Junfeng Jiao

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Junfeng Jiao
NationalityAmerican
Alma mater
Scientific career
Fields
Institutions

Junfeng Jiao is an associate professor at the University of Texas at Austin, specializing in smart cities, urban informatics, and ethical artificial intelligence (AI). [1] He serves as a senior Fulbright Specialist on Smart Cities for the Fulbright Program. Jiao is the founding director of the Urban Information Lab, Texas Smart Cities, and the UT NSF Ethical AI Program. [2] [3] [4] Additionally, he is a founding member and past chair of Good Systems, a University of Texas initiative dedicated to advancing ethical AI and machine learning technologies. [5]

Contents

Academic background

Jiao holds a Ph.D. in urban planning and an M.S. in transportation engineering from the University of Washington, an M.S. in geographic information systems from the University of Twente, and an M.E. in architectural design and a B.E. in urban planning from Wuhan University.[ citation needed ]

Career and research

Jiao's research focuses on smart cities, urban informatics, and ethical AI, with significant contributions to advancing the fields of smart city development and data-driven urban systems. Jiao is recognized for his work on shared mobility and for coining the term transit deserts. [6] His research on the economic and health impacts of transit deserts have had further impact for policy discussions. [7] [8] [9]

In recent years, Jiao has expanded his research focus into the ethical use of artificial intelligence for smart cities. [10] [11] Jiao has also worked on robot-human interactions in a pilot program of quadruped delivery robots in UT Austin. [12]

Projects

Jiao leads four major smart city initiatives focused on urban mobility, ethical roboticist training, and smart city knowledge systems. [13] He has directed and collaborated on numerous projects funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), including:

His work has received funding from federal agencies such as the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Transportation, as well as municipal support from the City of Austin and private partners including MITRE Corporation, Dell, Microsoft, and Google. [19] [20] [21]  

Publications

Jiao has authored over 110 peer-reviewed publications, including significant studies on urban mobility, transit deserts, and the societal impact of shared mobility on urban landscapes. [1] He has also written books titled Shared Mobility [22] and Smart Cities. [23]

References

  1. 1 2 "Junfeng Jiao". School of Architecture. The University of Texas at Austin. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
  2. ↑ "Advancing Ethical AI Through Convergent Research". National Science Foundation. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
  3. ↑ "Urban Information Lab". sites.utexas.edu. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  4. ↑ "Texas Smart Cities". smartcity.tacc.utexas.edu. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  5. ↑ Good Systems Team. "Bridging Barriers Team". Bridging Barriers. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  6. ↑ Jiao, Junfeng; Wang, Fangru (2021-02-01). "Shared mobility and transit-dependent population: A new equity opportunity or issue?" . International Journal of Sustainable Transportation. 15 (4): 294–305. doi:10.1080/15568318.2020.1747578. ISSN   1556-8318.
  7. ↑ Williams P., Joseph. "Stranded Without Transit". US News. U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
  8. ↑ Bischak, Chris; Jiao, Junfeng (2018-03-13). "People are stranded in 'transit deserts' in dozens of US cities". The Conversation. Retrieved 2025-07-20.
  9. ↑ Jiao, Junfeng; McGrath, Nicole (26 July 2017). "Stranded in our own communities: Transit deserts make it hard for people to find jobs and stay healthy". The Conversation. The Conversation US Inc. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
  10. ↑ "University of Houston using artificial intelligence to combat food insecurity". FOX 26 Houston. April 3, 2023. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  11. ↑ "Junfeng Jiao Discusses the Future of Smart Cities and Ethical AI". AI Summit New York 2025. Retrieved 2025-07-20.
  12. ↑ Wessling, Brianna (2022-11-21). "University of Texas to study how people interact with robots in public". The Robot Report. Retrieved 2025-07-25.
  13. ↑ "Principal Investigator: Junfeng Jiao". Urban Information Lab, The University of Texas at Austin. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
  14. ↑ "Designing Smart, Sustainable Cities Through Ethical AI Q&A with NRT". nsf.gov.
  15. ↑ "NSF Award Search: Award #2125858 - NRT-AI: Convergent, Responsible, and Ethical AI". nsf.gov.
  16. ↑ "NSF Award Search: Award #2236305 - NSF Convergence Accelerator Track J". nsf.gov.
  17. ↑ "NSF Award Search: Award #2043060 - SCC-CIVIC-PG Track A: Community Hub for Smart Mobility". nsf.gov.
  18. ↑ "NSF Award Search: Award #1952193 - SCC-PG: ECET: Empowering Community Engagement with Technology". nsf.gov.
  19. ↑ "Project to Tackle Effects of Extreme Climate Unveiled by Doggett, UT, and City of Austin". University of Texas at Austin News. September 7, 2023.
  20. ↑ "HUD Awards $10.5 Million to Hispanic Serving Institutions for Housing Research Centers". U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. September 29, 2023. Archived from the original on September 29, 2023.
  21. ↑ "MITRE Corporation gives Good Systems $1 million". University of Texas at Austin News. July 21, 2022.
  22. ↑ Jiao, Junfeng (2021). Shared Mobility. Elsevier. ISBN   978-0-12-822900-2.
  23. ↑ Jiao, Junfeng (2022). Smart Cities. Kendall Hunt Publishing Company. ISBN   9781792463303.
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