Gabby Abou-Zeid is pursuing her M.S. at Portland State University and working with Dr. Kelly Clifton's SUPER (Sustainable Urban Planning & Engineering Research) Lab. Her research has focused on walkability and pedestrian travel as well as intersections between transportation and land use. Walkable urban design is critcal for resilient cities. Research questions include: How often, and for what trip purposes, are Tucsonans walking as a transportation mode? Which built environment features promote walkability according to both Tucson residents and existing literature? Do the built environment characteristics identified actually impact travel behavior? In Tucson, walkable urban design could benefit or improve public health, pedestrian safety, thermal comfort, local economies, and social capital in addition to helping to reduce the city's carbon footprint.

Watch the interview with Gabby.