Dana Goodridge

Dana Goodridge

Biography

Dana Goodridge is a Master of Architecture student at Howard University, where she also earned her B.S. in Architecture and Design Studies. This summer, through the MITSummer Research Program, she is working on a research project that applies satellite remote sensing and architectural analysis to map thermal injustices in United States prisons. She has been drawn to human-centered design through her work at the NIH, where she used spatial analysis to optimize research laboratories, and in her work with EngineersWithoutBorders, conducting accessible design workshops and garden renovation projects. Dana’s work at the National Gallery of Art deepened her appreciation for architecture as a vehicle for storytelling and cultural preservation. She is excited about a future in healthcare design, where design, research, and public health intersect. Dana believes that care environments should be compassionate and user-centered—designed to heal, dignify, and respond to the lived experiences of the people they serve.

Abstract

Leveraging Remote Sensing and Building Modeling to Reveal Thermal Injustice in U.S. Prisons

Earth Observation (EO) technologies such as satellite remote sensing offer a powerful means of monitoring air quality, heat, and other environmental health hazards. But their application in advancing environmental justice (EJ), and particularly in carceral settings, remains limited. This research investigates how EO data, integrated with Building Information Modeling (BIM) and energy analysis, can characterize indoor thermal exposure in prisons, which are often constructed from heat-retentive materials and lack air conditioning. Through the Energy Optimization tools in Autodesk Revit, we simulate the impact of modifications to building attributes (i.e., materiality, geometry, ventilation) and regional climate zones on heat exposure in selected facilities. Preliminary findings point to significant cooling deficits, especially in southern U.S. prisons, and underscore the utility of scalable modeling software where ground-based data is unavailable. By connecting geospatial technologies and architectural simulations, this work contributes to prison ecology, satellite Earth Observation system design, and environmental justice activism. By mapping heat in carceral space, it supports larger efforts that aim to democratize data, develop retrofit solutions, and resist structural abandonment in the built environment.