CEE Insights: Spring 2024

WELCOME

FROM THE DEPARTMENT HEAD

CEE INSIGHTS

SPRING 2024

PUBLISHER

Civil & Environmental Engineering

EDITOR

Maya Westcott, Communications Manager

WRITERS

Mireille Mobley

Maya Westcott

DESIGN

Debra Vieira, Senior Multimedia Designer, College of Engineering

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Obtain general information about Carnegie Mellon University by calling 412-268-2000.

As we all welcome spring’s longer days, warmer temperatures, and new life outside our windows, here on campus, our second semester is in full swing. A fresh page for our Carnegie Mellon community, this spring semester has been one of growth, innovation, and success that bore exciting developments throughout our civil and environmental engineering (CEE) department.

At the forefront of our industry, we have made great strides in our work with digital twins and artificial intelligence (AI). In an era where technology drives transformative change, our department has consistently demonstrated leadership in harnessing the power of digital twins and AI to solve complex engineering challenges—so much so that we will be launching our online certificate, “AI Engineering: Digital Twins and Data Analytics,” this fall. This program will teach practicing civil and environmental engineers how to harness digital twins and AI in their work, building the skills and confidence necessary for them to lead their organizations towards responsible adoption of these technologies in addressing specific business cases.

CEE faculty also continue to make critical contributions to international conversations on climate change. Recognizing the urgency of addressing global environmental challenges, our department has cultivated a strong presence in engineering solutions that mitigate the impact of climate change. We are spearheading research and education in developing resilient infrastructure and sustainable practices through our new initiative on Engineering Resilience for Climate Adaptation. Led by Professor Greg Lowry and funded by a generous alumni donation, the project aims to equitably improve the resilience of our communities and establish effective strategies to adapt to the evolving climate landscape.

In the global arena, Professors Destenie Nock and David Rounce presented alongside political leaders and field experts at the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP28. We are also very excited to have Professor Costa Samaras return to Carnegie Mellon after serving in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. As the Principal Assistant Director for Energy and Chief Advisor for Clean Energy Transitions, Samaras will bring valuable insights from this appointment to his new role as Director of the Scott Institute for Energy Innovation.

As we navigate these momentous endeavors, we invite you to join us in exploring the opportunities that lie ahead. Through groundbreaking research and world-class education, we remain steadfast in our commitment to fostering excellence and making a positive impact on the world. Stay connected with the CEE department at Carnegie Mellon University as we continue to shape the future of our field and, ultimately, our world.

Thank you for your continued support. Please enjoy this edition of CEE Insights.

Sincerely,

Burcu Akinci Paul Christiano University Professor and Department Head

CEE FAST FACTS

Student Reimagine Craig Street

07 Hart Recieves George Washington Prize 08 Constructing and Deploying Lending Libraries in CEE Project Course 10 Best Undergraduate Engineering Design at TechSpark 11 Ph.D. Student Sarkar’s Dowd Fellowship Research

Carnegie Mellon Alumni Fund

From D.C. to CEE

Remembering Anthony M. DiGioia Jr. 16 Honoring the Memory of Dr. Jerry Cohon 18 CEE at COP28: Energy Justice and Glacier Projections

Revolutionizing Engineering with AI and Digital Twins

Ride-Hailing for the Greater Good

Behaviors

Students Reimagine Craig Street

Integrating the built, natural, and information environments

CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING STUDENTS DEVELOP IMPROVEMENT PLANS TO TRANSFORM CONGESTED THOROUGHFARE INTO A GREAT COLLEGE TOWN STREET.

Connecting the thoroughfares of Forbes and Fifth Avenues, Craig Street is a central artery running through Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood, a bustling university community. Yet, essential as it is, Craig Street has long presented issues for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists alike and eventually drew the attention of students in Carnegie Mellon’s Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) Junior Projects course, who worked with a team of local professionals to consider ways to improve the busy two-way street.

Their assignment was to develop an improvement plan for the congested four-block span that is lined with shops, restaurants, and office buildings. Last fall, a class outing to observe how the street functioned revealed numerous opportunities to transform Craig Street into a great college town street.

The steady car traffic on the narrow two-way street provides little room for cyclists. Parking, which lines both sides of the street, is at a premium. The sidewalks, typically crowded with pedestrians, are too narrow to comfortably accommodate outdoor dining and have too little greenery. The entire first floor of a large office building owned by CMU is vacant. And, perhaps the most glaring and immediate need for change the students saw, the busy bus stop at the corner of Forbes and Craig, which is dominated by a row of large, dirty trash cans.

With that, the problems were identified. However, this was just the beginning of the obstacles the group would face, as it seemed

that in order to fix one, you impede the next (for example, in order to add outdoor restaurant seating, you must widen the sidewalks, narrowing the street and potentially eliminating parking for office workers.

Alternatively, the street could be narrowed by eliminating one lane of traffic and converting Craig Street into a one-way. In that case, which direction of traffic should be eliminated? And shouldn’t a great college town street have a bike lane? Conflicting needs were piling up, and the students had their work cut out for them.

Several professional mentors volunteered to work with the students and advise the class through these challenges. They had all been assigned to one of ten teams, each representing a different perspective to consider in developing their improvement plans.

“This project is remarkably similar to what we do as professionals,” said Todd Wilson, CEE alumnus and Senior Project Manager with GAI Consultants, who specializes in traffic-related civil engineering for transportation projects. Wilson, returning to assist the class for the fourth year, worked with the Traffic Engineering and the Roadway Safety stakeholder groups. His experience as a student taking the course inspired both his chosen profession and his enthusiasm for supporting the current College of Engineering class project.

Two of Wilson’s colleagues from GAI Consultants also served as mentors. Keith Vasas

Top image: Trash cans crowd the bus stop at the corner of Forbes Avenue and Craig Street.

worked with the Business Advocacy stakeholder group, and James Yost mentored the Urban Planning group.

Karen Brooks, CMU’s campus bike consultant, and Corey Harper, an assistant professor in civil and environmental engineering, advised students in the Cycling stakeholder group. Brooks serves on the board of Bike Pittsburgh and belongs to the League of American Bicyclists. This organization, which was founded to make bicycling safer and easier as a means of transportation and recreation, also rates the bike friendliness of college campuses through its Bicycle Friendly University program.

“CMU is a silver awardee,” explained Brooks, who says that the organization considers classes that incorporate cycling into the curriculum when making its awards.

Todd Reidboard, who mentored the Developer group, hosted the students at Bakery Square. He is the president of Walnut Capital, the developer of the trendy shopping and dining center, which would inspire the idea for a dining hall on Craig Street that the students dubbed Fusian Square.

Craig Toocheck, a Senior Planner at Pittsburgh Regional Transit, advised the Transit Agency group. He appreciated that the students conducted both qualitative and quantitative analyses.

Nizar El Daher mentored the Green Infrastructure group. He earned his Ph.D. at CMU’s School

Bottom: Students In Carnegie Mellon’s Civil and Environmental Engineering Junior Projects Course.

of Architecture and is the Construction Plans Examiner for the City of Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh City Councilwoman, Erika Strassburger, advised the Political/Policy stakeholders’ group. And Jen Beck from CMU was the mentor for the Student stakeholder group.

The students and mentors met several times throughout the semester to gain a better understanding of the various Craig Street stakeholders’ needs and interests. They also talked to pedestrians, cyclists, and business owners on Craig Street.

Joe Moore, the assistant teaching professor who has taught the course for four years, was particularly impressed with the Traffic Engineering group, which independently organized their own traffic study to record the number and type of vehicles using the street.

After having served in the stakeholder groups, each student was then assigned to one of five teams that created plans for making Craig Street a safer, more beautiful, and welcoming destination, particularly for the college students. Several groups favored changing the roadway to one-way traffic and a single lane of parking so that dedicated bike lanes could be added.

Elevated pervious concrete street crossings could improve stormwater management and make the street safer by clearly indicating crosswalks for both pedestrians and drivers according to the student plans.

Student presenters touted the benefits of enhanced lighting, signage, and wider sidewalks that could accommodate more green spaces and outdoor dining options. And thanks to their visit to Bakery Square, most of the student teams suggested that a food market or dining court be opened on the vacant first floor of the CMU building and several groups added a rooftop bar to the upgrade plan.

Their plans were backed by research the students conducted as well as input from their advisors, who guided the students through city ordinances and regulations, zoning considerations, commercial development issues, and National Association of City Transportation Official (NACTO) standards.

But perhaps the single most appealing idea that all five groups backed was moving the trash can bus stop from its existing location to a new space down on Forbes Avenue.

Top: pictured from left: Todd Wilson; Craig Toocheck; Don Coffelt, who was co-instructor for the course; Joe Moore; Karen Brooks; and Jen Beck

WHAT ARE CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING UNDERGRADUATES INTO AND UP TO?

63% OF ENGINEERING STUDENTS CLAIM TO BE INTROVERTS,

96% ARE ACTIVE WITH A STUDENT ORGANIZATION. BUT

88%

SAID THE PEOPLE/ COMMUNITY ARE THEIR FAVORITE PARTS ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

88% USE SOCIAL MEDIA EVERY DAY

44%

74% CLAIM TO BE A NIGHT OWL PLAY A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

63%

VOLUNTEER IN THEIR COMMUNITY

63% SPEAK MORE THAN ONE LANGUAGE.

Thanks to our cee engineering undergrads who took our oneminute online survey!

HART RECEIVES GEORGE WASHINGTON PRIZE

Carnegie Mellon University undergraduate senior Katie Hart has recently been honored with the 2024 George Washington Prize. Established for undergraduate seniors in the College of Engineering at CMU, the George Washington Prize recognizes individuals who demonstrate academic excellence, commitment to service, and leadership. Named after the first president of the United States, who was also an engineer, this prestigious award reflects Hart’s outstanding achievements.

Katie Hart, pursuing a double major in Engineering & Public Policy and Civil & Environmental Engineering, explained her attraction to EPP. She sought to complement the technical knowledge gained through her environmental engineering degree with an understanding of the social and political systems intertwined with technology. The intersection of engineering and public policy is a focal point in Hart’s career aspirations, particularly concerning the clean energy transition.

Reflecting on her academic journey, Hart highlighted a transformative experience during her freshman year in the course “Engineering and Social Justice.” She stated, “The class involved a lot of reading and discussion, which prepared me for other courses [at CMU]. That class changed my mindset and set me up to consider how any engineering project that I have discussed or worked on in class or internships impacts people.”

Hart’s summer research assistant role with Destenie Nock, Assistant Professor in EPP and CEE, and Teagan Goforth, Ph.D. candidate in EPP, significantly influenced her academic and career path within EPP. She shared, “[During that summer] I researched energy decarbonization scenarios, and working with Dr. Nock and Teagan inspired me to continue to pursue energy in classes and internships. Talking with and learning from them led me to my current career path, as I hope to help develop clean energy policy.”

Looking ahead, after graduating in May, Hart plans to pursue a master’s program in energy engineering.

CONSTRUCTING AND DEPLOYING LENDING LIBRARIES IN CEE PROJECT COURSE

CEE’s 12-200 project course teaches students the design process and how to implement it in challenging, unstructured problems. It is the stepping stone towards classes like the Junior-level project course, 12301, which utilizes the design process fundamentals to approach more complex, CEE-specific problems.

Professor Katherine Flanigan and Facilities and Lab Engineer Brian Belowich came up with a new project for the course where students would work with a client to design and build a Little Free Library that would then be installed at the client’s homes or businesses.

Little Free Libraries, or “Lending Libraries,” are small book exchange boxes placed in public areas that are designed to promote literacy and a sense of community. There are many throughout Pittsburgh, some even filled with canned goods or hygiene products. In 12-200, students learned that these simple structures could even be retrofitted as a means of citizenled environmental data collection, providing insights on critical issues facing communities.

“Working with somebody who was going to guide the design objectives and constraints, as well as receive the end product, completely shaped their approach to the design process and professionalism,” says Flanigan. “It forced the students to think explicitly about design function and what role the structure would play within the community—no two stakeholders had the same vision of how this project would interface with their communities.”

Belowich held training and working sessions at Tech Spark with each group, going over woodwork and safety, and helping them construct their libraries. For the students to get the maximum benefit from Tech Spark, each group was required to make everything out of wood and incorporate a laser component and 3D printing component.

A crucial part of the design process is budgeting, which Flanigan and Belowich incorporated into the project by giving each group a budget of $200. Reusable materials were cheaper, to incentivize recycling. “The goal was not to limit their designs, but to encourage them to think about cost, ease of construction, and environmental factors such as waste,” says Belowich.

Belowich hopes the Little Free Library project taught students how important the design of anything is, before you start cutting and building. At the time of construction, many students asked questions about things that should have been addressed in the design process, like shingling a roof.

“Overall, the students were really happy about what they achieved,” says Belowich.

Even more excited were the community clients. Students were meticulous to incorporate all client requests, from fitting specific dimensions and aesthetics, to selecting materials based on their durability and environmental impact. With all six libraries now deployed, the communities have relayed nothing but positive feedback, thrilled about the practicality and personalization of their little lending libraries.

BEST UNDERGRADUATE ENGINEERING DESIGN AT TECH SPARK

The Best Design award at the College of Engineering’s Tech Spark Engineering Exposition honored an exceptional achievement by a team from the CEE Senior Design Capstone Course. Comprised of Ava Badie, Andrea Dominguez, Julane Johnson, Justin Peng, and Abby Stech, the Mixed Use Valley Paths team collaborated with other student groups on various aspects of the site. The challenge lay in harmonizing diverse ideas to form a cohesive urban plan that satisfied stakeholder needs.

Their primary objective centered on revamping mobility along Washington Boulevard, extending to the Allegheny River waterfront. Their innovative solution included two distinct pathways—a concrete-paved trail and a raised boardwalk—converging at the intersection of Allegheny River Boulevard and Washington Boulevard.

A crucial feature of their design was the box culvert underpass,

effectively segregating pedestrian and vehicular traffic to ensure safer intersection crossings. Additionally, the integration of a riverside park with paved trails significantly augmented community interaction with the natural surroundings.

Represented by Peng and Dominguez at the Tech Spark event, the team demonstrated innovative engineering solutions within a collaborative framework. Their success highlighted their ability to work across disciplines and exhibit engineering expertise. Among six standout projects, the Mixed Use Valley Paths group demonstrated remarkable innovation and skill in urban design.

The Best Design award acknowledged the team’s transformative impact on Pittsburgh’s urban landscape, emphasizing holistic urban planning that encapsulated functionality, safety, and community engagement through innovative engineering solutions.

PH.D. STUDENT SARKAR’S DOWD FELLOWSHIP RESEARCH

Ph.D. student Preom Sarkar’s research project for the Dowd Fellowship combines her interests in microbiology and environmental remediation by identifying relevant selenium oxyanion-reducing bacteria in hopes of removing selenium from coal wastewater. Small changes in the concentrations of selenium in the environment can cause detrimental ecological consequences. Anthropogenic selenium pollution is due to coal combustion, contributing to about one-fifth of U.S. electricity generation.

Sarkar, who Professor Greg Lowry advises, is focused on improving biological treatment processes for flue gas desulfurization (FGD) wastewater. The EPA has placed limits on the amount of selenium that can be discharged from this wastewater; however, as Sarkar notes, more than half of operating treatment systems for coal plants do not meet discharge limits. Optimizing biological treatment to target selenium in FGD wastewater is crucial for the health of the environment.

The Dowd Engineering Seed Fund for Graduate Student Fellowships was established over 20 years ago by Philip Dowd (MSE’63) and his wife Marsha to support doctoral students’ pioneering research for a year, prioritizing underexplored fields. Recipients of the 2023 fellowship, covering full doctoral expenses, aim to revolutionize fields like healthcare, manufacturing, and artificial intelligence with their ambitious projects.

DEPARTMENT

CARNEGIE MELLON ALUMNI FUND CLIMATE ADAPTATION RESEARCH

It’s no surprise when successful collaborations drive remarkable outcomes at Carnegie Mellon, but there is something extraordinary about the partnership with two generous alumni working to help their alma mater advance its impact in climate adaptation research.

Yeming and Aaron Rankin have made a generous commitment to establish the Engineering Resilience for Climate Adaptation Fund. The new fund will support initiatives focused on engineering resilience for energy and climate adaptation and the associated Ph.D. student-led projects that will be overseen by faculty in the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering and the Scott Institute.

Burcu Akinci, who heads the Civil & Environmental Engineering Department, said, “The Rankins’ generous commitment will enable teams of researchers to develop and deploy a suite of novel methods, tools, and analyses needed to improve the resilience of engineering infrastructure designs and communities, and provide critical resources needed to support the establishment of a center of excellence and a well-trusted source in this area.”

Greg Lowry, the Walter J. Blenko, Sr. University Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering and Director of New Initiatives, aims to grow this formational gift into an externally funded interdisciplinary center on Engineering Resilience for Climate Adaptation.

“We are thrilled to champion Carnegie Mellon’s innovative and interdisciplinary research in the much-needed area of climate resilience and adaptation. As alumni, we know the blend of drive and pragmatism woven into the fabric of Carnegie Mellon’s culture, which leaves no doubt in our minds that this initiative will translate to impactful results,” remarked Yeming Rankin.

Resilience is the key to enhancing harmony between the natural and physical world to proactively reduce and withstand the impact of climate change. And climate adaptation builds on a system of thinking that integrates climate change modeling with the development of effective and equitable adaptation solutions. The result is a holistic approach within which nature, built environments, and societies are able to thrive.

“We are fortunate that the Rankins’ desire to invest in a more climatesecure and sustainable future aligns so well with our strengths in energy and climate change research and its translation to practice,” said Valerie Karplus, a professor in the Department of Engineering & Public Policy.

Karplus said she is especially pleased that in recognition of their transformative gift, the Rankins will be inaugural Grand Challenge Partners of the Scott Institute for Energy Innovation, where she serves as associate and acting director.

Yeming Rankin earned her B.S. in Computer Science at the School of Computer Science in 2005. Aaron Rankin earned his B.S. in Information Systems at the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences and his M.S. in Information Systems Management at the Heinz College in 2004.

Together they invest in climate tech, energy transition, and sustainability through their family office, Rankin Ventures. The foundation arm of Rankin Ventures supports philanthropic causes related to sustainability and health, as well as community and economic development in the Greater Chicago area.

The College of Engineering is pleased to recognize the Rankins as founding members of a center of excellence focused on Engineering and Resilience for Climate Adaptation, which will continue to evolve and thrive thanks to their generosity.

FROM D.C. TO CEE

In 2021, the Biden-Harris administration appointed CEE Professor Costa Samaras to serve in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). Samaras served for two and a half years as the Principal Assistant Director for Energy and OSTP Chief Advisor for Energy Policy, and then as the OSTP Chief Advisor for the Clean Energy Transition. After a successful term and numerous accomplishments in key areas such as climate action, clean energy, and Artificial Intelligence, Samaras is bringing new insights back to Carnegie Mellon as the next Director of the Wilton E. Scott Institute for Energy Innovation.

As a senior-level advisor, Samaras played a fundamental role in advancing the administration’s climate and energy goals, including the vision for a net-zero emissions, clean energy economy by no later than 2050. This urgent need for climate action inspired several impactful initiatives, many of which made it easier and more desirable for individuals and communities to adopt energy-efficient technologies.

At OSTP, Samaras helped launch an effort to accelerate clean energy innovation to achieve net-zero emissions, President Biden’s Bold Decadal Vision for Fusion Energy, and contributed to the President’s Executive Order on Artificial Intelligence. As part of the White House Delegation at the COP28 UN Climate Change Conference, Samaras presented on the clean energy accomplishments of the United States. In addition, he led the conceptualization of a new forward-looking clean energy transition assessment capability, the White House ARPA-I Summit, the White House response to an Executive Order on the climate and energy implications of digital assets, and the assessment of newly announced clean power investments enabled by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act.

“I’ve been working on this topic for over two decades, and there were always lists of good ideas that somebody should do,” Samaras said. “The Biden-Harris Administration put a lot of those good ideas into action.”

With electric vehicle sales growing, clean energy connecting to the grid, investments improving high-speed rail transport, and incentives rolling out for renters and homeowners to use clean energy in their homes, Samaras is leaving OSTP and returning to CMU with an optimistic perspective.

“These climate actions are building a brighter future for everyone, right now,” he said. “I’m thrilled to be back at CMU working with the amazing faculty, staff, and students to help design and implement net-zero emissions for everyone.”

REMEMBERING ANTHONY M. DIGIOIA JR. (1934-2023)

Anthony M. (Tony) DiGioia Jr., (CEE’56, ‘57, ‘60), an esteemed alumnus, adjunct professor, and revered civil engineer, passed away, leaving a profound legacy in the field. Born in 1934 in Pittsburgh, his journey from humble beginnings above his father’s tailor shop to global engineering eminence epitomized the American dream.

His academic career at Carnegie Institute of Technology (now CMU) was transformative. Influenced significantly by Dr. Elio D’Appolonia, he earned bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. degrees in civil engineering. DiGioia’s association with the department endured throughout his career. From teaching geotechnical and structural engineering courses to advisory roles and council memberships, his commitment remained steadfast, helping shape the department’s trajectory.

After beginning his career with Dr. D’Appolonia’s consulting firm, in 1965 DiGioia co-founded General Analytics Inc. (later GAI Consultants) with his undergrad classmate Richard (Dick) Gray. His leadership as President propelled the firm, offering consultancy across diverse sectors with unparalleled expertise in geotechnical engineering for power transmission lines. After retiring from GAI, in 2004, he again joined with his long-time friend and colleague Dick Gray to found DiGioia Gray & Associates. DiGioia’s pioneering approach was evident in research he conducted throughout his career, including

work in the recent decades on transmission line resilience and the impact of climate change, showcasing his visionary outlook.

Beyond entrepreneurial feats, his allegiance to academia and Carnegie Mellon persisted. His active involvement, regular attendance at events, and financial support underscored his dedication. Together with DiGioia Gray & Associates, the DiGioia family established the Anthony M. DiGioia Jr. and Richard E. Gray Engineering Scholarship Fund, honoring their commitment to nurturing future engineering talents.

Among the numerous honors during his career, DiGioia was named an ASCE Distinguished Member honor in 1999, Civil Engineer of the Year Award from ASCE Pittsburgh Section in 1980, and awarded the Engineers Society of Western Pennsylvania’s Metcalf Award in 1998.

DiGioia’s legacy extends beyond professional accolades. His emphasis on family, faith, and community involvement defines his enduring impact. His passing marks the end of an era in civil engineering, yet his inspiration will resonate for generations, leaving an irreplaceable void while illuminating paths for aspiring engineers.

HONORING THE MEMORY OF DR. JERRY COHON

Heartfelt messages, memories, and reflections have flooded the halls of Carnegie Mellon as many mourn and honor the memory of Dr. Jerry Cohon, a profound and enduring figure at the university and beyond.

Jerry was perhaps best known for serving as CMU’s eighth president from 1997 to 2013, but to the College of Engineering community, many knew him as a beloved professor, mentor, and colleague. Following his term as president, his decision to return as a faculty member in the Civil & Environmental Engineering Department and the Engineering & Public Policy Department was unique but invaluable, leaving a permanent mark on both the College and the broader community.

“Upon my arrival as dean, I reached out to Jerry and he was quick to sit down with me to share his insights and knowledge, which I found to be invaluable,” said College of Engineering Dean Bill Sanders. “He was a gifted leader, and I am grateful for the time he spent with me offering his guidance, perspective and friendship.”

Between advising Ph.D. students, Jerry actively pursued his passion for environmental and sustainability research, conducting groundbreaking studies in water resources management, environmental policy, and energy systems analysis across the globe. He pioneered innovative solutions to complex environmental challenges, integrating environmental considerations into urban planning practices and advancing technologies for water quality improvement and conservation that will not

soon be forgotten. But his work wasn’t just about advancing knowledge; it was about making a tangible difference in the lives of people and the health of our planet.

“Jerry was an incredible human being, a mentor and a role model. He cared about every individual he interacted with and was always there for his students, friends and colleagues,” said Civil & Environmental Engineering Department Head Burcu Akinci.

After stepping down from his role as president of CMU and returning to the faculty, Jerry was known to dispense his considerable wisdom in a thoughtful manner.

“In examinations, he could ask pointed questions in the most disarming way,” recalls Engineering & Public Policy Department Chair Peter Adams. “Our students were incredibly fortunate to learn multi-attribute decision making and leadership from one of the truly greats.”

As we reflect on Jerry’s remarkable legacy, we are reminded of his unwavering dedication to making the world a better place through engineering and innovation. His groundbreaking research, visionary leadership, and commitment to sustainability will continue to inspire future generations in their quest—and Jerry’s vision—of a more sustainable and equitable future for all.

Those wishing to make a memorial gift can scan the QR code to give

Jared l. Cohon

1947-2024

CEE at COP28: Energy Justice and Glacier Projections

CEE Professors Destenie Nock and David Rounce presented at the 28th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference on critical topics relating to the climate crisis, such as energy efficiency, climate adaptation, mountain glaciers, and the critical 1.5°C level.

From November 30 to December 12, 2023, two Civil & Environmental Engineering (CEE) professors, Destenie Nock and David Rounce, presented at one of the largest and most important international gatherings of the year.

The 28th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP28, is the world’s premier climate change convocation and brings together over 70,000 delegates, including lawmakers, business leaders, climate scientists, and other stakeholders, to address issues related to the climate crisis. Nock and Rounce shared their expertise with fellow thought leaders on topics such as energy efficiency, climate mitigation, mountain glaciers, global temperature rise, and more.

On a panel titled “Saving Energy, Saving Lives,” co-hosted by the Business Council for Sustainable Energy, Dr. Destenie Nock shared insights on the importance of energy efficiency in reducing emissions, limiting financial strain on households, and driving economic growth.

Nock’s recent research has focused on the intersection of energy use, poverty, and household income, specifically the gap in temperatures at which various households turn on their air conditioning (AC) and/or heating units.

Her data showed that low-income groups wait five to seven degrees longer than high-income groups to turn on their AC. The opposite occurs in the winter, where low-income groups utilize their heating systems six to ten degrees earlier than high-income groups. She hypothesizes that this difference is most likely the result of poor insulation within houses in lowincome communities, as well as people being intrinsically more heat-tolerant than cold-tolerant. Moving forward, she hopes to analyze the resulting problems—are low-income families at higher risk of freezing their pipes in the winter? Or heat stroke in the summer?—and if energy efficiency could be the solution.

Aligning with Nock’s expertise, the panel dug into the socioeconomic perspective on energy efficiency, with speakers detailing personal anecdotes of lives that

have been changed through access to heating and cooling systems. In sharing, Nock highlighted inconsistencies in the communities targeted for energyefficient appliance deployments and who might be missed when identification methods rely solely on bill costs.

“If you spend a lot of money, then the utility company will target you to lower your bill with energy-efficient appliances,” she explained. “But when I lived in Massachusetts, we would turn off our heat every day before leaving for work to save money. Our landlord eventually noticed and told us that if the pipes froze, we would be liable. Our solution was to turn on the heat and pay that bill instead of our electricity, because we couldn’t afford both at the same time.”

“So when we ask, ‘What is energy efficiency?’ I think it’s helping people who are risking health issues, struggling to pay their bills, close to losing their home, or putting themselves in harm’s way, adapt to climate change,” Nock said. “Energy efficiency is not just a climate mitigation unifier. It’s also a climate adaptation unifier.”

The session concluded with a discussion of public policy, where Nock reconsidered the ways in which our government incentivizes energy efficiency adoption. She explains that in some states, gas and electric companies are prohibited from encouraging anyone to utilize more energy in their homes.

“That sounds good for energy efficiency because you encourage people to use less, right?” She asked. “But when I went to a utility company requesting to deploy heat pumps to households without air conditioning, they said they can’t encourage anyone without air conditioning to get a heat pump because they would use more energy, and that would be bad for energy efficiency.”

Nock disagreed with this approach. “From an engineering perspective, the definition of energy efficiency is using less energy for the same quality of life,” she said. “Deploying heat pumps is not inherently inefficient if our communities are happier, healthier, and more productive than before.”

These inconsistencies are prevalent throughout the country, and Nock is working to shed light on the issues and work towards solutions. She returned from COP28 reinvigorated to continue her research and answer the question, how do we make clean energy more affordable?

On the other end of COP28, the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative (ICCI) sponsored CEE Professor David Rounce to serve as an expert on all things mountain glaciers. Specifically, Rounce weighed in on the impact of glaciers under various temperature change scenarios, including estimating their contributions to sea-level rise, water resources, and the long-term effects glacial mass loss can have on our communities.

In his talk on global glacier loss projections, Rounce also discussed his contributions to the 2023 State of the Cryosphere Report, which warns that all of the planet’s frozen parts will experience disastrous damage with a 2°C increase in temperature. He offered new projections through 2300, forecasting unsustainable sea-level rise and devastating global effects if current emission levels persist, including water scarcity—affecting agriculture, food security, energy production, and human water sources—increased risks of landslides, ice shears, floods, and more.

Rounce also reviewed the report’s section on mountain glaciers and snow, which suggests that even today’s 1.2°C climate is too warm for some of the Earth’s glaciers, which will be lost even if temperature rise somehow ceased tomorrow. If “very low” emissions were achieved by 2030, meaning a 40% decrease in fossil fuel emissions and a 1.6°C temperature, ice loss would still persist rapidly through the 2050s. However, at these “very low” levels, projections show the loss could slow in some regions by 2060, plateau by the end of the century, and even experience slow regrowth starting in the 2100s. Consequently, 2°C would result in extensive ice loss to many of the world’s glaciers and cause widespread, catastrophic damage.

In addition to the State of the Cryosphere Report, Rounce also contributed to the publication 10 New Insights in Climate Science within the

section on glacier loss. This seventh insight characterizes mountain glaciers as highly sensitive indicators of climate change—even more so than ice sheets—and contributors to nearly one quarter of current sea-level rise.

In many regions of the world, the authors note, glaciers possess enormous social and economic value. Mountain ecosystems rely on glaciers to recharge aquifers, provide drinking water, fuel agriculture and irrigation, sustain local biodiversity, and power fishing, shipping, and tourism businesses. It is these functions and threats of flash floods and water shortages that make new loss projections so alarming; experts report that glacial mass loss is approximately 12% greater than previously thought due to ice melt occurring below the water surface that was unaccounted for years prior. As a result, today’s estimates of total glacial loss stand between 26% (at +1.5°C) and 41% (at +4°C) of their current volume by 2100.

The contributions of CEE faculty at this year’s United Nations Conference of Parties were instrumental in shaping the conversations and decisions that came out of COP28. From energy efficiency and socioeconomic implications to mountain glaciers and global temperature rise, Destenie Nock and David Rounce’s expertise helped inform panel discussions, press conferences, international publications, and, ultimately, the world’s solutions to the tremendous challenges posed by climate change.

Revolutionizing Engineering with AI and Digital Twins

How are AI and digital twins transforming infrastructure? What education and skills do we need to implement them in our businesses? What are the opportunities and challenges to adoption?

These were some of the questions explored at the Civil & Environmental Engineering (CEE) Department’s first annual Spring Industry Workshop on AI & Digital Twins: The Future of Civil & Environmental Engineering. Nearly 100 industry leaders, experts, and academics gathered on campus and virtually to discuss the transformative power of AI and digital twin technologies in their field.

“We’re currently in the new wave of AI where algorithms are no longer just processing data, but also contextualizing it to help us predict the future,” said CEE Department Head and Paul Christiano University professor Burcu Akinci during her introductory remarks. “This is great for us as civil and environmental engineers because every building and bridge is different, so learning from one infrastructure and

applying it to the next can be challenging. Digital twins enable AI algorithms to have robust analysis capabilities tailored for each infrastructure system. At the same time, AI algorithms enable digital twins to be up-to-date and provide insights to be used to effectively control the built environment.”

The day-long event kicked off with keynote speaker Atul Khanzode, chief technology officer at DPR Construction, sharing insights on the company’s early adoption of a digital twin platform in the architecture, engineering, and construction industry. Participants from over 29 unique organizations then heard from Head of Innovation Lab at Oracle, Burcin Kaplanoglu, who shed light on the transformative potential of AI-driven automation in reshaping the built environment. The final keynote speaker, Chris McComb, associate professor of mechanical engineering, presented

findings from his research on human relationships with AI as a tool and as a collaborator.

Engaging panel discussions delved deeper into the intricacies of AI and digital twin implementations, exploring the state of the art, opportunities, challenges, and the crucial enablers and barriers shaping the landscape. Panelists included Mario Berges, professor at CEE, Jessica Chambers, vice president of engineering and design technologies at Michael Baker International, and Sean Qian, professor at CEE.

The second panel, titled “Empowering the Future: Addressing Skills Gaps, Education, and Business Cases for AI & Digital Twin Technologies,” offered a glimpse into the future workforce and the pivotal role of education in preparing the next generation of engineers for the challenges ahead.

“WE’RE CURRENTLY IN THE NEW WAVE OF AI WHERE ALGORITHMS ARE NO LONGER JUST PROCESSING DATA, BUT ALSO CONTEXTUALIZING IT TO HELP US PREDICT THE FUTURE,”

-BURCU AKINCI, CEE

DEPARTMENT HEAD AND PAUL CHRISTIANO

UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR

Pingbo Tang, associate professor at CEE; Katherine Flanigan, assistant professor at CEE; Frank Frisby, CEE alumnus and technology enthusiast; and Ohan Oumoudian, technical architect at Gannett Fleming spoke about designing relevant educational programs and fostering a culture of innovation to support the integration of AI and digital

twins into engineering curricula and professional practice. Opportunities like CEE’s AI Engineering online certificate program, designed to teach industry professionals how to bring these cutting-edge technologies back to their organizations, are imperative for engineers to stay ahead in a fast-moving field.

The inaugural event concluded with CEE PhD student presentations and a networking happy hour.

“The knowledge gained from these conversations between industry and academia experts are essential in advancing our understanding of these state-of-the-art technologies and in forging the future of our field,” said Akinci.

Awards

Pekney Honored with Arthur S. Flemming Award for Advancing Green Technology

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We are excited to share that CEE alumnus Natalie J. Pekney (CEE’01, ‘04) has been recognized with the prestigious Arthur S. Flemming Award in Applied Science and Engineering for her remarkable contributions to mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. With an impressive career dedicated to environmental stewardship, Pekney’s pioneering research is transforming the way we monitor and reduce emissions from oil and natural gas resources.

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Peng Receives ASCE Award

We extend heartfelt congratulations to Senior Justin Peng for his outstanding achievement: receiving the prestigious and very competitive 2023 ASCE Achievement Award from the student foundation during the ASCE Pittsburgh Section Engineers Week and Awards Banquet.

Throughout his academic career, Peng has earned awards such as the Tech Spark Best Design award alongside his CEE teammates and a Commendation for Excellence at the Thrill Design Invitational presented by Universal Creative in 2022.

Rounce Receives IGS’s Inaugural Firn Award

David Rounce, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, received the International Glaciology Society’s first annual Firn Award. This prestigious recognition honors midcareer scientists making significant contributions to glaciology.

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Kouskiya Awarded Fok Presidential Fellowship

Uditnarayan Kouskiya, a doctoral candidate, has been awarded the Thomas and Maria Fok Presidential Fellowship. Prior to joining the department, Kouskiya earned his master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore, India.

Londono Awarded Miller Presidential Fellowship

Esteban Londono, a doctoral candidate, has recently earned the prestigious Ruth Furman Miller and David H. Miller Presidential Fellowship within the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering at the College of Engineering. Londono obtained his undergraduate degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of Iowa. Presently, he collaborates with Professor Kelvin Gregory, delving into the realm of designing and implementing machine learning models for taxonomic classification in varied environmental datasets.

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NAE Inducts CEE Alumni Arpad Horvath and Seth Pearlman

CEE alumni Arpad Horvath and Seth Perlman have been elected to the prestigious National Academy of Engineering (NAE) in recognition of their remarkable contributions to the field. Election to the NAE represents one of the highest honors in the engineering profession.

Arpad Horvath (CEE’95, ‘97) is recognized for his life-cycle environmental nd economic assessment of products and processes. His recent research areas include embodied carbon assessment of buildings, pavements, modular construction, adaptive reuse of buildings, uncertainty assessment of building materials, and identifying regional fine particulate matter exposure reduction pathways from on-road transportation and electricity generation. In 2023, he launched the California Center for Green Buildings Research, with participation from five UC campuses.

Horvath, the Peirano Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, is the founding editor-in-chief of Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability. Among his numerous awards and distinctions, he received the ASCE Walter L. Huber Civil Engineering Research Prize and the Chancellor’s Sustainability Award from UC Berkeley. Arpad was also a member of the U.S. EPA Science Advisory Board and a member of its Scientific and Technological Achievement Awards Committee.

Seth Pearlman (CEE’78, ‘79) has been named in recognition of his leadership in ground improvement, technologies, geostructural design, and geotechnical construction techniques.

Pearlman is the North American CEO and board director of Menard. He is responsible for Menard USA, Menard Canada, Earth Tech (Florida), Farrell Design-Build (California), and ConeTec. Pearlman joined Menard in 2003. He has served numerous organizations, serving as the president of the Deep Foundations Institute (DFI) from 2006–2008.

RESEARCH

RIDE-HAILING FOR THE GREATER GOOD

As usage of ride-hailing services continues to grow, the performance of transportation network companies (TNC), such as Uber and Lyft, is also evolving, particularly in regards to pricing at times of heightened traffic congestion. As cities attempt to reduce the amount of cars on the road and ultimately emissions at peak travel times, they also struggle to develop inexpensive and equitable solutions to improve transportation network performance.

While multiple interventions have been tested to influence rider behavior, there are technical, financial, and social equity implications associated with current solutions, such as congestion pricing, parking pricing, and tolling. A recent study by Sean Qian and Zemian Ke proposes an optimal ride-hailing pricing (ORHP) system that could address these concerns.

Through ORHP, a subsidy is provided to transportation network companies in exchange for the improvement of the network as it pertains to route selection. Public agencies can set a surcharge or credit for selected roadway segments that would be used by non-private driving TNC vehicles.

“Public agencies have been investing in implementing tolling or pricing to manage traffic,” noted Qian, a professor of civil and environmental engineering. “TNC serve as a pricing and sensing platform that can be leveraged, without

upfront capital investment.”

Through these disincentives, riders are provided with multiple route options, and incentivized to take a ride that may deviate from the shortest possible route through lower fares or other compensation offered by the TNC. This system is based on the premise that a TNC fleet, once reaching a small fraction of market penetration, could have influence on general traffic flow patterns and serve its own best interest in improving fleet efficiency.

“TNC riders can voluntarily participate in choosing deviated routes with compensation,” said Qian. “The ultimate goal is to reduce congestion in a sustainable and equitable manner.”

While the decision ultimately falls upon the rider to take a longer route that will assist in reducing traffic congestion, both TNC and public agencies stand to benefit from both a service and profit standpoint. Total costs could be reduced for transportation network companies as fleet vehicle travel time can be better optimized through this system, and the financial benefits of the subsidies could be shared by both riders and service providers.

Even a relatively small investment was shown to yield promising outcomes. The study led by Qian and Ke, a Ph.D. student, sponsored by the National Science Foundation, conducted case studies in Sioux Falls and Pittsburgh

networks, finding that optimal ridehailing pricing with small subsidies reduced the total travel time by balancing general traffic on both overcongested links and under-congested links.

As research and modeling for the ORHP continues to be studied, there are implications for considering the impact of idling and pickup flow, as well as consideration of factors influencing travelers’ choices on modes of TNC, private driving, or public transit.

The research team has filed a provisional patent, and hope to pilot this concept in regional networks that could benefit most from a partnership between TNC and public agencies.

“THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO REDUCE CONGESTION IN A SUSTAINABLE AND EQUITABLE MANNER.”

-SEAN QIAN, PROFESSOR, CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

“THIS WORK HIGHLIGHTS THE CHALLENGES LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES FACE. NOT ONLY ARE THEY AT HIGHER RISK IN THE SUMMER, BUT IN THE WINTER THEY HAVE TO SPEND A LOT MORE MONEY TO PROTECT THEIR PIPES FROM FREEZING”

- DESTENIE NOCK, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

UNDERSTANDING ENERGY BEHAVIORS FOR A MORE EQUITABLE FUTURE

As temperatures rise and fall seasonally, consumers are faced with the decision of when to use cooling and heating in their homes and its associated expenses. As extreme temperatures become more prevalent due to climate change, this decision can cause particular distress for low-income households as they seek comfort in their homes.

Recently published work from a team led by Destenie Nock, an assistant professor of engineering and public policy and civil and environmental engineering, and Luling Huang, a Carnegie Mellon Libraries postdoctoral fellow, aims to understand energy-limiting behavior in vulnerable households better.

Building upon previous work, which defines the energy equity gap as the difference in the air conditioning turn-on points (i.e., balance points) between low- and high-income groups, Nock studied energy-limiting behaviors in low-income households in Chicago pertaining to heating and cooling usage. The findings showed that as temperatures increased, there was a significant difference in the threshold at which air conditioning was utilized, with a cooling energy equity gap between low- and high-income groups at 3°F.

While this effect was expected, the assumption that this same group would delay using heating systems was disproved. The lower-income households had the highest median heating balance point, with the electric-based heating energy equity gap at 6°F. This difference in behavior could be attributed to poor insulation in these homes or lack of alternative places to reside during high heat or high cold events.

“This work highlights the challenges low-income communities face. Not only are they at higher risk in the summer, but in the winter they have to spend a lot more money to protect their pipes from freezing,” notes Nock. “The financial stress of heating homes in winter can also lead to broader inequities.”

In the past, income has been used to determine if someone was experiencing energy poverty, but studies such as this one further support the notion that other behavioral factors must be considered. Among low-to-middle-income households in this study, 20% in the cooling sector and 24% in the heating sector may be neglected by the traditional income-based energy poverty measures that would lead to financial assistance. Further inequities were illustrated for households living in black-majority census block groups, where the cooling gap was 17% wider than households living in whitemajority block groups.

The metrics developed in this study using smart meter data can guide both government entities and utility providers as they aim to assist vulnerable households. Utility providers can conduct analyses using consumption data from their customers, which can better identify signs of unhealthy indoor environments.

By using energy equity gaps to identify households at risk for inability to reach comfortable indoor temperatures, energy poverty and its associated negative health effects could be minimized. In addition to policies addressing systemic inequities, investments in infrastructure can improve living conditions in energy-insecure households to improve energy efficiency.

Predicting Climate-Induced Transportation Risks: CEE-Morgan State Collaboration

CEE is known internationally for its cutting-edge research and innovative proposals to address some of the world’s most pressing engineering problems. Professor Sean Qian and his doctoral students are collaborating with Morgan State University (MSU) researchers to predict the impacts of climate change on transportation systems. The work not only creates an early-warning notification system that detects impending infrastructure problems but also allows Qian’s students to learn from MSU faculty and researchers who are world-class leaders in hazard modeling.

The research project focuses on climate change’s impact on transportation infrastructure and mobility services. Warmer weather leads to rainfall events that cause landslides, flood roads, and block highways. Land subsidence results in a rise in the relative sea level and more frequent flooding on roadways and bridges. When these events happen without warning, people can be seriously injured or cut off by closed roadways.

Qian and his students found that these events have an even more profound

impact on disadvantaged communities where proportionally more people are reliant upon public transportation.

The partnership with MSU will help to address these problems by identifying potential issues, like landslides and flash flooding, before they happen. Qian states that the research will lead to developing a data-driven comprehensive slope instability forecast system for roads and highways during heavy rainfall events. The predictions will be based on multiple data sources, including precipitation, soil condition, slope configurations, wind, visibility, pavement condition, and ground motion.

If a significant storm was headed into Maryland and the conditions were favorable for emergencies like a landslide, “the prediction system would alert the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) with highrisk warnings ‘on the fly’,” says Qian. These notifications could be as soon as three hours ahead of the event and as long as months. The predictions of slope instability will be updated on an hourly basis and presented in real-time via a GIS-based software tool.

The completed research will lead to daily GIS analysis and notifications that will assist MDOT SHA with prioritizing slope inspections and maintenance on its roadways.

“the prediction system would alert the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) with high-risk warnings ‘on the fly’,”

- Sean Qian, Professor

This project is the third time Qian and others from CEE have collaborated with MSU. Past research collaborations included studying multi-modal equitable transportation systems and climate change adaptation within the Chesapeake Bay area.

Qian regularly travels to MSU to work alongside fellow researchers, and his doctoral students interact with their MSU peers via Zoom. “Drs. Liu, Sheng, Owolabi, and I have jointly trained each other’s doctoral students. I have given lectures and seminars a few times at Morgan State, encouraging more undergraduate and master’s students to attend CMU,” Qian adds.

Qian is excited to continue including his students in inter-university research opportunities that expand their knowledge and connections within the engineering workspace. “In addition to the landslide prediction and warning system, we are developing statewide models for MDOT SHA that will estimate the impact of complete street projects on pedestrians and cyclists,” he adds.

Finding comfort through machine learning

A recent study leverages conflicting information provided by building occupants when answering multiple related questions about their thermal comfort to find the real “comfort zone” for most people in a building.

People who have worked in a large building have likely encountered the experience of being too hot or too cold in their work space. Regulating temperature in such buildings is essential to both ensuring comfort of those using the space, as well as maximizing the building’s energy efficiency.

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems often struggle to balance these needs, but machine learning (ML) models can be helpful in predicting how people feel about temperature in different areas of a building to improve efficiency. While these models can speak to the complex relationship between the physical environment and the occupants’ subjective thermal perceptions, the models can also present issues, such as biased human-perception data and uncertainties that can lead to inaccurate predictions and inefficient control of the building.

In order to improve this ML approach, a team of researchers from the Civil & Environmental Engineering Department and Carnegie Mellon University has proposed a method that combines data and models, using Multidimensional Association Rule Mining (M-ARM) to find and correct biases in human responses to temperature

In a recent study featured in Building and Environment, they test this method on seven ML models and find that it improves the accuracy of predicting how people will feel about the temperature. The research leverages conflicting information provided by building occupants when

answering multiple related questions about their thermal comfort to find the real “comfort zone” for most people in a building. The study analyzed the miscalibration issues associated with current methods and identified potential instances of subjective data biases using M-ARM.

“This work has the potential to contribute to saving energy, without having many people who use these large buildings complaining of discomfort,” said Pingbo Tang, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering who led the study.

Tang notes that defective data sets that are currently being used are potentially resulting in excess energy consumption. While human comfort is based on dimensions such as humidity and temperature, clothing also plays a part.

“There are more factors than just a person’s perception of the temperature,” says Tang. “This work is about using the question-answering behavior of the person when they are facing a few related thermal comfort questions to adjust self-conflicts and estimate reality.”

Considering impact factors such as size of the dataset, different types of classifiers, and calibration methods, the authors found that they can significantly improve prediction reliability and reduce errors in the models currently utilized.

The results of this study provide insights into the advancement of ML-based strategies, with the goal of achieving more reliable thermal perception predictions. This work could lead to better strategies for controlling temperature in buildings to make occupants more comfortable and reduce energy consumption.

FRANK FRISBY’S TRAILBLAZING AI AT DOD

When Frank Frisby (CEE’11) began his studies at CMU, he kept thinking that it “felt like home.” That feeling grew as he met more people on campus—and continues even today. Now working as a data scientist and project lead for the United States Department of Defense (DoD), Frisby remains in touch with many friends and instructors from his time at CEE. And as he continues to evolve his career path in machine learning, he relies on the skills developed during his master’s degree program.

Frisby says that he was attracted to CEE’s learning methods because they allowed him to “take computer systems and apply them to civil engineering and infrastructure.” He also appreciated the focus on analytical thinking—a skill he uses often in his current job.

“At CEE, I had to work through problems until we arrived at a solution. I also gained experience in writing applications and database systems. These are things that many people take for granted, but I’ve really come to appreciate why these skills matter.”

These real-world applications allowed Frisby to feel comfortable in his current position, which involves working on projects with many moving parts. At the DoD, he uses machine learning to improve program performance. The exact nature of his work can’t be fully disclosed since it relates to defense.

Frisby utilizes several programs, including OpenAI, Azure Cloud functions, and large language models. He’s also engaged in API development.

While he jokes that he found his first grey hair during graduate school, Frisby credits CMU with opening up new doors that allowed him to envision innovative uses for machine learning and AI. After graduation, he pursued jobs in civil engineering, but at a fortuitous interview, was told that his skillset better matched a computer systems job description. A year later, he began working for the government.

Frisby’s passion for machine learning led him to create a start-up called CofounderAI that helps entrepreneurs, college students and motivated professionals to progress in their careers. He began working on the project because he wanted to help individuals overwhelmed with trying to keep up with technological changes. “One of the challenges I found in my career was that I’ve always needed someone on my side. The start-up will use AI—which can work day and night— to perform tasks, provide insight, complete research, and support clients in both their professional and personal lives.”

He also recently participated as a team member in the U.S. Army’s 2023 Deep Green Data Science and Artificial Intelligence Challenge Phase

ALUMNI

II, sponsored by the Army Research Lab—and won! According to Frisby, the competition consisted of two phases, with the “overall focus being the perception capabilities of ground autonomous navigation systems that utilize computer vision, light detection and ranging, and AI algorithms in off-road environments.” The winning accomplishment was celebrated in an article on the U.S. Army’s website, titled “SEC Avengers take home Deep Green title.”

Even with a very busy schedule, Frisby remains strongly connected to the CMU community, even serving on the alumni board. He believes that, for him, CEE is where it all came together. “During my undergraduate degree, I gained skills. But at CMU, I learned how to put those skills together to build a product.”

He adds that learning alongside so many other hard-working, intelligent students was motivating and pushed him to do his best. “You can only get that type of experience at certain schools. Because I went to CMU, I know how much more I can produce.”

ECO INNOVATIONS: GUTIERREZ ADVOCATES FOR SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS

Guillermo Gutierrez (CEE’22) strongly believes in the overall benefits of a circular economy. “It has never made sense to me why our society throws away perfectly useful materials. When I look at my trash, most of what I throw away has a longer useful life left; we just don’t have the systems in place to do so.”

He decided that earning an advanced degree would help him to make the biggest impact. Gutierrez chose to attend CMU because of the dual-degree Technology Ventures program’s focus on entrepreneurship. “I found a track in CEE, which totally aligned with my desire to learn about environmental decision-making. The cross-disciplinary class options and skill building really spoke to me.”

While working toward his degrees, Gutierrez performed independent research under the guidance of Professor Julie Chen. The research became a paper on the opportunities in a circular economy—where producers and consumers of materials recognize that there is value in goods past a single use. In his view, a circular economy “opens up opportunities for reuse and recycling while changing the way the supply chain is viewed.”

He adds that the paper discusses the current state and technologies of the recycling industry, its challenges, and actionable opportunities.

Armed with this knowledge and a desire to shine a spotlight on sustainability, Gutierrez co-founded his own start-up company, Eco Mercantile Corporation, with fellow CEE graduate Manish Mishra (CEE’21). Their goal is to focus on “materials that would

have the most potential for profit and emissions reduction by recycling.”

Gutierrez says his work at CEE provided a strong foundation for his career. “As we performed customer discovery for the start-up, I used the communication skills gained at CEE to discover a new way to connect with potential industry allies.” He found that too many people look at environmentalism from what he calls an altruistic point of view. “I agree, but you must recognize that life needs to be practical.”

Gutierrez believes in data-driven meaningful action, and he credits his education at CEE with giving him hands-on opportunities to learn and grow his skills in leveraging data to make an impact. “Decision-making, probability, data management, and other classes gave me a solid understanding of what can be done in this industry. My previous career was in energy operations, so this new lens I received at CEE, and particularly through CMU’s approach to engineering, has been really helpful.”

Gutierrez remains active in research and advocating for a circular economy. He recently completed the Climatebase Fellowship program,

a collaboration of professionals working to apply their expertise to address climate change. He’s also excited to announce that his start-up was recently admitted into an accelerator called Labstart—an opportunity that started when he met company representatives at a CEE event.

“This opportunity with Labstart is the result of the research and work that Manish Mishra and I completed at CEE,” said Gutierrez. Labstart was particularly interested in his educational experience in civil and environmental engineering, data analysis, systems, and decisionmaking skills.

“Getting into an accelerator is a huge milestone. We plan to leverage it to find technologies to address opportunities discovered during our research at CMU.”

Image left to right:

Guillermo Gutierrez and Manish Mishra

New online course pairs the virtual and physical in an AIenabled digital twin, providing a robust way to analyze data and make better engineering decisions through predictive modeling.

Learn these invaluable skills at your own pace. The principles and techniques delivered in the course will help you to close the loop between predicting the behavior of a physical system and ultimately controlling the environment throughout its lifecycle for each unique project, process, building or environment. This is an elite skill for engineers to lead and innovate in their organization.

For more information on the learning objectives of this course go to: https://www.cmu.edu/online/aie-dta/ Advance your career by bringing the value of AI-enabled digital twins into your workplace.

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May 10-12, 2024