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
A population-level framework to estimate unequal exposure to indoor heat and air pollution
Cole, R., Simpson, C. H., Ferguson, L., Symonds, P., Taylor, J., Heaviside, C., Murage, P., Macintyre, H. L., Hajat, S., Mavrogianni, A. & Davies, M., 30 Oct 2024, In: Buildings and Cities. 5, 1, p. 562–580 19 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Cool Roofs Could Be Most Effective at Reducing Outdoor Urban Temperatures in London (United Kingdom) Compared With Other Roof Top and Vegetation Interventions: A Mesoscale Urban Climate Modeling Study
Brousse, O., Simpson, C., Zonato, A., Martilli, A., Taylor, J., Davies, M. & Heaviside, C., 2024, In: Geophysical Research Letters. 51, 13, e2024GL109634.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Housing Characteristics and Hospital Admissions due to Falls on Stairs: A National Birth Cohort Study
Simpson, C. H., Lewis, K., Taylor, J., Hajna, S., Macfarlane, A., Hardelid, P. & Symonds, P., 2024, In: Journal of Pediatrics. 275, 114191.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Kesän lämpöaltistumisen hallintaa voidaan lähestyä monelta suunnalta
Viitanen, A.-K., Taylor, J. & Espinosa Mireles de Villafranca, A., 26 Jun 2024, Tampereen kaupunki.Translated title of the contribution :Summertime heat exposure can be addressed in multiple levels Research output: Other contribution
Mitigating Summertime Overheating in Affordable Housing: Final Report for the Low Carbon Built Environment Programme
Taylor, J., Koskinen, H., Viitanen, A.-K., Castano De la Rosa, R. & Pelsmakers, S., 1 Mar 2024, Ympäristöministeriö. 24 p.Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned report
Modeled temperature, mortality impact and external benefits of cool roofs and rooftop photovoltaics in London
Simpson, C. H., Brousse, O., Taylor, T., Grellier, J., Taylor, J., Fleming, L. E., Davies, M. & Heaviside, C., 1 Oct 2024, In: Nature Cities.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Summertime heat exposure can be addressed in multiple levels
Viitanen, A.-K., Taylor, J. & Espinosa Mireles de Villafranca, A., 26 Jun 2024, City of Tampere.Research output: Other contribution
Sustainable built environments: Supporting Co-benefits for health and wellbeing
Taylor, J., Liyanage, R., Vinha, J., Viitanen, A.-K., Rajaniemi, J., Espinosa Mireles de Villafranca, A., Corredor Ochoa, A. & Laine, M., 19 Sept 2024, In: Alusta!.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › General public
Systemic inequalities in heat risk for greater London
Cole, R., Ferguson, L., Heaviside, C., Murage, P., Macintyre, H. L., Taylor, J., Simpson, C. H., Brousse, O., Symonds, P., Davies, M. & Hajat, S., Aug 2024, In: Environment International. 190, 108925.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
The potential of urban trees to reduce heat-related mortality in London
Taylor, J., Simpson, C., Brousse, O., Viitanen, A.-K. & Heaviside, C., May 2024, In: Environmental Research Letters. 19, 5, 054004.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review