Debrah, C., Chan, A. P. C., Darko, A., Ries, R. J., Ohene, E., & Tetteh, M. O. (2024). Driving factors for the adoption of green finance in green building for sustainable development in developing countries: The case of Ghana. Sustainable Development., 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.3022
View Publication
Abstract
While there are many motivating factors for green finance (GF) implementation, a comprehensive taxonomy of these variables is lacking in the literature, especially for green buildings (GBs). This study aims to analyze the criticality and interdependence of GF‐in‐GB's driving factors. This study develops a valid set of factors to justify the interrelationships among the drivers. The drivers of GF‐in‐GB are qualitative in nature, and uncertainties exist among them due to linguistic preferences. This study applies the fuzzy Delphi method to validate eight drivers under uncertainties. Fuzzy Decision‐Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (FDEMATEL) with qualitative information is used to determine the interrelationships among the drivers. The drivers were grouped under two categories: prominent drivers and cause‐effect drivers. The findings revealed that “increased awareness of GF models in GB” and “preferential capital requirements for low‐carbon assets” are the top two most prominent/important drivers of GF‐in‐GB. In Ghana, the top three cause group drivers are “climate commitment,” “improved access to and lower cost of capital,” and “favorable macroeconomic conditions and investment returns.” Drivers with the highest prominence values have the potential to affect and/or be affected by other drivers; therefore, managers and policymakers should prioritize promoting or pursuing these drivers in the short term. On the other hand, it is important to pay more than equal attention to the drivers with the highest net cause values because they have the largest long‐term impact on the entire system. The theoretical and practical implications of the study are discussed, enhancing understanding and decision‐making in GF‐in‐GB.
Keywords
fuzzy Delphi method; fuzzy DEMATEL; green building; green finance; sustainable development
Linyan Chen, Amos Darko, Mayowa I. Adegoriola, Albert P.C. Chan, Yang Yang, Mershack O. Tetteh, “Challenges to energy retrofitting of existing office buildings in high-rise high-density cities: The case of Hong Kong,” Energy and Buildings, Volume 312, 2024, 114220, ISSN 0378-7788, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2024.114220.
View Publication
Abstract
Achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 has become a global goal, sparking concerns regarding energy consumption and carbon emissions in building operations. Office buildings in high-rise high-density cities serve as central business districts, contributing significantly to the city’s economic activity and consuming a lot of energy. The process of retrofitting existing office buildings for energy efficiency in high-rise high-density cities tends to be challenging. However, there is a lack of comprehensive understanding of the challenges involved in office buildings’ energy retrofitting, as they have not been thoroughly explored. This study aims to investigate the challenges to the existing office building energy retrofitting (EOBER) in high-rise high-density cities with real cases in Hong Kong. Initially, a systematic literature review was undertaken to identify 49 potential EOBER challenges and categorized into seven groups: technical, financial, institutional, social, environmental, regulatory, and other categories. Afterward, 23 EOBER challenges were identified through 24 semi-structured interviews with 36 real office building energy retrofitting cases in Hong Kong. Moreover, these challenges were quantified by the Z-numbers-based Delphi survey and analysis. Results show that regulatory challenges are the primary challenges, followed by financial challenges. The lack of government incentives, policies, legislation and regulations significantly hinders practitioners’ ability to engage in energy retrofitting initiatives. The long payback period of building energy retrofitting poses a critical financial concern for practitioners embracing such initiatives. In the end, this research proposed integrated strategies to tackle these challenges and increase building energy efficiency, including launching financial and regulatory incentives, shortening the interval for mandatory energy audits, disseminating knowledge, and diversifying finance channels of building energy retrofitting. The findings contribute to the body of knowledge by employing systems thinking to identify and evaluate EOBER challenges in high-rise high-density cities through empirical methodologies. Moreover, this study provides valuable references for practitioners in navigating these challenges and minimizing risks associated with the retrofitting process.
Ashour, L. A., Shen, Q., Moudon, A., Cai, M., Wang, Y., & Brown, M. (2024). Post-pandemic transit commute: Lessons from focus group discussions on the experience of essential workers during COVID-19. Journal of Transport Geography, 116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2024.103832
View Publication
Abstract
Public transit services, which provide a critical lifeline for many essential workers, were severely interrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic. As institutions gradually return to normal in-person operations, it is critical to understand how the pandemic affected essential workers' commute and what it will take to ensure the effective recovery of transit ridership and enhance the long-term resiliency and equity of public transportation systems for those who need it the most. This study used focus group discussions with essential workers who were pre-pandemic transit riders to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted their commute perceptions, experiences, motives, and challenges and explore the potential changes in their travel behavior post-pandemic. We used NVivo 12 Pro to conduct a thematic analysis of the transcripted discussion data and examined patterns of commute mode change with respect to participants' attributes, including job type, home location, and gender. The results show that public transit had multiple reliability and frequency challenges during the pandemic, which resulted in most participants switching away from public transportation. With the increased availability of hybrid remote work and pandemic-related parking policies, driving emerged as a safer and more affordable commute mode for many pre-pandemic transit riders, rendering transit services less efficient for those who continued to rely on it. Planning for post-COVID resilient and reliable mobility requires a major rethinking of providing an efficient and effective transport system and a more fundamental approach to long-term public transport policy. To recover transit ridership, transit agencies need to ensure transit service availability and provide reliable transit information through smartphone apps. Similarly, transit agencies need to coordinate with other employers to provide free or heavily subsidized transit passes, to facilitate the recovery of transit demand effectively.
Keywords
Essential workers; Commute; Public transit; Focus group discussions; COVID-19 pandemic; Post-pandemic
Urban, M.C., Alberti, M., De Meester, L. et al. Interactions between climate change and urbanization will shape the future of biodiversity. Nat. Clim. Chang. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-024-01996-2
View Publication
Abstract
Climate change and urbanization are two of the most prominent global drivers of biodiversity and ecosystem change. Fully understanding, predicting and mitigating the biological impacts of climate change and urbanization are not possible in isolation, especially given their growing importance in shaping human society. Here we develop an integrated framework for understanding and predicting the joint effects of climate change and urbanization on ecology, evolution and their eco-evolutionary interactions. We review five examples of interactions and then present five hypotheses that offer opportunities for predicting biodiversity and its interaction with human social and cultural systems under future scenarios. We also discuss research opportunities and ways to design resilient landscapes that address both biological and societal concerns.
Tabatabaei Manesh, M., Nikkhah Dehnavi, A., & Rajaian, M. (2024). Using Machine Learning To Predict And Visualize Acoustic Quality In Educational Buildings. The 2024 International ConCave Ph.D. Symposium: Divergence in Architectural Research. Georgia Tech, Atlanta, April 4-5.
View Publication
Muiruri, K., Ganguly, I., McPeters, K., & Alonzo, B. (2024). Effects of Hydrothermal Modification on The Mechanical Properties of Red Alder (Alnus Rubra) Native to The Pacific Northwest. The 2024 International ConCave Ph.D. Symposium: Divergence in Architectural Research. Georgia Tech, Atlanta, April 4-5.
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
View Publication
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.
Ashtiani, M. Z., Huang, M., Lewis, M. C., Palmeri, J., & Simonen, K. (2024). Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory from Roadway Construction: Case Study for the Washington State Department of Transportation. Transportation Research Record, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/03611981241233278
View Publication
Abstract
Recent emphasis on actions to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions has pushed many state departments of transportation (DOTs) to develop carbon accounting practices compatible with their current standard data collection and storage guidelines. Once accurate and reliable accounting of GHG emissions is established, strategies can be formed that could help mitigate the adverse environmental impacts of materials used by state DOTs. To date, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has not conducted comprehensive research on the embodied carbon within its construction material usage (i.e., upstream Scope 3 emissions inventory of procured materials) with most previous carbon accounting practices being focused on Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions (i.e., the carbon footprint of direct and indirect energy usage). This paper summarizes the results of a life cycle assessment on the agency-wide material procurements and construction operations that emit GHGs at WSDOT as a case study. This study uses several data sources from WSDOT in conjunction with publicly available life cycle emissions factor data to estimate GHG emissions attributed to the materials used to build and maintain roadways under WSDOT’s jurisdiction. Results indicate that upstream Scope 3 emissions for WSDOT as an agency is a significant contributor to its overall GHG emissions inventory. Specifically, between 2017 and 2022, this paper estimates an average annual upstream Scope 3 emissions of 310,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalents, which translates to 56% of the total annual GHG emissions including Scope 1 and 2 emissions.
Wang, L., Chan, D. W. M., Darko, A., & Oluleye, B. I. (2024). A-state-of-the-art review of risk management process of green building projects. Journal of Building Engineering, 86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2024.108738
View Publication
Abstract
Green buildings (GB) have attracted significant attention for improving sustainability and reducing carbon emissions in the building sector. Like traditional projects, risk management plays a crucial role in green projects. The inadequacy of risk management may lead to diminished workforce performance, delays in project schedules, and poor quality in GB projects. To comprehend risk management in GB projects, it is essential to conduct a state-of-the-art review. This study applied the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) method to select 52 records from the database ‘Scopus’ and ‘Web of Science’ (WoS). A bibliometric analysis indicated that the emphasis in risk management is on the identification and evaluation of risks in engineering projects. Subsequently, a thematic analysis displayed the research topics related to risk management, including (1) methods for identifying risks, (2) risk identification in special conditions, (3) risk assessment with fuzzy sets, social network analysis (SNA), and interpretive structural modeling (ISM), and (4) risk assessment with other technologies. This study focused on the research gaps within the risk management field, specifically in risk identification methods, risk evaluation methods, and risk-mitigating processes. Finally, with research gaps, this study also proposed related research directions for risk management in GB projects.
Wang, Z., Ito, K., & Biljecki, F. (2024). Assessing the equity and evolution of urban visual perceptual quality with time series street view imagery. Cities, 145, 104704-. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2023.104704
View Publication
Abstract
The well-being of residents is considerably influenced by the quality of their environment. However, due to the lack of large-scale quantitative and longitudinal evaluation methods, it has been challenging to assess residents' satisfaction and achieve social inclusion goals in neighborhoods. We develop a novel cost-effective method that utilizes time series street view imagery for evaluating and monitoring visual environmental quality in neighborhoods. Unlike most research that relies on site visits or surveys, this study trains a deep learning model with a large-scale dataset to analyze six perception indicators' scores in neighborhoods in different geographies and does so longitudinally thanks to imagery taken over a period of a decade, a novelty in the body of knowledge. Implementing the approach, we examine public housing neighborhoods in Singapore and New York City as case studies. The results demonstrated that temporal imagery can effectively assess spatial equity and monitor the visual environmental qualities of neighborhoods over time, providing a new, comprehensive, and scalable workflow. It can help governments improve policies and make informed decisions on enhancing the design and living standards of urban residential areas, including public housing communities, which may be affected by social stigmatization, and monitor the effectiveness of their policies and actions.
Keywords
Residential quality; Public housing; Environmental quality; Spatial equity; Street view imagery; Visual environment