About me
My research focuses on understanding exposures to environmental hazards in the indoor and outdoor built environment, and how we can adapt our cities and buildings to be healthier, more energy efficient, and more resilient to future climates. My areas of expertise are in using building physics simulations, data-driven modelling, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to evaluate population-level exposure to heat, cold, air pollution, and moisture damage, for example, and quantifying the health consequences of this exposure. I have a BSc in Biological Sciences from Simon Fraser University, Canada, and a BEng in Geomatic Engineering and PhD in Environmental Building Science, both from University College London, UK.
Responsibilities
I am the leader of the Urban Physics Research Group in the Department of Civil Engineering, where we apply a range of methods to understand the role of our urban built environment on our health and energy consumption. We aim to do impactful research that can support the sustainability transition in cities. You can learn more about the Urban Physics Research Group here , as well as about Urban Physics itself here .
I am currently the lead of the Sustainable Urban Development (SUD) international bachelors degree programme. Teaching responsibilities include Introduction to Sustainable Urban Development, Urban Physics, Fundamentals of GIS, and the SUD Bachelors Thesis and Seminar. I also supervise Masters and PhD students – please get in touch if you are interested in studying with us.
I currently act as the Faculty of the Built Environment TENK research integrity advisor.
Research topics
Examples of the research topics I work on are:
- Building physics modelling of indoor environmental quality
- Building stock modelling and Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
- Data-driven modelling of urban environments, for example using data from distributed environmental sensors
- The Global South, climate adaptation, and the health and climate benefits of the clean energy transition.
Selected publications
You can see a full list of my publications here .
Latest publications
Analysing cold-climate urban heat islands using personal weather station data
Taylor, J., Simpson, C. H., Vanhatalo, J., Sohail, H., Brousse, O. & Heaviside, C., 8 Apr 2025, In: Buildings and Cities. 6, 1, p. 182-200 19 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Antenatal Exposure to Ambient Fine Particulate Matter Pollution and Amoxicillin Dispensing in Infants: National Birth Cohort Study in Scotland
Akaraci, S., Rammah, A., Hart, C., Stavola, B. D., Macfarlane, A., Dibben, C., Taylor, J., Wijlaars, L., Clemens, T., Cunningham, S. & Hardelid, P., 28 Aug 2025, In: International Journal of Population Data Science. 10, 4Research output: Contribution to journal › Conference article › Scientific › peer-review
Architects and climate justice
Taylor, J., Jokela, S., Laine, M. & Ferguson, L., 18 Sept 2025, Architectural Thinking in a Climate Emergency. Pelsmakers, S. & Brown, J. B. (eds.). London: Routledge, p. 19-41 23 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › Scientific › peer-review
Combined impacts of extreme climate events and pandemic on future energy use in low-income households in Greater London
Mohajeri, N., Javanroodi, K., Nik, V., Zhou, J., Gudmundsson, A., Ferguson, L., Anvari, E., Taylor, J., Symonds, P. & Davies, M., 1 Nov 2025, In: Journal of Physics: Conference Series. 3140, 6, 062025.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Facing a Warming Climate: Can Civil Defence Shelters Serve as Potential “Cool Rooms”?
Qi, P., Viitanen, A.-K., Castano De la Rosa, R., Pelsmakers, S. & Taylor, J., 2025.Research output: Other conference contribution › Abstract › Scientific
High-resolution mapping of residential wood burning heat sources using Energy Performance Certificates: A case study of England and Wales
Horsfall, L., Kennedy, C., Shelton, N., Taylor, J., Hurst, J. R., Loxham, M., Dennett, A. & Hardelid, P., Jul 2025, In: Environment International. 201, 109537.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Housing tenure and early-life acute lower respiratory tract infection admissions in two national Scottish birth cohorts
Hart, C., Hajna, S., De Stavola, B., Milojevic, A., Cunningham, S., Taylor, J. & Hardelid, P., 17 Jul 2025, In: BMJ public health. 3, 2, 9 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
The mortality and associated economic burden of London's summer urban heat island effect: a modelling study
Simpson, C. H., Brousse, O., Taylor, T., Milojevic, A., Grellier, J., Taylor, J., Fleming, L. E., Davies, M. & Heaviside, C., Mar 2025, In: The Lancet Planetary Health. 9, 3, p. e219-e226Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Use of a synthetic population to model co-benefits to air quality and health from household fuel emission mitigation policies in Kenya
Brunn, A., Ferguson, L., Gerard, J., Muindi, K., Chowdury, S., Taylor, J. & Milner, J., Jun 2025, In: Environmental Research: Health. 3, 2, 19 p., 025011.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Utilization of low-cost sensor technology in indoor air quality monitoring
Okkonen, I., Elsayed, M., Silvonen, V., Taylor, J., Salo, L., Rönkkö, T. & Viitanen, A.-K., 2025, Rakennusfysiikka 2025: Uusimmat tutkimustulokset ja hyvät käytännön ratkaisut, 28.–29.10.2025, Tampere: Seminaarijulkaisu 9 – Osa 2. Vinha, J. & Thitz, U. (eds.). Tampere: Tampereen yliopisto, p. 487-492 6 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Professional