About
Joe F. Bozeman III is a professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology, specializing in Civil and Environmental Engineering and Public Policy. His research focuses on the intersection of equity, social identity, and socioecology, particularly in the context of food, energy, and water systems (FEW). He investigates social receptivity, climate change adaptation, and mitigation strategies, with a focus on black communities and their resilience.
Research topics
- Political Science
- Business
- Economics
- Public economics
- Sociology
- Actuarial science
- Medicine
- Geography
- Law
- Environmental health
- Public relations
- Gerontology
- Economic growth
- Environmental resource management
- Environmental protection
- Environmental economics
Selected publications
2026-01-01
articleOpen accessField performance of biochar-amended topsoil for heavy metal removal from urban stormwater runoff
Environmental Challenges · 2026-04-22
articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding• Field-scale evaluation confirms biochar as a viable heavy metal treatment strategy. • Biochar increased infiltration and porosity, enhancing capture and sorption. • Copper and Zinc show consistently strong attenuation; Lead exhibits variable behavior. • Effluent pH and EC shifts govern ion exchange and surface complexation. • Aging and vegetation reduce performance; Fe/Al/Mn-oxide co-media advised for Pb. Urban stormwater runoff is a major pathway for heavy metal pollution in watersheds. However, the field-scale performance and durability of biochar-amended media treatment remain underexplored. This study evaluated biochar-amended topsoil as a stormwater BMP, comparing heavy metal removal performance against unamended media and assessing treatment durability under natural field conditions. Building on our prior bench-scale experiments, we conducted a year-long, paired field trial at an urban parking lot to assess heavy metal (Cu, Zn, and Pb) removal and hydrological performance. Two identical surface infiltration cells (each 23.23 m² × 0.30 m depth) were constructed: a Control Cell (topsoil only) and a Test Cell (5% (wt%) biochar-amended topsoil). Over the monitoring period (Summer 2023 to Summer 2024), 1,999 L of stormwater were treated per cell across 23 rainfall events. Influent concentrations varied considerably across storm events, ranging from 1.06–4.61 µg/L for total Zn, 0.12–0.27 µg/L for total Pb, and 0.09–1.56 µg/L for total Cu. The Test Cell demonstrated significantly greater removal than the Control Cell (p < 0.001), achieving removal efficiencies of 58.88–97.18% for total Cu, 40.37–97.43% for total Zn, and 2.38–84.25% for total Pb. Dissolved Cu (75.90%) and Zn (74.00%) were effectively removed, whereas dissolved Pb exhibited persistent desorption. Ion exchange and surface complexation were identified as dominant removal mechanisms. However, treatment performance declined over time with biochar aging and vegetation growth. These findings provide rare field-scale validation of biochar-amended topsoil as a sustainable green infrastructure strategy, while highlighting the importance of long-term monitoring and targeted design refinements for dissolved Pb attenuation.
Journal of Cleaner Production · 2025-02-01 · 4 citations
articleOpen accessSenior authorCorrespondingProcess Safety and Environmental Protection · 2025-10-10 · 2 citations
articleSenior authorCorrespondingJournal of Environmental Management · 2025-06-27 · 4 citations
articleOpen accessSenior authorCorrespondingUnited States (US) Department of Transportation (DOT) has constructed various treatment facilities on its right-of-way (ROW) to collect and treat highway stormwater runoff. Highway stormwater best management practice (BMP) treatment facilities include infrastructure such as bioslopes, sand filters, infiltration trenches, and grass channels. Among these BMPs, bioslopes have become more popular due to their applicability for roadway embankments and areas with limited ROW constraints. They remove pollutants effectively through physical filtration and chemical adsorption, facilitated by the engineered topsoil, which features a media mix of crushed rock, perlite, dolomite, and gypsum, albeit at a high cost. Biochar, typically made from wood biomass, is readily available and more cost-effective. This study, therefore, explores a new media mixture of biochar and topsoil for bioslopes. Four topsoil series (Tifton, Cecil, Pacolet, and Cowarts) were sampled across Georgia, analyzed, and amended with 0 %, 5 %, 7 %, and 10 % (weight percent, wt. %) biochar to treat highway stormwater runoff through infiltration. By utilizing biochar amended topsoil as a new bioslope media, the removal performances exceeded 60 % for total nitrogen (TN), including ammonia nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), and total phosphorus (TP) with only a 5 % biochar amendment to the topsoils. The water holding capacity increased due to reduced hydraulic conductivity (>50 %) in the biochar amended topsoils, potentially increasing surface runoff volume due to low infiltration. The results from this study demonstrate that bioslopes of biochar amended topsoil can potentially minimize material costs in construction while providing a green and sustainable alternative to treat highway stormwater runoff.
Beyond the Cost: Electric Vehicle Ownership and Adoption Intent in U.S. Households
SSRN Electronic Journal · 2025-01-01
preprintOpen accessResults in Engineering · 2025-12-19 · 2 citations
articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding• Developed an integrated WRRF model for food waste valorization • Combined MFA, LCA, and LCCA using full-scale WRRF operational data • Achieved 99.7% GHG reduction and 70% higher phosphorus recovery • Bridged solid waste and wastewater systems for circular bioresource use • Proposed funding and policy tools for scaling WRRF-based FW valorization Food waste (FW) disposal remains a major sustainability issue in the U.S., with 38% of the 96.8 million metric tons annually being landfilled. This study evaluates the benefits of diverting landfilled FW to wastewater resource recovery facilities (WRRFs) for valorization. Using U.S. county-level data, we conducted a static material flow analysis (MFA) and life cycle assessments for three (3) scenarios: FW landfilling, valorization at a conventional activated sludge (CAS) WRRF, and an anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) WRRF with reverse osmosis (RO). Results show that landfilling produced the highest global warming potential (58.2 kg CO₂-eq/ton FW), whereas WRRF FW valorization pathways achieved net-negative emissions. Economic analysis indicated that WRRF valorization remained feasible even when tipping fees were 25% below landfill rates, with net lifecycle profits of $2.45/ton FW (CAS) and $2.33/ton FW (AnMBR). Resource recovery, although modest, included 0.19 kg/day of struvite and 129 kWh/day for CAS, and 6.1 kg/day of struvite and 116.8 kWh/day for AnMBR. Energy return on investment (EROI) reached 18.8% for CAS and 16.7% for AnMBR, while phosphorus recovery was substantially higher in AnMBR (70.4%) compared to CAS (7.9%). This study presents a translatable framework integrating full-scale WRRF modeling with environmental and economic metrics to support a circular economy. To enhance viability, the study also recommends adopting supportive policy instruments—including optimized tipping fee structures, green financing mechanisms, and public–private partnerships—to drive operational efficiency. Collectively, these strategies can reinforce the financial resilience of WRRFs while positioning them as key enablers in accelerating urban circular bioeconomy transitions.
Environmental Research Letters · 2025-01-07 · 17 citations
reviewOpen accessAbstract The automotive industry’s shift to electric vehicles (EVs) faces persistent barriers in pricing, financing, and charging infrastructure, particularly affecting low-income and disadvantaged individuals. These hurdles pose challenges to achieving US decarbonization goals and hinder the development of a sustainable and electrified transportation sector. Global disruptions in the supply chain, driven by the pandemic and geopolitical tensions, exacerbate these challenges, keeping EV purchase prices elevated. Key disruptors include critical mineral scarcity, semiconductor shortages, and international trade and COVID-19-related restrictions, complicating efforts to overcome adoption hurdles. Conducting a systematic review using Google Scholar and ScienceDirect, we focused on articles related to EV supply chain disruptions, equity, and adoption barriers published in English post-2009. We analyzed 130 articles for topical focus and key findings. Our exploration reveals insights into the challenges of electrifying the transportation sector while addressing equity concerns. Proposing a systemic equity framework, we advocate for the simultaneous and effective administration of resources, policies, and cultural considerations for systematically marginalized communities. This holistic approach aims to navigate the complexities of the EV supply chain, fostering a future marked by equitable transport electrification. The intersection of equity issues with supply chain challenges emphasizes the timeliness and importance of this academic examination. Our contribution to the ongoing discourse on achieving a sustainable and inclusive transition to EVs delves into the dynamics of these challenges, highlighting the need for comprehensive solutions.
Beyond the cost: Electric vehicle ownership and adoption intent in U.S. households
Transportation Research Part D Transport and Environment · 2025-08-28 · 2 citations
articleRSC Sustainability · 2025-01-01 · 7 citations
articleOpen accessSenior authorA sustainable hydrothermal carbonization route valorizes expired iron supplements into magnetite nanoparticles, offering low-energy nanomaterial fabrication for water treatment and other industrial applications.
Frequent coauthors
- 12 shared
Thomas L. Theis
University of Illinois Chicago
- 4 shared
Sparkle Springfield
Loyola University Chicago
- 3 shared
Benjamin K. Sovacool
- 3 shared
Hong Huang
Wright State University
- 3 shared
Sybil Derrible
University of Illinois Chicago
- 3 shared
Arjun Thangaraj Ramshankar
Georgia Institute of Technology
- 3 shared
Oliver Heidrich
Newcastle University
- 3 shared
Destenie Nock
Education
Ph.D., Civil and Environmental Engineering | Public Policy
Georgia Institute of Technology
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