This past summer, GeoPlan student assistant Joseph Benjamin interned with Seoul National University’s Urban Design Lab, part of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. His work was funded by the NSF Smart City Engineering program, allowing him to contribute to projects that explored the evolving urban form of South Korean cities.
Joseph’s main responsibilities included digital and physical 3D modeling, which provided comparative insights into the urban design of Sejong, a planned administrative city, and Seoul, the country’s capital. Additionally, he conducted fieldwork to analyze pedestrian movement patterns and interactions. With the program, he also visited cutting-edge national research laboratories to gain new perspectives on mobility solutions.
Beyond the lab, Joseph took full advantage of his time in South Korea by exploring the dynamic urban environment of Seoul. This experience gave him the opportunity to reflect on urban planning, transportation systems, and cultural differences in comparison to his home in Florida and his time spent in German cities.
As he enters his senior year, Joseph intends to apply the insights gained from his international experience in Korea to his work with GeoPlan and ongoing research as a University of Florida AI Scholar.
You can view more of Joseph’s work at his Student Profile Story Map.