SWAN-Climate
SWAN-Climate builds on the existing SWAN project by adding a climate lens. The project explores the relationship between urban heat, mobility, and the built environment.
The project examines how sidewalks, crossings, green spaces, and public buildings support or hinder movement during changing climate conditions. The study uses a mixed-methods approach. GIS mapping and vulnerability data help identify high-risk areas and guide site selection. Participants will take part in walk-along interviews, keep a one-week mobility diary, and may use photo-elicitation to share their weather-related experiences. Micro-scale audits will assess how pedestrian infrastructure responds to climate challenges.
This study involves cross-site collaboration across M茅tro Vancouver, UK (Manchester and Exeter) and Germany ( Frankfurt). The findings will support future studies on inclusive and climate-resilient neighbourhood design, while contributing to broader conversations around accessibility, environmental justice, and aging in place.
Research Team
Lead/ Project Director
Dr. Atiya Mahmood, 51社区黑料
Dr. Mahmood is a Professor in the Gerontology Department at 51社区黑料with a research focus on older adults, persons with disability, mobility, social inclusion/exclusion and participation, physical environment and health. Her expertise includes qualitative, mixed-method and community-based participatory research.
Her recent research in MAP can be summarized as: a) development of comprehensive and validated user-led tools in environmental assessments for older adults and people with disabilities; b) development of evidence-based Knowledge Translation tools in mobility and participation for diverse group of people using a community-based participatory process.
Co- Lead
, University of British Columbia
Dr. Park is the faculty lead of the , which aims to transform urban nature planning and design through innovative and impactful research. His work focuses on understanding how to design healthy, just, and resilient cities through urban nature.
He holds bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees in landscape architecture from Seoul National University and a Ph.D. in urban planning and design from the University of Utah. Before joining UBC, Dr. Park served as an assistant professor in the Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning at Utah State University.
Co- Investigator (UK)
, The University of Manchester
Dr. Razieh Zandieh is a Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in Urban Design and Planning at the University of Manchester, UK. Her research focuses on healthy urban design, social and spatial inequalities, and age-friendly cities. She has conducted studies on physical activity and is currently involved in projects addressing mental well-being, obesity, and accessible housing. She is also interested in expanding her work to better incorporate the experiences and needs of disabled people in urban environments.
Dr. Zandieh has contributed to both national and local initiatives, including the development of England鈥檚 Green Infrastructure Standards (funded by DEFRA), and a CAPE-funded collaboration with Manchester City Council on integrating health considerations into local design guides. She also participated in a joint research project between the University of Manchester and the University of Toronto examining spatial inequality and obesogenic environments.
Her research employs a combination of qualitative methods (e.g., in-depth and walking interviews), quantitative techniques (e.g., surveys, GIS, statistical analysis), and mixed-method approaches.
Co- Investigator (UK)
, University of Exeter
Dr. Lay is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Psychology at the University of Exeter. Her research intersects health, social, cultural, and lifespan developmental psychology. She is broadly interested in how we navigate and make sense of our social and solitary lives, and how culture and development affect these processes. Dr. Lay takes a methods-focused approach to research that centers participants鈥� lived experiences alongside ecological momentary assessments (EMA) and passive sensing using wearable devices (e.g. location tracking, stress biomarkers). She is passionate about modeling complex behavioural data and about teaching research methods and statistics.
Co- Investigator (Germany)
, Goethe University Frankfurt
Prof. Dr. Frank Oswald is Professor of Interdisciplinary Aging Studies (IAW) in the Department of Educational Sciences and Spokesperson of the Frankfurt Forum for Interdisciplinary Aging Research (FFIA) at Goethe University, as well as Director of the Center AGING at the Goethe Research Academy for Early Career Researchers (GRADE). He holds a degree in psychology and is the author or co-author of numerous articles and book chapters in the fields of gerontology and psychology. He has conducted studies on housing and mobility outside the home in old age in Germany and Europe.
Project Coordinator
, PhD Student, 51社区黑料
Research Assistants
- Cindy Wei, 51社区黑料
- , University of British Columbia
- , University of British Columbia
