Michael Sohn

Michael Sohn

Mechanical Staff Scientist/Engineer
eta.lbl.gov/people/Michael-Sohn
Download Portrait Photo

Bio

Mike's research interests are in mathematical modeling of environmental systems and quality, uncertainty analysis, design of air monitoring sensors, water-energy integrated assessment, and sensor-data fusion. Mike has a PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering and an MS degree in Engineering and Public Policy from Carnegie Mellon University. He also has MS and BS degrees in Mechanical Engineering from UCLA. Mike is a California-licensed Professional Engineer (Civil), and has worked at an environmental engineering firm where he conducted environmental health risk assessments. He is the former Leader of the Sustainable Energy Systems and the Airflow and Pollutant Transport Groups. Recent projects including air quality field exerpiments in New York City Subways and in Singpapore, and the development of urban air quality simulations software. Mike has been at LBNL since 1998.  Mike's personal website is airflow.lbl.gov/sohn.

Awards

Spot: William Delp, David Lorenzetti, Michael Sohn
May 06th 2020
Federal Laboratory Consortium Award for Excellence in Technology Transfer
May 05th 2004

Publications

2021

Automating the interpretation of PM2.5 time‐resolved measurements using a data‐driven approach

Authors: Tang, Hao; Wanyu R. Chan, and Michael D. Sohn.
12/2020

Measured Influence of Overhead HVAC on Exposure to Airborne Contaminants from Simulated Speaking in a Meeting and a Classroom

Authors: Singer, Brett C.; Haoran Zhao; Chelsea V. Preble; William W. Delp; Jovan Pantelic; Michael D. Sohn, and Thomas W. Kirchstetter.
09/2021

Development of Advanced Smart Ventilation Controls for Residential Applications

Authors: Walker, Iain S.; Brennan Less; David M. Lorenzetti, and Michael D. Sohn.
08/2021

2020

Air Pollutant Emission Rates for Dry Anaerobic Digestion and Composting of Organic Municipal Solid Waste

Authors: Preble, Chelsea V.; Sharon S. Chen; Toshifumi Hotchi; Michael D. Sohn; Randy L. Maddalena; Marion L. Russell; Nancy J. Brown; Corinne D. Scown, and Thomas W. Kirchstetter.
11/2020

Smart Ventilation for Advanced California Homes

Authors: Less, Brennan; Iain S. Walker; David M. Lorenzetti; Evan Mills; Vi H. Rapp; Spencer M. Dutton; Michael D. Sohn; Xiwang Li; Jordan D. Clark, and Max H. Sherman.
06/2020

2019

Exploratory Analysis of Energy Use Across Building Types and Geographic Regions in the United States

Authors: Sohn, Michael D., and Laurel N. Dunn.
12/2019

Analysis of a series of urban-scale chlorine dispersion experiments and implications on indoor health consequences

Authors: Sohn, Michael D.; William W. Delp; Richard N. Fry, and Yang-Seon Kim.
09/2019

Prospects for finding Junge variability-lifetime relationships for micropollutants in the Danube river

Authors: Coll, Claudia; Claudia Lindim; Anna Sobek; Michael D. Sohn, and Matthew Macleod.
07/2019

Water-Energy Considerations in Californian’s Agricultural Sector and Opportunities Provide Flexibility to California’s Grid

Authors: Aghajanzadeh, Arian; Michael D. Sohn; Michael A. Berger, and Diana J. Bauer.
06/2019

Exploratory analysis of high-resolution power interruption data reveals spatial and temporal heterogeneity in electric grid reliability

Authors: Dunn, Laurel N.; Michael D. Sohn; Kristina Hamachi LaCommare, and Joseph H Eto.
01/2019

2018

A Bayesian network model for the optimization of a chiller plant’s condenser water set point

Authors: Huang, Sen; Ana Carolina Laurini Malara; Wangda Zuo, and Michael D. Sohn.
12/2018

Improving the Estimated Cost of Sustained Power Interruptions to Electricity Customers

Authors: LaCommare, Kristina Hamachi; Joseph H Eto; Laurel N. Dunn, and Michael D. Sohn.
06/2018

A Bayesian Network model for predicting cooling load of commercial buildings

Authors: Huang, Sen; Wangda Zuo, and Michael D. Sohn.
02/2018

2017

Coupling fast fluid dynamics and multizone airflow models in Modelica Buildings library to simulate the dynamics of HVAC systems

Authors: Tian, Wei; Thomas Alonso Sevilla; Wangda Zuo, and Michael D. Sohn.
09/2017

Demand Response Potential for California SubLAPs and Local Capacity Planning Areas: An Addendum to the 2025 California Demand Response Potential Study - Phase 2

Authors: Alstone, Peter; Jennifer Potter; Mary Ann Piette; Peter Schwartz; Michael A. Berger; Laurel N. Dunn; Sarah Josephine Smith; Michael D. Sohn; Arian Aghajanzadeh; Sofia Stensson, and Julia Szinai.
04/2017

Experience curve development and cost reduction disaggregation for fuel cell markets in Japan and the US

Authors: Wei, Max; Sarah Josephine Smith, and Michael D. Sohn.
04/2017

2025 California Demand Response Potential Study - Charting California's Demand Response Future: Final Report on Phase 2 Results

Authors: Alstone, Peter; Jennifer Potter; Mary Ann Piette; Peter Schwartz; Michael A. Berger; Laurel N. Dunn; Sarah Josephine Smith; Michael D. Sohn; Arian Aghajanzadeh; Sofia Stensson; Julia Szinai; Travis Walter; Lucy McKenzie; Luke Lavin; Brendan Schneiderman; Ana Mileva; Eric Cutter; Arne Olson; Josh L. Bode; Adriana Ciccone, and Ankit Jain.
03/2017

Improved cooling tower control of legacy chiller plants by optimizing the condenser water set point

Authors: Huang, Sen; Wangda Zuo, and Michael D. Sohn.
01/2017

2016

A retrospective analysis of compact fluorescent lamp experience curves and their correlations to deployment programs

Authors: Smith, Sarah Josephine; Max Wei, and Michael D. Sohn.
11/2016

A retrospective analysis of compact fluorescent lamp experience curves and their correlations to deployment programs

Authors: Smith, Sarah Josephine; Max Wei, and Michael D. Sohn.
11/2016

A regression-based approach to estimating retrofit savings using the Building Performance Database

Authors: Walter, Travis, and Michael D. Sohn.
10/2016

Exploring the Energy Benefits of Advanced Water Metering

Authors: Berger, Michael A.; Liesel Hans; Kate Piscopo, and Michael D. Sohn.
08/2016

Evaluating the Performance of the IEEE Standard 1366 Method for Identifying Major Event Days View Document

Authors: Eto, Joseph H; Kristina Hamachi LaCommare; Michael D. Sohn, and Heidemarie C. Caswell.
07/2016

Accuracy of Automated Measurement and Verification (M&V) Techniques for Energy Savings in Commercial Buildings

Authors: Granderson, Jessica; Samir Touzani; Claudine Y. Custodio; Michael D. Sohn; David A. Jump, and Samuel Fernandes.
07/2016

Providing pressure inputs to multizone building models

Authors: Herring, Steven J.; Simon Batchelor; Paul E. Bieringer; Bry Lingard; David M. Lorenzetti; Simon T. Parker; Luna Rodriguez; Michael D. Sohn; Dan Steinhoff, and Matthew Wolski.
05/2016

Providing pressure inputs to multizone building models

Authors: Herring, Steven J.; Simon Batchelor; Paul E. Bieringer; Bry Lingard; David M. Lorenzetti; Simon T. Parker; Luna Rodriguez; Michael D. Sohn; Dan Steinhoff, and Matthew Wolski.
05/2016

Amelioration of the cooling load based chiller sequencing control

Authors: Huang, Sen; Wangda Zuo, and Michael D. Sohn.
04/2016

2015 California Demand Response Potential Study - Charting California's Demand response Future: Interim Report on Phase 1 Results

Authors: Alstone, Peter; Jennifer Potter; Mary Ann Piette; Peter Schwartz; Michael A. Berger; Laurel N. Dunn; Sarah Josephine Smith; Michael D. Sohn; Arian Aghajanzadeh; Sofia Stensson, and Julia Szinai.
04/2016

2015

An integrated assessment of water-energy and climate change in Sacramento, California: How strong is the nexus?

Authors: Dale, Larry L.; Nihan Karali; Dev Millstein; Michael Carnall; Sebastian Vicuña; Nicolas Borchers; Eduardo Bustos; Joe O’Hagan; David Purkey; Charles Heaps; Jack Sieber; William D. Collins, and Michael D. Sohn.
09/2015

Non-Constant Learning Rates in Retrospective Experience Curve Analyses and their Correlation to Deployment Programs

Authors: Wei, Max; Sarah Josephine Smith, and Michael D. Sohn.
08/2017

Assessment of Automated Measurement and Verification (M&V) Methods

Authors: Granderson, Jessica; Samir Touzani; Claudine Y. Custodio; Michael D. Sohn; Samuel Fernandes, and David A. Jump.
07/2015

M & V Shootout: Setting the Stage For Testing the Performance of New Energy Baseline

Authors: Touzani, Samir; Claudine Y. Custodio; Michael D. Sohn; Samuel Fernandes; Jessica Granderson; David A. Jump, and Cody Taylor.
07/2015

Characterization of demand response in the commercial, industrial, and residential sectors in the United States

Authors: Kiliccote, Sila; Daniel Olsen; Michael D. Sohn, and Mary Ann Piette.
06/2015

Automated Measurement and Verification: Performance of Public Domain Whole-Building Electric Baseline Models

Authors: Granderson, Jessica; Phillip N. Price; David A. Jump; Nathan J. Addy, and Michael D. Sohn.
04/2015

Big-data for building energy performance: Lessons from assembling a very large national database of building energy use

Authors: Mathew, Paul A.; Laurel N. Dunn; Michael D. Sohn; Andrea C. Mercado; Claudine Custudio, and Travis Walter.
02/2015

Retrospective North American CFL Experience Curve Analysis and Correlation to Deployment Programs

Authors: Smith, Sarah Josephine; Max Wei, and Michael D. Sohn.

2014

Big-Data for Building Energy Performance: Lessons from Assembling a Very Large National Database of Building Energy Use

Authors: Mathew, Paul A.; Laurel N. Dunn; Michael D. Sohn; Andrea C. Mercado; Claudine Y. Custodio, and Travis Walter.
11/2014

A review of air exchange rate models for air pollution exposure assessments

Authors: Breen, Michael S.; Bradley D. Schultz; Michael D. Sohn; Thomas Long; John Longstaff; Ronald Williams; Kristin Isaacs; Qing Yu Meng; Casson Stallings, and Luther Smith.
11/2014

Uncertainty estimation improves energy measurement and verification procedures

Authors: Walter, Travis; Phillip N. Price, and Michael D. Sohn.
10/2014

Performance Metrics and Objective Testing Methods for Energy Baseline Modeling Software

Authors: Granderson, Jessica; David A. Jump; Phillip N. Price, and Michael D. Sohn.
08/2014

Taxonomy for Modeling Demand Response Resources

Authors: Olsen, Daniel; Sila Kiliccote; Michael D. Sohn; Laurel N. Dunn, and Mary Ann Piette.
08/2014

Robust on-line fault detection diagnosis for HVAC components based on nonlinear state estimation techniques

Authors: Bonvini, Marco; Michael D. Sohn; Jessica Granderson; Michael Wetter, and Mary Ann Piette.
07/2014

How many replicate tests are needed to test cookstove performance and emissions? – Three is not adequate

Authors: Wang, Yungang; Michael D. Sohn; Yilun Wang; Kathleen M. Lask; Thomas W. Kirchstetter, and Ashok J. Gadgil.
06/2014

Tracking Contributions to Human Body Burden of Environmental Chemicals by Correlating Environmental Measurements with Biomarkers

Authors: Shin, Hyeong-Moo; Thomas E. McKone; Michael D. Sohn; Deborah H. Bennett, and Alok Deoraj.
03/2014

Confronting Uncertainty in Life Cycle Assessment Used for Decision Support

Authors: Herrmann, Ivan T.; Michael Z. Hauschild; Michael D. Sohn, and Thomas E. McKone.
01/2014

Implementing state-space methods for multizone contaminant transport

Authors: Parker, Simon T.; David M. Lorenzetti, and Michael D. Sohn.
01/2014

2013

Demand Response for Ancillary Services

Authors: Ma, Ookie; Nasr Alkadi; Peter Cappers; Paul Denholm; Junqiao Han Dudley; Sasank Goli; Marissa Hummon; Sila Kiliccote; Jason S. MacDonald; Nance Matson; Daniel Olsen; Cody Rose; Michael D. Sohn; Michael Starke; Brendan J. Kirby, and Mark O'Malley.
12/2013

Grid Integration of Aggregated Demand Response, Part 1: Load Availability Profiles and Constraints for the Western Interconnection

Authors: Olsen, Daniel; Nance Matson; Michael D. Sohn; Cody Rose; Junqiao Han Dudley; Sasank Goli; Sila Kiliccote; Marissa Hummon; David Palchak; Paul Denholm; Jennie Jorgenson, and Ookie Ma.
09/2013

A stiff, variable time step transport solver for CONTAM

Authors: Lorenzetti, David M.; W. Stuart Dols; Andrew K. Persily, and Michael D. Sohn.
09/2013

Commercial Building Energy Baseline Modeling Software: Performance Metrics and Method Testing with Open Source Models and Implications for Proprietary Software Testing

Authors: Price, Phillip N.; Jessica Granderson; Michael D. Sohn; Nathan J. Addy, and David A. Jump.
09/2013

Functional Testing Protocols for Commercial Building Efficiency Baseline Modeling Software

Authors: Jump, David A.; Phillip N. Price; Jessica Granderson, and Michael D. Sohn.
09/2013

How many replicate tests do I need? – Variability of cookstove performance and emissions has implications for obtaining useful results

Authors: Wang, Yungang; Michael D. Sohn; Ashok J. Gadgil; Yilun Wang; Kathleen M. Lask, and Thomas W. Kirchstetter.

2012

Siting Samplers to Minimize Expected Time to Detection

Authors: Walter, Travis; David M. Lorenzetti, and Michael D. Sohn.
12/2012

Application of machine learning in the fault diagnostics of air handling units

Authors: Najafi, Massieh; David M. Auslander; Peter L. Bartlett; Philip Haves, and Michael D. Sohn.
08/2012

2011

Support to DHS Chemical Detection Field Testing and Countermeasures Studies: Report to Sponsors

Authors: Sohn, Michael D.; Douglas R. Black, and William W. Delp.
09/2011

Numerical Solution of the Polanyi-DR Isotherm in Linear Driving Force Models

Authors: Lorenzetti, David M., and Michael D. Sohn.
09/2011

Towards improved characterization of high-risk releases using heterogeneous indoor sensor systems

Authors: Sreedharan, Priya; Michael D. Sohn; William W. Nazaroff, and Ashok J. Gadgil.
02/2011

Final Report: Balancing energy conservation and occupant needs in ventilation rate standards for “Big Box” stores in California: predicted indoor air quality and energy consumption using a matrix of ventilation scenarios

Authors: Apte, Michael G.; Mark J. Mendell; Michael D. Sohn; Spencer M. Dutton; Pam M. Berkeley, and Michael Spears.

2010

Occupancy-Based Energy Management in Buildings: Final Report to Sponsors

Authors: Sohn, Michael D.; Douglas R. Black; Phillip N. Price; Yiqing Lin; Rohini Brahme; Amit Surana; Satish Narayanan; Alberto Cerpa; Varick Ericson, and Ankur Kamthe.
06/2010

Role of CYP1B1 in PAH‐DNA Adduct Formation and Breast Cancer Risk

Authors: Goth-Goldstein, Regine; Marion L. Russell; Donghui Li; Ana P. Müller; Maira Caleffi; Joao Eschiletti; Marcia Graudenz, and Michael D. Sohn.
04/2010

Modeling and Measurement Constraints in Fault Diagnostics for HVAC Systems

Authors: Najafi, Massieh; David M. Auslander; Peter L. Bartlett; Philip Haves, and Michael D. Sohn.

A Statistical Pattern Analysis Framework for Rooftop Unit Diagnostics

Authors: Najafi, Massieh; David M. Auslander; Philip Haves, and Michael D. Sohn.

2009

Energy efficient building environment control strategies using real-time occupancy measurements

Authors: Erickson, Varick L.; Yiqing Lin; Ankur Kamthe; Rohini Brahme; Amit Surana; Alberto Cerpa; Michael D. Sohn, and Satish Narayanan.
11/2009

Sensor Networks for Detecting Toxic Releases in Buildings

Authors: Sohn, Michael D.; Ashok J. Gadgil; Priya Sreedharan, and William W. Nazaroff.
05/2009

Framework for Evaluating Anthrax Risk in Buildings

Authors: Price, Phillip N.; Michael D. Sohn; Kristina Hamachi LaCommare, and Jennifer A. McWilliams.
02/2009

Indoor Sampler Siting

Authors: Sohn, Michael D., and David M. Lorenzetti.

Anthrax Sampling and Decontamination: Technology Trade-Offs

Authors: Price, Phillip N.; Kristina Hamachi LaCommare; Jennifer A. McWilliams, and Michael D. Sohn.

2008

Using Information on Uncertainty to Improve Environmental Fate Modeling: A Case Study on DDT

Authors: Schenker, Urs; Martin Scheringer; Michael D. Sohn; Randy L. Maddalena; Thomas E. McKone, and Konrad Hungerbühler.
10/2008

Population Physiologically-Based Pharmacokinetic Modeling for the Human Lactational Transfer of PCB 153 with Consideration of Worldwide Human Biomonitoring Results

Authors: Redding, Laurel E.; Michael D. Sohn; Thomas E. McKone; Shu-Li Wang; Dennis P.H. Hsieh, and Raymond S. H. Yang.

Rapid Data Assimilation in the Indoor Environment: theory and examples from real-time interpretation of indoor plumes of airborne chemicals

Authors: Gadgil, Ashok J.; Michael D. Sohn; Priya Sreedharan; Carlos Borrego, and Anna Isabel Miranda.

Carbon Sequestration Risks and Risk Management

Authors: Price, Phillip N.; Thomas E. McKone, and Michael D. Sohn.

2007

Influence of indoor transport and mixing times scales on the performance of sensor systems for characterizing contaminant releases

Authors: Sreedharan, Priya; Michael D. Sohn; William W. Nazaroff, and Ashok J. Gadgil.

Predicting Size-Resolved Particle Behavior in Multizone Buildings

Authors: Sohn, Michael D.; Michael G. Apte; Richard G. Sextro, and Alvin C.K. Lai.

Trade-offs between moving and stationary particle collectors for detecting a bio-agent plume

Authors: Price, Phillip N.; Ashok J. Gadgil, and Michael D. Sohn.

Siting Bio-Samplers in Buildings

Authors: Sohn, Michael D., and David M. Lorenzetti.

2006

Systems Approach to Evaluating Sensor Characteristics for Real-Time Monitoring of High-Risk Indoor Contaminant Releases

Authors: Sreedharan, Priya; Michael D. Sohn; Ashok J. Gadgil, and William W. Nazaroff.
06/2006

Tracer Gas Transport under Mixed Convection Conditions in an Experimental Atrium: Comparison Between Experiments and CFD Predictions

Authors: Jayaraman, Buvaneswari; Elizabeth U. Finlayson; Michael D. Sohn; Tracy L. Thatcher; Phillip N. Price; Emily E. Wood; Richard G. Sextro, and Ashok J. Gadgil.

Prospective Hazard Assessment and Sensitivity Analysis for Buckminsterfullerene in the Environment

Authors: Maddalena, Randy L.; Matthew Macleod; Thomas E. McKone, and Michael D. Sohn.

2005

Assessing Sheltering-In-Place Responses to Outdoor Toxic Releases

Authors: Sohn, Michael D.; Richard G. Sextro, and David M. Lorenzetti.
09/2005

Analyzing a database of residential air leakage in the United States

Authors: Chan, Wanyu R.; William W. Nazaroff; Phillip N. Price; Michael D. Sohn, and Ashok J. Gadgil.
06/2005

Analyzing a Database of Residential Air Leakage in the United States

Authors: Chan, Wanyu R.; William W. Nazaroff; Phillip N. Price; Michael D. Sohn, and Ashok J. Gadgil.
06/2005

2004

Indoor measurements of environmental tobacco smoke

Authors: Apte, Michael G.; Lara A. Gundel; S. Katharine Hammond; Raymond L. Dod; Marion L. Russell; Brett C. Singer; Michael D. Sohn; Douglas P. Sullivan; Gee-Minn Chang, and Richard G. Sextro.

Standardized Approach for Developing Probabilistic Exposure Factor Distributions

Authors: Maddalena, Randy L.; Thomas E. McKone, and Michael D. Sohn.

Reconstructing Population Exposures from Dose Biomarkers: Inhalation of Trichloroethylene (TCE) as a Case Study

Authors: Sohn, Michael D.; Thomas E. McKone, and Jerry N. Blancato.

Characterizing buildings for airflow models: What should we measure?

Authors: Price, Phillip N.; Sheng-Chieh Chang, and Michael D. Sohn.

2003

Protecting Buildings From a Biological or Chemical Attack: actions to take before or during a release

Authors: Price, Phillip N.; Michael D. Sohn; Ashok J. Gadgil; William W. Delp; David M. Lorenzetti; Elizabeth U. Finlayson; Tracy L. Thatcher; Richard G. Sextro; Elisabeth A. Derby, and Sondra A. Jarvis.

Responding to Sudden Pollutant Releases in Office Buildings: 1. Framework and Analysis Tools

Authors: Sohn, Michael D.; Richard G. Sextro; Ashok J. Gadgil, and Joan M. Daisey.

2002

Factors affecting the concentration of outdoor particles indoors: existing data and data needs

Authors: McKone, Thomas E.; Tracy L. Thatcher; William J. Fisk; Richard G. Sextro; Michael D. Sohn; William W. Delp, and William J. Riley.

Modeling the spread of anthrax in buildings

Authors: Sextro, Richard G.; David M. Lorenzetti; Michael D. Sohn, and Tracy L. Thatcher.

Advice for first responders to a building during a chemical or biological attack

Authors: Price, Phillip N.; William W. Delp; Michael D. Sohn; Tracy L. Thatcher; David M. Lorenzetti; Richard G. Sextro; Ashok J. Gadgil; Elisabeth A. Derby, and Sondra A. Jarvis.

Rapidly Locating Sources And Predicting Contaminant Dispersion In Buildings

Authors: Sohn, Michael D.; Pamela Reynolds; Ashok J. Gadgil, and Richard G. Sextro.

Rapidly locating and characterizing pollutant releases in buildings: An application of Bayesian data analysis

Authors: Sohn, Michael D.; Pamela Reynolds; Navtej Singh, and Ashok J. Gadgil.

Information for first responders to a chemical or biological attack

Authors: Price, Phillip N.; David M. Lorenzetti; Ashok J. Gadgil; Michael D. Sohn; William W. Delp, and Sondra A. Jarvis.

2001

Factors Affecting the Concentration of Outdoor Particles Indoors (COPI): Identification of Data Needs and Existing Data

Authors: Thatcher, Tracy L.; Thomas E. McKone; William J. Fisk; Michael D. Sohn; William W. Delp; William J. Riley, and Richard G. Sextro.
12/2001

Reconstructing exposure scenarios using dose biomarkers: An application of Bayesian uncertainty analysis

Authors: Sohn, Michael D.; Thomas E. McKone; Mark L. Rigas; Jerry N. Blancato, and Frederick W. Power.

2000

Reducing uncertainty in site characterization using Bayes Monte Carlo methods

Authors: Sohn, Michael D.; Mitchell J. Small, and Marina Pantazidou.
10/2000

Improving Speed and Robustness of the COMIS Solver

Authors: Lorenzetti, David M., and Michael D. Sohn.

1999

Characterizing indoor airflow and pollutant transport using simulation modeling for prototypical buildings. 1. Office buildings

Authors: Sohn, Michael D.; Joan M. Daisey, and Helmut E. Feustel.

Modeling aerosol behavior in multizone indoor environments

Authors: Sohn, Michael D.; Alvin C.K. Lai; Brian V. Smith; Richard G. Sextro; Helmut E. Feustel, and William W. Nazaroff.

1998

Parameter estimation of unknown air exchange rates and effective mixing volumes from tracer gas measurements for complex multi-zone indoor air models

Authors: Sohn, Michael D., and Mitchell J. Small.
05/1998