Research Interests:

With a geographic focus on urban areas, my current research interests consist of three interconnected topics: spatial inequalities, mixed methodologies, and sustainability. I examine the social and spatial inequalities specifically related to employment access among working poor populations with metropolitan areas. This can include issues of social diversity, regional economies, urban planning, and commuting transportation. In approaching this research, my work is motivated by the need to balance knowledge construction through the use of diverse data sources and analysis techniques. Thus, I explore the issues of spatial inequalities through mixed-methodologies. On one hand I use statistics, mapping, and geographic information science (GIS), to analyze enumerated quantitative data. At the same time my work also relies upon more qualitative approaches, including in-depth interviews and sketch-mapping – to collect data directly from disadvantaged populations. Finally, I attempt to situate these issues of spatial inequalities within the larger umbrella of sustainability, which poses many challenges. How do we measure, advocate, and balance the social dimensions of sustainability while pursuing efforts of environmental and economic sustainability? What are the social dimensions of sustainability? My future work will continue to explore the human/social/cultural dimensions of sustainability within a metropolitan context.

Selected Publications:

• Boschmann, E.E. and Kwan, M.–P. 2008. Towards Socially Sustainable Urban Transportation: Progress and Potentials. International Journal of Sustainable Transportation, 2(3):138-157.