Anthony J. Lamanna

This research investigates trends in disciplinary actions within the engineering and architecture professions in Arizona and New Mexico, focusing on the nature, frequency, and outcomes of complaints filed with state technical registration boards. By analyzing a dataset of disciplinary cases using a qualitative analysis software and statistical tools, this study identifies key factors influencing regulatory decisions, such as the type of litigation, causes of action, professional discipline, and practice structure (individual versus firm). Results show notable differences between Arizona and New Mexico procedures, with Arizona favoring consent agreements—like settlements with injunctive elements—and New Mexico relying more heavily on evidence-based rulings. Significant findings include correlations between professional discipline and outcomes, the impact of confessions, evidence, and advisory committee rulings on fine amounts, and the risk that architectural firms have received disciplinary actions because of expired registrations or no registration. The analysis highlights the regulatory emphasis on public protection and ethical compliance, offering insights for professionals seeking to avoid disciplinary pitfalls and guidance for policymakers aiming to enhance oversight mechanisms.

Construction industry remains a major driver of global resource use and waste generation, therefore, identifying sustainable material alternatives is increasingly important. Recycled-textile-based insulation presents a promising pathway to support circular economy principles by diverting post-consumer waste from landfills and reducing reliance on virgin petrochemical materials. This study conducts a cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA) using SimaPro to compare polyurethane (PU) foam and recycled denim (cotton fiber) insulation. The system boundary includes raw material extraction, transportation, and manufacturing. A functional unit of 1 m² of installed insulation with a thermal resistance of RSI = 1 m²·K/W at the factory gate ensures comparability, with mass-based results reported as secondary metrics. The results indicate that recycled denim exhibits higher embodied carbon per unit mass, despite lower production energy and lower cradle-to-gate impacts per installed area, reinforcing the need for a declared-unit-based comparison tied to thermal performance. Air leakage is evaluated separately as a complementary performance indicator influencing in-service energy behavior showing significantly lower air leakage for PU; but is not included in the cradle-to-gate normalization. However, it could be argued that materials with improved airtightness may enable the use of reduced insulation thickness while still achieving equivalent performance, thereby potentially lowering overall material demand. Nevertheless, recycled denim offers environmental advantages by reducing landfill waste and promoting resource conservation through material reuse. A transient coupled heat–moisture model in COMSOL Multiphysics, using climate data from Arizona and Florida, further reveals that denim absorbs more moisture than polyurethane. This leads to larger heat flux fluctuations, highlighting a trade-off between denim’s sustainability advantages and its reduced hygrothermal durability. Overall, these findings demonstrate the limitations of single-metric comparisons and emphasize the need for performance-based, multi-criteria assessments that integrate functional efficiency with circularity. Future research should incorporate occupant health and comfort to enable a more comprehensive evaluation of insulation sustainability.

In construction, a large focus is placed on preventative safety measures to help mitigate workplace hazards. Traditionally, less focus is placed on communication strategies that address organizational risks should a major safety failure occur. Organizations can be exposed to financial, legal, and reputational risks following worksite fatalities. A crisis communication plan that considers incident attribution, organizational continuity, internal and external stakeholders, and messaging for short-term and long-term communications can help manage those risks. This study aimed to identify the extent that safety failures impact the financial, legal, and reputational aspects of a construction organization and the role of crisis communication planning in mitigating those risks. Through a survey of industry leaders, the perception of organizational impact was measured and compared to previous research. The results of this study indicate financial burdens are perceived as the most significant impact on organizations compared to legal and reputational consequences. The findings also show leaders agree crisis communication plans are useful in mitigating organizational risk. However, the results of this study highlighted numerous contradictions within the previous literature, which are areas for further education in the construction industry. To improve crisis management and communication planning, impacts of worksite fatalities should further evaluate indirect costs, legal repercussions, and the effects of stakeholder attribution on organizational reputation. There should be increased education on the purpose and functionality of crisis communication plans and a broader focus on response methods throughout the life cycle of a crisis to help mitigate organizational risks.

As waste production increases and resources become limited, sewage sludge presents a valuable resource with potential beyond traditional land use and incineration. This review emphasizes exploring innovative non-fertilizer applications of sewage sludges and advocates for viewing wastewater treatment plants as sources of valuable feedstock and carbon sequestration. Innovative uses include integrating sewage sludge into construction materials such as asphalt pavements, geopolymer, cementitious composites, and masonry blocks. These methods not only immobilize heavy metals and mitigate environmental hazards but also support carbon sequestration, contrasting with incineration and land application methods that release carbon into the atmosphere. The review also addresses emerging technologies like bio-adhesives, bio-binders for asphalt, hydrogels, bioplastics, and corrosion inhibitors. It highlights the recovery of valuable materials from sewage sludge, including phosphorus, oils, metals, cellulose, and polyhydroxyalkanoates as well as enzyme production. By focusing on these non-fertilizer applications, this review presents a compelling case for re-envisioning wastewater treatment plants as sources of valuable feedstock and carbon sequestration, supporting global efforts to manage waste effectively and enhance sustainability.

In the construction industry, risk governance stems from the standardization of safety policies and procedures. Safety governance is typically communicated and enforced through a top-down, command-and-control approach. Procedures and policies are created at the top level and cascaded down to the work. Individual discretion in the workplace permits a choice for worker adherence to safety procedures. Through a literature review, this study identified risk perception as a significant variable in regulatory compliance and fidelity. Individual hazard assessments and risk behaviors are often based on subjective cognitive risk perceptions rather than organizational governance policy. In the current governance system, there is a misalignment of risk perceptions and failure in trust between the workforce and the regulatory process. This study examines the impact of risk perceptions on safety compliance and promotes a more participative risk governance process for sustainable construction practices. A participative framework model is proposed to help align worker risk perceptions with organizational governance through policy creation, policy compliance and stakeholder participation and feedback. Utilizing proper discourse and cyclical communication, the proposed framework aims to increase safety fidelity, compliance, and trust in the construction industry through a more inclusive and collaborative governance strategy.

This study introduces the development of a novel bio-nano composite via the dispersion of cellulose nanofibers (CNF) in epoxy. The surface of cellulose nanofibers was functionalized using a two-step chemical treatment to enhance dispersion. The interfacial characteristics of CNF were improved using alcohol/acetone treatments. The modified CNF (M-CNF) demonstrated enhanced compatibility and improved dispersion in the epoxy matrix as evidenced by scanning electron microscopy. Based on the analysis of X-ray diffraction patterns, M-CNF did not disturb the crystalline phases at the interface. The results of mechanical testing showed that M-CNF worked as a reinforcing agent in the bio-nano composite. The flexural modulus increased from 1.4 to 3.7 GPa when M-CNF was introduced. A similar trend was observed for tensile strength and impact resistance. The optimum performance characteristics were observed at M-CNF of 0.6%. At higher dosages, some agglomeration was observed, which weakened the interfacial properties. This study promotes sustainability and resource conservation while offering CNF as a sustainable reinforcing agent to develop bio-nano composites.