In collaboration with Dr. Ryan Wang from Northeastern University, our team has been awarded a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) as part of the Smart & Connected Communities (SCC) program. This project represents a pioneering approach to one of the most pressing issues facing urban environments today: mobility for the aging population. With a focus on leveraging cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR) technologies, this project aims to transform how cities are designed to serve older adults. The goal is to make urban areas more accessible and inclusive, enhancing the quality of life for our elderly citizens and ensuring that they can navigate their cities safely and comfortably.

Our research will utilize realistic urban simulations to study and improve city planning, infrastructure design, and operations. The novelty of this project lies in its methodology, which integrates advanced technological solutions with a strong emphasis on social equity and user experience. The outcomes of this research are expected to have broad impacts, including fostering inclusivity in civil infrastructure systems and providing invaluable educational opportunities for future engineers and scientists. Our specific role in this project will involve the use of Generative AI (GenAI) to create urban designs that support collaborative and participatory planning processes.

Award info:

https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2402438&HistoricalAwards=false