The Key Bridge in Baltimore stood for more than half a century until it collapsed when a massive ship it
was never designed to withstand collided with it. Ship collision design provisions established in 1991, well
after the bridge was built, suggest that the chance of collision was extremely low, estimated to be around
1/100,000. This risk assessment, which ultimately proved to be overly optimistic, likely contributed to a
false sense of security about the bridge’s vulnerability and may have impeded proactive measures to

As the largest megacity in the U.S., New York City (NYC) hosts a number of congestion-related challenges involving both passenger and freight last mile movements. The city's dense population and high volume of commercial activity exacerbate these issues, leading to frequent gridlock and delays that impact residents, businesses, and the overall economy. In response, NYC is constantly exploring and testing various policies and programs, including congestion pricing, off-hour deliveries, various parking policies that account for commercial deliveries, bike infrastructure, etc.

Organizing high-impact events, such as sports tournaments, festivals, and concerts, presents substantial social, economic, and transportation challenges. These events can have a significant impact on transportation infrastructure, security protocols, and public services, particularly in regions that are already congested and economically vital, such as the New York-New Jersey (NYNJ) area, which attracts large, diverse crowds from across state lines and around the world.

This research investigates the multifaceted challenges and opportunities presented by the burgeoning demand for urban e-commerce. Focused on providing actionable insights for city planning and transportation agencies, the project will develop methodologies for measuring and managing the impacts of increasing online retail activity within urban environments. Through regular engagement with the Department of City Planning (DCP), the research team will provide project updates, discuss progress, and solicit feedback on key deliverables.  

Vulnerable road users (VRUs)—comprising pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists—account for over half of all global road traffic fatalities. Despite a general decline in traffic deaths, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports an alarming rise in VRU fatalities. This upward trend in VRU fatalities in the United States underscores the urgent need for effective safety measures. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 38,824 lives were lost in traffic crashes nationwide in 2020, with a substantial portion being VRUs.

Urban stormwater flooding represents a persistent and escalating challenge for transportation networks and the well-being of urban populations, causing significant disruptions, economic losses, and safety hazards. This research project directly addresses this critical issue by advancing the development and validation of empirical models capable of predicting the depth and velocity of floodwaters in urban environments under a range of precipitation scenarios.

Trucks are vital to urban economies by facilitating the movement of goods and services, but their
presence can significantly affect urban infrastructure, traffic congestion, air quality, and noise pollution.
Effective urban planning and policymaking depend on a comprehensive understanding of truck activity.
However, urban truck data collection remains limited. This study will make the first attempt to address this
urban freight data gap by leveraging drive-by sensing technology, specifically leveraging data from Google

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, New York, like most US and global cities, has seen rapid evolution of (1) work location and time flexibility and (2) adoption of online shopping alternatives for diverse commodities by varying shopper populations.  It is expected that changes in work location – particularly the increased opportunity for some individuals to work from home at least a few days per week – could have profound impacts on the choice of location for shopping activities and on the likelihood of receiving home deliveries.

Currently, few municipal or regional authorities have access to the disaggregate freight activity data needed for planning, operational decision-making, freight externality evaluation (e.g. air pollution, collision risk), or equity analysis. Due to stakeholder privacy concerns, freight data are often aggregated by geography and/or commodity, limiting direct applicability of published data for local analysis.

Technology has changed individuals’ travel behavior and time-use in so many ways. As much as it offers variety of benefits to societies, it may add to social exclusion phenomena, since the need for travel is being replaced by a click of a button in cell-phone. People don’t feel the need to leave their home to carry out their tasks. They work from home, they order their items online, and even if they want to attend a meeting, they no longer are obliged to travel.