The National Science Foundation has awarded Suman Mitra, assistant professor of civil engineering, a $75,000 planning grant for research on ways to help older adults access better transportation options. It is part of the NSF's CIVIC Innovation Challenge Fund.

The project, titled "Mobility and Aging in Collaboration" (MAGIC), aims to develop a user-friendly platform that leverages community resources and social networks to enhance transportation accessibility for seniors. By improving transportation access to healthcare, grocery stores and recreational activities, the project seeks to bolster the independence and well-being of older adults through low-cost, community-based transportation solutions.

The platform will utilize cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence and operations research, to coordinate transportation options and optimize resource allocation. Ultimately, the goal is to empower older adults to live independently, healthfully and with an improved quality of life.

This is an interdisciplinary project between multiple colleges, led by Mitra, the principal investigator, along with co-PI Daniel Rodriguez Roman of the University of Puerto Rico. Other U of A researchers involved in the project are Michelle Gray, head of the the Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation; Alishia Ferguson, associate director of the School of Social Work; and Alexander Nelson, associate professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

"This is one of my dream projects," Mitra said. "I envision a seamless transportation platform for older adults that provides various alternative options to travel from point A to point B. This initiative is not just for older adults but also for caregivers, helping them arrange transportation options for loved ones who can no longer drive."

The research team will pilot the project in three communities: Pea Ridge, Arkansas; a Latino community in Puerto Rico; and a tribal community in Oklahoma.

The MAGIC project also received funding through the U of A's Chancellor Innovation Grant.

"I am grateful for the Chancellor Seed Grant, which helped me assemble the team and collect the preliminary data needed to apply for this NSF grant," Mitra remarked.

The planning grant will support partnership-building with stakeholders, define project objectives and prepare for a pilot program. Over the next six months, the team will finalize its proposal for an implementation grant. Currently, the team is conducting surveys with adults age 65 or older, caregivers and transportation service providers. Individuals interested in participating can contact Mitra at skmitra@uark.edu or (479) 718-1298.

This initiative is part of the Civic Innovation Challenge's Track B grant, which targets unmet needs in the community. The funding comes from a partnership between NSF and U.S. Departments of Homeland Security and Energy.