Publications
Selected research, directly connected to the evidence.
A curated selection of publications spanning urban form, transit, development capacity, and public policy. Open an archived publication for the full evidence and methodology, or read a shorter website overview where available.
01v1.0
Spatial Analysis Research Brief
When Taller Does Not Mean Denser: International Square in Downtown Washington, DC and The Waterview in Rosslyn, Arlington, Virginia
Compares reported building area and source-defined nominal Floor Area Ratio across two prominent mixed-form projects. After normalizing each project by its documented site area, the lower-profile International Square has more reported floor area and a higher nominal FAR than The Waterview, demonstrating that visual height prominence does not reliably predict site-normalized floor-area density.
Published researchUrban Form · Spatial AnalysisDOI: 10.5281/zenodo.22804089
02v8.1.2
Research monograph
The Structural Urban Form of Washington, DC: A Reproducible Geospatial Research Monograph
Introduces Structural Intensity, a method combining estimated building-footprint coverage and normalized building height to measure connected structural urban form. The analysis identifies DC’s 5.397 mi² Structural Core and shows why Georgetown, L’Enfant Plaza–Southwest Waterfront, and Navy Yard–Capitol Riverfront remain structurally separate.
Published researchStructural Intensity · Spatial AnalysisDOI: 10.5281/zenodo.22307215
03v1.0
Technical supplement
Structural Intensity: Threshold Validation, Reproducibility, and Cross-City Transferability
Validates Structural Intensity’s fixed thresholds, documents exact reconstruction of the Washington, DC baseline, and tests the method in Philadelphia without city-specific adjustment. The results demonstrate a consistent workflow that remains sensitive to materially different patterns of connected structural urban form.
Published researchStructural Intensity · Spatial AnalysisDOI: 10.5281/zenodo.22667772
04v1.0
Research brief
The Joint Test the DC Height Study Did Not Complete
Reconstructs the 2012–2013 federal–District height review and identifies a consequential gap: the agencies never jointly tested a targeted-height alternative limited to locations outside primary federal viewsheds. The retrospective shows how study sequencing and narrowing analytical screens affected the alternatives ultimately considered.
Published researchDowntown Adaptation · Policy AnalysisDOI: 10.5281/zenodo.22310280
05v1.0
Research publication
Beyond Station Rankings: Comparing Metrorail Access and Transit Depth Across the Washington, DC Region
Compares Metrorail access and transit depth across the Washington, DC region, finding that 92.3% of Traditional Downtown DC’s land and 91.8% of its qualifying Structural Intensity cells fall within at least two official WMATA station pedsheds; no independently reported comparator exceeds 9.8%.
Published researchTransit Depth · Spatial AnalysisDOI: 10.5281/zenodo.22728417
06v1.0
Research brief
Can Added Height Offset Occupancy and Transit Losses? The 450 Fifth Street NW Office-to-Residential Conversion
Models the 450 Fifth Street NW office-to-residential conversion to compare residents, former workers, daily activity, and transit demand under the existing and proposed building envelopes. The analysis shows why added floor area can narrow—but does not automatically offset—the occupancy and transportation effects of conversion.
Published researchDowntown Adaptation · Development AnalysisDOI: 10.5281/zenodo.22261965