# Transportation and Urban Planning ![transportation.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum3496/files/styles/hwp_21_9__1920x825/public/chinaproject/files/transportation.jpg?itok=hP-U-_jG) ## expand\_more #### The Harvard-China Project has long worked on both: 1) air quality impacts of road and now air transport, led by scientists and engineers; and 2) urban planning to reduce transportation demand, led by urban planners in the Harvard Graduate School of Design. In recent years the Project has also developed engineering-based research capacities on transportation decarbonization, especially of light-duty road and air transport modes, as described under [Energy Systems](/renewable-electric-power-and-grid-integration). A basis for many urban planning studies has been interdisciplinary household surveys in the city of Chengdu led by the Harvard-China Project and implemented by the Research Center for Contemporary China of Peking University, using RCCC's rigorous geospatial sampling methods to insure inclusion of non-registered migrants. The team completed the most recent interdisciplinary household survey in July 2016. The data were joined with an earlier dataset collected in a nearly identical Harvard-PKU survey in 2005, to cover changes in Chengdu's economy, urbanization, travel behavior, land use, air quality, and environmental health over 11 years. Both the 2005 and 2016 Chengdu surveys collected data for a wide range of research interests, including transportation planning, travel behavior, mobile-source emissions, outdoor and indoor air pollution exposures, health effects of air pollution, and perceptions and valuation of environmental health risk. The team hopes to return to Chengdu for another household survey when the collaborative research environment allows it, to extend its analyses of changes in urban form, transport options, travel behavior, and popular perceptions over time. ## Related Publications Download 3 citations download- [BibTeX](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=3&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_correspondingresearc%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_fundingsources1%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_publicationauthors%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_publicationyear12%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researcharea1234%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=129251&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researcharea1234%5D%5B1%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=129246&&additional_filters%5Btype%5D%5B0%5D%5Bvalue%5D%5B0%5D=journal_article&additional_filters%5Btype%5D%5B0%5D%5Boperator%5D=IN&format=bibtex) - [EndNote X3 XML](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=3&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_correspondingresearc%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_fundingsources1%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_publicationauthors%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_publicationyear12%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researcharea1234%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=129251&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researcharea1234%5D%5B1%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=129246&&additional_filters%5Btype%5D%5B0%5D%5Bvalue%5D%5B0%5D=journal_article&additional_filters%5Btype%5D%5B0%5D%5Boperator%5D=IN&format=endnote8) - [EndNote 7 XML](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=3&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_correspondingresearc%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_fundingsources1%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_publicationauthors%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_publicationyear12%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researcharea1234%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=129251&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researcharea1234%5D%5B1%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=129246&&additional_filters%5Btype%5D%5B0%5D%5Bvalue%5D%5B0%5D=journal_article&additional_filters%5Btype%5D%5B0%5D%5Boperator%5D=IN&format=endnote7) - [Endnote tagged](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=3&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_correspondingresearc%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_fundingsources1%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_publicationauthors%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_publicationyear12%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researcharea1234%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=129251&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researcharea1234%5D%5B1%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=129246&&additional_filters%5Btype%5D%5B0%5D%5Bvalue%5D%5B0%5D=journal_article&additional_filters%5Btype%5D%5B0%5D%5Boperator%5D=IN&format=tagged) - [Marc](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=3&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_correspondingresearc%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_fundingsources1%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_publicationauthors%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_publicationyear12%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researcharea1234%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=129251&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researcharea1234%5D%5B1%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=129246&&additional_filters%5Btype%5D%5B0%5D%5Bvalue%5D%5B0%5D=journal_article&additional_filters%5Btype%5D%5B0%5D%5Boperator%5D=IN&format=marc) - [PubMedId](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=3&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_correspondingresearc%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_fundingsources1%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_publicationauthors%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_publicationyear12%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researcharea1234%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=129251&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researcharea1234%5D%5B1%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=129246&&additional_filters%5Btype%5D%5B0%5D%5Bvalue%5D%5B0%5D=journal_article&additional_filters%5Btype%5D%5B0%5D%5Boperator%5D=IN&format=pubmed_id) - [RIS](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=3&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_correspondingresearc%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_fundingsources1%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_publicationauthors%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_publicationyear12%5D&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researcharea1234%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=129251&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researcharea1234%5D%5B1%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=129246&&additional_filters%5Btype%5D%5B0%5D%5Bvalue%5D%5B0%5D=journal_article&additional_filters%5Btype%5D%5B0%5D%5Boperator%5D=IN&format=ris) ### 2026 ChengHe Guan, Haotian Zhong, Yichun Zhou, Ying Li, Bo Zhang, Zhibin Chen, Sumeeta Srinivasan, and Chris P. Nielsen. 2026. “[Generational Differences in Active Travel: Estimation, Decomposition, and Policy Implications](/publication/generational-differences-active-travel-estimation-decomposition-and-policy-implications)”. Applied Geography, 191, 103997 ChengHe Guan, Haotian Zhong, Yichun Zhou, Ying Li, Bo Zhang, Zhibin Chen, Sumeeta Srinivasan, and Chris P. Nielsen. 2026. “[Generational Differences in Active Travel: Estimation, Decomposition, and Policy Implications](/publication/generational-differences-active-travel-estimation-decomposition-and-policy-implications)”. Applied Geography, 191, 103997 - add\_circle\_outline do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract - [ downloadPublisher's Version](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0143622826001074) - [ downloadDownload Article](/sites/g/files/omnuum3496/files/2026-04/1-s2.0-S0143622826001074-main.pdf) Amid global efforts to reduce travel-induced emissions, extensive research has explored the impact of urban development on residents’ travel behaviors. Yet, the interplay between urban development and generational shifts in active travel remain less... - [ downloadPublisher's Version](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0143622826001074) - [ downloadDownload Article](/sites/g/files/omnuum3496/files/2026-04/1-s2.0-S0143622826001074-main.pdf) Liuhua Zhu, Fan Wang, Chris Nielsen, Gregory Carmichael, and Meng Gao. 2026. “[Optimized Spatial Planning Offers a Dual Solution for Managing Urban Heat and Air Pollution in Humid Subtropical Climates](/publication/optimized-spatial-planning-offers-dual-solution-managing-urban-heat-and-air-pollution)”. Nature Communications Liuhua Zhu, Fan Wang, Chris Nielsen, Gregory Carmichael, and Meng Gao. 2026. “[Optimized Spatial Planning Offers a Dual Solution for Managing Urban Heat and Air Pollution in Humid Subtropical Climates](/publication/optimized-spatial-planning-offers-dual-solution-managing-urban-heat-and-air-pollution)”. Nature Communications - add\_circle\_outline do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract - [ downloadPublisher's Version](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-73855-x) As cities expand, urban heat islands and air pollution have merged, especially in humid subtropical cities. Yet a dual solution remains lacking to simultaneously mitigate these two issues due to complex meteorology-chemistry interactions. Based on... - [ downloadPublisher's Version](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-73855-x) ### 2025 Jingran Zhang, Fang Wang, Zhao Jia Ting, Weiguo Dong, Shaojun Zhang, Ye Wu, Chris P. Nielsen, Ming Zhao, Jiming Hao, and Michael B. McElroy. 2025. “[Powering Air Travel With Jet Fuel Derived from Municipal Solid Waste ](/publication/powering-air-travel-jet-fuel-derived-municipal-solid-waste)”. Nature Sustainability Jingran Zhang, Fang Wang, Zhao Jia Ting, Weiguo Dong, Shaojun Zhang, Ye Wu, Chris P. Nielsen, Ming Zhao, Jiming Hao, and Michael B. McElroy. 2025. “[Powering Air Travel With Jet Fuel Derived from Municipal Solid Waste ](/publication/powering-air-travel-jet-fuel-derived-municipal-solid-waste)”. Nature Sustainability - add\_circle\_outline do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract - [ downloadPublisher's Version](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-025-01644-3) Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is a promising decarbonization solution for aviation, but its adoption remains below 1% due to high cost. As municipal solid waste (MSW) continues to grow and sustainable disposal remains challenging, converting MSW into... - [ downloadPublisher's Version](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-025-01644-3) [ More Publications arrow\_circle\_right ](/publications?f%5B0%5D=bibcite_reference_hwp_c_researcharea1234%3A129246&f%5B1%5D=bibcite_reference_hwp_c_researcharea1234%3A129251)