Smith specializes in the history and archaeology of the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine Near East, and he recently completed a monograph on Roman Palmyra (Syria) for the Oxford University Press (2014). Currently, Smith directs the Bir Madhkur Project, which involves both excavation and intensive survey, and has as its main goal to examine the role of Petra in the ancient economy from a rural, landscape perspective. This project also focuses on the challenge of preserving Petra’s regional, cultural heritage through community engagement practices.