Kayode Atoba Ph.D

I am an Associate Research Scientist at the Institute for a Disaster Resilient Texas at Texas A&M University. My research broadly focuses on advancing a sustainable built environment that is resilient to environmental hazards. Specifically, I investigate the underlying factors driving the increasing impacts of hazards and draw on hazard resilience theory to propose mitigation strategies that reduce disaster-related damages.

 

I apply quantitative and geospatial methodologies to assess interactions between the built environment and natural hazards. As losses from frequent flood events continue to grow and communities face mounting recovery challenges, I recognize that current mitigation policies are often inadequate. The urban system is inherently complex and dynamic, requiring planning efforts that span multiple scales. However, many existing policies remain outdated and reactive, offering limited protection for individuals, properties, and communities. To address this complex issue, I use novel methodologies to measure the impact of natural hazards on the built environment, evaluate the effectiveness of hazard mitigation strategies, and explore how communities can adopt transboundary approaches to flood hazard mitigation for more effective outcomes

 

Much of my research is service-driven, with a strong focus on broad societal impacts. I design and develop tools that support policymakers—especially in under-resourced communities—by transforming data into knowledge and translating that knowledge into actionable policy. My other research projects include modeling risk and exposure for state hazard mitigation plans; evaluating flood mitigation strategies in both coastal and inland regions; modeling property losses and business interruptions from hurricane events; projecting future development damages under sea-level rise scenarios; and analyzing the effectiveness of landscape alteration policies to reduce inland urban flooding at both regional and local scales. I also specialize in identifying the spatial dynamics of buyout programs and in proposing efficient strategies for open space acquisition and floodplain management

 

I hold a Ph.D. in Urban and Regional Science, an M.S. in Geographic Information Systems, and a B.S. in Urban and Regional Planning.

 

​Education

Ph.D.   Urban and Regional Science (2018), Texas A&M University, College Station, TX

MS.      Geographic Information Systems (2013), Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX

BS.       Urban and Regional Planning (2008), Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria

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Research and Teaching Interests

Methods: Spatial Econometrics, GIS, Spatial Analysis, Flood Damage Modelling, Python, Propensity Score Estimation, Hazus-MH.

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Specialty: Environmental Hazards, Environmental Policy, Hazard Mitigation and Resiliency, Nature-Based Infrastructure, Flood Infrastructure, Property Acquisition, Built Environment, Landscape Alteration, Sustainable Communities, Floodplain Development and Planning, Human Geography, Physical Geography, Urban Geography