Esther Obonyo

Affiliate Researcher
Titles and Affiliations
Associate Professor, School of Engineering Design and Innovation

For two decades, Obonyo’s work has focused on buildings globally. For example, upon graduating from the University of Nairobi in 1998, she was hired as a construction engineer where she helped complete a 30-day emergency retrofit project for the U.S. consulate in Nairobi, which had been devastated during a deadly terrorist attack. Subsequently, she worked as an industry-based researcher as well as an innovation analyst with Balfour Beatty Group, both in the United Kingdom. Finally, during her transition to Penn State, she served as a Jefferson Science Fellow and senior policy adviser for the teams managing the U.S. Agency for International Development portfolio for construction and university-based science partnerships.

In the News

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Projects

Recent Publications

Perspectives on Applications of Geospatial Technology and Landscape Ecology for Conservation Planning in the Global South

Bulley, H. N. N., Arodudu, O. T., Obonyo, E. A., Polo-Akpisso, A., Ibrahim, E. S. & Bamutaze, Y., Jan 1 2023, In: International Journal of Applied Geospatial Research. 14, 1

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

A review of the previous and current challenges of passive house retrofits

Welch, S., Obonyo, E. & Memari, A. M., Nov 1 2023, In: Building and Environment. 245, 110938.

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

Towards a Multilevel Framework of Teamwork Processes Affecting Construction Safety Outcomes

Yin, Q., Obonyo, E. & Asadi, S., Jul 2023, In: Buildings. 13, 7, 1728.

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

Assembling the Assembler: Reanimating the “Lost” Motion Machine of Wachsmann, Bollinger, and Mendoza

Andrzejewski, E., Shaffer, M. S. & Obonyo, E., 2022, In: Technology Architecture and Design. 6, 1, p. 90-99 10 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Aligning learning objectives and approaches in global engineering graduate programs: Review and recommendations by an interdisciplinary working group

MacDonald, L., Thomas, E., Javernick-Will, A., Austin-Breneman, J., Aranda, I., Salvinelli, C., Klees, R., Walters, J., Parmentier, M. J., Schaad, D., Shahi, A., Bedell, E., Platais, G., Brown, J., Gershenson, J., Watkins, D., Obonyo, E., Oyanedel-Craver, V., Olson, M., Lau, R., & 8 othersRao, G., Arzon, A., Krishnaswamy, K., Pickering, A. J., Mabey, C., Johnson, A., Gehr, R. & Linden, K., Jan 2022, In: Development Engineering. 7, 100095.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Environmental analysis of health damages coming from a residential neighborhood built in 150 countries

Nematchoua, M. K., Asadi, S., Obonyo, E. & Reiter, S., Dec 2022, In: Journal of Housing and the Built Environment. 37, 4, p. 1643-1665 23 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Enhancing the resilience of low-income housing using emerging digital technologies

Obonyo, E. A. & Ouma, L. A., 2022, In: IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science. 1101, 9, 092013.

Research output: Contribution to journalConference articlepeer-review

Success factors to large-scale adoption of wearable technology for musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) prevention: A case study

Yin, Q., Obonyo, E., Eskandrani, A. & Zhao, J., 2022, In: IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science. 1101, 9, 092025.

Research output: Contribution to journalConference articlepeer-review

Improving posture recognition among construction workers through data augmentation with generative adversarial network

Zhao, J., Obonyo, E. & Yin, Q., 2022, In: IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science. 1101, 9, 092005.

Research output: Contribution to journalConference articlepeer-review

Fiber reinforced compressed earth blocks: Evaluating flexural strength characteristics using short flexural beams

Donkor, P., Obonyo, E. & Ferraro, C., Nov 1 2021, In: Materials. 14, 22, 6906.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Transition to zero energy and low carbon emission in residential buildings located in tropical and temperate climates

Nematchoua, M. K., Orosa, J. A., Ricciardi, P., Obonyo, E., Sambatra, E. J. R. & Reiter, S., Jul 2 2021, In: Energies. 14, 14, 4253.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

A global building network research for advancing healthy and affordable housing

Obonyo, E. & Mutunga, J., 2021, In: Cities and Health. 5, sup1, p. S166-S169

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Applying incremental Deep Neural Networks-based posture recognition model for ergonomics risk assessment in construction

Zhao, J. & Obonyo, E., Oct 2021, In: Advanced Engineering Informatics. 50, 101374.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Wearable inertial measurement unit sensing system for musculoskeletal disorders prevention in construction

Zhao, J., Obonyo, E. & Bilén, S. G., Feb 2 2021, In: Sensors (Switzerland). 21, 4, p. 1-28 28 p., 1324.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Design and development of energy efficient re-roofing solutions

Habibi, S., Obonyo, E. A. & Memari, A. M., May 2020, In: Renewable Energy. 151, p. 1209-1219 11 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review