Melike Åženkal
Senior Urban Planner / Transport Planner
Email:
A Bit About Me
Driven by a deep passion for urban innovation and community-centric solutions, I founded UrbanWise to bridge the gap between theory and practice in urban and regional planning. My work centers on fostering meaningful dialogue, sharing expert insights, and empowering stakeholders with actionable knowledge to create cities that are inclusive, sustainable, and resilient. With a keen interest in shaping vibrant urban spaces, I bring a strategic, research-driven approach to problem-solving and collaborative project development.
Educational Background
Sep 2023 - Current
Sep 2021 - Aug 2022
Sep 2014 - June 2019
Middle East Technical University
Doctor of Philosophy in City and Regional Planning
Ankara, Türkiye
Newcastle University
Master's Degree in Transport Engineering, Planning and Management
Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom
Dokuz Eylul University
Bachelor's Degree in City and Regional Planning
Izmir, Türkiye
Work Experience
Jan 2023 - Current
June 2018 - July 2018
July 2017 - Aug 2017
Aug 2016 - Sep 2016
Senior Urban Planner
Ministry Of Transport and Infrastructure
Ankara, Türkiye
Internship
Ministry Of Environment and Urbanization, Provincial Directorate of Izmir
Izmir, Türkiye
Internship
Dokuz Eylül University
Izmir, Türkiye
Internship
Dikili Municipality
Izmir, Türkiye
Publications
Integration of Intelligent Transport Systems in the example of Denizli City Center to Urban Transportation System, 2021
https://sssjournal.com/?mod=makale_tr_ozet&makale_id=60238 Bektas, M. et al. (2021). Integration ... tation System, SSS Journal, Vol:7, Issue:82; pp:1912-1942
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Advances in technology age help to solve problems in daily life quickly and effectively by using science and technology. Intelligent strategies using information technologies provide solutions for the transportation problems, which is one of the most important problems of today's cities. Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) have been used in the solution of transportation problems with advanced technological applications since the late 1960s. These applications, which provide the opportunity to develop many different systems with fast, cheap and small processes after the initial infrastructure costs, are applied intensively in most developed countries today. Unfortunately, Turkey is lagging behind the competition between the leading countries in ITS in the world. This study wants to discuss the Intelligent Transportation Applications that have been implemented and proven to be effective in the world, by taking the example of one of the cities in our country whose problems can be solved with ITS, and to propose a method for the cities of our country. Within the scope of the study, firstly, suggestions for providing appropriate infrastructure for ITS applications in Denizli city centre were developed, and then, strategies for solving the transportation problems of the city centre with intelligent transportation applications were introduced and the solutions that should be implemented within the opportunities provided by this model were disclosed. The potential gains for Denizli have been calculated by taking into account the size of the application area and the traffic jam in the area, based on the economic, social and environmental gains of the proposed solutions in the regions where they were previously applied. In this way, it is aimed to formulate a model for other cities in our country by developing suggestions for transportation problems in the city center of Denizli.
The Role of Social Conformity in Pedestrian-Autonomous Vehicles Interaction, 2022
Nazemi, M., Zhao, T., Ramos, D., Farooq, M., Yin, H., Cherchi, E. and Bektas, M. (2022) The Role of Social Conformity in Pedestrian-Autonomous Vehicles Interaction. 16th International Conference on Travel Behaviour Research. Santiago, Chile.
The paper was presented at the 16th International Conference on Travel Behaviour Research in Santiago, Chile. It examines how social conformity influences interactions between pedestrians and autonomous vehicles (AVs).
Social conformity refers to the tendency of individuals to align their behaviors with those of a group. In traffic contexts, pedestrians often rely on social cues and the actions of others when deciding to cross streets. The introduction of AVs, which lack human drivers to provide traditional communication signals may disrupt these established social dynamics.
Understanding the role of social conformity in pedestrian-AV interactions is crucial for developing AV systems that can safely and effectively integrate into urban environments. Insights from such research can inform the design of AV behaviors and communication methods to ensure they are predictable and understandable to pedestrians, thereby enhancing safety and public acceptance.
This study contributes to the growing body of research focused on the interplay between pedestrian behavior and autonomous vehicle systems, emphasizing the importance of social factors in traffic interactions.