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Research in practice

Architectural research reaching policy, professional guidance and decisions about buildings and cities.

Research impact

From architectural evidence to real-world decisions

Explore how research co-authored by Professor Amir Ghaffarianhoseini reaches climate assessments, government reports, professional guidance and education. His contribution to national science advice is included alongside these examples.

Policy, guidance and practice
GlobalInternational climate assessment · 2022
Source guideClimate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate ChangeIntergovernmental Panel on Climate Change · Working Group III2022
Original source guide · report linked below

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change · Working Group III

Passive-building research in the IPCC climate assessment

Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate ChangeBuildings Supplementary Material · Table 9.SM.6

Co-authored passive-wall research contributes to the IPCC’s assessment of the feasibility of building-envelope improvements.

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Original sources
GlobalGlobal climate assessment · 2019
Source guideEmissions Gap Report 2019United Nations Environment Programme2019
Original source guide · report linked below

United Nations Environment Programme

Green-building research in global climate assessment

Emissions Gap Report 2019Chapter 7 · Material efficiency

UNEP cites co-authored research on rating systems when discussing certification, building codes and material efficiency.

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Original sources
International · Toronto case study, CanadaHealth-policy study · 2024
Original cover of Health for All Policies: The Co-Benefits of Intersectoral Action (European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, 2024)
Cover: World Health Organization / European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies (2024). Greer, Falkenbach, Figueras and Wismar (eds.), Health for All Policies. Cambridge University Press. CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Reuse terms

European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies · hosted by WHO

Urban-heat research informing health-system climate action

Health for All Policies: The Co-Benefits of Intersectoral ActionChapter 12 · SDG13 climate action

The study uses co-authored urban-heat research to discuss green buildings and tree cover in heat-wave resilience.

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Original sources
International · Central Europe & PakistanDevelopment reports · 2020–2021
Original World Bank report cover: Analysis of Heat Waves and Urban Heat Island Effects in Central European Cities and Implications for Urban Planning (2020)
Cover: World Bank (2020). Reproduced unchanged at thumbnail size. Reuse terms

World Bank

Urban-climate research in international development guidance

Analysis of Heat Waves and Urban Heat Island Effects in Central European Cities and Implications for Urban PlanningAlso: Climate Modeling for Macroeconomic Policy: A Case Study for Pakistan (2021)

Two reports draw on co-authored studies when discussing vegetation-based cooling and heat-adaptation options.

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Original sources
European UnionTechnical background reports · 2019 & 2024
Source guideBackground report for the revision of EU Green Public Procurement criteria for BuildingsEuropean Commission · Joint Research Centre2019 & 2024
Original source guide · report linked below

European Commission · Joint Research Centre

Green-roof evidence supporting procurement criteria revision

Background report for the revision of EU Green Public Procurement criteria for BuildingsJRC138891 · JRC116121

The JRC report repeatedly uses the co-authored review to explain roof systems, planting choices and environmental benefits.

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Original sources
New ZealandNational science-advice report · 2023
Official PMCSA archive title sheet for Capturing the benefits of AI in healthcare for Aotearoa New Zealand (2023)
Archive title sheet: Office of the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor (2023). Reuse terms

Office of the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor

Contributing expertise to national science advice

Capturing the benefits of AI in healthcare for Aotearoa New ZealandReference-group contribution · Printed page iv

Professor Amir is acknowledged in the report’s reference group, contributing to the wider consultation on AI in healthcare.

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Original sources
United StatesResearch resource catalogue · 2019
Source guideHealthy Building Industry Review ResourcesU.S. Department of Energy · PNNL2019
Original source guide · report linked below

U.S. Department of Energy · PNNL

Research reaching building decision-makers

Healthy Building Industry Review ResourcesPNNL-SA-159876

A co-authored healthy-building review included in PNNL’s historical DOE-hosted resource catalogue.

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Original sources
Original explanatory graphic of healthy-building research in the historical DOE-hosted resource catalogue
United StatesNational-laboratory technical conference paper · 2018
Source guideLaboratory Resources and Techniques to Evaluate Smart Home Technology: PreprintNational Renewable Energy Laboratory2018
Original source guide · report linked below

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Smart-home research in national-laboratory evaluation

Laboratory Resources and Techniques to Evaluate Smart Home Technology: Preprint

A report from the US energy laboratory cites Professor Amir’s lead-authored smart-house review in its discussion of laboratory homes and technology evaluation.

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Original sources
United StatesCommunity heat-resilience guidance · 2023
Source guideGreen roofsUniversity of Washington · CHaRT2023
Original source guide · report linked below

University of Washington · CHaRT

Architecture informing heat resilience

Green roofsCommunity Heat Resilience Tool · CHaRT

Green-roof research co-authored by Professor Amir and colleagues informs community guidance on heat-risk interventions.

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Original sources
Original diagram linking the co-authored green-roof review with University of Washington community heat-resilience guidance
United KingdomNational policy strategy · 2020
Source guideNational Data StrategyUK Government2020
Original source guide · report linked below

UK Government

BIM research reaching national digital policy

National Data StrategySection 4.1 · Footnote 13

The strategy draws on co-authored research to explain digital-adoption barriers among smaller construction businesses.

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Original sources
France · Paris metropolitan areaWater-resilience assessment · 2025
Original OECD report page 130 discussing alternative water supplies and citing the co-authored rainwater-harvesting review
Source page 130: OECD (2025), Adapting the Paris Metropolitan Area to a Water-Scarce Future, OECD Publishing, Paris. CC BY 4.0. Reuse terms

OECD

Rainwater research informing metropolitan resilience

Adapting the Paris Metropolitan Area to a Water-Scarce FutureChapter 4 · Rainwater reuse

An OECD assessment uses the team’s rainwater-harvesting review when considering alternative water supplies for Paris.

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Original sources
United KingdomProfessional client guidance · 2025
Source guideConstruction Client GuideChartered Institute of Building · CIOB2025
Original source guide · report linked below

Chartered Institute of Building · CIOB

Evidence supporting sustainable construction clients

Construction Client GuideSecond edition · Page 38

CIOB cites the co-authored rating-systems review in practical guidance on sustainability certification.

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Original sources
Canada · QuébecPublic-health guidance · 2021 / 2023
Source guideUrban Heat Island Mitigation Strategies: 2021 UpdateQuébec public-health institute · INSPQ2021 / 2023
Original source guide · report linked below

Québec public-health institute · INSPQ

Urban-climate research in public-health guidance

Urban Heat Island Mitigation Strategies: 2021 UpdateEnglish edition · Institut national de santé publique du Québec

The institute uses the co-authored comparative review to discuss urban greening, materials and city temperatures.

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Original sources
Indonesia · Global reachCampus sustainability guidance · 2019 & 2023
Source guideUI GreenMetric GuidelinesUI GreenMetric2019 & 2023
Original source guide · report linked below

UI GreenMetric

Smart-building research for sustainable campuses

UI GreenMetric GuidelinesSmart-building references

Two studies led by Professor Amir are cited in international guidance for universities assessing campus sustainability.

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Original sources
United Kingdom · International readershipProfessional engineering manual · 2023
Source guideICE Manual of Blue-Green InfrastructureICE Manual of Blue-Green Infrastructure2023
Original source guide · report linked below

ICE Manual of Blue-Green Infrastructure

Green-roof research reaching practitioners

ICE Manual of Blue-Green InfrastructureGreen roofs chapter

A co-authored review informs the manual’s discussion of financial incentives for green-roof adoption.

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Original sources
United States · MassachusettsTransport research report · 2023
Source guideThe Current State of Practice of Building Information ModelingMassachusetts Department of Transportation2023
Original source guide · report linked below

Massachusetts Department of Transportation

Digital-building research in transport-sector guidance

The Current State of Practice of Building Information ModelingMassDOT Report 23-043

A MassDOT report draws repeatedly on research co-authored by Professor Amir and colleagues when examining BIM benefits and implementation.

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Original sources
New ZealandBuilding-adaptation research report · 2024
Original BRANZ ER89 report cover: Climate change adaptation of buildings in New Zealand – research prioritisation assessment (2024)
Cover: BRANZ (2024), ER89; report by Nick Locke and Leoni McKelvey, WSP NZ Ltd. Reuse terms

BRANZ · WSP

Building-performance research in adaptation priorities

Climate change adaptation of buildings in New Zealand – research prioritisation assessmentBRANZ External Research Report ER89 · WSP

A WSP report for BRANZ discusses research co-authored by Professor Amir, Zahra Jalali and Asaad Shamseldin when assessing building-adaptation research needs.

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Original sources
GermanyDBU-funded development report · 2015
Source guideFernerkundliche Identifizierung von Vegetationsflächen auf Dächern zur Entwicklung des für die Bereiche des Stadtklimas, der Stadtentwässerung und des Artenschutzes aktivierbaren Flächenpotenzials in den StädtenDDV · DLR2015
Original source guide · report linked below

DDV · DLR

Green-roof research in municipal planning evidence

Fernerkundliche Identifizierung von Vegetationsflächen auf Dächern zur Entwicklung des für die Bereiche des Stadtklimas, der Stadtentwässerung und des Artenschutzes aktivierbaren Flächenpotenzials in den Städten

A DDV/DLR report uses the co-authored review to explain ecosystem services within a practical green-roof inventory and potential-assessment project.

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Original sources
ColombiaUrban-infrastructure project report · 2014–2015 project · 2020 record
Source guideTechos verdes sobre paraderos de bus de BogotáBogotá · DADEP2014–2015 project · 2020 record
Original source guide · report linked below

Bogotá · DADEP

Research reaching greener bus shelters

Techos verdes sobre paraderos de bus de Bogotá

A bus-shelter field study cites the co-authored green-roof review when explaining environmental benefits and rainwater retention.

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Original sources
Wellington · New ZealandSubmitted planning evidence · 2024
Source guideMultiple Roles of Green Space in the Resilience, Sustainability and Equity of Aotearoa New Zealand’s CitiesWellington City Council · Proposed District Plan, Hearing Stream 112024
Original source guide · report linked below

Wellington City Council · Proposed District Plan, Hearing Stream 11

Urban-climate research reaching Wellington’s planning hearings

Multiple Roles of Green Space in the Resilience, Sustainability and Equity of Aotearoa New Zealand’s CitiesHearing Stream 11 · submitted by Dr Paul Blaschke

A green-space review submitted to the hearings draws on co-authored urban-climate research in its discussion of urban heat and green infrastructure.

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Original sources
United StatesOpen engineering textbook
Source guideBuilding Envelope Inspection and Rehabilitation EngineeringIllinois Institute of Technology · Engineering LibreTexts
Original source guide · report linked below

Illinois Institute of Technology · Engineering LibreTexts

Green-roof research in building-envelope education

Building Envelope Inspection and Rehabilitation EngineeringSection 6.4 · Green Roofs

The open textbook uses the co-authored green-roof review to explain incentives supporting adoption in North American cities.

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Original sources
Cyprus · Mediterranean and Balkan regionEU-funded hospital-design handbook · 2022
Source guideZero Energy Hospitals in the Mediterranean and the Balkan RegionThe Cyprus Institute · EU Interreg Balkan-Mediterranean programme2022
Original source guide · report linked below

The Cyprus Institute · EU Interreg Balkan-Mediterranean programme

Green-roof research in zero-energy hospital guidance

Zero Energy Hospitals in the Mediterranean and the Balkan RegionGreen-roof codes of practice

The handbook uses co-authored green-roof research to explain energy-performance mechanisms for hospital design.

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Original sources