Alibi Shokputov

Alibi Shokputov is a Ph.D. candidate in Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Maryland, College Park. His research is centered on understanding the transformative effects of telework, particularly in a post-pandemic context, on travel behavior, housing mobility, and social equity. Through his work, Alibi investigates how evolving remote work patterns influence commuting trends, transportation demand, and broader transportation and land-use dynamics. 

Alibi's technical expertise spans a range of advanced analytical tools, including Python, R, GIS, and data visualization software like Tableau. These tools enable him to conduct both quantitative and qualitative research on urban issues. He has designed extensive travel surveys, developed structured interview protocols, and contributed to frameworks for analyzing micro-transit feasibility. His collaborative efforts with state transportation departments have yielded valuable data that has directly impacted transportation policy and infrastructure planning. 

Alibi also gained practical experience as a Transit Operations Data Analyst Intern at the District Department of Transportation (DDOT), where he led the deployment of a centralized analytics platform that integrated live operations data for DC Circulator, enabling data-driven improvements in transit operations. Through this internship, he developed skills in data integration, automation, and visualization to support operational decision-making. 

Through the Maryland Commuter Tax Credit study, Alibi supervised stakeholder interviews, evaluated program performance, and developed recommendations to improve tax credit adoption. His analysis of telework trends in Maryland has highlighted a persistent increase in remote work and its implications for vehicle miles traveled (VMT), transit scheduling, and commuting behavior disparities among different demographic groups. Alibi's research on microtransit services introduced a Spatial Propensity Index to assess areas best suited for microtransit for Prince George’s County. His research also included the development of hedonic price models to examine transportation infrastructure's impact on housing values, offering insights into the spatial and temporal effects of transit developments on real estate markets. His work has been published in leading transportation journals and presented at conferences, contributing new methodologies for planning efficient, equitable urban spaces.

Advisor

Casey Dawkins

Research Interests/Specializations

• Telework and Post-Pandemic Mobility Trends
• Transportation and Land Use Policy
• Social Equity and Accessibility
• Residential Location Decision-Making
• Spatiotemporal Analysis and GIS Modeling
• Public Transit Optimization and Microtransit
• Machine Learning Applications in Urban Research
• Data-Driven Policy Development

On Campus Job:

• Graduate Research Assistant at the National Center for Smart Growth Research (NCSG), University of Maryland
• Course Instructor for URSP601: Quantitative Research Methods, University of Maryland

Extracurricular Involvement

• Participant in the University of Maryland Data Challenge Hackathon (Feb 2022), conducting a GIS-based spatiotemporal analysis on pedestrian safety with on-campus e-scooter data
• Active in presenting research at various conferences, including the ACSP Annual Conference and the Transportation Research Board Meeting.

Career Ambitions:

Alibi envisions his career spanning a range of impactful roles across planning, transportation, infrastructure, technology, housing, and public policy. He sees himself contributing to both academic and applied research environments, focusing on sustainable urban planning and data-driven solutions that address real-world challenges. With his expertise in telework trends, transportation policy, and social equity, he is well-suited for positions in government agencies, consulting firms, think tanks, and non-profits. Whether in academia, where he can further urban research and mentor future planners, or in policy and consulting roles that shape public infrastructure and housing policies, Alibi is dedicated to advancing sustainable, inclusive urban spaces that meet the needs of diverse communities.

Education

• (Candidate) PhD in Urban and Regional Planning and Design, University of Maryland
• Master of Science in Urban Infrastructure Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), South Korea
• Bachelor of Science Urban Infrastructure Engineering (Major) & Business Management (Minor), UNIST, South Korea