معرفی
Reza Banai is a Professor of City and Regional Planning at the University of Memphis, affiliated with the School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy and the FedEx Institute of Technology as a Smart Cities Research Fellow. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania, specializing in urban planning with multidisciplinary expertise in architecture and civil engineering.
His research focuses on urban morphology, quantitative decision-support systems (e.g., AHP/ANP integrated with GIS), and sustainable urban form. Key areas include transit-oriented development (TOD) suitability, urban sustainability indicators, and spatial analysis of retail activity resilience. He teaches advanced courses such as Planning Sustainable Cities and Regions, Regional Planning, and Urban Design methodologies.
Banai’s work bridges theory and practice, emphasizing holistic urban systems and policy implications. His recent studies address urban blight, pandemic resilience, and smart growth frameworks. He has contributed to over 30 peer-reviewed articles and presented globally on topics like industrial blight mitigation and GIS-based decision tools. His teaching integrates project-based learning, as seen in his Site Planning courses focusing on comprehensive plans and transit-oriented revitalization projects.
