Abebe Dress Beza,
PhD Candidate, Civil Engineering, University of Calgary, Canada
Pillar 1
Abebe Dress Beza is a PhD Candidate in Civil Engineering at the University of Calgary whose research advances quantitative and policy-relevant understanding of transportation equity, accessibility, and integrated mobility systems. Aligned with Pillar 1: Mobility Equity & Access, his work applies spatial accessibility analysis, multimodal network modeling, and optimization methods to support the design and operation of integrated micromobility–transit systems that maximize accessibility, operational efficiency, and equity across urban areas. He also co-authors research evaluating how transportation systems affect healthcare accessibility for vulnerable populations, applying spatial accessibility methods to identify service reach
Pedram Akbari,
PhD Candidate, Civil Engineering, University of Calgary, Canada
Pillar 2
Pedram Akbari is a PhD Candidate in Civil Engineering at the University of Calgary whose research examines the social, economic, and environmental impacts of transportation systems, with a particular focus on inefficiencies arising from empty vehicle movements. His doctoral research investigates the growing prevalence of empty trips across driver-provided mobility systems, including public transit, ride-hailing, taxi services, and carpooling, and their implications for congestion, traffic safety, emissions, energy consumption, and urban livability. Aligned with Pillar 2: Social, Economic & Environmental Impacts of Transport on Health, his research supports evidence-based policy and operational strategies that optimize fleet utilization, inform infrastructure investment decisions, and promote more sustainable and health-protective transportation systems.
Dr. Mohammad Ansari Esfeh
Research Associate, Civil Engineering, University of Calgary, Canada
Pillar 1
Dr. Mohammad Ansari Esfeh is a Research Associate in Civil Engineering at the University of Calgary whose research advances interdisciplinary transportation studies focused on the topological vulnerability of transportation networks to improve freight and passenger movement. He develops conceptual and analytical frameworks to: (i) assess the climate resilience of provincial road networks under extreme weather events and climate change scenarios; and (ii) evaluate how road network disruptions affect (a) access to health care services for remote and isolated communities, and (b) commodity flows within regions or provinces. This work supports evidence-based adaptation and mitigation strategies to enhance infrastructure resilience, reduce inequities in health care access, and lower the economic and environmental costs of freight movement.
Mohammed Hachmi,
Research Assistant, University of Calgary, Canada
Pillar 3
Mohammed Hachmi is a researcher whose work focuses on improving access to high-resolution air-quality information to support child respiratory health, particularly in under-resourced urban communities. Their research investigates the use of Digital Twin technologies to generate real-time, fine-scale estimates of air pollution exposure in areas where dense and costly sensor networks are unavailable. By integrating transportation emissions, land-use patterns, meteorological data, and data-driven modeling, his work aims to overcome the limitations of conventional air-quality monitoring systems and reduce inequities in exposure assessment. This research advances digital innovation for environmental health, supporting evidence-based interventions to reduce childhood asthma risk and inform equitable urban and transportation planning.
