fragmentation, pollution and resource availability, often overlooking the social and political forces shaping urban environments. This Review explores how religion, politics and war drive urban wildlife evolution by shaping environmental conditions and selective pressures. We synthesize existing knowledge on these influences and propose testable hypotheses to advance the field. Understanding these dynamics is essential for explaining the variability in urban evolutionary processes and predicting the future development of urban systems. By integrating social and political dimensions, we can gain deeper insights into how cities shape the evolution of organisms that inhabit them.

 

2025 Innovation in the Construction Industry

Prof. Dossick’s CM515 Spring 2025 Class. Eds. Dossick, Carrie. & Ray, Lauren. (2025). 2025 Innovation in the Construction Industry. University of Washington. Pressbooks. Seattle, WA. https://uw.pressbooks.pub/2025innovationcm/

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Contributors
Abhishek Tripathy; Ashutoshsinh Shekhawat; Harshitha P S; Adam Hinds; James Mirie; John Ales; Shraddha Kalyani; Muhammad Abu Bakar Tariq; Mohamed Ibrahim; Mikhail Kamila; Manshuk Sabyrova; Nicholas Miranda; Nisha Tomar; Omid Keivanloo; Rahul Varma Alluri; Idris Soliu; Vidheesha Kasthoori Channapatnam Badrinath; Monica Korlepara; Vakkachan Johny Manipadam; Swetha Suresh; Vinay Singh; Vy Le; William Ackerman; and Yingjie Liu

Abstract

A collection of case studies about adopting new technologies and changing practices in design, construction, and operations of the built environment.

Keywords

Technology; Engineering; Agriculture; Industrial Processes

Our skies are too grey: Where is the colour?

Knoop, M., Balakrishnan, P., Bellia, L., Błaszczak, U., Diakite-Kortlever, A., Dumortier, D., Hernández-Andrés, J., Inanici, M., Kenny, P., Kobav, M., Liang, S., Luo, T., Maskarenj, M., O’Mahoney, P., Pierson, C., Thorseth, A., & Xue, P. (2025). Our skies are too grey: Where is the colour? Lighting Research & Technology (London, England : 2001). https://doi.org/10.1177/14771535251322618.

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Abstract

The Daylight Illuminant D65, a standardised reference light source in design and research with a colour temperature of 6500 K, is often used to describe the colour of the daylight. However, it represents the colour of an overcast sky, failing to capture the variability and richness of actual daylight, particularly the blue of clear skies. Recent research shows that both sunlight and skylight significantly influence our mood, perception and physiological responses. The colour of daylight is influenced by factors like sun position, weather conditions, as well as geographical location. To address these variations, researchers are collecting worldwide spectral daylight measurements, emphasising the need for localised spectral reference data to appropriately represent daylight in different locations.

Methodology to modify and adapt the standardised spectral power distributions for daylight to account for geographical, seasonal and diurnal variations for practical applications

Knoop, M., Balakrishnan, P., Błaszczak, U., Diakite-Kortlever, A., Dumortier, D., Hernández-Andrés, J., Inanici, M., Kenny, P., Maskarenj, M., O’Mahoney, P., Pierson, C., Rudawski, F., & Thorseth, A. (2025). Methodology to modify and adapt the standardised spectral power distributions for daylight to account for geographical, seasonal and diurnal variations for practical applications. Lighting Research & Technology (London, England : 2001). https://doi.org/10.1177/14771535251322386.

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Abstract

In recent years, the spectral properties of solar radiation and daylight have become increasingly important in lighting design and research, and various approaches to implement these have been applied. This paper proposes to modify and adapt the CIE reconstruction method, a procedure developed in the early 1960s to define standardised spectral power distributions (SPDs) of daylight, for this purpose. The CIE D Illuminants resulting from the reconstruction procedure are widely used for standardisation purposes but are based on a smaller number of measurements and do not consider geographical, seasonal and diurnal variations. In order to be able to use the CIE reconstruction method specifically in daylight planning, research and application, a technical committee of the CIE has launched a worldwide measurement campaign to collect spectral daylight measurements. The aim of the committee is to formulate a customised reconstruction method that more accurately reflects the local SPDs of daylight. This paper contributes to the discourse on the improvement of daylight estimation methods and emphasises the importance of accurate daylight data in various scientific and practical contexts.

CircularBIM: Future needs at the convergence of building information modelling and the circular economy

Amudjie, J., Chan, A. P. C., Darko, A., Debrah, C., & Agyekum, K. (2025). CircularBIM: Future needs at the convergence of building information modelling and the circular economy. Automation in Construction, 176, 106250. doi:10.1016/j.autcon.2025.106250

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Abstract

The progressions of industrial revolutions have enabled diverse digital technologies in architecture, engineering, construction and operation (AECO), with Building Information Modelling (BIM) gaining notable attention. Concurrently, the circular economy (CE) has emerged as a crucial strategy for addressing socio-economic issues such as waste, resource depletion, and climate change. However, limitations within BIM or CE implementations have led to these persisting socio-economic challenges. This paper presents a comprehensive state-of-the-art review on the convergence of BIM and CE (hereafter, CircularBIM), utilizing a mixed-method approach (bibliometric and systematic review techniques), analysing 89 relevant studies. Key research trends identified include life cycle assessments, deconstruction, BIM-based systems, waste management, and energy efficiency. This paper suggests future research should integrate recommender systems for CircularBIM, employ real-time performance integrated CircularBIM directory, increase expert studies and broaden parameters integration for CircularBIM. Ultimately, this paper aims to enhance CircularBIM implementation in the AECO sector, providing insights for all stakeholders.

Keywords

Building information modelling; Carbon emissions; CircularBIM; Circular economy; PRISMA; Review

Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling of Challenges to Existing Residential Building Net Zero Carbon Retrofitting

Darko Amos, Weerasinghe Lichini Nikesha Kumari, Chan Albert Ping Chuen, & Wu Lingzi. (2025). Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling of Challenges to Existing Residential Building Net Zero Carbon Retrofitting. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 151(8), 05025005. doi:10.1061/JCEMD4.COENG-16471

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Abstract

Residential buildings play a significant role in global energy usage and carbon emissions. In Hong Kong, they contribute to 27% of energy usage and associated carbon emissions. Retrofitting residential buildings to net zero carbon (NZC) is an efficient way to lower carbon emissions and prevent climate change. However, the widespread adoption of NZC retrofitting in the industry has been limited by several challenges, which have rarely been addressed in research. This study intended to evaluate the linkages among various challenges while assessing their impacts on NZC retrofitting of existing residential buildings. Data were collected through a questionnaire survey with 123 residential building occupants in Hong Kong, whose perspectives are largely ignored in existing building retrofit research. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to analyze the data. Outcomes indicated that technical and social challenges have a considerable negative effect on residential building NZC retrofitting. In addition, this study highlights the connections between challenge categories and presents a predictive model illustrating the relationships between challenges and residential building NZC retrofitting. Theoretically, the outcomes of this study provide new insights into the relationships between residential building NZC retrofitting challenges and their interactive effects, revealing that the challenges influence one another and do not exist in isolation. Practically, the findings could be useful to policymakers and practitioners seeking to promote NZC retrofitting by enabling the development of effective policies and strategies to mitigate the identified challenges.

Urban landscape heterogeneity disaggregates the legacy of redlining on land surface temperature

Meen Chel Jung, Karen Dyson, Marina Alberti, Urban landscape heterogeneity disaggregates the legacy of redlining on land surface temperature, Landscape and Urban Planning, Volume 261, 2025, 105406, ISSN 0169-2046, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2025.105406.

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Abstract

The lingering effects of redlining are linked to contemporary heat inequities observed across US cities. Residential security maps created by the Home Owners’ Loan Corporation (HOLC) have been widely used to analyze neighborhood-level disparities in land surface temperatures. However, the use of aggregated spatial units often fails to capture internal landscape heterogeneity and the heat vulnerabilities associated with redlining. In this study, we introduced urban landscape heterogeneity by incorporating granular development levels captured at different resolutions within HOLC-graded neighborhoods. This approach combined Landsat-based National Land Cover Database (NLCD) data, Sentinel-based WorldCover land cover data, and HOLC map layers. We examined the role of urban landscape heterogeneity in revealing additional patterns of heat inequities beyond those explained by redlining-based macro spatial units, using grouped boxplots and mixed-effects models across three major cities in the Northeastern US: Boston, Massachusetts; New York, New York; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. By accounting for urban landscape heterogeneity, our findings revealed that: (1) the well-documented trend of higher land surface temperatures in lower HOLC grades becomes systematically fragmented, (2) statistical models show improved performance in estimating land surface temperature, and (3) the cooling effect of tree canopy exhibits a varying, non-linear threshold pattern. These results highlight the need to consider micro-scale landscape dimensions to better understand the persistent, unequal distribution of temperatures associated with redlining. Municipal and community-led tree planting initiatives should consider comprehensive landscape characteristics to develop spatially targeted heat mitigation strategies and promote equitable climate outcomes.

Keywords

Redlining; Land cover; Spatial resolution; Land surface temperature; Tree canopy cooling; Heat inequity