Heather MacLean

Professor

Department of Civil & Mineral Engineering

Canada Research Chair in Sustainable Systems and Technology Assessment

Vice Dean Strategy, Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Email: heatherl.maclean@utoronto.ca
Office: Deans House
Tel: 416-946-5056

Sustainable Systems

Expertise:

Areas of Specialization:

Sustainable Infrastructure

Environmental Engineering

Background Research Interests Education Affiliations

Background

My overall aim is to advance scientific and engineering knowledge in the developing field of systems analysis for sustainable engineering. My primary area of research involves developing and applying life cycle assessment and techno-economic methods to evaluate the technical and externality impacts of conventional and alternative energy and transportation systems and elements of the built environment more generally. The research is interdisciplinary, incorporating civil, environmental, chemical and mechanical engineering, economics and public policy components to name a few. I collaborate with both the public and private sectors on the research projects.

Research Interests

Life cycle assessment and techno-economic methods incorporating uncertainty
Sustainable infrastructure
Bioenergy systems including biobased electricity and liquid fuels (ethanol, hydrogen, and aviation fuels)
Conventional and alternative light-duty and medium-duty vehicles
Conventional and unconventional fossil fuels
Sustainable and resilient cities

Presentation and Projects

Techno-economic analysis of DME Production from Biomass, Biogas and Natural Gas and Use as a Transportation Fuel. BioFuelNet Network Centre of Excellence.
Lightweighting and Life Cycle Assessment of Light-duty Vehicles. Ford Motor Company.
Development and Application of a Novel Life Cycle-Based Framework: Towards a Sustainable Aviation Fuel Strategy for Canada. Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).
Environmental and Economic Analysis on a Life Cycle Basis of Canadian Hydrogen Sources for Biofuel Production (Co-PI with B. Saville). BioFuelNet Network Centre of Excellence.
Life Cycle Assessment of Advanced (Steam Treated) Wood Pellets for Electricity Generation in Ontario. (H. MacLean, PI, B. Saville, U of T., J. McKechnie, U of Nottingham). Ontario Power Generation.
Program in Environmentally Sustainable Aviation. D. Zingg, University of Toronto, PI. NSERC CREATE Research and Training.
Sustainable and Resilient African Cities. With D. Hoornweg, UOIT. Centre for Global Engineering, University of Toronto.
Food Drying in Small Cooperatives in Developing Countries. With M. Touchie. Centre for Global Engineering, University of Toronto.
Life Cycle Assessment of Current and Emerging Oil Sands Technologies (LCA-OST Project). Co-PI with J. Bergerson, University of Calgary. http://www.ucalgary.ca/lcaost/

Education

BEng (C.E.) (Dalhousie/TUNS)
MBA (St. Mary's)
MSc (Carnegie Mellon)
PhD (Carnegie Mellon)
P.Eng

Awards

2016 - Fellow, Engineering Institute of Canada

2015 - 1st Place Student Poster Competition Project 6. Jon Obnamia, PhD student and Bradley Saville. BioFuelNet Advanced Biofuels Symposium. July 22-24. Montreal, QB.

2014 - Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) Excellence in Education Award for Promotion of Sustainable Practices

2013 - Outstanding Paper Award. University of Toronto Institute for Sustainable Energy. With Jason Luk, Ph.D. student.

2012 - Outstanding Paper Award. University of Toronto Institute for Sustainable Energy. With Leon Raykin, prior MASc. student.

2012 - Best in Theme (Design Processes) Project Display, AUTO21 Network Centres of Excellence 2012 Annual Scientific Conference. May 29-31, 2012 Montreal, QB.

2011 - Best Project Display, 3rd Place, AUTO21 Network Centres of Excellence 2011 Annual Scientific Conference, May 26-28, Ottawa ON

2005 - Early Researcher Award, Evaluation of the Sustainability Implications of Bioenergy Alternatives for Canada

Affiliations

Canada Research Chair in Sustainable Systems and Techology Assessment
Vice-Dean - Strategy, FASE
Cross-appointed - ISTEP*
Co-Research Director - Sustainable Systems Research Group
Collaborating Researcher - U of T Climate Positive Initiative
Affiliate - U of T Committee on the Environment, Climate Change and Sustainability (CECCS): Environment
Affiliate - U of T Centre for the Sustainable Built Environment
Affiliate - U of T U of T Mobility Network
Affiliate - U of T School of Cities
Affiliate - FASE Centre for Analytics and AI Engineering
Affiliate - FASE Institute for Sustainable Energy
Affiliate: Lassonde Institute of Mining
Fellow - Canadian Academy of Engineering
Fellow - Engineering Institute of Canada

Publications

Citation	Type
See over 80 citations on Google Scholar	Peer Reviewed Journals
Luo, C., MacLean, H.L., Hoornweg, D. A spatial planning approach to assessing energy resource flows in African cities, SETUSA 2017 Conference, Accra, Ghana. June 19-20, 2017.	Refereed Conference Papers
Luk, J.M., Kim, H.C., De Kleine, R., Wallington, T.J., MacLean, H.L. Impact of Powertrain Type on Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions of a Real World Lightweight Glider. SAE Technical Paper. SAE Technical Paper 2017-01-1274, 2017, doi: 10.4271/2017-01-1274.	Refereed Conference Papers
Mendoza Gonzalez, E., Saucedo Martínez, J.A. MacLean, H.L. Mathematical Model of Intermodal Transport, Incorporating Sustainability. Congreso Internacional de Logística y Cadena de Suministro (CiLOG2016). Merida, Mexico. October 5-7. 2016.	Refereed Conference Papers
Luo, C. MacLean, H.L., Hay, A. Improving the Resilience of Buildings: An Integrated Approach to Measuring Optimum Density. Sustainable Built Environment (SBE) Conference, Toronto, Canada, September 19-20, 2016.	Refereed Conference Papers
Freire-Gormaly, H. MacLean, A. Bazylak, MicroCT Investigations and Pore Network Reconstructions of Limestone and Carbonate-Based Rocks for Deep Geologic Carbon Sequestration, ASME 2012 - 6th International Conference on Energy Sustainability, July 23-26, 2012, San Diego, California.	Refereed Conference Papers
Hoy, G., Misra, A., Mostafa, T., Roorda, M.J., MacLean, H.L., Verifying The Accuracy Of Emissions Modelling In An Urban Setting Using Microsimulation, Canadian Transportation Research Forum, 47th Annual Conference, Calgary, June 3-6, 2012.	Refereed Conference Papers
Raykin, L., MacLean, H.L., and Roorda, M. J. Implications of driving patterns on well-to-wheel performance of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting; January 22-26 2012, Washington, D.C.	Refereed Conference Papers
Sarathy, M.S., Zhang, Y., M. Griffin, Thomson, M.J., MacLean, H.L. Life Cycle Assessment of Butanol for Use in Transportation Applications. 8th World Congress of Chemical Engineering Conference. Montreal, August 23-26th, 2009.	Refereed Conference Papers
McKellar, J.M., Charpentier, A.D., Bergerson, J.A., MacLean, H.L. A Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions Perspective on Liquid Fuels from Canadian and U.S. Unconventional Fossil Sources. Global Conference on Global Warming (GCGW-08), Istanbul, Turkey, July 6-10, 2008.	Refereed Conference Papers
Fleming, J., Habibi, S., MacLean, H.L., Brinkman, N. Evaluating the Sustainability of Producing Hydrogen from Biomass through Well-to-Wheel Analyses. 2005 Society of Automotive Engineers World Congress. Detroit, MI. April 11-14, 2005. SAE Transactions (also published as peer-reviewed journal publication under the SAE Transactions designation – see above). 2005-01-1552.	Refereed Conference Papers
MacLean, H.L., Lave, L.B., Griffin, M., Joshi, S. Evaluation of Lignocellulosic Ethanol to Fuel the USA-Canadian Light Duty Transportation Fleet. Proceedings of the Society of Automotive Engineers Environmental Sustainability Conference, April 8-10, 2002. Graz, Austria. 2001-01-3739.	Refereed Conference Papers
Lave, L.B., MacLean, H.L. An Environmental-Economic Evaluation of Hybrid Electric and other Advanced Vehicles. Proceedings of the Society of Automotive Engineers Environmental Sustainability Conference, April 8-10, 2002. Graz, Austria. 2001-01-3738.	Refereed Conference Papers
Lave, L.B., MacLean, H.L. Cobas-Flores, E. Evaluating the Environmental Advantages of Advanced Vehicles. Future Transportation Technologies Conference. Society of Automotive Engineers. Conference, August 2000. CA. 2000-01-3102.	Refereed Conference Papers
MacLean, H.L., Lave, L.B. Addressing Vehicle Equivalency to Facilitate Meaningful Automobile Comparisons. Society of Automotive Engineers, Total Life Cycle Conference, April 26-28, 2000. Detroit, MI. 2000-01-1474.	Refereed Conference Papers
MacLean, H.L., Lave, L.B. Alternative Vehicle Power Sources: Towards a Life Cycle Inventory Meeting Where Presented: Total Life Cycle Conference and Exposition, April 26-28, 2000. Detroit, MI. 2000-01-1478.	Refereed Conference Papers
Saville, B.A., Griffin, W.M., MacLean, H.L. Ethanol use in the US: Status, threats and the potential future. pp. 164-181. In: Global Bioethanol: Evolution, Risks, and Uncertainties, S. Salles-Filho, (ed). Elsevier. 2016.	Book Chapters
Griffin, W.M., Saville, B.A., MacLean, H.L. Ethanol production technologies in the US: Status and future developments. pp. 34-62. In: Global Bioethanol: Evolution, Risks, and Uncertainties, S. Salles-Filho, (ed). Elsevier. 2016.	Book Chapters
Nizami, A-S., Saville, B.A., MacLean, H.L. Anaerobic Digesters: Perspectives and Challenges in Bioenergy Production by Anaerobic Digestion Using Agricultural Biomass and Organic Waste . Korres, N.E., O’Kiely, P., Benzie, J.A.H. Eds. Earthscan from Rutledge. Oxon. 2013. pp. 139-151.	Book Chapters
Zhang, Y., Spatari, S., McKechnie, J., MacLean, H.L. Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of Lignocellulose-to-Bioalcohol Production in Bioalcohol Production: Biochemical Conversion of Lignocellulosic Biomass . K. Waldron, Ed. Woodhead Publishing Ltd. Cambridge, UK. 2010. pp 365-390.	Book Chapters
MacLean, H.L. Part Two: Electricity's Role in Reducing the Environmental Footprint of Energy Use – Introduction in Current Affairs: Perspectives on Electricity Policy for Ontario. Reeve, D., Dewees D.N., and Karney, B.W. Eds. University of Toronto Press. 2010. Pp. 35-39.	Book Chapters
MacLean, H.L., Duchin, F., Hagelüken,C., Halada, K., Kesler, S., Moriguchi, Y., Mueller, D., Norgate, T., Reuter, M., van der Voet, E. Mineral Resources: Stocks, Flows and Prospects in Linkages of Sustainability . Graedel, T.E. and van der Voet, E. Eds. Ernst Strungmann Forum. 2010. MIT Press and the Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies. Pp. 199-218.	Book Chapters
Matthews, H. S., F. McMichael, L. Lave, MacLean, H.L. Life Cycle Analysis as a Tool for Product Design in Encyclopedia of Materials: Science and Technology , K. H. J. Buschow et al. Eds. Pergamon. 2008.	Book Chapters
Hendrickson, C.T., Lave, L.B., Matthews, H.S., Horvath, A., Joshi, S., McMichael, F.C., MacLean, H.L., Cicas, G., Matthews, D., Bergerson, J. Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of Goods and Services. Resources for the Future (RFF) Press. 2006.	Book Chapters
Matthews, S., L. Lave, MacLean, H.L. Life Cycle Impact Analysis: A Challenge for Risk Analysts in Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: Theory and Practice . Paustenbach, D. Ed. Wiley Inc. 2002.	Book Chapters
McKellar, J., Bergerson, J.A., MacLean, H.L. Transforming Energy: Powering Tomorrow Begins with Using Less Today. Alternatives Journal Special Issue. Canada’s Map to Sustainability. 2015. 41(1):52-56.	Popular Press Articles
Pourbafrani, M., McKechnie, J., Saville, B.A., MacLean, H.L. Bioplastic Products from Citrus Waste Bioplastics MAGAZINE. Polymedia Publisher GmbH. April 2013. (Invited). Refereed.	Popular Press Articles
MacLean, Heather. Improving Sustainability. Autoplant Supplement. March 2005. 26. (Invited)	Popular Press Articles
Duval, D., MacLean, H.L. Keeping the Options Open. Environmental Finance. 6(2). 2004. 29.	Popular Press Articles

Team

Postdoctoral Fellows

PhD Students

MASc Students

Previous Members of the Research Group

Visiting Scholars

Marcelle McManus
University of Bath, 2017
Akifumi Ogino,Â 2009.

Post-Doctoral Fellows

Luk, J.
Ph.D. Supervised 2015-2017. Currently Ontario Environmental Commissioners Office. Toronto, ON
Pereira, L.
Ph.D. Supervised 2014-2016. Currently researcher at CTBE, Campinas, Brazil.
Pourbafrani, M.
Ph.D. 2011-2014. Currently process engineer at Gay Lea, Toronto, ON.
Nizami, A-S.
2011-2013. Currently Assistant Professor, Centre of Excellence in Environmental Studies (CEES), King AbdulAziz University, Saudi Arabia.
McKechnie, J.
Ph.D. Toronto. 2012. Currently Lecturer at University of Nottingham, UK.
McKellar, J.
Ph.D. Toronto. Co-supervised 2012. Currently Assistant Professor, University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT).
Sanscartier, D.
2009-2010. Currently at the Saskatchewan Research Council, Saskatoon, SK.
Zhang, Q.
Ph.D. University of Toronto. 2009-2010. Currently Research Scientist at Oakridge National Laboratory, Oakridge, TN
Kofoworola, O.
Supervised 2008-2010.
Habibi, Shiva, Dr.Â
2004-2006. Currently employed at Ontario Power Generation, Pickering, ON.
Kalogo, Youssouf, Dr.
2004-2005. Currently at Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Toronto, ON.

PhD Alumni

Luk, Jason
Displacing Petroleum Use in Light-Duty Vehicles. Completed 2015. Policy Analyst, Ontario Environmental Commissioner's Office. Toronto, ON.
McKechnie, Jon
Assessing Greenhouse Gas Emissions Mitigation Potential through the Use of Forest Bioenergy. Completed 2012. Assistant Professor University of Nottingham, UK.
McKellar, Jennifer
Techno-Economic and Environmental Assessments of Replacing Conventional Fossil Fuels: Oil Sands Industry Case Studies. 2012. Assistant Professor University of Ontario Institute of Technology.
Charpentier, Alex
Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of Oil Sands Technologies. Completed September 2010. City of Vancouver, BC.
Zhang, Yimin
Life Cycle Environmental and Cost Evaluation of Bioenergy Systems. Complete 2010. U.S. Dept. of Energy National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO.
Spatari, Sabrina
Biomass to Ethanol Pathways: Evaluation of Lignocellulosic Ethanol Production Technologies. Completed 2007. Associate Professor, Dept. of Civil and Architectural Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA.

MASc Alumni

Pourbafrani, H.
Life Cycle and Techno-Economic Analysis of Fischer-Tropsch Renewable Diesel and Jet Fuel Production. Co-supervised with B. Saville. 2016
Zhou, Mo (Taylor)
Life Cycle Emissions and Lifetime Costs of Medium-duty Diesel and Alternative Fuel Trucks. A Case Study for Toronto. Co-supervised with M. Roorda. 2016
Zhong, Margaret
Life cycle external cost evaluation of crude oil transportation options. 2015
Chu, Pei Lin
Environmental and Financial Performance: Aviation Biofuels. Co-supervised with B. Saville. 2014
Rispoli, Katherine
Life Cycle and Supply Assessment of Aviation Biofuels in the Canadian Context. 2014
Gerbrandt, Kelsey
The Impacts of Xylitol Production from Hemicellulose Residues: Process Design, Life Cycle and Techno-Economic Assessment.Â Co-supervised with B. Saville. 2014
Friere-Gormaly, Marina
The Pore Structure of Indiana Limestone and Pink Dolomite for the Modeling of Carbon Dioxide in Geologic Carbonate Rock Formations. Co-supervised with A.Â Bazylak. 2013
Misra, Aarshabh
An Integrated Modeling Approach to Estimate Urban Traffic Emissions. Co-supervised with M. Roorda. 2012
Shen, Tim
Life Cycle Modeling of Lignocellulosic Ethanol and Co-products. Co-supervised with B. Saville. 2012
Raykin, Leon
Impacts of Driving Patterns on Well-to-Wheel Performance of Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles. Co-supervised with M. Roorda. 2011
Gronowska, Magdalena
An Evaluation of U.S. and Canadian Biomass Availability and Ethanol Production Costs. 2008
Tripp, Bryan
Evaluating the Life Cycle of Biodiesel in North America. 2008
Ferguson, Thomas
Canada and United States Household Consumption: An Input-Output Life Cycle Comparison of Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions. 2007
Norman, Jon
A Novel Environmental Economic Model for Policy Analysis in Canada and the United States. 2005
Kuber, Kathryn
Air Emissions from Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Energy Supply Options. 2005
Wong, Vicky
Technical Aspects of Energy Recovery Options for Wastewater Treatment Plants. With D. Bagley. 2005
Duval, Don
The Value of Product Information in Life Cycle Management. 2005
Fleming, Jesse S.
Life Cycle Assessment of Lignocellulose-Based Hydrogen and Fischer-Tropsch Diesel in Light-Duty Vehicles. 2005
Liu, Jianhua
Evaluating Economic Feasibility of Energy Recovery from Anaerobic Digestion of Wastewater Solids. With D. Bagley. 2005
Zhang, Yimin
Evaluation of Lignocellulosic Derived Fuels for the Canada/U.S. Light-Duty Vehicle Fleets. 2005
Samokhina, Natalia
Evaluation of Infrastructure Requirements for a Lignocellulosic Ethanol Fueled Light Duty Fleet for Ontario. 2004
Wright, Wesley
Life Cycle Costing of Energy Recovery from Anaerobically Treated Municipal Biosolids. With D. Bagley. 2003

Master of Engineering

Saedi Khameneh, Sophia
Towards a Resilient Community by Addressing Pathways of Exposure to the Critical Infrastructures. 2014
MacKinnon, Loche
Reducing GHG Emissions from the Electricity Sector. 2011

Master of Public Policy

Ruch, Kaleb
Green Energy Programs in Ontario. 2008
Hilderman, Jane
2009.

Post-Doctoral Fellows

Luk, J.
Ph.D. Supervised 2015-2017. Currently Ontario Environmental Commissioners Office. Toronto, ON
Pereira, L.
Ph.D. Supervised 2014-2016. Currently researcher at CTBE, Campinas, Brazil.
Pourbafrani, M.
Ph.D. 2011-2014. Currently process engineer at Gay Lea, Toronto, ON.
Nizami, A-S.
2011-2013. Currently Assistant Professor, Centre of Excellence in Environmental Studies (CEES), King AbdulAziz University, Saudi Arabia.
McKechnie, J.
Ph.D. Toronto. 2012. Currently Lecturer at University of Nottingham, UK.
McKellar, J.
Ph.D. Toronto. Co-supervised 2012. Currently Assistant Professor, University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT).
Sanscartier, D.
2009-2010. Currently at the Saskatchewan Research Council, Saskatoon, SK.
Zhang, Q.
Ph.D. University of Toronto. 2009-2010. Currently Research Scientist at Oakridge National Laboratory, Oakridge, TN
Kofoworola, O.
Supervised 2008-2010.
Habibi, Shiva, Dr.Â
2004-2006. Currently employed at Ontario Power Generation, Pickering, ON.
Kalogo, Youssouf, Dr.
2004-2005. Currently at Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Toronto, ON.

MASc Alumni

Pourbafrani, H.
Life Cycle and Techno-Economic Analysis of Fischer-Tropsch Renewable Diesel and Jet Fuel Production. Co-supervised with B. Saville. 2016
Zhou, Mo (Taylor)
Life Cycle Emissions and Lifetime Costs of Medium-duty Diesel and Alternative Fuel Trucks. A Case Study for Toronto. Co-supervised with M. Roorda. 2016
Zhong, Margaret
Life cycle external cost evaluation of crude oil transportation options. 2015
Chu, Pei Lin
Environmental and Financial Performance: Aviation Biofuels. Co-supervised with B. Saville. 2014
Rispoli, Katherine
Life Cycle and Supply Assessment of Aviation Biofuels in the Canadian Context. 2014
Gerbrandt, Kelsey
The Impacts of Xylitol Production from Hemicellulose Residues: Process Design, Life Cycle and Techno-Economic Assessment.Â Co-supervised with B. Saville. 2014
Friere-Gormaly, Marina
The Pore Structure of Indiana Limestone and Pink Dolomite for the Modeling of Carbon Dioxide in Geologic Carbonate Rock Formations. Co-supervised with A.Â Bazylak. 2013
Misra, Aarshabh
An Integrated Modeling Approach to Estimate Urban Traffic Emissions. Co-supervised with M. Roorda. 2012
Shen, Tim
Life Cycle Modeling of Lignocellulosic Ethanol and Co-products. Co-supervised with B. Saville. 2012
Raykin, Leon
Impacts of Driving Patterns on Well-to-Wheel Performance of Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles. Co-supervised with M. Roorda. 2011
Gronowska, Magdalena
An Evaluation of U.S. and Canadian Biomass Availability and Ethanol Production Costs. 2008
Tripp, Bryan
Evaluating the Life Cycle of Biodiesel in North America. 2008
Ferguson, Thomas
Canada and United States Household Consumption: An Input-Output Life Cycle Comparison of Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions. 2007
Norman, Jon
A Novel Environmental Economic Model for Policy Analysis in Canada and the United States. 2005
Kuber, Kathryn
Air Emissions from Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Energy Supply Options. 2005
Wong, Vicky
Technical Aspects of Energy Recovery Options for Wastewater Treatment Plants. With D. Bagley. 2005
Duval, Don
The Value of Product Information in Life Cycle Management. 2005
Fleming, Jesse S.
Life Cycle Assessment of Lignocellulose-Based Hydrogen and Fischer-Tropsch Diesel in Light-Duty Vehicles. 2005
Liu, Jianhua
Evaluating Economic Feasibility of Energy Recovery from Anaerobic Digestion of Wastewater Solids. With D. Bagley. 2005
Zhang, Yimin
Evaluation of Lignocellulosic Derived Fuels for the Canada/U.S. Light-Duty Vehicle Fleets. 2005
Samokhina, Natalia
Evaluation of Infrastructure Requirements for a Lignocellulosic Ethanol Fueled Light Duty Fleet for Ontario. 2004
Wright, Wesley
Life Cycle Costing of Energy Recovery from Anaerobically Treated Municipal Biosolids. With D. Bagley. 2003