The Big Picture:
My primary research goal is to create smart buildings that can be safer, more sustainable and reliable than existing buildings. A smart building reacts to external and internal conditions to provide building functions efficiently. Weather, energy crisis, earthquakes, and other natural/man-made concerns are dynamic events best addressed by adjustable solutions, especially during long building cycles. Additionally, I am interested in studying civil infrastructure and its interdependence with buildings. Buildings rely on the infrastructure system to provide power, water, transportation, etc. while being the biggest consumer of infrastructural resources (for instance, buildings consume 71% of electricity in the US). Advancements in smart (reactive) technologies related to buildings and infrastructures will have a synergistic impact on their performance and sustainability.
Research projects include:
- Integrating Double Skin Façades and Mass Dampers (NSF)
- Wireless Structural Health Monitoring on the Damaged Sarah Long Bridge (NSF)
- Wireless Occupancy Detection to Improve Building Energy Efficiency (NSF)
- The Living Bridge: Installing Sensing and Tidal Energy Conversion Systems (NSF)
- Promoting Sustainable Transportation among University Commuters (New England University Transportation Center & URI UTC)
- Harvesting Wind Energy with Existing Bridge Underpass Infrastructure (EPA)