Public defence, Civil Engineering, M.Sc. (Tech.) Qidi Jiang

Title of the thesis: Robust universal framework for measuring sustainability on university campuses developing towards climate neutrality (PICSOU)

Thesis defender: Qidi Jiang, M.Sc. (Tech.)
Opponent: Prof. Jukka Heinonen, D.Sc. (Tech.), University of Iceland and Prof. Arto Saari, D.Sc. (Tech.), Tampere University
Custos: Prof. Heidi Salonen, Aalto University School of Engineering

University campuses function both as significant emitters and ideal testbeds for scalable decarbonization strategies, directly relevant to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The doctoral thesis by Qidi Jiang titled Robust universal framework for measuring sustainability on university campuses developing towards climate neutrality (PICSOU) addresses a persistent challenge: while many assessment systems already exist, there is a lack of common and consistent application across institutions.

This research proposes the PICSOU framework, a six-category set of measurable indicators: space efficiency, indoor environmental quality, climate change and energy, transportation, water, and waste. In this doctoral thesis, the first four categories were investigated in depth whereas the remaining two are outlined as future work. The study examined: (1) whether a minimal indicator set can capture dominant drivers of campus climate performance; (2) how IEQ behaves under different climate and ventilation modes; (3) how embodied carbon from new concrete construction can be estimated simply and accurately; and (4) how commuting carbon footprints vary with data sources and boundary assumptions.

Major results include but are not limited to: TalTech's operational carbon footprint was 1.30 tCO₂/(person·yr); adopting the lowest real-life specific energy use as the post-retrofit average across 18 campus buildings could reduce emissions by approximately 68%. IEQ baselines at TalTech showed only 54% of monitored rooms met Category I air quality standards and 0% met Category I thermal comfort. Whilst at CDJCC, autumn PM2.5 exceeded 96 μg/m³ across all space types. The QCEPM model, calibrated on datasets of 20 concrete frame structures with areas ranging from 2000 to 10000 m2, predicted embodied carbon from three material inputs with high accuracy. Commuting carbon estimates on TalTech campus varied from 3,975 tCO₂/yr using surveys to 1,444 tCO₂/yr using ICT data.

The main contribution is the PICSOU framework itself, a non-comparative, diagnostic tool. Methodological contributions include a custom IEQ monitor with FMCW radar for real-time occupancy detection, seasonal IEQ diagnostic parameters, and a dual-method commuting carbon verification workflow. By embedding each validation choice in explicit physical and contextual reasoning, the thesis offers a robust framework approach for universities to assess the climate neutrality aspects of their operational sustainability.

Key words: sustainability, campus, indoor environmental quality, carbon footprint, transportation

Thesis available for public display 7 days prior to the defence at Aalto University's public display page. 

Contact information: qidi.jiang@taltech.ee / qidi.1.jiang@aalto.fi