Research Associate

Public Health Modelling Group

Left the Unit in 2023

Background and experience

Irena completed her PhD at the University of Westminster, the Transport and Mobilities Research Group. Her interest during the studies was modeling the equality of social infrastructure within the Glasgow’s metropolitan region. During her PhD studies she worked as a part time Research Associate at the Active Travel Academy . Her principal interest was modelling transport behavior to understand and empirically quantify the benefits of shifting to more sustainable modes for cargo deliveries in Greater London. Additionally, she was involved in spatial analyses of active travel infrastructure equity in London’s Low Traffic Neighborhoods.

In her past employment she specialized in using a range of statistical modeling theories from transport and urban studies, network science, and the study of complex systems which she tested over integrated infrastructure design solutions. More specifically, Irena performed spatial analysis using traditional and novel data collection methods, such as remote sensing, big data, and GPS data over networked infrastructure systems.

Her interest in the current role with the MRC-Epidemiology Unit lies in incorporating Built Environment (BE) measures to the integrated impact models of transport. Her main tasks include, spatial datasets integration and harmonization, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping and geo-spatial statistical modelling to infer relationships between observed travel behavior and the BE.

Unit projects contribution

• Joining Impact Models of Transport with spatial measures of the Built Environment Research – Jibe Project (main contribution in GIS, data integration and harmonization, modelling)

Publications

• MRC Epidemiology Unit publications on the Publications Database

Selected publications

Journal Articles

Aldred, R., Verlinghieri, E., Sharkey, M. Itova, I., and Goodman, A. (2021). Equity in new active travel infrastructure: a spatial analysis of London’s new Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, Journal of Transport Geography.

Conference Papers

Labib, S.M, Itova, I., Staves, C., Zapata-Diomedi, B., Both, A., Gunn, L., Khreis, H., Abbas, A., Sivakumar, A., Panter, J., GilesCorti, B., & Woodcock, J. (2022, March 28). Integrating spatially detailed micro-environmental attributes to a routable transport network for active travel modeling: A pilot study in Greater Manchester. 30th Annual Geographical Information Science Research UK (GISRUK), Liverpool, United Kingdom.

Book Chapters

Stephens, R, Itova, I., Hanzl, M. and Scheerbarth, B. (2018) Smart Sustainable City. In: Climate Change Planning. Review 14. The Hague: ISOCARP.

Reports

Verlinghieri, E., Itova, I., Collignon, N. and Aldred, R. (2021) The promise of low-carbon freight: benefits of cargo bikes in London, Possible: London.