Azucena grew up one mile from SMU’s campus in the culturally diverse Vickery Meadow neighborhood. Giant potholes and unlit crosswalks created safety hazards across the community.

Now, she’s one of several SMU researchers addressing those infrastructure problems – and achieving her dreams along the way.

Azucena jumped at the invitation to participate in the study of infrastructure conditions in Vickery Meadow. Her background and knowledge of the area allowed her to take a key research role in the project.

In collaboration with the City of Dallas and other community partners, SMU Lyle School of Engineering researchers use drones, smart phone applications, artificial intelligence and other high-tech tools to document and analyze the infrastructure conditions in Vickery Meadow and many other neighborhoods in Dallas. It’s part of a five-year study of urban infrastructure inequities.

For Azucena, seeing the gap between the conditions around her high school and those around SMU “was just a shock. Ten minutes from where we live, I can press a button and get a light that will make cars stop so I can get to the parking lot safely. It is a really  different experience.”