Research

Dr. Amekudzi studies systems problems on the integrated built and natural environment to understand how we can make better decisions on built systems to promote sustainable development. Her research currently focuses on the development, extension and application of planning analysis methods and decision analysis tools for infrastructure investment decision making. Her work falls in the general areas of (1) Sustainable Engineering and (2) Asset Management. These interdisciplinary fields are important for improving decision-making processes for infrastructure investment to advance the economic and social development of communities, while preserving environmental conditions to enable such development to continue. In the next several decades the world's urban population will double. This growth will give rise to additional megacities (i.e., cities with populations over 10 million, e.g., Tokyo, Mexico City, Los Angeles, Lagos, etc.). In 1950, there were two megacities in the world (i.e., New York and London). Today, there are over 25 megacities and we can expect several more over the next half century. With such growth come tremendous opportunities to apply systems-based methods to address problems and create opportunities for infrastructure development, operation, maintenance and renewal; and to ensure a better quality of life for urban and rural communities.

Selected Projects

• Sustainability Evaluation and Planning Guidance
• Infrastructure, Megacities and Sustainability
• Portfolio Theory and Sustainability Metrics in Infrastructure Management
• Civil Infrastructure Valuation
• Transportation Planning for Brownfield Developments
• Transportation Systems Planning and the Environment