Jacobs: If/When Cleaner Cities: Harnessing Smarter Mobility & Urban Planning
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Dec 15, 2024 Dr. Laura Schewel, CEO of StreetLight Data, champions data-driven solutions for sustainable transportation, while Jenny Jones, Head of Transport Planning for Europe at Jacobs, emphasizes the integration of urban design with mobility planning. They delve into the Transportation Climate Impact Index, revealing insights on emissions from U.S. cities and the evolution of transport behaviors post-pandemic. The conversation highlights strategies for creating climate-resilient cities, tackling urban sprawl, and promoting social equity through innovative and data-informed transportation systems.
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Origin Of StreetLight Data
- Laura Schewel founded StreetLight Data after noticing severe data gaps in transportation emissions research during her PhD at UC Berkeley.
- She turned an academic project into a business after spotting smartphones' potential to measure travel patterns.
From Street Counts To Leading A Team
- Jenny Jones described starting as a graduate transport planner using manual street observations to collect data.
- She now leads Jacobs' UK & Ireland transport planning team of about 400 people solving everyday client mobility challenges.
Transport's Central Role In Urban Sustainability
- Transport accounts for over a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions in higher-income countries and drives many urban harms like air and noise pollution.
- Well-designed urban mobility and land use reduce sprawl, travel need, and improve equity, health, and economic productivity.