"Automotive Intelligence" is taking lives - literally
Expert Urban Planner Advocates for Empathetic City Design
Andy Boenau, an influential voice in urban planning, street design, and traffic engineering, emphasizes the psychological impact of built environments on driver and pedestrian behavior. His work revolves around devising planning and engineering strategies that harness human responses such as empathy, attention, and safety, through thoughtful design of streets and land use to create safer, more intuitive communities.
A member of the Human Factors of Infrastructure Design and Operations research committee at the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, Boenau contributes to studies that highlight the correlation between infrastructure design and human behavior. He has also held positions in the public sector, including his role as a traffic engineer for local government, as evident on official social media channels for Richmond, Virginia.
Boenau passionately advocates for cities and suburbs where safety and empathy are integral to the design, questioning the traditional car-oriented development model. He is actively engaged in imparting insights about modern urban challenges, encouraging a shift towards urban spaces where the focus is on safety, empathy, and thoughtful design.
In his role as a member of the Human Factors of Infrastructure Design and Operations research committee, Andy Boenau promotes studies that examine the relationship between infrastructure design and human behavior, focusing particularly on mental health and wellness, considering the impact of city design on individuals' overall well-being. In his advocacy for empathetic city design, Boenau also champions the integration of various health-and-wellness therapies and treatments into urban planning strategies, aiming to foster healthier communities while prioritizing safety and empathy.
