Could you tell us what's your research subject and why it is important for the built environment and wellbeing?
My research subject is urban physics that can be defined as the science and engineering of physical processes in urban areas. It basically refers to the transfer of heat and mass in the outdoor and indoor urban environment, and its interaction with humans, fauna, flora and materials. Here, we define science and engineering as done by the late Theodore von Kármán: “Scientists study the world as it is, engineers create the world that has never been”. So, both are important. There can be no engineering without science. But if we want change, we need engineers.
In more layman terms, urban physics studies the physics in cities, both inside and outside buildings. Typical subtopics are heat waves and overheating of urban areas and buildings, air pollution inside and outside buildings, impact of climate change on buildings and cities, and wind energy, as well as the defence of buildings and cities, for example against drone attacks.
Urban physics is a rapidly increasing focus area in many countries worldwide, as it is relevant to tackle the grand societal challenges, like climate, energy, health, security, transport, and ageing.
How would you describe civil engineering in a couple of sentences to someone who knows nothing about the subject?
Civil engineering is the design and planning of two types of structures: buildings on the one hand, and bridges, roads, tunnels, dams, waterways etc. on the other hand. Civil engineers are involved in the early stages of a project, creating the technical specifications and blueprints needed for construction. Their task is to ensure the structural integrity, the safety, health and comfort of the structures and their users.
There are different subfields of civil engineering, such as: structural engineering (strength and stiffness of the construction), building physics (indoor air quality, HVAC, rainwater deterrence, etc), construction materials (concrete, steel, wood etc), transportation engineering (mobility, road and rail construction), environmental engineering (wastewater systems etc). Urban physics is part of building physics. Often, in universities building physics is part of civil engineering, but it can also be part of a department of mechanical engineering (in view of HVAC research and education) or architectural engineering. The Nordic countries have a strong tradition in building bhysics. There is even The Nordic Symposium of Building Physics with participants from all over Europe and beyond.
What do you think is especially interesting in LUT University's new degree programme and research in civil engineering?
I especially like the idea that LUT wants the programme and research to be clearly different from what is already offered in Finland. I also appreciate the strong focus on building physics. Urban physics is still a relatively new field with a lot of future potential, so it is very nice to notice that this field is considered important for the new degree programme and research.
What kind of challenges do you see in construction?
I think a major challenge is the need to tackle, in every project, all main challenges – climate, energy, health, security, transport, ageing – at once. During this decade, many of these challenges have become more pronounced than before, such as climate change, energy and energy security, health issues related to climate change and air pollution and the possibility of more pandemics due to increased world travel. Also, security has become topical because the world is growing more dangerous and essential values and principles like freedom, democracy, decency, dignity and the rule of law are threatened. And in many countries the society is also ageing.
What's the best thing about your job?
The ability to work with great and motivated professionals from different fields, backgrounds and cultures, and of different ages towards common goals. And supporting our society this way, to leave a better world for our children and grandchildren.
Tell us something other people don't necessarily know about you.
My core expertise is urban physics, but I regularly also do research in sports aerodynamics, mainly cycling. Some people active in the world of cycling sometimes call me the ‘cycling professor’. Years ago, I was actually quite a good cyclist.
In the past years, I have had the privilege to work with and support professional cycling teams towards victories in the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games, as well as in Tour de France, La Vuelta and Giro d’Italia. This way I have been frequently in the newspapers and on television commenting on science in cycling.
In Urban Physics, the aerodynamics of buildings and cities is important. We study that with the same numerical simulation tools and experimental tools (i.e. wind tunnels) as we study cyclists, runners, skaters etc. Also, a building and a cyclist are aerodynamically in the same category of bluff, non-streamlined bodies, so the airflow behaviour around them is rather similar in concepts and terminology.
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