CCPS Student Presents Research at Conference

Joshua Peguero, a first-year Computer Science major in The Lesley H. and William L. Collins College of Professional Studies, recently presented his research at the 39thAnnual Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence Conference on Artificial Intelligence (AAAI-25) in Philadelphia, PA.

Joshua and his co-authors and mentors—Sean O'Brien, pursuing a doctorate in Computer Science; Kevin Zhu ‘22CCPS; Michael Lam  ‘23CCPS; and Felix Lee, a high school student—developed a neural network framework to analyze New York City subway data from 2017 to 2022. 

“Our model predicts how the opening of new subway stations influences ridership patterns at neighboring stops,” Joshua explained.

The model achieved a six percent margin of error in its predictions, revealing that while high-ridership stations tend to retain passengers along familiar routes, smaller stations experience significant shifts as riders adjust their travel based on proximity to new stops. “This breakthrough refines predictive methods for urban transit planning and provides city planners with a powerful, data-driven tool to optimize network efficiency and better serve a growing urban population,” he said

Joshua discovered the conference through his research. “As one of the premier gatherings for artificial intelligence research, AAAI featured cutting-edge advancements across various AI applications, including reinforcement learning, generative models, and the ethics and policy implications of AI deployment,” he said. 

Joshua participated in a workshop focused on AI for Urban Planning, which convened researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders to discuss AI’s role in shaping the future of cities. Engaging with experts in AI, urban studies, and civil engineering, he explored topics ranging from human dynamics in AI-driven design to applications of large language models in transportation and urban regeneration. 

“Presenting my work and exchanging ideas broadened my perspective on AI’s vast potential in urban planning,” he said. “This experience reinforced my commitment to leveraging AI for social good and inspired new directions for my future research in urban mobility and intelligent transportation systems.