Dr. Richard Baldauf

Dr. Richard Baldauf is an environmental engineer and research-policy leader with 25 years of experience at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Throughout his career, he advanced the science and practice of air quality management, sustainable urban development, climate mitigation, and public health protection through interdisciplinary research and policy initiatives.  Dr. Baldauf led research programs examining air and climate pollutant emissions, human exposure, and environmental and human health impacts, with a focus on transportation sources in urban environments. His work has helped shape understanding of how urban design, green infrastructure, and roadside vegetation can be used to improve air quality and reduce community exposure to pollution. He has also contributed to emerging research on motor vehicle non-exhaust emissions, including tire and brake wear particles, and their growing importance in environmental management and public health protection.  Widely recognized for bridging science and policy, Dr. Baldauf has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications, reports, and book chapters and has worked extensively with communities, government agencies, and international organizations to translate research into practical solutions that promote healthier, more resilient, and sustainable communities.

This project expands previous EPA research to advance urban green infrastructure (GI) as a strategy for reducing transportation-related pollution and improving community health. The primary objective is to develop practitioner-ready modeling tools and technical guidance that enable urban planners, landscape architects, engineers, community leaders, and policymakers worldwide to design, evaluate, and optimize GI projects for air quality improvement. Central to the effort is developing a user-friendly GI air quality model and accompanying guidance that translate research findings into actionable decision-support resources.

The project anticipates expanding beyond air pollution mitigation by recognizing the broad ecosystem services that well-designed green infrastructure can provide, including stormwater management, urban cooling, climate resilience, carbon sequestration, and improvements to community well-being. By integrating air quality tools with existing GI benefit estimators, the project seeks to help practitioners identify designs that maximize cumulative environmental, health, and economic benefits.

A key focus is the role of GI in addressing emerging concerns related to motor vehicle non-exhaust tire and brake wear emissions that can include microplastics, toxic metals, and 6PPD-quinone. As these pollutants become an increasingly important environmental challenge, the project will demonstrate how nature-based solutions can help reduce exposures and provide communities with practical, near-term mitigation options.