Human-Centered Cities

We study how people experience and interact with the built and increasingly automated world around them. Using physiological sensing, immersive simulation, and real-world studies, we investigate how humans perceive, respond to, and interact with physical environments, intelligent systems, and emerging technologies, and use these insights to design safer, healthier, and more human-centered environments.

Villanova University, directed by Arash Tavakoli

Research

01 Human-AV interaction When the car hands back control, is the driver ready? 02 Immersive multi-agent simulation How do drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians behave when they share the same virtual street? 03 Pedestrian well-being How does the street feel to the person walking it? 04 Human-centered public transit design Can stations and vehicles be designed to make the commute feel better? 05 Urban form and well-being Does the shape of a city change how people feel in it? 06 Indoor environments, well-being, and learning Can a classroom help students feel and learn better?

Simulators

We study walking and cycling in immersive virtual reality, using our bicycle and pedestrian simulators.

Bicycle simulator
Bicycle simulator
Pedestrian simulator
Pedestrian simulator

We also run several types of driving simulators to study how people drive, and how they share control with automation.

Driving simulator
Driving simulator
Driving simulator
Driving simulator

News

Selected publications

Join

We’re looking for students and collaborators curious about bodies, behavior, and cities. Get in touch