Dr. Lilah Besser was selected to present at the 2019 annual Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) on her study of “Neighborhood Park Space and Cognition in Non-demented Older Adults: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.”
Dr. Steve Bourassa, director of the School of Urban and Regional Planning, and his co-authors received the best paper prize sponsored by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors at the Asian Real Estate Society 2019 Annual Conference held in July in Shenzhen, China. The paper, titled “Heterogeneous Households and Market Segmentation in a Hedonic Framework”, was co-authored by Martijn Dröes of the University of Amsterdam and Martin Hoesli of the University of Geneva. The photo shows Professors Hoesli and Bourassa receiving the prize from award committee members Yuming Fu of the National University of Singapore and Ko Wang of Johns Hopkins University.
Dr. Eric Dumbaugh, Associate Professor in the FAU School of Urban and Regional Planning, wears many hats. In addition to his full-time teaching role, he is also the Associate Editor of the Journal of the American Planning Association and the Associate Director of the Collaborative Sciences Center for Road Safety, headquartered at the University of North Carolina.
He also works with the World Health Organization and the Swedish Ministry of Transport to include traffic safety into the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that are projected to be adopted in 2020 and will guide United Nations programs and investments. He also does ongoing work with the World Resources Institute (WRI) on global road safety, where he also served as a technical advisor to the manual titled “Cities Safer by Design”. Dr. Dumbaugh most recently led a two-week long, WRI-sponsored educational program for transportation professionals in Fortaleza and Sao Paulo, Brazil in Summer 2019. We sat down with him to talk about the program.
Q: How long have you been working with WRI?
A: Since 2012, I have provided training and technical services to the World Resource Institute’s Ross Center for Sustainable Cities (WRI Ross Center) as part of the Bloomberg Initiative for Global Road Safety (Bloomberg Initiative). This effort is focused on reducing the global incidence of traffic-related death and injury, which currently results in 1.3 million deaths and 50 million serious injuries each year. The majority of these deaths and injuries are the result of the rapid urbanization of the developing world and involve vulnerable road users, including pedestrians and cyclists.
In 2010, the WRI Ross Center was sponsored by the Bloomberg Initiative to develop an evidence base for the prevention of traffic-related deaths and injuries. My efforts as part of this effort have including training WRI personnel in Rio de Janeiro, Mexico City, and Washington DC on the relationship between urban design and road safety, providing technical assistance for the development of the manual Cities Safer by Design, and discussing emerging road safety challenges at the World Bank.
The summer program was part of Phase 2 of the Bloomberg Initiative, which is focused on advancing road safety practice by provided focused training to transportation personnel in 10 select cities (Accra, Addis Ababa, Bandung, Bangkok, Bogota, Fortaleza, Ho Chi Minh City, Mumbai, Sao Paulo, and Shanghai). My role in this effort is to participate in the development and delivery of week-long training sessions that detail policies and practices for addressing the safety challenges faced by cities undergoing rapid urbanization.
Q: What were your teaching goals for the two-week course in Brazil?
A: The rapid urbanization of the developing world has resulted in the rapid increase of U.S.-style patterns of automobile use and traffic congestion. Nonetheless, this growing affluence has been accompanied by increasing economic disparity, placing lower-income populations at disproportionate risk of being injured or killed in a traffic crash. The course detailed the problems associated with the rapid increase in automobile use, and provides local planners, engineers, and elected officials with guidance on how to mitigate and prevent traffic-related death and injury. The course also detailed the costs of traffic crashes on society, details how to integrate safety considerations into transportation planning and project development processes and engaged participants in the development of safety solutions for high-crash locations in their jurisdictions.
Q: Why is WRI’s work so relevant and important right now?
A: Their efforts are at the forefront of moving our cities to a post-automobile future. The present narrative is that automated vehicles (AVs) will liberate society from not only the burdens of driving, but also from the incidence of traffic-related deaths and injuries. The reality is that these technologies are incapable of safely adapting to urban environments (which is increasingly being demonstrated by my colleagues that are conducting safety testing on AVs). Moreover, the costs of these technologies make them largely inapplicable to the needs of the developing world.
The growing problems with the expanding use of automobiles in the developing world are going to force a fundamental rethinking of the nature of urban development, one which I expect will echo back into the development patterns in the United States. Indeed, the US is unique among developed countries in its continued prioritization of personal automobiles as a primary means of urban transportation. This approach is unsustainable, as evidenced by the declining state of our nation’s transportation infrastructure and the growing deficit of the Highway Trust Fund. A major goal of this program is to empower developing countries to move beyond the 20th century’s reliance on personal automobiles, and to begin to develop 21st urban transportation solutions.
Led by Peter Henn, SURP Instructor, and Brandon Johnson, SURP graduate student and CDSI graduate adviser, a group of 24 SURP undergraduate and graduate students visited Paris, France in May.They traveled to the historic city to study modern urban design and transportation and learn how to apply international concepts to local urban planning situations.
It was all part of the “Planning Abroad” URP 5958/URP 4955 course, offered each summer. We sat down with Brandon to talk about the trip.
CDSI: How do you feel the study-abroad program has enhanced your academic experience?
BJ: It has shown me some unique urban implementations of international cities and provided some ideas of how we can improve urban planning in South Florida.
CDSI: What were the top highlights of the trip?
BJ: Visiting and having lunch in the Eiffel Tower and Basilique du Sacre church.
CDSI: What advice would you give to students considering enrolling in this course?
BJ: Take advantage of this amazing experience. Many of our students have not only gained a wealth of knowledge of how international cities are designed and operate but have also made new friends within the programs. The experience is priceless.
Check it out in the University catalog or email Instructor Peter Henn with any specific questions about the “Planning Abroad” course.
Dr. Steven Bourassa and colleagues have published a number of articles in the field of international real estate research.
“Estimation and updating methods for hedonic valuation” (with Michael Mayer, Martin Hoesli, and Donato Scognamiglio), Journal of European Real Estate Research, vol. 12, no. 1 (2019), pp. 134-150.
Abstract: This paper uses a large and rich data set consisting of over 123,000 single-family houses sold in Switzerland between 2005 and 2017 to investigate the accuracy and volatility of different methods for estimating and updating hedonic valuation models. We apply six estimation methods (linear least squares, robust regression, mixed effects regression, random forests, gradient boosting, and neural networks) and two updating methods (moving and extending windows). The gradient boosting method yields the greatest accuracy while the robust method provides the least volatile predictions. There is a clear trade-off across methods depending on whether the goal is to improve accuracy or avoid volatility. The choice between moving and extending windows has only a modest effect on the results. The results should prove useful in improving hedonic models used by property tax assessors, mortgage underwriters, valuation firms, and regulatory authorities.
“Measuring house price bubbles” (with Martin Hoesli and Elias Oikarinen), Real Estate Economics, vol. 47, no. 2 (2019), pp. 534-563.
Abstract: Using data for six metropolitan housing markets in three countries, this paper provides a comparison of methods used to measure house price bubbles. We use an asset pricing approach to identify bubble periods retrospectively and then compare those results with results produced by six other methods. We also apply the various methods recursively to assess their ability to identify bubbles as they form. In view of the complexity of the asset pricing approach, we conclude that a simple price-rent ratio measure is a reliable method both ex post and in real time. Our results have important policy implications because a reliable signal that a bubble is forming could be used to avoid further house price increases.
“Folk custom and home improvement decisions” (with Wen-Chieh Wu and Yu-Chun Ma), International Real Estate Review, vol. 21, no. 3 (2018), pp. 317-341.
We test whether Chinese folk customs and taboos have impacts on the home improvement decisions of Taiwanese homeowners. Based on traditional Chinese culture, we choose dragon and widow’s years as indicators of auspicious (fortune) and inauspicious (taboo) times, respectively. Using a Heckman two-stage estimation approach, our empirical results provide evidence that traditional Chinese folk customs and taboos indeed play roles in decisions on home improvement. We find that the likelihood of a homeowner making home improvements falls significantly at the so-called taboo time. Moreover, we find that expenditure on home improvements rises at the so-called fortune time, particularly in areas outside the capital city region. In addition to considering the impacts of folk customs on home improvement decisions, this paper contributes to the literature by establishing a theoretical model that reflects the fact that homeowners play dual roles as both consumers and suppliers of housing.
Congratulations to Lilah Besser, Assistant Professor, on her recently published article “Differences in Cognitive Impairment in Primary Age-Related Tauopathy Versus Alzheimer Disease” in the Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology.
The study compares Alzheimer’s disease and primary age-related tauopathy (PART), two aging-related conditions associated with brain pathology.
Urban and Regional Planning students at FAU are working with City of West Palm Beach Planners to formulate ideas to improve the Jefferson Terminal District, southwest of downtown. It’s all part of a class project led by John Renne, Associate Professor, and featuring graduate student, Andrew VanValin.
Congratulations to Louis Merlin, Assistant Professor, who was a finalist for the FAU 2019 Distinguished Teacher of the Year Award.
The FAU Graduate College is shining a spotlight on MURP student, Kestride Estil. When a devastating earthquake hit her home in Haiti in 2010, causing housing and debris crises, Kestride was determined to find a solution. Her research collaborations with FAU’s School of Architecture and GFA International (an environmental and geological engineering consulting organization) resulted in innovative ideas for using construction debris left behind by the earthquake to affordably re-build housing in Haiti.
Climate adaptation is a timely yet complex topic that does not fit squarely into any one disciplinary realm. Read more
A study released by FAU’s Center for Urban and Environmental Solutions (CUES) found that the vast majority of counties in the Florida Panhandle were less prepared for emergency evacuation compared to the rest of the state. Read more
South Florida’s Brightline: The Public Costs of Private Rail
The decline of state and federal transportation funding led to increased reliance on private sector partners to finance and construct new capital infrastructure. In this context, the Brightline project (formerly known as All Aboard Florida) is particularly promising. Heralded as the first 100 percent privately-owned and operated rail line built in the last 100 years, Brightline began service in late 2017, running 32 high-speed trains daily between Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach, FL, USA, with future expansion to the Orlando Intermodal Transportation Facility. An article by Jesse Saginor, Ph.D., AICP and Eric Dumbaugh, Ph.D. explores this topic. Read the article
Large-scale damage to the power infrastructure from hurricanes and high-wind events can have devastating ripple effects on infrastructure, the broader economy, households, communities, and regions. Read the research by Dr. Diana Mitsova in Natural Hazards: Socioeconomic vulnerability and electric power restoration timelines in Florida: the case of Hurricane Irma
More than 100 prospective students and family members visited the College for Design and Social Inquiry during the “College Expedition” portion of Explore FAU 2018. It was a great opportunity for Owl hopefuls to visit the colleges and departments they’re most interested in and speak with faculty and existing students about what it would be like to be a student in their respective degree programs.
There is a growing understanding that cross‐sector risks faced by critical infrastructure assets in natural disasters require a collaborative foresight from multiple disciplines. However, current contributions to infrastructure interdependency analysis remain centered in discipline‐specific methodologies often constrained by underlying theories and assumptions. Dr. Diana Mitsova‘s perspective article contributes to ongoing discussions about the uses, challenges, and opportunities provided by interdisciplinary research in critical infrastructure interdependency analysis. Read the article
Is the fear of the negative economic effects of traffic congestion justified, or is congestion merely a nuisance with little economic impact? Research by Wesley E. Marshall of the University of Colorado at Denver and FAU’s Eric Dumbaugh was published in Transportation – Planning – Policy – Research – Practice, challenging the assumption that traffic congestion inhibits economic growth and jobs, costing money and driving away business and activity. The research was also featured in Streetsblog Denver | Read the Transportation article
Dr. Louis Merlin published in Transport Policy an article titled “Accessibility analysis for transportation projects and plans.”
We spend billions of dollars on new roadways, but are they making our transportation system work more efficiently? In this paper, Dr. Louis Merlin examines transportation success from two perspectives, firstly, in relation to how fast vehicles are able to travel, and secondly, in relation to how many destinations can be reached. From the perspective of speed, these roadway investments are working; but from the perspective of how many useful destinations can be reached, this study of San Antonio finds that typical radial highway investments may not offer any net benefits. Read the article
On Thursday, May 2, 2019, 289 bachelor students, 139 masters students and 9 doctoral students – including the inaugural cohort of the first Doctor of Social Work program (DSW) in the state of Florida – accepted their diplomas from the College for Design and Social Inquiry at Florida Atlantic University. To all of our graduates, it has been our pleasure to have you in our classrooms and to watch you grow and learn in your programs.
Whether you are continuing your education or ready to apply your knowledge in the world, we look forward to watching your next chapter unfold. Remember that we are here for you and rooting for your success each step along the way.
As you move forward into your future, remember the words of Dr. Manny Gonzalez, DSW Program Coordinator and Associate Professor in the Phyllis and Harvey Sandler School of Social Work, “Know what you know, know what you don’t know, but know what you know well.”
Be well and best wishes!
Want to explore the degree programs in the College for Design and Social Inquiry at FAU? Call our Academic Advising Team today: (561) 297-2316
In the new Research in Transportation Economics article, Dr. Louis A. Merlin examines whether people who move to the intown infill development of Atlantic Station next to Midtown Atlanta travel differently than if they lived elsewhere in the region. He finds that households living in and near Atlantic Station drive significantly less per day than households elsewhere in the region – 18 fewer miles per day – and use walking, biking, and transit more – for 25.9% of their trips.
The upshot is that well-placed infill development actually can help reduce regional levels of congestion, which may be counter-intuitive to some. Read the article
Steve Bourassa, Director of the School of Urban and Regional Planning, co-authored an article titled “U.S. Metropolitan House Price Dynamics” in the May 2018 issue of the Journal of Urban Economics. The paper uses advanced statistical techniques to explain changes in house prices in metropolitan areas in the United States. He and his co-authors find that aggregate personal income for metropolitan areas is an important determinant of house price dynamics, but the effect of aggregate income is closely related to constraints on the supply of housing. Supply constraints can be topographical or regulatory. His co-authors are Martin Hoesli (University of Geneva, Switzerland) and Elias Oikarinen and Janne Engblom (both at the University of Turku, Finland).
May 17, 2018 – 8:30 am – 11:45 am
Palm Beach County Convention Center
West Palm Beach, FL
Submitted for 3 AICP CM credits
Participants in infrastructure restoration prioritization research took part in a fun, interactive, computer-based exercise at the Florida Governor’s Hurricane Conference.
The “Interdependent Infrastructure Incident” (I3) exercise featured a tabletop (discussion-based) exercise within the framework of a simulated disaster scenario. The purpose of the exercise was to collect data on the behavior and decision process of subject matter experts in disaster recovery.
I-Cube is part of the PRAISys project funded by the NSF CRISP 2 Program
All the best and continued success for our newest MURP graduates. From left to right, Ana Carolina Rocha, Daniel Mantell, (Dr. Louis Merlin), Ben Oliver and Alexis Rosenberg.
On Thursday, May 3, 2018, nearly 300 bachelor students and 140 masters students accepted their diplomas from the College for Design and Social Inquiry at Florida Atlantic University. To all of our students, it has been our pleasure to have you in our classrooms and to watch you grow and learn in your programs.
Whether you are continuing your education or ready to apply your knowledge in the workforce, we look forward to watching your next chapter unfold. Remember that we are here for you and rooting for your success each step along the way.
As Chairman of the FAU Board of Trustees Anthony Barbar said during his undergraduate commencement speech, “It’s now our turn to learn from you.” Be well and best wishes!
Want to explore the degree programs in the College for Design and Social Inquiry at FAU? Call our Academic Advising Team today: (561) 297-2316
The Journal of Environmental Planning Management published Dr. Diana Mitsova’s research on Spatial decision support for nature-based shoreline stabilization options in subtropical estuarine environments.
Related projects include the study, ‘Suitability Analysis for Living Shorelines Development in Southeast Florida’s Estuarine Systems,‘ funded by The Nature Conservancy, and a story map created by The Nature Conservancy in collaboration with the Shoreline Resilience Working Group of the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact.
Elsevier announces the formation of a new section of the international journal Transportation Research D focusing on Disasters and Resilience. This section will be edited by Karl Kim (University of Hawaii), John Renne (Florida Atlantic University) and Brian Wolshon (Louisiana State University).
This section of Transportation Research D will build on the special capabilities and interests of transportation researchers, coming from multiple disciplines, worldwide, to address the critical ways in which transportation science and the supporting theories, methods, and tools can be applied to increase societal resilience against all hazards, both natural and man-made. In addition to the wide range of natural hazards including both geo-physical and hydro-meteorological, the section will also cover industrial accidents, cascading events (where one hazard such as an earthquake can trigger a release of toxins and harmful substances into the environment), and intentional acts of sabotage or terrorism. In each of these disasters and emergencies, transportation plays a significant role. Core concepts such as travel demand modeling, rare event forecasting, activity-based analyses, system performance monitoring, optimization across time and space, mode choice, network analysis, geospatial modeling, and many other methods are appropriate topics for this section.
Interested authors are encouraged to contact section editors or submit manuscripts through EVISE: https://www.evise.com/profile/#/TRD/login
Dr. John L. Renne contributes on NPR’s Here and Now on 12/7/17 talking about Brightline, the private-public partnership, high-speed rail project delivering service to South Florida which relates to his research into rail and economic development. Listen to the interview
SURP’s Dr. Diana Mitsova and other experts presented research on coastal resilience during a King Tide event on board the Lady Atlantic. Read more
Florida Weekly’s Special Report on Planning in Florida featured input from two researchers at FAU’s School of Urban & Regional Planning. Read SURP Director Steven Bourassa’s thoughts on integrating land use and transportation regionally and CUES Director John Renne’s comments on transportation and growth.
As reported in The Guardian, the US spends twice as much on a tax break for the rich as on rent for the poorest. Dr. Steven Bourassa comments on the fact that the US spent $60bn in 2015 on the mortgage interest deduction for wealthy homeowners – while just a quarter of those needing housing assistance receive it. Read the article
How can urban planning students succeed as professionals? FAU Master of Urban and Regional Planning student Conor Campobasso serves as the Manager for Complete Streets and other Localized Initiatives Program (CSLIP) at the Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization (Broward MPO). Conor talks about two of the projects he’s worked on and his tips for succeeding in the field of urban planning.
Planners in attendance at APA’s 2017 National Planning Conference answer that question, providing answers that range from improving access to parks to building a sustainable future. Interested in learning more? Visit our programs:
Urban & Regional Planning | Urban Design | Master of Urban & Regional Planning
The Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association Minority Scholarship is meant to celebrate planning and foster increased interest in planning by providing financial support for planning students who are members of underserved ethnic groups and who attend a PAB-accredited planning institution or urban planning program actively seeking PAB accreditation in the state of Florida. Two scholarships are offered: one for $2000 and one for $1500. Learn more and apply here: 2017 Minority Scholarship Application Package
At the 2017 Florida APA Annual Conference in Daytona Beach, SURP faculty member Peter Henn and MURP student Amanda Murray engaged the audience in their session The A-Z of Land Use Law for Planners in 90 Minutes. See the presentation here
Associate professor Eric Dumbaugh, associate director of the Collaborative Sciences Center for Road Safety, was featured in the Fall 2017 issue of Owl Research & Innovation. In partnership with the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Dumbaugh is co-directing this National University Transportation Center with the goal of improving road safety. Read the article
Join us Friday, August 25 for the Fall Kick-Off and Orientation to be held Friday, August 25th from 7 to 9 pm at the Biergarten, 309 Via de Palmas #90, Boca Raton, FL 33432. All new and continuing SURP students, faculty, mentors, and supporters are invited to attend. This will be a great opportunity for students, faculty, and professional planners to interact.
New students will receive an orientation, can meet with continuing students, and also learn about professional planning and student planning organizations (Planning Society @ FAU).
In addition, the event will provide an opportunity for participants in the Mentorship Program to meet. Food and drinks will be provided. We hope to see you there!
Please RSVP so we can cater for the right number of attendees
During Spring Break 2018, Peter Henn will lead FAU Planning Abroad to London to study modern urban planning and design and transportation in a historical city. To secure a spot, students must sign up by December 2017. Limited scholarships to qualified students may be available. Get ready for some fun!
Learn more HERE about FAU Planning Abroad
Apply HERE to Study Abroad by November 30
For more information contact Peter J. Henn, J.D., AICP, Florida Atlantic University’s School of Urban & Regional Planning, at PHenn@FAU.edu or telephone 561-558-3884.
On April 25-26, 2017 CUES partnered with FAU’s Center for Environmental Studies (CES) to offer the inaugural FAU Incubator for Sustainable & Resilient Communities. The cities of Hollywood and West Palm Beach participated, addressing concerns about flooding and aging infrastructure, connectivity and economic development. The FAU Incubator offers leadership and expertise based on best practices and provides guidance on developing implementable plans and policies. Watch the 2-minute video here.
FAU planning students learned about urban planning and design in Vancouver during their Spring Break 2017 FAU Planning Abroad trip led by Peter J. Henn, J.D., AICP. They saw first hand how public art, the opiate crisis, public opinion and other factors can affect the planning process. See photos here >
Access to geospatial data has transformed Geographical Information Systems (GIS) technology into one of the most widely-used and comprehensive analytical tools for local governments and city planners. To respond to the growing demand for GIS professionals, the Department of Geosciences jointly with the School of Urban and Regional Planning has developed a 15-credit graduate GIS certificate program. Students can apply the credits earned as part of the certificate towards the Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) degree. For more information please see the certificate program’s web page here.
The application window for the Fall 2017 Mentorship Program has now been extended through July 31st. For more information and to apply to participate as a mentor or student mentee, please click here.
Noted transportation expert and University of California, Berkeley, Professor Emeritus Robert Cervero will speak on the the topic of “Active and Smart Mobility: Can They Co-Exist?” at FAU’s Fort Lauderdale campus, April 18th, 2017, from noon to 2 pm. For more information, click here: Robert Cervero Lecture Flyer. Please RSVP here: https://tinyurl.com/cervero.
The College Values Online web site has rated SURP’s Bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning program as the 12th best value in the country: http://www.collegevaluesonline.com/rankings/bachelors-urban-regional-planning/.
FAU will receive $1.5 million in total for the next five years from the US Department of Transportation to co-direct the Collaborative Sciences Center for Road Safety, a National University Transportation Center housed at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. This is one of five national centers with the aim to reduce injuries and fatalities on the nation’s roads by providing a new model for understanding and addressing traffic safety issues.
“We are very excited to join forces with the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and our partner universities to work collaboratively to address and improve road safety issues that impact millions of drivers throughout our country,” said Eric Dumbaugh, Ph.D., associate director of the Collaborative Sciences Center for Road Safety, and an associate professor in FAU’s School of Urban and Regional Planning within FAU’s College for Design and Social Inquiry.
Researchers from FAU’s College for Design and Social Inquiry will work with the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; Duke University; the University of California, Berkeley; and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville on transportation research, planning, public health, data science and engineering programs related to the Collaborative Sciences Center for Road Safety.
“The establishment of these new designated centers will help to foster novel ideas that will lead and influence the future of transportation safety in the United States through multidisciplinary research, education, collaboration, and technology transfer activities,” said Daniel C. Flynn, Ph.D., FAU’s vice president for research.
The latest issue of the journal Housing Policy Debate is a special issue co-edited by SURP’s John Renne, Associate Professor and Director of the Center for Urban and Environmental Solutions in the School of Urban and Regional Planning. The issue includes 15 papers focused on how location choices and associated transportation costs affect housing affordability.
SURP Director Steven Bourassa and co-author Martin Hoesli of the University of Geneva have won the “Innovative Thinking Out of the Box” best paper prize for their paper, “High Frequency House Price Indexes with Scarce Data”, presented at the 2016 American Real Estate Society (ARES) Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado. The paper presents a method for calculating house price indexes for small areas, such as city neighborhoods, on a monthly or quarterly basis. The paper is forthcoming in the Journal of Real Estate Literature, which is published by ARES. The prize is sponsored by the Homer Hoyt Institute.
Frank Schnidman, the FAU John M. DeGrove Eminent Scholar Chair in Growth Management and Development, is retiring. Frank began his involvement with FAU and Dr. DeGrove in the late 1970s when they organized seminars and conferences, and in the 1980s when they worked together on significant growth management and platted lands research and publications. In 1987 DeGrove recruited Schnidman to move to Florida and work at the Joint Center for Environmental and Urban Problems, now the Center for Urban and Environmental Solutions (CUES). He has been involved with the Joint Center and CUES, the Institute of Government, and the School of Urban and Regional Planning for most of the past 30 years.
“At 67, it is time to step back and refocus goals and objectives. I hope to work with my co-authors to prepare a comprehensive updated 4th edition of our two-volume 1,600 plus page treatise, Handling the Land Use Case, first published in 1984. I will continue to do consulting regarding redevelopment, and I will spend more time with family.”
SURP thanks Frank for his years of care and nurturing of our planning students and, hopefully, we can have him periodically return to guest lecture!
The School of Urban and Regional Planning is pleased to welcome Bryan McConnell, MBA, who has been appointed Faculty Research Associate and Computer Systems Analyst. He has an MBA in International Business from Florida Atlantic University (FAU) and is finishing a second master’s degree in Information Technology and Operations Management. Mr. McConnell joined FAU from the early childhood education industry where he worked in IT support and database management for hundreds of schools geographically dispersed across the US. Prior to education, Mr. McConnell worked in the telecommunications industry with a focus on applications development and database creation. He created and supported applications to enable the company’s primary task of laying fiber optic cables for corporate and residential customers. Mr. McConnell is working to utilize technology to meet the educational needs of students while preparing for technological changes in Urban and Regional Planning.
