Dr. Dalia Hafiz is an Assistant Professor at the College of Architecture, Art, and Design at Ajman University, UAE. Her research focuses on autonomous mobility, public acceptance of emerging transport technologies, and the reimagination of urban environments in the autonomous era. With a research team, she recently developed an Autonomous Public Transport Readiness Index (APT-RI), a tool that evaluates city and route readiness for autonomous bus deployment. This work can support urban planners and policymakers in preparing for the integration of autonomous public transport and reshaping cities to be safer, smarter, and more inclusive.
Dr. Hafiz holds a Ph.D. and Master’s degree from the School of Architecture and Design at Virginia Tech, where she received multiple research awards, including the Richard Kelly Grant for excellence in lighting research. She has taught architecture and interior design in the U.S., Egypt, and the UAE, and previously served as Head of the Architecture Program at Al-Ghurair University in Dubai. Her broader interests include smart urban technologies, behavioral design in transit spaces, and the future of mobility in sustainable city planning.
