Nikhil Kaza

Nikhil Kaza is a Professor at the Department of City and Regional Planning at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He specializes in Land Use and Environmental Planning, focusing on urbanization patterns, energy policy, and equity. His research integrates large-scale datasets and computational methods to study urban systems and institutional dynamics. Key affiliations include the Carolina Transportation Program, Center for Community Capital, and the Environment - Ecology & Energy Program (E3P).

Dr. Kaza holds a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois and completed post-doctoral training at the University of Maryland. His interdisciplinary background combines architecture, mathematics, and planning, enabling collaborations across economics, computer science, and environmental fields. His work is supported by major funders including the National Science Foundation, Department of Defense, and Environmental Protection Agency.

Research interests include smart cities, spatial data analysis, and the socio-economic impacts of urban policies. Notable projects involve satellite imagery analysis for urban growth monitoring, machine learning for slum detection in India, and smart meter data for water conservation programs. His recent work critiques traditional planning paradigms, emphasizing distributed agency in urban development.

Funding and grants: Supported by NSF, DoD, EPA, World Bank, and others. His research bridges theoretical planning concepts with applied solutions for sustainability challenges.

Additional affiliations: Involved with the Carolina Transportation Program and multiple university centers focusing on urban studies and environmental policy. Active in interdisciplinary collaborations to address complex urban issues.