AI in the built environment encompasses data-driven and physics-informed methods to model, predict, and optimize the performance and resilience of buildings and infrastructure. Machine learning and advanced simulation are applied to building energy use, HVAC control, and solar and wind power forecasting, as well as to hazard-related phenomena such as subsidence, floods, fire, and seismic events. The field also integrates retrofitting strategies, climate-smart housing design, and regulatory considerations to enhance energy efficiency, comfort, and disaster resilience in urban systems.
Engineering
When Hurricane Fiona struck Puerto Rico in 2022, it exposed the vulnerabilities of the island's energy infrastructure. Though only a Category 1 storm, Fiona caused a total blackout across the island, leaving residents without ...
Jun 18, 2025
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Energy & Green Tech
The cement industry produces about 8% of global CO₂ emissions—more than the entire aviation sector worldwide. Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI have developed an AI-based model that helps to accelerate the discovery ...
Jun 18, 2025
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Engineering
Tsunamis and earthquakes pose devastating threats to coastal communities worldwide. However, beyond the immediate destructive power of these events, the negative impact of the disaster waste they produce is sometimes overlooked.
Jun 13, 2025
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Energy & Green Tech
Floating solar, the practice of placing solar panels on bodies of water, can generate even more electricity per square foot than terrestrial solar. But researchers are just starting to understand the impacts of floating solar ...
Jun 13, 2025
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Software
With flood risks increasing from extreme weather events like hurricanes and even routine plumbing issues, a team from the University of Florida's College of Design, Construction and Planning is helping Florida homeowners ...
Jun 13, 2025
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Engineering
We live in an age of increasing wildfire disasters because more of us are living in places where wildfires and human development collide. Right now, fast-moving wildfires are forcing mass evacuations and destroying homes ...
Jun 9, 2025
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Electronics & Semiconductors
Your home's thermostat relies on a sensor to determine when to switch the heat or air conditioning on or off. These wireless sensors are at the core of the so-called "Internet of Things," enabling smart devices to collect ...
Jun 2, 2025
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Engineering
The risk of heavy rainfall and severe flooding increases with climate change. But property owners—regardless of size—often underestimate their own responsibility and are unaware of what preventive measures they can take themselves. ...
May 22, 2025
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Engineering
Researchers at the University of Toronto have developed a method that uses artificial intelligence (AI) and Google Maps' Street View images to glean more detailed information about buildings—such as their age and floor area.
May 22, 2025
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Computer Sciences
Microsoft has developed an artificial intelligence (AI) model that beats current forecasting methods in tracking air quality, weather patterns, and climate-addled tropical storms, according to findings published Wednesday.
May 21, 2025
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