Research
Sustainable Urban Infrastructure
Design of Sustainable Streets and Neighbourhoods
Designing streets and neighbourhoods to achieve low life-cycle environmental impacts while attaining socio-economic goals lies at the heart of developing sustainable cities. This research blends together traditional areas of building science, municipal engineering and transportation planning, and applies methods of life cycle assessment, towards the design of sustainable streets and neighbourhoods. Projects include: design of green roofs; the impacts of urban form and microclimatology on building energy use; design of neighbourhoods to support sustainable transportation modes; and study of the influence of urban forestry on neighbourhood sustainability.
Urban Metabolism / Sustainable Cities
Analogous to the human metabolism, urban regions can be assessed in terms of their inputs and outputs of energy, materials, water and nutrients. This research produced one of first urban metabolism studies of a North American city – for the Greater Toronto Area - and made comparison with cities worldwide. On-going work seeks to link the urban metabolism to socio-economic driving forces.
Infrastructure Economics
The requirements of maintaining and rehabilitating deteriorating infrastructure pose a considerable challenge to society. To assist the decision making process, this research aims to better quantify the benefits and costs of infrastructure systems by including risks/uncertainties and wider macroeconomic effects.