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Real Estate Insights: Location matters – real estate submarkets in the work of Bryan MacGregor

Bourassa, S. C., & Hoesli, M. (2026). Real Estate Insights: Location matters – real estate submarkets in the work of Bryan MacGregor. Journal of Property Investment & Finance, 1–3. https://doi.org/10.1108/JPIF-02-2026-0026.

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Abstract

Purpose
This paper highlights Bryan MacGregor's contribution to the literature on the definition of real estate submarkets in the context of hedonic house price analysis and commercial property investment diversification.

Design/methodology/approach
This paper provides a summary and discussion of Bryan's work on real estate submarkets, focusing on three of Bryan's published research papers.

Findings
Bryan's publications include an application of principal components analysis and cluster analysis to the definition of housing submarkets for hedonic modelling purposes. They also include studies of the usefulness of cluster analysis for commercial property investment diversification. Although Bryan is best known for his work on commercial property markets, his most-cited work is the paper on housing submarkets.

Originality/value
This paper calls attention to Bryan's contribution to research on real estate submarkets, particularly the analysis of housing submarkets.

Keywords

Bryan MacGregor; Real estate submarkets; Hedonic modeling; House prices; Commercial property portfolios

 

Investigation of a silica gel-based evaporative cooling shading system: Numerical and experimental approaches

Dehnavi AN, Manesh MT, Zomorodian Z, Abdolmaleki A, Hoonejani MR. INVESTIGATION OF A SILICA GEL-BASED EVAPORATIVE COOLING SHADING SYSTEM: NUMERICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL APPROACHES. Journal of Green Building. 2026 Jan;21(1):273–289. doi:10.3992/jgb.21.1.273

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Abstract

Passive evaporative cooling systems offer a low-cost, energy-efficient solution suited to hot and dry climates. This study integrates evaporative cooling within a shading system, creating an innovative approach to control daylight while enhancing thermal comfort. Silica gels are inserted into the louvers and placed in a water chamber, turning the louvers into wet evaporating plates. This evaporative shading system (ESS) is implemented on the inside-facing window opening, resulting in an integrated system for evaporative cooling and daylight control. A numerical model simulates variations in indoor air temperature and humidity caused by the system, which is further validated through experimental testing. Numerical modeling indicates that after 100 minutes at a height of 70 cm, the shading system successfully reduces the temperature by a range of 3.5 K while concurrently increasing relative humidity by approximately 3.5%. Subsequent experimental tests support these findings, demonstrating that the ESS reduces temperature by about 5 K and increases relative humidity by a range of 2 to 3.5%. This ESS demonstrates potential for thermal comfort enhancement and daylight optimization.

Laboratory evaluation of rapid-setting concrete mixes for sustainable pavement repairs: a comparative evaluation with traditional concretes

Akerele, D.D., Aguayo, F. Laboratory evaluation of rapid-setting concrete mixes for sustainable pavement repairs: a comparative evaluation with traditional concretes. Mater Struct 59, 84 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-025-02806-7

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Abstract

Rapid and sustainable pavement repairs are critical to minimizing road closure times, reducing environmental impacts, and ensuring infrastructure longevity. This study evaluates the effectiveness of rapid-strength calcium sulfoaluminate (CSA) concrete mixes compared to traditional concretes (Type III and novel Type X) for pavement repair applications. The research investigates the early-age and long-term mechanical performance of these materials, focusing on compressive strength, tensile strength, flexural strength, shrinkage, and fresh properties. A comprehensive experimental program was conducted using standardized (ASTM) testing methods to provide reliable and comparative data. Results showed that CSA mixes achieved superior early-age strength, exceeding 3000 psi within four hours and meeting long-term benchmarks of over 5000 psi at 28 days. Moreover, CSA mixes exhibited significantly lower shrinkage compared to traditional concretes, enhancing dimensional stability. Correlation analyses identified the nuanced influence of water-to-cement ratio, cement content, and polymer additives on shrinkage and strength performance, highlighting the critical role of optimized mix design. These findings demonstrate the potential of CSA-based concretes to address current challenges in pavement repair, including rapid strength development, reduced maintenance frequency, and enhanced sustainability. Practical implications include less traffic disruption, reduced carbon emissions from delays, and resource efficiency, aligning with global sustainability goals. This study provides a pathway for adopting CSA-based materials as a durable, high-performance solution in infrastructure repair, offering a significant contribution to advancing sustainable construction practices.

Keywords

Rapid strength concrete; Calcium sulfoaluminate cement (CSA); Pavement repair; Mechanical properties; Fresh properties; Sustainable infrastructure; Early-age performance

Road User Fees in the USA: Theory, Research, and Practice

Chen, P., Shen, Q., & Boardman, S. (2025). Road User Fees in the USA: Theory, Research, and Practice. Journal of Planning Literature. https://doi.org/10.1177/08854122251385953

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Abstract

This paper examines the theory, research, and practice of road user charge (RUC) in the USA. It explores neoclassical, behavioral, and institutional economic perspectives to assess RUC's environmental benefits, data privacy, public acceptance, and equity implications. A synthesis of recent studies highlights RUC's financial, environmental, social, and urban transportation system impacts. The examination of state and regional initiatives presents several critical challenges associated with the implementation of RUC systems. This study provides a nuanced understanding of RUC's potential and barriers as a sustainable transportation funding mechanism and offers insights into future research and policy development.

An outlook on ride-sourcing price changes: Implications for future transit agency-TNC partnerships

Ashour, L., & Shen, Q. (2025). An outlook on ride-sourcing price changes: Implications for future transit agency-TNC partnerships. Transport Policy, 173, Article 103790. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tranpol.2025.103790

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Abstract

Ride-sourcing trip prices charged by transportation network companies (TNCs) have increased significantly compared to before the pandemic, causing concerns about the effectiveness of existing and planned transit agency-TNC partnerships. This paper explores three scenarios of future TNC price changes: (1) price trend extension using forecasting models, (2) price increase in response to local policy changes, and (3) TNC/taxi price convergence due to increased competition. We then investigate the impact of TNC price change on the prospect of transit agency-TNC partnerships, using a case study in the Seattle region. For the first scenario, we employ two time-series models, namely ARIMA and PROPHET, to forecast price changes within the next three years (Oct 2022–Oct 2025) using publicly available Chicago TNC trip data. The results show that TNC's daily average price would reach $3.23 per mile, increasing by 40 % from 2019 average rates. For the second scenario, we track significant policies that directly impacted TNC prices in Seattle and incorporate reported price increases. The resulting estimations indicate that TNC prices would increase by an extra 25 % in response to changes in the minimum wage law. For the third scenario, we use publicly available taxi trip data of the city of Chicago and forecast future taxi prices by estimating time-series models comparable to those for TNC prices. The analysis suggests that due to increased competition, TNC and taxi prices are converging and that the average TNC fare per mile could add another 50 % to the forecasted price if TNC and taxi prices become similar in the upcoming three years. These price changes are shown to have a considerable negative impact on the expected cost-effectiveness of transit agency-TNC partnerships. Although such partnerships could still provide many benefits, transportation planners and policymakers should carefully examine the implications of TNC price increases resulting from changing market and policy environments.

Incorporating equity into the cost-effectiveness evaluation of new mobility: A comparative analysis

Ashour, L., & Shen, Q. (2025). Incorporating equity into the cost-effectiveness evaluation of new mobility: A comparative analysis. Transportation Research. Part D, Transport and Environment, 147, Article 104959. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trd.2025.104959

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Abstract

Public transportation in suburban areas faces challenges in providing efficient mobility. Transit Incorporating Mobility on Demand (TIMOD) services have emerged as a potential solution, yet equity considerations remain underexplored. This study incorporates equity into the cost-effectiveness evaluation of TIMOD services, analyzing two suburban areas in the Seattle metropolitan region where a TIMOD service is implemented. Using distributional cost-effectiveness analysis (DCEA), we assess the comparative costs of TIMOD, fixed-route transit, and drive-alone across different income groups and built environments. The study shows that although TIMOD services offer equity benefits for lower-income travelers, they are more equitable in high-density, low-income suburbs. In contrast, their cost-effectiveness is more limited in affluent, low-density areas. These insights highlight the importance of context-specific planning for TIMOD interventions and employ tools such as DCEA for transit agencies to prioritize the deployment of such services in areas where they can maximize social welfare and reduce transportation inequities.

Incorporating mobility-on-demand into public transit in suburban areas: A comparative cost-effectiveness evaluation

Cai, M., Ashour, L. A., Shen, Q., & Chen, C. (2025). Incorporating mobility-on-demand into public transit in suburban areas: A comparative cost-effectiveness evaluation. Transportation Research. Part D, Transport and Environment, 144, Article 104775. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trd.2025.104775

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Abstract

Transit Incorporating Mobility-on-Demand (TIMOD) represents the public–private partnerships in which transit agencies incorporate MOD services to supplement fixed-route transit. This study evaluates the cost-effectiveness of TIMOD compared to buses, driving, and ride-hailing in suburban settings. For each alternative, it estimates the marginal costs for travelers, service providers, and transportation externalities, which constitute the marginal social cost. In the study cases, TIMOD is the least cost-effective option, with marginal social cost approximately 20% higher than TNCs and over three times higher than driving. For travelers, TIMOD costs more than driving but less than buses and ride-hailing when considering time value and fare. The cost of TIMOD declines as population density increases. Suburbs with less bus services and higher income residents benefit more from TIMOD, realizing greater reductions in time costs compared to buses. Transit agencies should explore alternative ways to improve mobility for disadvantaged suburban residents by offsetting driving costs and subsidizing TNCs fares.

Keywords

Transit Incorporating Mobility-On-Demand (TIMOD); Public transit; Transportation simulation; Suburban areas; Marginal social cost of travel

Disparities in resilience and recovery of ridesourcing usage during COVID-19

Wang, S., Huang, X., & Shen, Q. (2024). Disparities in resilience and recovery of ridesourcing usage during COVID-19. Journal of Transport Geography, 114, Article 103745. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2023.103745

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Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted ridesourcing services dramatically, but empirical research on disparities in the resilience and recovery of ridesourcing has been scarce. To address this literature gap, we used ridesourcing trip data in Chicago to create two time series: one for Census tract-level ridesourcing usage (including pickups and dropoffs) and the other for linkages between origin and destination (OD) pairs. We performed time-series clustering analyses that integrated manifold learning and Gaussian Mixture Modeling to optimize the number of clusters for high-dimensional time-series data. The tract-level usage can be grouped into three clusters, and the OD-pair linkages can be grouped into six clusters. We examined the spatial patterns of the tract-level usage clusters and the OD-pair linkage clusters. Furthermore, we estimated a multinomial logit regression model to examine the relationships between clusters and land use, built environment, and sociodemographic factors. Our results suggested that the share of residential land use had a positive association with high resilience and fast recovery of ridesourcing usage. Limited transportation accessibility and a lack of alternative transportation modes were also associated with high resilience and fast recovery of ridesourcing usage. Trips that linked dense employment centers were less likely to be made during the pandemic. Census tracts with a greater share of minorities or a higher poverty rate tended to generate more ridesourcing trips during the pandemic.

A bibliometrix-based scientometric-systematic analysis and visualization of the global outlook on post-occupancy evaluation of green building

Debrah, C., Chan, A. P. C., Darko, A., Akowuah, E., Amudjie, J., Asare, K. A. B., & Ghansah, F. A. (2025). A bibliometrix-based scientometric-systematic analysis and visualization of the global outlook on post-occupancy evaluation of green building. Building Research and Information : The International Journal of Research, Development and Demonstration, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/09613218.2025.2521753.

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Abstract

To achieve sustainability goals, it has become increasingly important to conduct post-occupancy evaluation (POE) to assess and understand the actual performance of green buildings (GBs). However, there has been little effort to provide researchers with a systematic and scientometric analysis of the state of the POE-in-GB field. To address this gap, this study aims to review the field and identify major trends and gaps that can be addressed in future research. This paper combined several state-of-the-art tools (i.e. Bibliometrix R-tool, Python BibexPy, VOSviewer, and Gephi) for an extensive bibliometric analysis based on 251 publications identified from Scopus and Web of Science. Utilizing a theoretical framework of office productivity, 35 empirical POE-in-GB studies were selected for further qualitative-systematic analysis. The quantitative-bibliometric analysis revealed that POE-in-GB research hotspots include energy efficiency, occupant satisfaction, thermal comfort, IEQ, LEED, and sustainability. The qualitative-systematic analysis focused on the physical environment quality and load, behavioural environment and the POE protocols of POE-in-GB. Some future research directions proposed include: exploring socio-psychological factors in POE-in-GB, developing standardized protocols for POE-in-GB, aligning GB certifications with user satisfaction, and integrating technology and big data into POE-in-GB. This study provides insights to academics and practitioners working in the POE-in-GB domain.

Keywords

Built environment; building performance evaluation; literature review; sustainable building; sustainability