ABSTRACT: Over the last decade, Airbnb has evolved from a small bed and breakfast service to a global hospitality giant operating in 80,000 cities worldwide, offering various accommodations and experiences. With its expansion, there’s increased scrutiny from cities, researchers, and the public on its impacts and the need for regulation.… read more
Projects
Hurricane Harvey: equal opportunity storm or disparate disaster
ABSTRACT: Following Hurricane Harvey, media outlets labeled it as an “equal opportunity” disaster, challenging existing research on social vulnerability which indicates marginalized groups face disproportionate risks and impacts from disasters. To assess the accuracy of this claim, we utilized regression techniques to analyze the relationship between social vulnerability indicators and… read more
Exploring the Spatial Distribution of Air Pollutants and COVID-19 Death Rate: A Case Study for Los Angeles County, California
Abstract: Since March 2020, COVID-19 has spread globally, resulting in millions of deaths. The role of air pollutants in exacerbating respiratory illnesses like COVID-19 remains unclear. While regional studies have explored this association, its consistency at the neighborhood level is uncertain. This study compares weekly COVID-19 death rates across 11… read more
Traffic Behavior Recognition from Traffic Videos under Occlusion Condition: A Kalman Filter Approach
Abstract: Real-time traffic data is crucial for adaptive traffic light control systems. Traditional sensors like infrared radiation and GPS lack detail. Surveillance cameras offer potential for detailed traffic analysis. This study utilizes a You Only Look Once (YOLO) algorithm for vehicle detection and tracking in traffic videos, aided by a… read more
Predicting and mapping neighborhood-scale health outcomes: A machine learning approach
Abstract: Estimating health outcomes at a neighborhood level is crucial for urban health promotion but can be resource-intensive. This paper introduces a machine learning approach to predict the prevalence of six common chronic diseases at the census tract level in Austin, Texas. By experimenting with eight machine learning algorithms and… read more
Land value impacts of Airbnb listings on single-family homes in Austin, Texas, USA
Abstract: This study investigates the impact of Airbnb listings on land values in the Austin, Texas area, focusing on single-family homes. Using three models—ordinary least squares regression, geographically weighted regression (GWR), and Bayesian analysis—it examines spatial distribution and temporal effects on land parcel data within Travis County. Results suggest that… read more
The impact of COVID-19 on home value in major Texas cities
Abstract: This study examines the impact of COVID-19 on housing prices in four major metropolitan areas in Texas: Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. Using a linear mixed effects model, it analyzes socioeconomic, housing, and transportation factors affecting median home prices while considering fixed and random effects. Results reveal that… read more
Understanding the Impact of Street Patterns on Pedestrian Distribution: A Case Study in Tianjin, China
Abstract: This study examines how street patterns, metro stations, and urban function density influence pedestrian distribution in Tianjin, China. Thirteen neighborhoods from the city center and suburbs were selected for observation. Data on pedestrian and vehicle volumes were collected from 703 street segments. Regression models were employed to analyze the… read more
Planning Support for Smart Cities in the PostCOVID Era
Abstract: The COVID-19 crisis has transformed the importance of smart cities, highlighting the vital role of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in crisis management and post-pandemic life. Originally a branding strategy, smart city technologies are now essential infrastructure facilitating remote work and online interactions. This urgency has prompted urban planners… read more
Artificial Intelligence & Smart City Ethics: A Systematic Review
Abstract: Smart city technologies offer unprecedented capabilities to track urban residents with great precision, raising significant ethical concerns regarding privacy and safety. This systematic review gathers and categorizes existing literature on the ethics of smart cities. Authors conducted a keyword search across 5 databases, identifying 34 academic publications from 2014… read more