Collaborative Research on Energy, Air Pollution, Transportation and Environment (CREATE)

Rethinking the Road Ahead: Pioneering Sustainable Urban Mobility

Urban transportation is a multidisciplinary field, where an array of technologies, modes, and fuels converge within changing urban atmospheres. At the Collaborative Research on Energy, Air Pollution, Transportation, and Environment (CREATE) research group, we delve into these complexities—exploring and developing innovative strategies for motorized and electrified transport, mobility-as-a-service, bike and car sharing, and active mobility solutions.

Our Vision and Approach at CREATE

Our mission is to equip cities with the robust analytical tools and models they need to achieve low-carbon, future-ready transportation systems. Beyond environmental indicators like air quality, our research examines how these systems can remain resilient amid climate stressors such as floods, heatwaves, and wildfires.

Research Methodology

CREATE’s methodology centers on integrated modeling approaches, leveraging both established and cutting-edge tools. Our work utilizes open-source software, including CMAQ (The Community Multiscale Air Quality Modeling System), WRF (Weather Research & Forecasting Model), MOVES (Motor Vehicle Emission Simulator), and SMOKE (Sparse Matrix Operator Kernel Emissions).

We complement these tools with customized Python code, advanced data-driven and AI-based modeling techniques for urban trip analysis, demand forecasting, and spatial downscaling. This versatile toolkit allows us to tackle a wide range of transportation and emissions problems, delivering nuanced insights for decision-makers and stakeholders.

Sample Projects

Our research is supported by agencies such as NSERC, ECCC, and Mitacs, and spans diverse projects—from transportation planning in cold-climate cities to community-based mobility solutions that emphasize non-motorized modes like biking and walking. We also investigate dynamic occupancy patterns at large institutions, such as university campuses, to promote efficient, adaptive transportation networks.

Join Our Journey

If you excel in coding, data analytics, statistical analysis, and GIS, and have a strong background in atmospheric chemistry and road transportation emissions, we invite you to contribute to our work. Through collaborative research, innovative modeling, and integrated policy development, CREATE strives to catalyze the transition toward cleaner, more resilient, and more equitable urban transportation—laying the foundations of vibrant, sustainable cities for generations to come.