About

More than half of the population of the world currently lives in urban areas, and this number is expected to rise to 70% by 2050, according to United Nations’ predictions.  This rapid growth in urbanization requires careful planning at the neighborhood level to reduce stress on natural resources and minimize sustainability challenges.  At the same time, urban area residents need to meet their mobility and accessibility needs while reducing their transportation environmental footprint. In recent years, several municipalities have refocused their initiatives to address the increasing demand of sustainable transport modes, e.g., bicycle, walk, electric scooters, through the development of facilities that could improve the experience of current users and attract new ones.

This summer school offers an intensive workshop on the community scale as a unit for sustainable design and development. Participants are first introduced to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Neighborhood Development (LEED ND) methodology. LEED ND is part of LEED, a framework for identifying, implementing, and measuring green building and neighborhood design that aims to address environmental challenges while responding to the needs of a competitive market. In addition, a more focused review of issues relating to enhancing pedestrian and bicyclist accommodation at community level is discussed. Evaluation of approaches for identifying opportunities and addressing current issues for these users is also addressed.

Through lectures, case-studies and group-based mapping and design exercises, participants will explore how smart location, neighborhood pattern, green infrastructure strategies, and pedestrian and bicyclist accommodation can be applied in a real-world context. The workshop is organized in two units: 1. Assessing neighborhood sustainable design through LEED-ND; and 2. Addressing pedestrian and bicyclist sustainable design.

For both units, participants will be required to complete a pre-workshop assignment and submit it prior to attending the workshop. The instructors will synthesize the answers and provide comments and feedback. In addition to attending lectures, participants will be required to complete an assignment to obtain the certificate of successful completion. The assignment will offer hands-on experience on how the concepts presented can be applied to evaluate the sustainability of a neighborhood development and pedestrian and bicycle facilities.

Graduate students, researchers, and professionals attending this summer school will expand their knowledge and skills in the practical applications of sustainability policy, planning, design, and management.

Content

Unit I: Assessing neighborhood sustainable design through LEED-ND

Module 1: Introduction to LEED and LEED ND

Description: Review of sustainability rating systems, LEED and LEED ND fundamentals, and example case studies

Module 2: LEED ND Methodology

Description: Details on prerequisites and credits for LEED ND Certification. Use of the LEED ND methodology to address sustainable design and development questions.

Unit II: Addressing pedestrian and bicyclist sustainable design

Module 1: Review of assignment solutions

Description: Synthesized evaluation forms, identification of pedestrian and bicycle facility potential issues.

Module 2: Pedestrian and bicycle facility evaluation

Description: Review of basic principles for design of pedestrian and bicycle facilities, and development and use of evaluation forms.

Assignment for certificate

To obtain the certificate of successful completion, participants are required to:

• Successfully complete and submit the pre-workshop assignment
• Actively participate in lectures, discussions, and activities
• Use of LEED ND methodology principles to evaluate the sustainability of a neighborhood development project plan
• Use of facility evaluation forms to address local conditions
• Complete a final reflection on results and policy implications

Tutors

Virginia Sisiopiku

Dr. Virginia Sisiopiku is a Professor of Transportation Engineering at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). She is the founding director of the UAB Transportation Engineering and Development Laboratory (TREND Lab) and serves as the UAB Transportation Program director. She has over 30 years of academic and consulting expertise in traffic operations, intelligent transportation systems, data analytics, and sustainable transportation. Her research seeks engineering and technology solutions to minimize the adverse impacts of traffic and ensure safety, mobility, and accessibility for all transportation users.
Dr. Sisiopiku is a Fellow of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE), and the recipient of the 2007 President’s Excellence in Teaching Award, the 2010 Dean’s Award for Excellence in Mentorship, the 2017 Educator of the Year Award by the Engineering Council of Birmingham and the 2023-24 Excellence in Transportation Engineering Education Award by the Southern District Institute of Transportation Engineers. Most recently, she received the prestigious 2025 Transportation Research Board (TRB) Charley V. Wooten Best Paper in Transportation Policy and Organization Award, and was recognized by Business Alabama as one of Alabama’s Top Women in Tech.

Nikiforos Stamatiadis

Dr. Stamatiadis is a nationally recognized leader in geometric design, context sensitive solutions, and practical design. For over 30 years, he has led research efforts on these topics for federal, state, and local organizations. His work has influenced how transportation practitioners approach planning and designing roadways using practical design and context sensitive solutions. Working alongside multidisciplinary teams, he has addressed effects of geometric features on safety, developed context sensitive performance measures addressed designs and solutions for non motorized users, and developed guidelines and tools for practical design. Dr. Stamatiadis was instrumental in developing the Context Classification that has been incorporated into the Green Book 7^th Edition, DOT manuals and guidelines, and design processes.