Dr. Arash Tavakoli Receives $200K Grant from the National Science Foundation

Arash Tavakoli, PhD, Villanova University assistant professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, received his first National Science Foundation grant of $200,000 only a few short months after joining the department.

This funding—an Engineering Research Initiation award—will be used to research and improve our comprehension of how pedestrian infrastructure, like sidewalk characteristics, affects human well-being, such as perceived stress when pathways are inadequate. This will be achieved by utilizing multimodal psycho-physiological sensors, such as smart wearable devices, coupled with experience sampling techniques.   

“The transportation system is one of the most important factors in defining our health and well-being, but we often ignore this important facet of our society when it comes to community well-being,” Tavakoli said.

In his project, “From Data to Design: Enhancing Pedestrian Infrastructure for Well-Being through Mobile Sensing and Experience Sampling in the Wild,” Tavakoli and his team of researchers will work with focus groups in a suburban setting to analyze how various walkways, even safe ones, affect well-being metrics such as stress levels. Based on their findings and with direct collaboration with the community, the team will develop and test virtual sidewalk models designed to improve the walking experience. The researchers aim to pinpoint exactly what environmental factors contribute to lowering well-being metrics and how modifications can mitigate these adverse effects.  

“This project builds on my previous work, which focused on the effects of driving infrastructures, such as intersections, on a driver’s stress level, cognitive load and emotions,” Tavakoli said.

The ultimate goal is to develop environments that promote well-being, potentially transforming urban planning and design practices through data-driven insights. As research progresses, it holds the promise of a future where our surroundings actively contribute to our overall happiness and tranquility, Tavakoli said.

“By enhancing our transportation systems, we can affect the community’s well-being directly and indirectly, which can result in saving health-related costs and developing just happier communities,” he said.