SoCEE Alumna and Faculty Article Named Most Viewed in Future Transportation



Saki Rezwana, Assistant Professor at Navajo Technical University


Nicholas Lownes, PE, Associate Professor and Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies

UConn Civil and Environmental Engineering Ph.D. alumna Dr. Saki Rezwana, and Dr. Nicholas Lownes co-authored a paper that was recognized as the most viewed article in 2024 by the international journal Future Transportation.

Their article, “Interactions and Behaviors of Pedestrians with Autonomous Vehicles: A Synthesis,” examines one of the most pressing challenges of emerging mobility: how pedestrians interact with autonomous vehicles (AVs). Unlike human-driven vehicles, AVs cannot rely on traditional communication cues such as eye contact or hand gestures, raising critical questions about safety and public trust.

The review highlights:

  • The variability of pedestrian behavior and its impact on AV adoption and safety.
  • The need for innovative communication strategies that allow AVs to signal intent and mimic human-like interactions with pedestrians.
  • The role of smart traffic management systems and redesigned infrastructure in supporting safe coexistence of AVs, traditional vehicles, and pedestrians.
  • The importance of advancing detection technologies capable of anticipating pedestrian movements more accurately.

Rezwana and Lownes conducted a comprehensive review and synthesis of global research on AV–pedestrian interactions, analyzing 163 peer-reviewed studies to identify key behavioral patterns, safety concerns, and technological solutions. Their work also incorporated perspectives from transportation authorities to better understand the evolving challenges of integrating AVs into urban environments.

“Integrating AVs promises substantial benefits, from reduced congestion to fewer accidents,” the authors conclude. “But to realize these gains, policymakers, technologists, and urban planners must work together to ensure this transition is conducted safely, efficiently, and ethically.”

Dr. Lownes, who serves as Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies, Associate Director of Transportation & Urban Engineering, and Associate Director of Construction Management in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, emphasized that the recognition reflects both Rezwana’s leadership as first author and UConn’s broader commitment to shaping the future of transportation.

📖 Read the article here: https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7590/4/3/34