David Sailor
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Phone: 480-965-4082
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Mail code: 5302Campus: Tempe
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David Sailor is Director of the School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning (SGSUP) at ASU. He also directs the Southwest Integrated Field Laboratory (SW-IFL), a US Department of Energy-funded center that integrates high-resolution observations, modeling, and civic engagement to provide new knowledge that addresses extreme heat and related urban environmental challenges, while delivering next-generation predictive tools that are regionally specific but also translatable to other regions.
Prior to joining ASU in 2017, Sailor was on the faculties of Tulane University (1993-2003) and Portland State University (2003-2016). He served as the Director of the South Central Regional Center of the National Institute for Global Environmental Change (NIGEC) at Tulane, was the founding Director of the Green Building Research Laboratory at Portland State, and founding Director of the Urban Climate Research Center at ASU. He received his doctorate from the University of California at Berkeley in 1993, where he conducted research in collaboration with the Energy and Environment Division at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
Professor Sailor's scholarly agenda focuses on the intersection of climate with the built environment. This includes investigation of feedback mechanisms between the built environment and climate with a focus on building energy consumption and renewable energy resources as well as both indoor and outdoor thermal comfort and air quality. He has worked extensively on quantifying the causes and prospects for mitigating the urban heat island effect, including investigation of innovative materials and technologies integrated into building designs and urban infrastructure.
Sailor has also been quite active in several societies that focus on urban climate systems. This includes serving as chair of the American Meteorological Society's Board on the Urban Environment (2008-2011) and as secretary of the board of the International Association for Urban Climate (2014-2018). He received the 2024 Landsberg Award from the American Meteorological Society.
- Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering, University of California-Berkeley
- M.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of California-Berkeley
- B.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of Washington-Seattle
Urban climate, with a focus on interactions between our built infrastructure and the urban climate system, including applications in indoor and outdoor air quality management, building energy consumption, human health, and climate change. Investigation of causes, consequences, and potential for mitigation of urban heat islands is a key component.
Recent (2021-2025) ORCID ID: 0000-0003-1720-8214 Scopus h-index=52. Dec. 2025
153. Sedaghat, A. and D.J. Sailor, 2025. Achieving energy efficiency and resilience to extreme heat through adaptive thermochromic coatings, J. Building Engineering, 116 (15), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2025.114710
152. Abolhassani, S.S., M.R. Seyedabadi, D.J. Sailor, M. Amayri, N. Bouguila, and U. Eicker, 2025. “Systematic Urban Building Energy Retrofitting: A Case Study in Montreal, ASHRAE Transactions, 131(Pt2), 513-523, https://doi.org/10.63044/s25ane59
151. Krebs, L., J. Anand, A. Baniassadi, A.M. Broadbent, and D.J. Sailor, 2025. Thermal autonomy of mobile homes under changing urban climate in Phoenix AZ, Advances in Building Energy Research, https://doi.org/10.1080/17512549.2025.2575395.
150. Amaripadath, D., and D.J. Sailor 2025. Unlocking cooler artificial turf materials infused with infrared-reflective organic green pigments in urban landscapes, J. Engr. for Sust. Bldgs. and Cities, https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4069260
149. Amaripadath, D., D.J. Sailor, A. Bertini, M. Barker, and S. Attia, 2025. “Are net zero energy buildings necessarily also net zero emission buildings? Time-integrated analysis using dynamic grid emission factors,” Building and Environment (Special issue: Net Zero Carbon Built Environment), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2025.113367
148. Amaripadath, D., and D.J. Sailor 2025. Systematic review on cooling benefits of landscape strategies for urban thermal environments in the United States, Sustainable Cities and Society, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2025.106497
147. Molla, A., A. Flores, D.J. Sailor, 2025. “Addressing Data Gaps and Disparities in Access to Air Quality Information: A Case Study of Maricopa County, Arizona,” Population and Environment, 47, 27, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11111-025-00497-4
146. Helmrich, A., B. Gerber, M. Gall, P. Horton, M. El Asmar, D.J. Sailor, M. Neveu, R. El Kassis, G.F. Fagliarone, N. Kuuvada, H. Sanboskani, K. Vemulapalli, A. Vogel, Y. Yu, D.D. White, 2025, “Developing Long-term Risk & Resilience Management Strategies for Physical Asset and Critical Infrastructure Portfolios”, Frontiers in Built Environment (Urban Science section), Vol. 11, https://doi.org/10.3389/fbuil.2025.1530343.
145. Tehrani, A.A., S. Sobhaninia, P. Sanaei, R. Levinson, D.J. Sailor, D. Amaripadath, 2025. Data- driven approach to estimate urban heat island impacts on building energy consumption, Energy, 316, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2025.134508
144. Molla, A., D.J. Sailor, and A.B. Flores, 2025. Exploring Air Temperature Variability and Socio-Demographic Inequalities in Heat Exposure through Machine Learning: A Case Study of Maricopa County, Arizona, Urban Climate, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.uclim.2024.102276
143. Hashemi, S., A. Ghaffarian Hoseini, N. Naismith, S. Barmomanesh, D. Sailor, U. Berardi 2024, Summer Outdoor Thermal Risk Area Mapping on a University Campus in Auckland, New Zealand, Architectural Science Review, https://doi.org/10.1080/00038628.2024.2443137.
142. Waly, N., H. Hassan, R. Murata, D.J. Sailor, and H. Mahmoud, 2024. Experimental approach to reduce uncertainty in estimating the thermal performance of buildings’ envelopes in hot climates, Developments in the Built Environment, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dibe.2024.100589.
141. Ramirez-Aguilar, E.A., D.J. Sailor, and E.A. Wentz, 2024. “Household, Sociodemographic, Building and Land Cover Factors Affecting Residential Summer Electricity Consumption: A Systematic Statistical Study in Phoenix, AZ,” Energy, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2024.133819.
140. Sailor, D.J., G. Fagliarone, T. Hebrink, and D. Amaripadath, 2025. Field evaluation of the efficacy of passive radiative cooling infrastructure: A case study in Phoenix Arizona. Building and Environment, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2024.112226.
139. Amaripadath, D., Molla, A., Keith, L., and D.J. Sailor, 2024. “Multi-criteria decision support framework for outdoor heat stress management in urban environments in changing climates,” Sustainable Cities and Society. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2024.105799
138. Amaripadath, D., L. Fachinello Krebs, E.A. Ramirez-Aguilar, and D.J. Sailor, 2024. “Energy performance tradeoff assessment for varying design parameters in office buildings in Japan,” Adv. In Building Energy Research. https://doi.org/10.1080/17512549.2024.2387267
137. Amaripadath, D. and D.J. Sailor, 2024. “Reassessing energy-efficient passive retrofits in terms of indoor environmental quality in residential buildings,” Energy & Buildings, 319. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2024.114564
136. Liu, S., D.J. Sailor, X.S. Fang, R.Z. Wu, 2024. The role of outdoor courtyard design variables in microclimate performance: A review”, Architectural Science Review, https://doi.org/10.1080/00038628.2024.2376582
135. Crank, P.J., C.R. O’Lenick, O.V. Wilhelmi, and D.J. Sailor, 2024. “Socio-demographic determinants of extreme heat and ozone risk among older adults in three Sun Belt cities,” Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences, https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glae164.
134. Sheridan, S., E.B. de Guzman, D.P. Eisenman, D.J. Sailor, J. Parfrey, and L.S. Kalkstein, 2024. Increasing tree cover and high-albedo surfaces reduces heat-related ER visits in Los Angeles, CA, International Journal of Biometeorology, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-024-02688-4.
133. Anand, J., Alhazmi, M., and D.J. Sailor, 2024. “Achieving net negative sensible heat release from buildings”, Energy and Buildings, 31, 114121, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2024.114121
132. Lingye Yao, Y., D.J. Sailor, X. Yang, G. Xu, 2023. Are water bodies effective for Urban Heat Mitigation? Evidence from field studies in two humid subtropical cities, Building and Environment, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2023.110860
131. Crank, P.J., A. Middel, P. Coseo, and D.J. Sailor, 2023. “Microclimate impacts of neighborhood redesign in a desert community using ENVI-met and MaRTy,” Urban Climate, Vol. 52 (Nov), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.uclim.2023.101702.
130. Baniassadi, A., L. Lipsitz, D.J. Sailor, A. Pascual-Leone, and B. Manor, 2023. Heat waves, climate change, and implications for an aging population, Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences, https://academic.oup.com/biomedgerontology/advance-article/doi/10.1093/gerona/glad230/7324774.
129. Ulpiani, Giulia, and D.J. Sailor, 2023. Future-proofing the built environment: towards a holistic approach, an editorial in the special issue VSI: Future-proofing Cities, Energy and Buildings, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2023.113498
128 Levinson, R., M. Alhazmi, J. Becce, A. Desjarlais, H. Gilbert, G. Kats, J. Miller, E. Morin, D. Sailor, and S. Schneider, 2023. United Stated Cool Surfaces Deployment Plan, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, https://doi.org/10.20357/B7602K
127. Amaripadath, D., R. Paolini, D.J. Sailor, and S. Attia, 2023. Cooling potential of night ventilation in a nearly zero-energy office building during heat waves in urban and rural microclimates, Journal of Building Engineering, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2023.107611
126. Mahmoud, H., N.M. Waly, H. Hassan, R. Murata, and D.J. Sailor, 2023. Correlating the Urban Microclimate and Energy Demands in Hot Climate Contexts: A hybrid review Energy and Buildings, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2023.113303
125. Anand, J. and D.J. Sailor, 2023. How can we combine urban cooling strategies to effectively cool cities over the entire diurnal cycle?, Building and Environment, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2023.110524
124. Alhazmi, M., D.J. Sailor, R. Levinson, 2023. A review of challenges, barriers, and opportunities for large-scale deployment of cool surfaces, Energy Policy, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2023.113657
123. Schneider, F.A., J.C. Ortiz, J.K. Vanos, D.J. Sailor, and A. Middel, 2023. Evidence-based guidance on reflective pavement for urban heat mitigation in Arizona, Nature Communications, 14(1), 1467. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-36972-5
122. Yao, L., D.J. Sailor, J. Wang, X. Zhang L. Zhao, X. Yang, 2023. “Diurnal pattern and driving mechanisms of the thermal effects of an urban pond”, Sustainable Cities and Society, 91, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2023.104407.
121. Crank, P.J., D.M. Hondula, and D.J. Sailor, 2023. “Mental health and air temperature: attributable risk analysis for Schizophrenia hospital admissions in arid urban climates,” Environmental Research, 862, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160599
120. Kalkstein, L.S., D.P. Eisenman, E.B. de Guzman, and D.J. Sailor, 2022. “Increasing trees and high-albedo surfaces decreases heat impacts and mortality in Los Angeles, CA,” International Journal of Biometeorology, 66(5), 911-925. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-022-02248-8
119. Alhazmi, M. D.J. Sailor, and J. Anand, 2022. “A new perspective for understanding actual anthropogenic heat emissions from buildings,” Energy and Buildings, 258(1), 111860. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2022.111860
118. Anand, J. and D.J. Sailor, 2022. “Role of pavement radiative and thermal properties in reducing excess heat in cities,” Solar Energy (Special Issue on Multiphysics Performance), 242, 413-423, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2021.10.056
117.* Sailor, D.J., J. Anand, R.R. King, 2021. “Photovoltaics in the Built Environment: A critical review,” Energy and Buildings, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2021.111479 [>100 citations]
116*. Krayenhoff, E.S., A.M. Broadbent, E. Erell, L. Zhao, M. Georgescu, A. Middel, J.A. Voogt, A. Martilli, D.J. Sailor, 2021. “Cooling hot cities: A systematic and critical review of the numerical modeling literature, Environmental Research Letters, 16(5), May. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/abdcf1. [>100 citations]
115. O’Lenick, C.R., A. Baniassadi, R. Michael, A. Monaghan, J. Boehnert, X. Yu, M.H. Hayden, C. Wiedinmyer, K. Zhang, P.J. Crank, J. Heusinger, P. Hoel, D.J. Sailor, and O.V. Wilhelmi, 2021. A case-crossover analysis of indoor heat exposure on mortality and hospitalizations among the elderly in Houston, Texas, Environmental Health Perspectives, https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP6340
114. Sailor, D.J., J. Anand, and L. Kalkstein, 2021. “Potential Overall Heat Exposure Reduction Associated with Implementation of Heat Mitigation Strategies in Los Angeles,” International Journal of Biometeorology, 65(3) 407-418. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-020-01954-5
113. Anand, J., D.J. Sailor, A. Baniassadi, 2021. “The relative role of solar reflectance and thermal emittance for passive daytime radiative cooling technologies applied to rooftops,” Sustainable Cities and Society, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2020.102612.
Courses
2026 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| CEE 799 | Dissertation |
| CEE 592 | Research |
| CEE 792 | Research |
| GCU 591 | Seminar |
| CEE 792 | Research |
| CEE 592 | Research |
| CEE 799 | Dissertation |
| PUP 701 | Urban Planning Colloquium |
| GPH 591 | Seminar |
2025 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| EPD 792 | Research |
| PUP 701 | Urban Planning Colloquium |
| GPH 591 | Seminar |
| GCU 591 | Seminar |
2025 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| CEE 790 | Reading and Conference |
| CEE 790 | Reading and Conference |
| PUP 795 | Continuing Registration |
2025 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| CEE 792 | Research |
| CEE 799 | Dissertation |
| CEE 592 | Research |
| GCU 591 | Seminar |
| CEE 792 | Research |
| CEE 592 | Research |
| CEE 799 | Dissertation |
| PUP 701 | Urban Planning Colloquium |
| EPD 790 | Reading and Conference |
| GPH 591 | Seminar |
| EPD 690 | Reading and Conference |
| GPH 563 | Urban Climates |
2024 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| PUP 701 | Urban Planning Colloquium |
| GPH 591 | Seminar |
| GCU 591 | Seminar |
2024 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| CEE 790 | Reading and Conference |
| CEE 792 | Research |
| CEE 790 | Reading and Conference |
| PUP 795 | Continuing Registration |
2024 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| CEE 592 | Research |
| CEE 792 | Research |
| GCU 591 | Seminar |
| CEE 792 | Research |
| CEE 592 | Research |
| CEE 799 | Dissertation |
| PUP 701 | Urban Planning Colloquium |
| GPH 591 | Seminar |
| EPD 792 | Research |
| EPD 690 | Reading and Conference |
2023 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| CEE 790 | Reading and Conference |
| CEE 792 | Research |
| CEE 799 | Dissertation |
| PUP 701 | Urban Planning Colloquium |
| GPH 591 | Seminar |
| GPH 591 | Seminar |
2023 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| CEE 790 | Reading and Conference |
| CEE 792 | Research |
| CEE 790 | Reading and Conference |
2023 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| CEE 799 | Dissertation |
| CEE 592 | Research |
| CEE 792 | Research |
| CEE 792 | Research |
| GPH 563 | Urban Climates |
2022 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| CEE 790 | Reading and Conference |
| CEE 792 | Research |
| CEE 799 | Dissertation |
2022 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| CEE 790 | Reading and Conference |
| CEE 792 | Research |
| CEE 790 | Reading and Conference |
2022 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| CEE 799 | Dissertation |
| CEE 592 | Research |
| CEE 792 | Research |
| CEE 792 | Research |
2021 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| CEE 790 | Reading and Conference |
| CEE 792 | Research |
| CEE 799 | Dissertation |
| GPH 314 | Global Change |
| GPH 314 | Global Change |
| GPH 563 | Urban Climates |
2021 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| CEE 790 | Reading and Conference |
| CEE 792 | Research |
| CEE 790 | Reading and Conference |
2021 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| CEE 799 | Dissertation |
| CEE 592 | Research |
| CEE 792 | Research |
| CEE 792 | Research |
2020 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| CEE 790 | Reading and Conference |
| CEE 792 | Research |
| CEE 799 | Dissertation |
| GPH 314 | Global Change |
| GPH 314 | Global Change |
| GPH 563 | Urban Climates |