Naser Ahmed

Naser Ahmed

Hot and Bothered: Rethinking Transit Design in the Era of Climate Change

During heatwaves, countless transit riders—often those with no other options—are forced to walk long distances and wait at unsheltered stops, exposed to dangerous levels of heat. Yet our current ways of measuring transit access ignore this risk. My PhD research aims to change that by developing HEAT (Heat Exposure-aware Accessibility by Transit)—a new method that accounts for heat exposure when measuring access to essential services like jobs, healthcare, and groceries. Using large-scale transit simulations and LiDAR-based 3D urban modelling, I will identify the transit trips most exposed to extreme heat. This work bridges a critical gap between microclimate science and transit analytics, helping cities design more climate-sensitive, equitable transit systems. By centring thermal comfort and preparedness, my research supports urban planners in protecting transit riders from the growing threat of heatwaves—ensuring accessibility means not just reaching destinations but doing so safely in a warming world.

Naser Ahmed
PhD candidate, Geography and Environment
Faculty of Social Science - Western University

Supervisor
Dr. Jinhyung Lee
Dr. Jinfei Wang

Naser Ahmed is a PhD student and NSERC Vanier Scholar in Geography and Environment at Western University. His research bridges microclimate science and transit analytics, using LiDAR-based 3D modelling and geospatial simulation to identify transit trips most exposed to extreme heat. He is passionate about translating complex spatial data into actionable insights for planners and policymakers, helping cities design more climate-resilient and inclusive transit systems.

You can connect with Naser on LinkedIn and X.

View Naser's work as it appears in the Inspiring Minds Digital Collection.