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Lab/Center: BE PhD Program

Mohammad Tabatabaei Manesh

Mohammad Tabatabaei Manesh is a computational designer and building science researcher with expertise in programming and building performance. He works on the application of machine learning and deep learning in building performance, developing web apps and tools for architects. Currently, Mohammad’s work focuses on the design, fabrication, and evaluation of acoustic metamaterials for the built environment.

Building equity into public park and recreation service investment: A review of public agency approaches

Beck, H., Berney, R., Kirk, B., & Yocom, K. P. (2024). Building equity into public park and recreation service investment: A review of public agency approaches. Landscape and Urban Planning. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2024.105069

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Abstract

In recent decades, academic and professional research has increased understanding of the importance of city and landscape planners engaging with social and environmental justice issues, including contemporary inequities inherent in the planning, distribution, use, and access of public green and open spaces. However, there is a gap between this research centering equity and the planning, development, and implementation rate demonstrated by public agencies. In this article, we examine examples of emerging practice in the public park and recreation sector to understand the strategies and approaches public agencies are taking to provide equitable park and recreation systems. Our research identifies and analyzes 17 examples of North American public park and open space management agencies using equity-based planning frameworks to prioritize park investment and resource distribution. Equity-focused resource analysis is distinct because while it assesses budget and project-based funding distributions, it further incorporates assessments of historical allocations to understand better areas of under-investment and the evolving needs of different communities. As economic inequities become more pronounced, local governments, and other public institutions providing services to populations, are important in helping communities navigate changes. Our findings support the ongoing advancement of equity-driven planning and implementation for public park and recreation agencies by providing practical information on existing approaches to redress the impact of unfair patterns of under-investment.

Causal effects of place, people, and process on rooftop solar adoption through Bayesian inference

Min, Y., & Ko, I. (2023). Causal effects of place, people, and process on rooftop solar adoption through Bayesian inference. Energy (Oxford), 285, 129510-. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2023.129510.

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Abstract

While previous studies have established correlations between rooftop solar adoption and various factors, a comprehensive understanding of the underlying causal mechanisms has been limited by the intricate interrelationships among these variables. To address this gap, we propose a Bayesian causal inference approach that examines the interplay of various factors influencing rooftop solar adoption across multiple cities. By employing post-phenomenology, we uncover latent variables encompassing place, people, and process, shedding light on how they shape public responses to emerging energy technologies. We analyze the causal effects of these factors and highlight the significance of housing and built environment attributes in determining energy expenditure and rooftop solar adoption, emphasizing the need for policies that target energy equity. Additionally, we reveal the influence of neighborhood spillovers on adoption, indicating the role of social norms and information diffusion. The observed city-level variability underscores the importance of local contexts and location-specific factors in the adoption process. Furthermore, we highlight the need to consider causal relationships and the indirect effects of people-related attributes mediated through place-related attributes. Overall, these findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the factors shaping rooftop solar adoption via causal modeling and underscore the importance of tailored policies to promote adoption.

Keywords

Spillover effects; Energy equity; Post-phenomenology; Ignorability; Factor analysis; Clean energy; Photovoltaic systems; Overcoming barriers; Technology adoption; Decision-making; Energy justice; United-States; Vulnerability; Diffusion; Deployment; Responses

The Articulation and Current Practices of Liquidated Damages in Standard Specifications for Highways

Abdel Aziz, A. M., & Muiruri, K. (2023). The Articulation and Current Practices of Liquidated Damages in Standard Specifications for Highways. Journal of Legal Affairs and Dispute Resolution in Engineering and Construction, 15(4). https://doi.org/10.1061/JLADAH.LADR-959

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Abstract

Delayed delivery of highway infrastructure could financially hurt businesses that rely on such facilities, disrupt the public commute, and increase road user costs. For these reasons, state highway agencies (SHAs) tend to use and enforce liquidated damages (LDs) for the contractor’s failure to meet the completion times. While SHAs may have similar experiences on how their standard specifications (SSs) are structured and written, there are differences among the states on how the LDs are articulated. Further, with their requirements, SHAs need to maintain that their LDs regulations follow and account for the Code of Federal Regulations, for example, CFR.635.127. Additionally, contractors may legally challenge the LDs enforceability as unreasonable, excessive, penalty statements, or concurrently caused. This work aims to critically examine and thoroughly analyze how LDs were articulated in the SSs. For that, the LDs sections, definitions, and contract times of the standard specifications of all departments of transportation in the United States were collected, thoroughly reviewed, compared, and analyzed. With commonalities and differences among the SSs, themes of LDs current practice were identified under LDs characterization, application periods, reference times, and implementation forms. A detailed account of the particulars of each theme and practice is discussed and explained. The work provides insights for SHAs to evaluate their current LDs practice to other states’ practices to improve how LDs provisions are articulated.

Kevin Muiruri

Research interests: project delivery methods and impact to project success; project control and construction contracts; privatization in construction and private-public partnerships; project cost management; sustainability.

M.S. Construction Management, University of Washington (2022)
B.S. Civil Engineering, Dedan Kimathi University of Technology, Kenya (2017)

Judy Bowes’ Research Featured in The Daily

Judy Bowes was featured on The Daily with a story about her Bird Friendly UW project. An excerpt is below. “UW researchers estimate that buildings on campus are responsible for 10,000 to 15,000 bird deaths, with up to 1 billion deaths occurring from bird-building collisions each year.  Judy Bowes’ research will provide insight into what UW’s contribution to that total is. Bowes, a graduate student in the College of Built Environments, has dedicated the past year toward analyzing how dangerous…

New Tool Created by CBE Researchers in partnership with Charles Pankow Foundation

CBE researchers worked with the Charles Pankow Foundation to develop a new Building Owner Assessment Tool (BOAT). Team members included CBE Dean Renée Cheng, FAIA; Associate Dean for Research Carrie Sturts Dossick, Ph.D, P.E.; and Laura Osburn, Ph.D. Other team members included Lingzi Wu, Ph.D. Daniel Dimitrov, and Xianxiang Sean Zhao. The tool was developed in partnership with the American Institute of Architects and the Integrated Project Delivery Alliance. The Building Owner Assessment Tool (BOAT): Helping You Understand Your Culture and Its…