Shashikant Nishant Sharma
Head of Research, Track2Training, New Delhi, India
Shashikant Nishant Sharma is an interdisciplinary researcher, academic editor, and planning scholar whose work bridges transport planning, urban development, sustainability transitions, artificial intelligence applications, environmental planning, social justice, and infrastructure systems. As the Head of Research at Track2Training, he leads research innovation, academic mentoring, publication initiatives, and evidence-based training programmes aimed at strengthening research culture and policy-oriented scholarship.
Over the years, Sharma has emerged as a prolific contributor to contemporary debates on sustainable urbanism and mobility systems in the Global South. His scholarship is distinguished by its interdisciplinary orientation, integrating transport analytics, spatial planning, AI-enabled modelling, environmental sustainability, and socio-spatial equity. His academic contributions span peer-reviewed journal articles, conference proceedings, edited volumes, textbooks, and international handbooks published by globally recognised publishers including Springer Nature, Elsevier, CRC Press, IGI Global, SAGE, Taylor & Francis, and Economic & Political Weekly.
Research Areas and Scholarly Contributions
Sharma’s research primarily focuses on:
- Transit-Oriented Development (TOD)
- Sustainable urban mobility
- First and last-mile connectivity
- Pedestrian safety and walkability
- Land use–transport interaction
- Smart cities and digital twins
- AI-driven mobility modelling
- Urban resilience and climate adaptation
- Sustainable logistics and electric mobility
- Solid waste management and environmental health
- Urban spatial justice and planning education
His transport planning research has significantly contributed to understanding the relationship between mobility systems, accessibility, urban form, and sustainability. Through empirical studies, systematic reviews, and modelling approaches, Sharma’s work critically examines how cities can transition toward safer, inclusive, low-carbon, and resilient transport systems.
Among his widely cited and policy-relevant contributions are studies such as:
- Route Choices to Access Public Open Spaces in Hill Cities published in Environment and Urbanization ASIA (2025)
- Assessing Bus Users’ Satisfaction Using Discrete Choice Models in Innovative Infrastructure Solutions (2024)
- The Precursors of Transit-Oriented Development in Economic & Political Weekly (2024)
- Surrogate Safety Analysis: Leveraging Advanced Technologies for Safer Roads in Suranaree Journal of Science and Technology (2024)
- Systematic reviews on pedestrian safety and TOD published in Journal of Road Safety and Transportation in Developing Economies (2025)
His recent work increasingly integrates Artificial Intelligence, Digital Twins, and Machine Learning into urban transport and logistics research. Sharma has contributed chapters on AI-based mobility modelling, autonomous vehicle safety, intelligent transport infrastructure, sustainable last-mile logistics, and digital twin–enabled urban systems in internationally edited volumes published by IGI Global and Elsevier.
Contributions to Urban Planning and Spatial Research
In the field of urban planning, Sharma has worked extensively on urban growth modelling, spatial analytics, stormwater management, and planning education. His publication Review of Most Used Urban Growth Models (2019) remains a highly consulted resource among planning scholars and early-career researchers. He has also contributed to discussions on planning pedagogy and professional planning education through publications in the Journal of Planning Education and Research.
His urban studies research further explores themes of:
- Urban spatial inequality
- Informal settlements and housing vulnerability
- Vernacular spatial transitions
- Social injustice and marginalisation
- Inclusive planning frameworks
- Senior citizen mobility and accessibility
- Public policy and social equity
These contributions demonstrate his commitment to integrating social justice perspectives within urban and transport planning discourse.
Sustainability, Environment, and Built Environment Research
Beyond transport and planning, Sharma has made significant contributions to sustainable development and environmental planning. His works address:
- Climate resilience and delta sustainability
- Nature-based solutions
- Urban water quality and public health
- Sustainable construction materials
- Green buildings and neighbourhood sustainability
- Prefabrication systems
- Self-healing concrete and smart materials
- Life cycle assessment in infrastructure systems
- AI applications in environmental management
He serves as co-editor of the forthcoming Springer Nature volumes:
- Deltas Resilience: Nature-Based Solutions for Sustainable Development in India (2026)
- Urbanisation and Waterscapes: Resilience and Sustainability in Urban Deltas (2026)
His interdisciplinary sustainability scholarship reflects a systems-thinking approach that connects environmental resilience, urban governance, infrastructure planning, and technological innovation.
Books, Editorial Work, and Academic Publishing
Sharma has authored and co-authored several academic books and textbooks covering planning, housing, sustainability, participatory planning, environmental resilience, and research methodology. His books are used by students, researchers, and practitioners in architecture, planning, and social sciences.
His editorial and publishing activities extend across international conferences, edited books, scholarly journals, and academic mentoring initiatives. Through his association with Track2Training and allied academic platforms, he actively promotes accessible research dissemination, interdisciplinary collaboration, and capacity building for emerging researchers.
Leadership at Track2Training
As Head of Research at Track2Training, Sharma oversees the organisation’s research ecosystem, including:
- Research mentoring and supervision
- Training programme design
- Academic writing and publication guidance
- Research methodology workshops
- Journal and book publication support
- International collaboration initiatives
- Capacity building for scholars and professionals
Under his leadership, Track2Training has strengthened its role as a multidisciplinary platform supporting evidence-based research, academic skill development, and scholarly networking for researchers across India and abroad.
Academic Vision
Sharma’s academic philosophy centres on the idea that sustainable urban futures require an integration of technology, policy, ecology, and social equity. His work consistently advocates for planning approaches that are:
- Inclusive and people-centric
- Data-driven and evidence-based
- Environmentally responsible
- Technologically adaptive
- Policy-oriented and implementation-focused
Through his interdisciplinary scholarship and academic leadership, he continues to contribute to emerging conversations on resilient cities, equitable mobility systems, sustainable infrastructure, and transformative planning education in the Global South.
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