People

The main goal of my research is to create new knowledge and advance the scientific frontiers — on both theoretical and empirical fronts — on transportation and related infrastructure systems performance. To achieve this goal, I conduct trans-disciplinary research by developing new and adapting existing methodologies and modeling tools with roots in an array of foundational fields such as civil systems, operations research, machine learning and AI, microeconomics, and statistics. I am particularly interested in exploring, understanding, leveraging, and quantifying the impacts of emerging and disruptive technologies (for example, Advanced Air Mobility, connected and automated vehicles, and truck platooning, to name just a few) on transportation systems planning, design, deployment, operation, management, and policy-making for more intelligent and efficient movements of people and freight, which ultimately contribute to better progression of the human society.

My research has received support from a number of international, federal, state, and local agencies and organizations including the World Bank, the National Science Foundation (NSF), the US Department of Transportation (USDOT), the US Department of Energy (DOE), NASA, the Transportation Research Board (TRB) of the National Academies, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), the California and Illinois Departments of Transportation, and the City of Chicago. Currently, I serve as Director for Technology Transfer and Commercialization for the USDOT-funded Center for Freight Transportation for Efficient & Resilient Supply Chain. I am also a standing committee member of the TRB Freight and Logistics Planning and Modeling (AT012) committee, and a member of the ASCE Freight & Logistics committee.

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I hold a Ph.D. in Transportation Planning and Engineering, with expertise in applying geospatial technologies, including Geospatial Artificial Intelligence (GeoAI), to Civil and Transportation Engineering. With academic training in Civil Engineering at the B.Sc., M.Sc., and Ph.D. levels, combined with practical experience in GIS, my work focuses on spatial analysis, sustainability, resiliency, safety, and accessibility in transportation and urban systems.

My research interests center on the application of GeoAI to urban resiliency, active transportation, public transit, and rail transportation. I bring a strong combination of practical experience, technical proficiency, and analytical expertise to my work as a researcher, educator, and practitioner.

Professional Unified Vision for Sustainable & Resilient Mobility

My work, research, and teaching are driven by a singular mission: to design intelligent multimodal transportation systems that prioritize sustainability, resiliency, accessibility, and safety. By combining the human-scale mechanics of Active Transportation, the high-capacity efficiency of Public and Rail Transportation, and the predictive power of Geospatial Artificial Intelligence (GeoAI), my work seeks to transform how we model, build, and experience urban mobility networks.

I believe that a truly robust urban landscape requires a holistic, spine-and-spur transportation network built to withstand the challenges of the 21st century. High-capacity Public Transportation and Rail Transportation systems serve as the sustainable backbone of this network, essential for lowering carbon emissions, reducing regional congestion, and shaping dense, vibrant Transit-Oriented Developments (TOD).

To ensure long-term resiliency, my approach treats these networks as adaptive systems. A resilient transit network must be able to absorb disruptions, whether from extreme events, infrastructure failures, or shifting demographic demands, by dynamically rerouting transit assets and maintaining continuous service.

Crucially, this transit spine is only as viable as its first- and last-mile connections. This is where Active Transportation (walking, cycling, and rolling) plays its vital, complementary role. By building additional, flexible networks of active infrastructure, we create a more resilient urban ecosystem where communities have reliable, low-carbon alternatives to personal vehicular travel.

Elevating Accessibility and Safety through GeoAI

To optimize this interconnected ecosystem, my research leverages GeoAI, combining spatial data science, machine learning, and advanced geographic information systems (GIS). Modern transportation networks require dynamic, intelligent solutions to protect vulnerable road users and guarantee equitable access for all. My research applies GeoAI across two critical pillars:

• Universal Accessibility: Universal mobility means designing networks that serve everyone, including individuals with disabilities or mobility challenges. My work uses computer vision, satellite imagery, and street-view data to automate condition assessments of sidewalks, rail corridors, and transit stops. By digitally mapping infrastructure gaps, we can proactively eliminate physical barriers and ensure seamless, ADA-compliant accessibility across the entire transit network.
• Proactive Transportation Safety: True systemic safety requires shifting from a reactive approach to a predictive one. I utilize spatial deep learning and big geospatial data (such as micromobility feeds and GPS trajectories) to analyze the complex intersections where active transportation meets heavy transit infrastructure. By modeling conflict zones and passenger flows, we can predict and mitigate safety hazards before accidents occur, ensuring a secure environment for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit passengers alike.

Educating the Next Generation of Infrastructure Leaders

I am deeply committed to translating this cutting-edge research directly into the classroom. For that, I am constantly pioneering the development of brand-new, dedicated, relevant courses within my department.

This curriculum moves beyond traditional engineering silos, challenging students to view rail, transit, and active mobility not merely as isolated geometric or pavement calculations, but as a living, tech-forward ecosystem. By dismantling academic silos, my goal is to equip my students, the future engineers, planners, and civic leaders, with the spatial data literacy, technical skills, and community-first mindset needed to build the safe, accessible, sustainable, and resilient cities of tomorrow.

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