Carol Friedland

Director of LaHouse Research & Education Center and Professor Louisiana State University

  • Baton Rouge LA

Dr. Friedland bridges research and real-world solutions for Louisiana homes.

Contact

Louisiana State University

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Biography

Dr. Carol Friedland is a Professor at LSU specializing in construction management and the Director for LaHouse, which offers research-based solutions for resilient, sustainable, and healthy homes and communities. Previously, Dr. Friedland was a Project Engineer, Field Engineer, and Estimator. Friedland’s research interests include combined hurricane wind and flood interactions on structures; hazard-resistant construction and mitigation; performance of housing and other built infrastructure subjected to natural hazards; post-hurricane hazard (e.g. wind, storm surge) and damage data acquisition; remote sensing of building damage from natural hazards; and rapid, efficient data collection, storage, and processing. Friedland’s work appears in numerous journal publications, including the Journal of Architectural Engineering, International Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, and Journal of Structural Engineering. A Professional Engineer and ASFPM Certified Floodplain Manager, Friedland is a Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, American Association of Wind Engineers (AAWE), Association of State Floodplain Managers, and American Society for Engineering Education.

Areas of Expertise

Construction Management
Hazard-Resistant Construction
Hurricane, Wind and Flood Interactions
Natural Hazards
Data Collection

Research Focus

Hazard-Resilient Housing & Wind Damage Mitigation

Dr. Friedland’s research focuses on hazard-resilient housing, examining how wind, flood, and multi-hazard forces threaten buildings and infrastructure in the Gulf South. She integrates structural field testing, probabilistic hazard and lifecycle-cost modeling, and outreach through LSU’s LaHouse Research & Education Center to craft cost-effective mitigation standards that cut risk and insurance losses.

Accomplishments

John R. Sheaffer Award for Excellence in Floodproofing, Association of State Floodplain Managers

2025

LSU AgCenter AgExcellence Award, LSU AgCenter

2025

LSU AgCenter AgExcellence Award, LSU AgCenter

2024

Education

Louisiana State University

Ph.D.

Civil Engineering

2009

Louisiana State University

M.S.

Civil Engineering

2005

University of Wyoming

B.S.

Civil Engineering

1998

Spotlight

4 min

LSU AgCenter Research Enables Better Flood Protection for Homes

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) recently released its new standard for flood-resistant design and construction, ASCE/SEI 24-24, which provides new minimum requirements that can be adopted for all structures subject to building codes and floodplain management regulations. The new elevation standard was directly supported by LSU research and should help reduce flood risk and make flood insurance more affordable. “Without the research by the LSU AgCenter, the advancements made to the elevation requirements would not have been possible,” said Manny Perotin, co-chair of the Association of State Floodplain Managers’ Nonstructural Floodproofing Committee, who helped update the standard. “Dr. Carol Friedland’s research shows there are better ways to protect communities from flooding than adding one foot of additional freeboard.” The research team, led by Friedland, an engineer, professor, and director of LSU AgCenter’s LaHouse, showed how previous standards were failing to protect some homeowners. They mapped the impact of moving from a standard based on a fixed freeboard amount to being based on real risk in every census tract in the U.S. In response to these findings, they developed a free online tool to help builders, planners, managers, and engineers calculate the elevation required under the new standards. “Many on the committee said it would be too hard to do these complex calculations,” said Adam Reeder, principal at the engineering and construction firm CDMSmith, who helped lead the elevation working group for the new ASCE 24 elevation standards. “But the LSU AgCenter’s years of research in this area and the development of the tool makes calculations and implementation simple. This allowed the new elevation standard to get passed.” Flooding, the biggest risk to homes in Louisiana, continues to threaten investments and opportunities to build generational wealth. On top of flood losses, residents see insurance premiums increase without resources to help them make informed decisions and potentially lower costs. In response to this problem, Friedland is working on developing a whole suite of tools together with more than 130 partners as part of a statewide Disaster Resilience Initiative. When presenting to policy makers and various organizations, Friedland often starts by asking what percentage of buildings they want to flood in their community in the next 50 years. “Of course, we all want this number to be zero,” Friedland said. “But we have been building and designing so 40% will flood. People have a hard time believing this, but it’s the reality of how past standards did not adequately address flood risk.” Designing to the 100-year elevation means a building has a 0.99 chance of not flooding in any given year. But when you run that probability over a period of 50 years (0.99 x 0.99 x 0.99… 50 times, or 0.99 ^ 50), the number you end up with is a 60.5% chance of not flooding in 50 years. This means a 39.5% chance of flooding at least once. “We’ve been building to the 100-year elevation while wanting the protection of building to the 500-year elevation, which is a 10% chance of flooding in 50 years,” Friedland said. “Now, with the higher ASCE standard, we can finally get to 10% instead of 40%.” As the AgCenter’s research led to guidelines, then to this new standard, Friedland has also been providing testimony to the International Code Council to turn the stronger standard into code. In May, Friedland helped lead a workshop at the Association of State Floodplain Managers’ national conference, held in New Orleans. There, she educated floodplain managers about the new standard while demonstrating LSU’s web-based calculation tool, which was designed for professionals, while her team also develops personalized decision-making tools such as Flood Safe Home for residents. At the conference, Friedland received the 2025 John R. Sheaffer Award for Excellence in Floodproofing. More than two-thirds of the cost of natural hazards in Louisiana comes from flooding, according to LSU AgCenter research in partnership with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness for the State Hazard Mitigation Plan. That cost was recently estimated to rise to $3.6 billion by 2050. “Historically, we have lived with almost a 40% chance of flooding over 50 years, which in most people’s opinion is too high—and the number could be even higher,” Reeder said. “Most building owners don’t understand the risk they are living with, and it only becomes apparent after a flood. The work done by the LSU AgCenter is critical in improving resilience in communities that can’t afford to be devastated by flooding.” “This may be the most significant upgrade in the nation’s flood loss reduction standards since the creation of the National Flood Insurance Program minimums in 1973, and it could not come at a better time as annual flood losses in the country now average more than $45 billion per year,” said Chad Berginnis, executive director of the Association of State Floodplain Managers. In addition to LaHouse’s work to prevent flooding, Friedland’s team is also working to increase energy efficiency in homes to help residents save money on utility bills. Their HEROES program, an acronym for home energy resilience outreach, education, and support, is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and has already reached 140,000 people in Louisiana. Article originally posted here.

Carol Friedland

2 min

Hurricane Preparedness Week reminds everyone to plan ahead

Hurricane season officially begins June 1, and now is the time to get ready for potential storms. Hurricane Preparedness Week, observed May 4 to 10, is a reminder for Louisiana residents to review their emergency plans, strengthen their homes, and prepare their families before a major storm arrives. “Preparedness saves lives, protects property and reduces recovery time,” said Carol Friedland, director of the LSU AgCenter LaHouse Research and Education Center. “By taking a few proactive steps now, families can be better protected during hurricane season.” Even though hurricane season does not begin for another month, starting your preparation now can save time and hassle later. The following are good projects you can start in the coming weeks to prepare for severe weather: Create and practice a family emergency plan and make sure it has updated contact information and evacuation information. Assemble an emergency supply kit or go through your existing kit to make sure nothing is expired or missing. Update it to make sure your entire family, including your pets, will have supplies during an evacuation. Review insurance coverage and understand flood risks. Some companies or policies have a waiting period before your coverage begins, so contact your agent or representative now. Strengthen your home against high winds and flooding. Do an overview of your home’s exterior and note any areas that look like they need repairs, like patches of missing shingles. Repairing these smaller problems now can reduce the likelihood of your home experiencing more severe damage during a storm. “Taking the time to check your home and yard early and getting bigger projects or repairs started ahead of hurricane season can save you a lot of stress later, especially when materials become harder to find right before a storm,” said Rubayet Bin Mostafiz, assistant director of research at LaHouse. Don’t wait until a storm is in the forecast. Start preparing today. Visit www.LSUAgCenter.com/LaHouse for more information, downloadable preparedness publications, and guidance tailored to Louisiana homes and families. The LaHouse Research and Education Center is dedicated to providing science-based solutions to improve home resilience, sustainability, and health. Through research, extension and education, LaHouse seeks to address the challenges of severe weather, with a particular focus on helping Louisiana residents protect their homes and communities from natural disasters. Article originally posted here.

Carol Friedland

2 min

Springtime swarms: What you need to know about termite alates

As temperatures warm up across Louisiana, so does termite activity. Homeowners may soon begin to notice large swarms of winged insects in and around their homes. These are termite alates, also known as swarming termites. “Swarming is how termites establish new colonies,” said LSU AgCenter entomologist Aaron Ashbrook. “Seeing swarms around your home doesn’t necessarily mean you have an infestation, but it does mean termites are nearby.” Alates are the reproductive members of a future termite colony if they can successfully establish. Each spring, usually following a warm rain, these termites leave their established colonies to find new places to nest. Many alates are produced because a low percentage of them are able to establish a colony. After swarming, they shed their wings and pair off to begin new colonies, which is how they end up in homes. Louisiana’s warm, humid climate makes it an ideal environment for termites, especially the Formosan subterranean termite, one of the most destructive species in the United States. Termites can silently cause thousands of dollars in damage before homeowners know they’re there. Tips for homeowners: Don’t panic, but don’t ignore it. Seeing swarms outside is common, but if they're inside your home, call a licensed pest control professional. Look for signs. Discarded wings, mud tubes, water stains, moisture buildup, and soft or hollow-sounding wood can all indicate a problem. Reduce moisture. Termites thrive in damp environments and require moist wood to attack structures. Fix leaks and ensure proper drainage around your home. Schedule regular inspections. Annual termite inspections are recommended, especially in high-risk areas like Louisiana. “Termites can cause extensive structural damage to your home that may go unnoticed,” said Carol Friedland, director of LaHouse Research and Education Center. “Early detection and prevention can save homeowners a lot of stress and money.” The LSU AgCenter’s Department of Entomology and LaHouse Research and Education Center provide research-based guidance to help Louisiana residents protect their homes from termites and other structural pests. Learn more by searching for “termites” at www.LSUAgCenter.com. Article by Shelly Kleinpeter, originally posted here.

Carol FriedlandAaron Ashbrook

Media Appearances

Hurricane Preparedness Week reminds everyone to plan ahead

KTBS  online

2025-05-02

“Preparedness saves lives, protects property and reduces recovery time,” said Carol Friedland, director of the LSU AgCenter LaHouse Research and Education Center. “By taking a few proactive steps now, families can be better protected during hurricane season.”

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Solutions to Louisiana's complex insurance crisis are in sight. Now comes the hard part.

NOLA  online

2024-12-12

Carol Friedland set out to embrace resilience as a key part of her work when she took over as head of LSU’s Home and Landscape Resource Center in 2022.

Friedland had worked with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness for years, helping the organization develop plans for mitigating disasters. She and University of New Orleans Professor Monica Teets Farris this year calculated the expected average losses for Louisiana by 2050: A staggering $5 billion.

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LSU AgCenter gives advice on how to prepare your plants for the upcoming cold snap

WBRZ 2 ABC  online

2024-01-12

LSU AgCenter professionals say everyone should pay attention to the forecasts to know ahead of time when freezing weather is approaching.

Carol Friedland, director of the LSU AgCenter LaHouse Research and Education Center, gives these tips to homeowners: [...]

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Articles

Fuzzy logic use case within the built environment for optimizing sustainability versus cost in the material selection process

Frontiers in Built Environment

2025

This study aims to investigate the application of fuzzy logic in decision-making within the Built Environment. The research focuses on achieving a balance between reducing carbon emissions and increasing costs in the selection of materials and equipment. This balance is measured by Life Cycle Carbon Emissions (LCCE) and is evaluated using a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology. By modeling fuzzy logic against classical binary logic within MATLAB, the study demonstrates how fuzzy logic’s “degrees of truth” may be utilized to construct customized stakeholder buy-in profiles and also achieve increased mathematical precision.

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Bibliometric Web of Science and Google Trends analysis of multi-criteria decision analysis within the built environment

Frontiers in Built Environment

2025

This research aims to leverage existing data sources to provide new insights into the usage of Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) in the built environment without creating a new data collection process. The study is focused upon built environment vocations, spanning the disciplines of architecture, construction management, urban planning, real estate, facilities management, and the numerous engineering domains that support capital projects. The method of the study utilized Google search engine data from Google Trends and academic literature metadata from Web of Science, which was analyzed using Bibliometrix via the Biblioshiny interface.

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Development of Sustainable Low-Cement Construction 3D Printing Materials via Dense Particle Packing

ASCE Computing in Civil Engineering

2025

This study seeks to enhance the sustainability and cost-effectiveness of Construction 3D Printing (C3DP) as a construction method. A key challenge in C3DP is the excessive Portland cement content (typically> 600 kg/m³) of printing materials, increasing construction costs and the resulting carbon footprint. To address this, an image-based automated gradation system was developed and tested to facilitate particle packing optimization. To design eco-friendly printing materials, large aggregates (up to 3/8") and quarry by-products were included as ingredients. The experimental results validated the packing density calculations, showing consistency with theoretical analysis based on the Modified Andreasen & Andersen method, and the proposed novel image-based gradation technique.

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Research Grants

Responsible Design, Development, and Deployment of Technologies

National Science Foundatio

2024

Building Resilience through Extension, Awareness and Knowledge

United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture

2023

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