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Daniel O'Brien
Associate Professor of Public Policy and Urban Affairs and Criminology and Criminal Justice; Director, Boston Area Research Initiative
617.373.8900
Expertise
big data, social issues, urban policy

Daniel O’Brien in the Press

Business Insider

How a partnership between the city of Boston and local universities is working to help policymakers better serve residents

City-university partnerships are critical to digital transformation, as city agencies are consumed by “the daily grind of running a city,” O’Brien, who’s also an associate professor of public policy and urban affairs, criminology, and criminal justice at Northeastern University said. “Universities bring skills and extra capacity to the table to design research studies, execute research […]

Daniel O’Brien for Northeastern Global News

A collective behavior map.

To understand the next pandemic, we must understand our own collective behavior — these researchers want to be ready

Northeastern researchers are developing epidemic models that include collective behavior patterns, helping policymakers in future pandemics.
Skyline view of Boston.

How can cities use AI? These professors are creating guidelines for how artificial intelligence could be used for public interest

Northeastern University’s Boston Area Research Initiative received a grant to study and start conversations about AI.

Imagine leading a city through a pandemic and mass protests. Now imagine doing it from home.

Three mayors and one town manager in Massachusetts have had to do just that since February. Now, these leaders are thinking about ways to strengthen their communities after COVID-19.

Northeastern University researchers find little evidence for ‘broken windows theory,’ say neighborhood disorder doesn’t cause crime

There’s a theory that graffiti, abandoned buildings, and panhandling in neighborhoods create an environment that leads people to commit more crime. But Northeastern researchers have found that these and other signs of disorder don’t cause people to break the law or participate in dangerous or unhealthy behavior.

Algorithms can lead to more efficient public transit. Here’s how you may already be helping.

Riders of Boston’s public transportation system use the Transit app to plan trips, get real-time information on service, and set alerts for departure times. These interactions provide a massive amount of data about how riders use the app and navigate the transit system. But little has been done with this treasure trove of information—until now.

Here’s what happened when Boston tried to assign students good schools close to home

The shortage of top-quality schools in certain Boston neighborhoods has undercut the city’s bold efforts to provide access to good schools close to home, according to a new study led by a Northeastern University-based research center.