Our research group advances the sustainability and resilience of the built environment through integrated approaches to building physics, climate adaptation, and decarbonization.
We develop climate-resilient design strategies for building envelopes based on sophisticated climate modelling while addressing material deterioration, including cultural heritage structures.
Our work extends to investigating climate-driven health challenges in indoor environments, providing solutions for maintaining and ensuring comfort and healthy indoor conditions despite exterior climate change.
In the area of decarbonization, we focus on zero-emission buildings with balanced energy optimization and indoor environmental quality.
Our methodologies include life cycle assessment and cost analysis to quantify environmental impacts and economic feasibility.
We prioritize circularity principles and investigate nature-based materials and materials with low carbon footprints.
Building rehabilitation forms a core research focus, offering environmental, economic, and cultural benefits through our interdisciplinary approach that integrates indoor environmental quality assessments with material preservation techniques.
Our material technology research encompasses extensive testing of thermophysical, hygric, and chemical properties of building materials under varied climate conditions, with a specific focus on sustainable alternatives like wood-based products and low-carbon concrete.
We complement these physical investigations with digital innovation through artificial intelligence and Internet of Things applications.
By developing digital twin technology enables real-time performance monitoring, while the integration of Building Information Modelling with machine learning and numerical simulation tools optimizes energy use and thermal comfort in both contemporary and heritage structures.
The research group belongs to the Faculty of Technology, Art and Design (TKD).
Head of research group
Members
More about the research group
Building physics and climate adaptation
Our research on climate adaptation focuses on enhancing building resilience through advanced building physics analysis.
We develop climate-resilient design strategies of building envelopes based on sophisticated climate change modelling to anticipate and mitigate impacts on building performance and durability.
The deterioration of building materials presents significant challenges for the existing building stock, including cultural heritage buildings and structures.
Our work examines acceleration factors in material degradation and develops rehabilitation and preservation methodologies suitable for existing and historic buildings facing changing environmental conditions.
We also address emerging climate-driven health challenges in indoor environments, including increased humidity, mould growth potential, and overheating risks.
Our research provides evidence-based solutions to maintain healthy indoor environments despite climate change.
Decarbonization and climate change mitigation of the built environment
Zero-emission buildings and sites constitute a key research area, focusing on optimizing energy use and indoor environmental quality (IEQ). We employ life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) methodologies to quantify environmental impacts and economic feasibility across building lifespans.
Circularity principles guide our approach to resource management and minimal waste generation.
We investigate nature-based materials and products with low carbon footprints as alternatives to conventional building materials with high embodied carbon.
Our research explores effective strategies for material reuse and waste treatment protocols, developing guidelines for material salvaging, processing, and reintegration into new construction projects.
Rehabilitation of buildings
Building rehabilitation offers crucial environmental, economic, and cultural benefits by preserving embodied carbon, reducing waste, and maintaining architectural heritage while adapting structures to modern needs.
Our interdisciplinary approach integrates indoor environmental quality (IEQ) assessments with material preservation and component maintenance methodologies, developing innovative techniques to improve occupant comfort and health, while ensuring building durability.
This research directly informs our broader work on climate adaptation and mitigation strategies, providing practical applications for our material characterization studies and digital modelling frameworks.
Material technology and characterization
We conduct extensive testing and analysis of thermophysical, hygric and chemical properties of building materials to understand their performance in varied and extreme climate conditions.
Our work on climate resilience and durability examines a material response to intensified weather events and changing environmental parameters.
Specific research focuses on wood and timber-based products as sustainable construction alternatives, and the development of low-carbon concrete alternatives to reduce the carbon footprint of conventional construction.
We also pursue innovation in building materials, including phase change materials (PCM) for thermal regulation and energy storage applications.
Artificial intelligence and Internet of Things in buildings
Digital twin technology development enables real-time building performance monitoring and predictive maintenance through accurate virtual replicas of physical structures, such as buildings.
Our IoT sensor implementation research creates comprehensive data collection networks for building performance metrics.
We integrate Building Information Modelling (BIM) with various machine learning algorithms to optimize energy use and thermal comfort while minimizing environmental impact.
For cultural heritage preservation, we develop specialized Historic Building Information Modelling (HBIM) frameworks that account for the unique characteristics and requirements of heritage structures.
Projects
- HYPERION (EU – Horizon2020, RIA), 2019-2023. Impact of climate change on cultural heritage sites (hyperion-project.eu). Climate change; cultural heritage; climate-driven deterioration of materials and buildings; microclimate; bio-hygrothermal performance; energy use; indoor environment.
- StaticusCare (EEA/Norway grants), 2021-2024. Hybrid timber-based façade system and integration into building’s maintenance system (staticuscare.com). Decarbonization;wood facade; climate change; energy use; indoor environment; thermal comfort; health; digital twins; AI and IoT; predictive maintenance.
- MinTre (Research Council of Norway - RCN, IPN), 2023-2026. Reduction of wood waste in building sites via early-phase planning (mintre.no). Collaboration with Department of Product Design. Decarbonization; building sites; timber; waste treatment; reuse of materials; LCA and LCCA; business models.
- “Fuktbufring i heltre” (Regional Research Fund - RFF, industrial research), 2023. Investigation of impact of wood surfaces on indoor environment and energy use wood; material characterization; energy use; indoor environment; thermal comfort; health; emissions from materials.
- ClimaBridge (EØS/EEA), 2021-2023. Impact of climate change on bridge structures (climabridge.ulusofona.pt). Climate change; climate-driven deterioration of building materials; hygrothermal performance; microclimate.
