Muthumanickam, N. K., Atnoorkar, S., Goetsch, H., Deru, M., Palmeri, J., Ashtiani, M., Hasik, V., & Farnetani, M. (2025). BRE‐X Emissions Database for End‐of‐Life Scenarios of Selective Building Construction Materials to Enable Circular Economy in Construction. Journal of Advanced Manufacturing and Processing, 7(3). https://doi.org/10.1002/amp2.70018
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Abstract
In the United States, construction and demolition debris predominately end up in landfills with minimal end-of-life Re-X (recover, recycle, reuse, etc.) scenarios, resulting in large environmental impacts and lost opportunities for material recovery. Except for concrete and metals, which seem to have a few well-defined end-of-life pathways, there seems to be a lack of well-documented end-of-life scenarios for other construction materials, let alone their emissions data. Hence, there is a need for documented end-of-life Re-X scenarios and end-of-life data of more building materials to motivate widespread use of Re-X strategies in building design. This paper outlines the efforts of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Carbon Leadership Forum, Building Transparency, and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill to (a) create an open-access BRE-X (Building Re-X) end-of-life emissions database consisting of greenhouse gas emissions data associated with various end-of-life scenarios for a select list of high-impact building construction materials, and (b) integrate the BRE-X end-of-life emissions database with CAD/BIM/LCA tools for evaluating various end-of-life scenarios. The paper also presents a few existing life cycle inventory databases that contain sparse amounts of end-of-life data for a few construction materials and their limitations in terms of scaling and data consolidation. Finally, a sample of how the collected data can be ingested into whole-building LCA tools using open data formats and a public access link to the BRE-X end-of-life emissions database is also included.
Bourassa, S. & Phillips, C. (2026). Implementing Washington State’s SSB 5587: Methodology for Measuring Production of Emergency and Permanent Supportive Housing. Washington Center for Real Estate Research. College of Built Environments. University of Washington. https://wcrer.be.uw.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/60/2026/10/SB-5587-Methodology-for-Measuring-Emergency-and-Permanent-Supportive-Housing.pdf.
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Bourassa, S. & Phillips, C. (2026). Implementing Washington State’s SSB 5587: Methodology for Measuring Production of Housing at Different Affordability Levels. Washington Center for Real Estate Research. College of Built Environments. University of Washington. https://wcrer.be.uw.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/60/2026/06/SB-5587-Methodology.pdf.
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Ashour, L., & Shen, Q. (2025). Unveiling post-pandemic commute choices amidst the rise of telework. Transportation Research. Part D, Transport and Environment, 149, Article 105068. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trd.2025.105068
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Abstract
The post-pandemic “new normal” is characterized by increased adoption of telework and a decline in transit use, with a growing uncertainty about the long-term effects of these trends. This study investigates the impact of telework adoption on commute mode choice and the factors influencing individual preferences in the new normal, using data from the 2022 Seattle Commute Survey, capturing mode choice on each day in a typical workweek, providing a mixture of modes and the frequency of use for each respondent. Using the Multiple Discrete-Continuous Extreme Value (MDCEV), the study provides timely insights into the factors influencing commute mode choice, highlighting the significant influence of sociodemographic, job-related, and built environment characteristics on mode choice and the nuanced difference between modes, raising concerns about potential inequities in the new normal. The findings highlight the need to prioritize access to public transit, adapt transportation infrastructure to telework, and address rising inequities.
Sa, H., & Shen, Q. (2026). Understanding employees’ residential choices in connection to remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cities, 173, Article 107008. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2026.107008.
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Abstract
The outbreak of COVID-19 resulted in the proliferation of work-from-home (WFH) and flexible work arrangements. Existing studies have not systematically investigated the resulting patterns of employees' residential choices within the metropolitan area. This study aims to deepen the understanding of employees' residential location choices during the COVID-19 pandemic by examining the impacts of their remote work status. The study is based on the 2022 Seattle Commute Survey, which collected information on work arrangements, individuals' sociodemographic characteristics, work and home locations, and commute and non-commute travel. The primary results of our analysis indicated that: (1) relocated employees who worked remotely (full WFH and hybrid) were more inclined to move outward from their work locations, compared to those engaged in in-person work, (2) employees relocating closer had the shortest commute distances across all work arrangements, while those relocating farther experienced the longest commutes, especially among full WFH employees, (3) remote work status (full WFH and hybrid) had a strong positive association with the choices of staying in original homes and relocating farther from worksites compared to the reference choice of relocating closer to worksites, (4) the influences of full WFH and hybrid work arrangements on the choice of staying in the original housing and relocating farther did not generally differ across age or household income groups, and (5) residential decisions were jointly shaped by a combination of work policy, sociodemographic elements, household lifecycle stage, commuting characteristics, and neighborhood attributes. Our findings contribute to the literature on employees' intra-metropolitan residential choices in connection with teleworking.
Keywords
Residential choices; Remote work; COVID-19 pandemic; Bayesian multilevel multinomial logistic model; Urban transportation planning
Research Interests: Machine learning, work from home, urban economics, transportation policy, urban data science, economic inequality
Research Interests: Last-mile delivery and freight sustainability
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.
My research interests include housing policy, affordable housing, smart cities, housing markets, real estate markets, appraisals, development, sustainability and investments. Other areas that are of interest to me include facilities management, urban and city planning, and real estate economics.
Wang, R. (2025). Understanding the financial health of community land trusts in the United States. Journal of Urban Affairs, 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/07352166.2025.2554755.
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Abstract
This article examines the financial health of community land trusts (CLTs) in the United States. CLTs are nonprofit organizations that ensure long-term community assets and equitable land use, playing a critical role in community development. Despite the importance of financial health to their mission, little is known about their financial performance over time. Using Internal Revenue Service (IRS) data and survey responses, the article found that CLTs are among the financially top-performing community-based development organizations between 2012 and 2021. Further analysis found that CLTs’ financial performances vary based on organizational characteristics such as the organization’s age, location, CLT type, and the presence of shared equity units. The study highlights the need for conceptualizing multidimensional financial indicators that account for both internal and external factors, emphasizing the importance of strategic investments to support CLT’s long-term community-focused goals.
Keywords
Community land trust; Nonprofits; Financial health; Community development; United States