Danial Chekani, Ph.D. student, Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering and Mechanics, University of Arizona
When
Noon – 1 p.m., Sept. 2, 2026
Join in person or online:
https://arizona.zoom.us/j/87815388173?from=addon
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Abstract: Since the 1950s, the commercialization of rest areas along the U.S. interstate highways has emerged as a pivotal opportunity in transportation infrastructure planning. However, despite its focal importance, the opportunity remains simply unrealized to a large extent in Arizona due to legal constraints. Addressing such a complex and high-stakes opportunity demands a research design that is as multi-faceted as the challenge itself. Spanning two prominent colleges at the University of Arizona (i.e., the College of Engineering and the Eller College of Management), the research team proposes a multi-faceted approach to investigating the revenue-generation potential of commercializing Arizona’s interstate rest areas.
The project presentation provides an update on the current progress of the project. It presents a reusable and integrated activity-based ABM-SD framework developed to estimate potential commercialization revenue under uncertainty. The framework simulates traveler behavior at rest areas through an agent- and activity-based module that captures parking utilization, spending, and activity participation. It is calibrated to the Arizona context by incorporating long-term parking-adjusted traveler dissatisfaction, truck and passenger entry profiles, and overnight stay behavior.
A comprehensive exploratory analysis under deep uncertainty was conducted using more than 800,000 scenarios. These scenarios capture variations in amenity availability and utilization, nearby competition, parking space availability, fuel price sensitivity, and capture rate uncertainty. The framework provides a foundation for assessing commercialization revenue, costs, and profitability under uncertain future conditions.
Biography: Danial Chekani is a third-year PhD student and graduate research assistant at the University of Arizona’s Center for Applied Transportation Science (CATS). With a background in computer science, his research focuses on advancing human-centric transportation systems through data-driven and simulation-based approaches. His work examines the behavioral, economic, and environmental dynamics of transportation systems to develop innovative solutions in planning and operations.
Contacts
Bharat Pathivada