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City@UMD · Research in practice

Questions connected.
Research in practice.

Explore the projects of City@UMD, directed by Jelena Srebric. From environmental sensing to building energy, the work brings disciplines together around healthier places.

20Research projects5Connected themesCity@UMD collection

The project collection

20 of 20 projects

Research spotlight

A networked indoor environmental sensor that streams carbon dioxide, particulate matter, temperature, humidity, occupancy and sound levels to City@UMD’s research dashboard.

Environmental sensingIndoor air qualityEmbedded systems
Interactive 3D model
Environmental sensingField deployment

A compact, low-power indoor environmental logger designed for field deployment in Nicaragua.

InfluenzaNear-field exposure

Analytical modeling of how exhaled airflow, separation distance, room conditions, and exposure duration shape near-field influenza exposure.

InfluenzaVentilation

A campus-based study connecting respiratory-infection surveillance with measured ventilation and indoor environmental conditions in shared living spaces.

Natural ventilationHousing

A field-informed modeling program examining how housing porosity and natural ventilation shape indoor airflow and exposure-relevant conditions in Nicaraguan homes.

GUVAir disinfection

Controlled laboratory research supporting effective, practical, and safe germicidal-ultraviolet systems for cleaner indoor air.

InfluenzaIndoor air

A multidisciplinary controlled-environment program examining how influenza exposure unfolds through air, surfaces, and close interaction.

AI controlsThermal comfort

A distributed sensing and control concept that uses occupant feedback and environmental measurements to balance thermal comfort with electricity demand.

Building materialsEnergy modeling

Building-energy analysis translating UMD wood-material innovations into estimates of cooling demand, envelope performance, and practical climate benefits.

Campus energyBenchmarking

A campus-scale modeling program establishing realistic energy-use targets from building characteristics, schedules, mechanical systems, and measured utility data.

Building simulationCFD

A browser-based research and teaching platform that connects building energy models, solar conditions, three-dimensional geometry, and neighborhood airflow.

Air cleaningRespiratory health

A sensor-equipped personal clean-air system designed to improve respiratory protection, comfort, and fit during prolonged use.

Personal comfortThermal sensing

A mobile personal heating and cooling system combining targeted airflow, wearable sensing, thermal-comfort studies, and energy-efficient conditioning.

Indoor airCOVID-19

Six City@UMD case studies on aerosol transport, ventilation, source control, and localized air cleaning in shared indoor environments.

DesalinationClean water

A validated modeling and decision framework for comparing established and emerging desalination technologies on consistent terms.

Building energyCampus analytics

A campus energy intelligence platform that turns utility data into building-level performance, diagnostics, and action.

Performing artsAerosols

Experiments and airflow modeling that helped performing-arts communities reduce aerosol exposure while returning to rehearsal and performance.

BioaerosolsDisinfection

An NSF RAPID project combining airflow, infection-risk, and ultraviolet disinfection models for shared public environments.

Public transitAir cleaning

Research on ventilation, circulation, filtration, and practical air-management strategies for public transit buses.

Air travelPublic health

Aviation public-health research connecting passenger movement, ventilation, spatial configuration, and layered controls across the travel journey.

Project descriptions, images, and case studies are from City@UMD. The collection includes collaborative work; project pages provide the original context. Updates are checked automatically.

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