Danial Chekani, PhD student, Department Head of Civil and Architectural Engineering and Mechanics, University of Arizona
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https://arizona.zoom.us/j/83361715806?from=addon#success
Summary: Southern Arizona is hosting a new mining project that aims to supply critical minerals for the clean energy transition, but its success depends on understanding how it will shape the region’s communities and infrastructure. While earlier studies focused narrowly on transportation feasibility, the University of Arizona is now leading a broader assessment of impacts on demographics, economy, accessibility, communication systems, and transportation networks. The first phase of this study, led by CAPLA in collaboration with CATS, Eller College, and the ECE department, centers on assessing current countywide capacity, benchmarking against comparable regions, and identifying gaps in infrastructure, services, and workforce systems. This presentation highlights transportation-related analyses, including road quality, freight and truck infrastructure, traffic demand, roadway expansion potential, and energy use. Findings suggest that Santa Cruz County should expand truck infrastructure, prioritize pavement rehabilitation, improve high-potential corridors for widening, and plan proactively for steady growth in traffic and energy demand.
Biography: Danial Chekani is a second-year PhD student and graduate research assistant at the University of Arizona's Center for Applied Transportation Sciences (CATS). With a background in computer science, his research focuses on developing data-driven methods for advancing smart and efficient transportation systems. His work combines machine learning and simulation technologies to develop innovative solutions in transportation planning and operations.