We study how people think about and navigate space, especially when the stakes are high. From first responders finding their way to unfamiliar addresses to families choosing evacuation routes during wildfires, we investigate the cognitive processes that shape spatial decision-making in stressful situations.
We ask questions like: How do people build mental maps of places they've never been? What influences route choices when time is critical? And how can we design better tools to support spatial decision-making for both professionals and everyday people when it matters most?
Yes, we know the acronym is a stretch, but we couldn't resist. This longitudinal study tracks the spatial abilities of fire recruits before, during, and after completing the firefighter basic academy, examining how training shapes the cognitive skills that underpin navigation and spatial decision-making in the field.
Firefighters have relied on cognitive maps to find their way to emergencies for generations, but what happens as GPS becomes the norm? This project develops new methods to assess how firefighters build and use mental representations of their response areas, combining cognitive map accuracy tests, route choice experiments, and analysis of real-world navigation behaviors.
Got an idea? We're always looking for new questions to explore. If you have a research concept that fits our wheelhouse, reach out!