UT Urban Information Lab

Abstract The COVID-19 is a global pandemic and crisis of public health. Although studies investigate the spatial factors of COVID-19, most of them are based on the macro-level. There is a rising demand to examine the emerging patterns of socio-demographic and COVID-19, especially for preventing the second-peak of COVID-19 outbreaks.… read more 

Abstract The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is currently being regarded worldwide as a global pandemic, with New York City as one of the epicenters. There is an emerging demand for precise investigation on this disease, specifically how to slow outbreaks and reopen responsibly. This paper explores and models the spatial factors… read more 

Abstract This paper investigates the COVID-19 transmission risk between different counties in the state of New York during the first month of the pandemic and makes contributions in two areas. First, using the publicly available COVID-19 case dataset in the state of New York, this study measures the COVID-19 outbreak… read more 

Abstract: This study explores the socioeconomic disparities observed in the early adoption of Electric Vehicles (EVs) in the United States. A multiagent deep reinforcement learning-based policy simulator was developed to address the disparities. The model, tested using data from Austin, Texas, indicates that neighborhoods with higher incomes and a predominantly… read more 

Abstract: This paper aims to investigate the following research questions: (1) what are the hourly patterns of heat index and heat-related emergency medical service (EMS) incidents during summertime?; and (2) how do the lagged effects of heat intensity and hourly excess heat (HEH) vary by heat-related symptoms? Using the hourly… read more 

Abstract: Due to the time-sensitive nature of heat-related illnesses, disparities in access to heat-related emergency medical services (EMS) services may contribute to urban health disparities. This paper is an empirical study utilizing Austin-Travis County EMS data to estimate the delays in response time due to traffic congestion through spatiotemporal analysis… read more 

Abstract Despite a growing body of research on the smart city framework for disaster resilience, a comprehensive systematic literature review from urban planning perspectives has never been attempted. In this review of smart and resilient cities, we distill vital learning and shared concepts, identify research trends and limitations, and suggest… read more 

Abstract Extreme heat exposure and sensitivity have been a growing concern in urban regions as the effects of extreme heat pose a threat to public health, the water supply, and the infrastructure. Heatrelated illnesses demand an immediate Emergency Medical Service (EMS) response since they might result in death or serious… read more 

ABSTRACT Fires and burning are the chief causes of particulate matter (PM2.5), a key measurement of air quality in communities and cities worldwide. This work develops a live fire tracking platform to show active reported fires from over twenty cities in the U.S., as well as predict their smoke paths… read more 

Abstract Cities worldwide have initiated the installation of urban climate sensors to monitor air quality in real time and take proactive measures against the growing threat of climate change. This study focuses on the city of Chicago and utilizes Microsoft’s recently launched Project Eclipse sensors to evaluate air quality status.… read more