This research-based thrust investigates how new mobility technologies impact urban development and land use. Key areas include:

Land Use: Examining the potential of new mobility, including AVs, to stimulate mixed-use developments and reshape urban land use patterns, as well as how new land use can facilitate the adoption of new mobility technologies.
Real Estate: Analyzing the effects on parking demand, real estate development, and the configuration of buildings and blocks.
Urban Design: Assessing the demands on urban design, including curb usage, green spaces, and pedestrian areas, and the reversed impact of urban design on the adoption of new mobility technologies.
Municipal Budget and Financing: Evaluating the impact of new mobility on public infrastructure investments and municipal budgets.

Optimizing urban mobility: A data-driven approach to strategic Mobility Hub placement

2025-03-04T12:28:51-08:00

Cities would need to facilitate a multi-modal mobility platform, which provides travelers with a range of flexible mobility options, such as fixed-route or flex-route public transit, micro-transit, ride-sharing, car rentals, bike-sharing, scooters, and walking routes, some of which can be potentially served by automated vehicles. Those options altogether have potential to help residents reach businesses, employment, health care and other essential points of interest. This research acquires mobility service data to understand travel behavior in choosing mobility options, optimize design of such a platform by optimally placing mobility hubs with multiple mobility options, with the ultimate goals of improving system efficiency, increasing ridership, reducing system cost and enhancing travel safety.

Optimizing urban mobility: A data-driven approach to strategic Mobility Hub placement2025-03-04T12:28:51-08:00

Shifting Spaces: Understanding Land Use and Zoning Adaptations for the Autonomous and Shared Mobility Era

2025-01-16T16:46:38-08:00

As autonomous vehicles (AVs) and shared mobility gain traction, there’s an urgent need to quantify their land use impacts and reassess zoning requirements. The demand for traditional auto-serving facilities like gas stations, repair shops, and car dealerships is expected to wane, while the need for new types of spaces, such as fleet servicing centers and storage, will rise. This shift also redefines the layout and size of freight logistics areas to accommodate the integration of AV technology. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for urban planners and policymakers as they adapt zoning regulations to meet the evolving needs of urban landscapes. This research aims to provide concrete data on land use changes and identify zoning adjustments that support the transition towards a future where AVs and shared mobility solutions are prevalent, helping cities prepare for a sustainable and efficient transformation in urban land utilization.

Shifting Spaces: Understanding Land Use and Zoning Adaptations for the Autonomous and Shared Mobility Era2025-01-16T16:46:38-08:00

Urbanism Next

2024-05-02T15:49:26-07:00

Urbanism Next is a research, outreach, and consulting group that [...]

Urbanism Next2024-05-02T15:49:26-07:00
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