The City of Baltimore has hired a Johns Hopkins astrophysicist to develop a computer program to help identify abandoned buildings and predict which properties are likely to be left vacant in the near future.
Tamás Budavári will apply skills he has used to model the universe to the terrestrial task. The project is intended to aid a $700 million joint state-city plan to demolish and redevelop blighted buildings in Baltimore.
The city has about 60 building inspectors who have identified roughly 17,000 boarded up buildings and vacant land parcels. But city officials suspect that there are about 30,000 unoccupied buildings altogether—many of those currently unidentified.
Budavári will incorporate new sources of data beyond what inspectors report including water, gas, and electric billing records along with where mail is deemed undeliverable. His work may be distributed to other cities via the GovEx network.
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Apr 4, 2019
Chicago makes major building code overhaul
Previous comprehensive changes were done 70 years ago.
Codes and Standards | Apr 3, 2019
Construction advanced materials makers can enhance industry efficiency with technology
Integration of new IT approaches in construction with new materials has potential to enhance sustainability, alleviate worker shortage.
Codes and Standards | Apr 2, 2019
Open offices reduce collaboration among employees
Counterintuitive finding makes value of wide open workspaces questionable.
Codes and Standards | Mar 29, 2019
New timber traceability LEED credit released
Pilot credit aims to reduce use of illegal wood in buildings.
Codes and Standards | Mar 28, 2019
Swinerton forms new mass timber business group
Will pursue new projects being developed with mass timber.
Codes and Standards | Mar 27, 2019
Shortage of skilled construction workers resulting in missed deadlines
Some 40% of contractors have turned down project offers.
Codes and Standards | Mar 25, 2019
ICC release 2019 guidelines for safe use of repurposed shipping containers
Provides in-depth, technical overview on how to design, review, and approve shipping containers as building elements.
Codes and Standards | Mar 22, 2019
Tool helps cities develop framework for life-cycle energy policies and track progress
Identifies policies, funding sources to address building energy use.
Codes and Standards | Mar 21, 2019
New York City contractors adding 5% to 10% to construction costs due to trade war
Tariffs on steel, aluminum, and other materials swell budgets.
Codes and Standards | Mar 20, 2019
Codes organizations to develop new guidelines on shipping containers as building components
Intl. Code Council and Modular Building Institute combine forces.