Female choice can powerfully influence the evolution of male phenotypes. In territorial species, it is challenging to determine the targets of female choice because male traits (e.g., behavior and morphology) are often correlated with territory. We sought to elucidate if and how females specifically evaluate male traits in a territorial species. In this study, we presented female fence lizards, Sceloporus undulatus, with two potential mates to examine mate choice in the absence of territory cues. Females associated more with males possessing better body condition, longer heads, and wider throat badges, and that performed more shudder behavior, which females responded to by approaching shuddering males and performing push-ups. A post hoc decision tree analysis suggests that the strongest predictor of female association was an overall quality index that incorporates all of these traits, rather than individual traits. Male snout-vent length, head width, abdominal badge width, and push-up behavior did not affect female association. Further research on why these traits, which are known to correlate with fitness, do not appear to be used by females when selecting mates would improve our understanding of the evolution of male traits. Our study reveals that females of this territorial species possess the ability to use multiple male traits interactively to make fitness-relevant mate choice decisions in the absence of direct territory cues.

As investments in autonomous vehicle (AV) technology continue to grow, agencies are beginning to consider how AVs will affect travel behavior within their jurisdictions and how to respond to this new mobility technology. Different autonomous futures could reduce, perpetuate, or exacerbate existing transportation inequities. This paper presents a regional travel demand model used to quantify how transportation outcomes may differ for disadvantaged populations in the Washington, D.C. area under a variety of future scenarios. Transportation performance measures examined included job accessibility, trip duration, trip distance, mode share, and vehicle miles traveled. The model evaluated changes in these indicators for disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged communities under scenarios when AVs were primarily single-occupancy or high-occupancy, and according to whether transit agencies responded to AVs by maintaining the status quo, removing low-performing routes, or applying AV technology to transit vehicles. Across the performance measures, the high-occupancy AV and enhanced transit scenarios provided an equity benefit, either mitigating an existing gap in outcomes between demographic groups or reducing the extent to which that gap was expanded.

The research effort described in this paper aims to develop a state-of-the-practice methodology for estimating urban trip generation from mixed-use developments. The District Department of Transportation’s initiative focused on ( a) developing and testing a data collection methodology, ( b) collecting local data to complement the ITE’s national data in trip rate estimation, and ( c) developing a model–tool that incorporates contextual factors identified as affecting overall trip rate as well as trip rate by mode. The final model accurately predicts total person trips and mode choice. The full set of models achieves better statistical performance in relation to average model error and goodness of fit than either ITE rates alone or other existing research. The model includes sensitivity to local environment and on-site components. The model advances site-level trip generation research in two major ways: first, it calculates total person trips independent of mode choice; second, it calculates mode choice with sensitivity to the amount of parking provided on site—a major finding in the connection between parking provision and travel behavior at a local-site level. The methodology allows agencies to improve their assessment of expected trips from proposed buildings and therefore the level of impact a planned building may have on the transportation system.

The design of modern high-performance facades for the construction industry’s largest and most significant projects often involves the use of prefabrication, modern glazing, or curtain wall technologies (or combinations thereof). As a means of quality assurance and control, we depend on familiar tools: applicable codes and industry standards, specified performance requirements, Building Enclosure Commissioning, best practices, warranties, performance mock-ups, performance verification testing, and field inspection. Yet even systems designed with the highest level of detail and the most rigorous quality assurance/quality control programs may still be undermined by piecemeal value management, shortcomings in coordination, and cost and schedule issues. The forensics of building enclosure science is replete with cautionary tales of building enclosures that were designed with the highest of aspirations but that failed to perform as intended. Using an institutional building constructed in 2001 as a case study, we will take a deep dive into the critical details (transitions within the assembly as it evolves from roof to wall, joints, and water management systems) and other sometimes vague requirements such as serviceability and durability. The advantage of hindsight during an evaluation is that we are able to evaluate individual failures as well as the relationship and cascading effects that failures can have on other time-dependent durability requirements. We will present a taxonomy for understanding and analyzing each individual failure, the relationships such failures have with one another, and the decisions made during a project. These organizational strategies may be useful tools when making decisions during early project phases. While the ultimate service life of many “modern” curtain wall systems is expected to exceed the careers of practitioners tasked with design, manufacture, and installation of the systems, a critical look at these issues will become increasingly important as the building stock of high-performance facades and architectural glass continues to age.