Transportation Engineering Commons^™

Statewide Corridor Evacuation Response And Re-Entry Behaviors In Florida During Hurricane Irma, Xin Wang, Yuan Zhu, Hong Yang, Kun Xie

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Hurricane Irma stands as one of the most destructive tropical storms to make landfall in the United States, particularly impacting the State of Florida, where it prompted the largest evacuation in history with approximately 7 million residents. The profound consequences of mass evacuation underscore the critical need to understand travel behaviors during hurricane evacuation and the recovery process. This research analyzes statewide evacuation and re-entry patterns, leveraging diverse datasets, including TTMS data from main corridors and GIS data. A statewide corridor-based empirical analysis framework is constructed to characterize evacuation and re-entry response patterns using sensor-based traffic observations. The results show …

Seat Belt Data Collection Methods: A Comparison Between States And National Guidelines, Madison R A Richards

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Thousands of fatalities related to vehicle crashes occur every year. One method to reduce fatalities is to encourage seat belt use compliance. To promote statistics regarding seat belt use, there first must be reliable data on seat belt compliance and this comes from good survey design.

This report is a comparative analysis of seat belt data collection methodologies for Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana, in addition to an evaluation of how each state aligns with standards set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The framework for this analysis focuses on NHTSA’s five core survey design requirements: selection of observation …

A Novel Federated Llm Framework For Distributed Traffic Modelling In Intelligent Transportation Systems, Seerat Kaur

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Intelligent transportation systems (ITS) depend on accurate traffic prediction to support congestion management, infrastructure planning, and real-time operational decisions. Despite substantial progress in data-driven forecasting, several challenges continue to limit practical deployment: traffic data is distributed across independent regional authorities, making centralized aggregation infeasible, standard federated aggregation strategies ignore traffic-specific characteristics that meaningfully affect model quality, and existing models produce only numerical outputs without interpretable reasoning that urban planners can act upon. This thesis addresses these challenges through four contributions that collectively advance privacy-preserving, explainable, and scalable traffic forecasting.

The first contribution provides a systematic review of 129 peer-reviewed publications, …

Feasibility Of Quantifying The Dosage Of Zycotherm In Its Modified Asphalt Binders, Susmita Acharjee

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The quantification of low-percentage additives in asphalt binders is challenging due to their minimal concentration and the complex composition of the binder matrix. Zycotherm, a nano-organosilane anti-stripping additive, is typically used in very small dosages (0.05%–0.20%), making its detection and quantification particularly difficult. This study investigated the feasibility of estimating Zycotherm dosage in asphalt binders by examining chemical and rheological and moisture responses. Two asphalt binder grades, PG 64-22 and PG 76-22, were modified with Zycotherm at dosages of 0.05%, 0.10%, 0.15%, and 0.20% by weight of binder, along with corresponding base binders. Laboratory experiments were conducted using Fourier Transform …

Enhancing Traffic State Estimation At Bottlenecks Through Improved Demand Modeling: A Greenshields-Grounded Approach, Yuyan Annie Pan, Xianbiao Hu, Qing Tang, Yanyan Chen, Xuesong (Simon) Zhou

Civil & Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Accurate estimation of traffic state under oversaturated conditions is fundamental to a wide range of transportation applications. While intuitive, volume-to-capacity (q/qc) ratio-based link performance functions (LPF) are challenged by the U-shaped pattern of real-world speed-flow plots, which contradict the monotonic assumptions of link performance models such as the Bureau of Public Roads (BPR) function, particularly when q/q_c ≥ 1. This study addresses this critical gap by proposing an enhanced demand estimation method grounded in the Greenshields model, incorporating a real-time inflow correction factor to more accurately capture traffic demand at bottlenecks. In parallel, a modified LPF is introduced, replacing …

Iuse: A Gamified Virtual Learning Platform For Connected Vehicle Applications To Enhance Undergraduate Transportation Education, Tianyu Shen, Di Yang, Kai Sun, Hong Yang, Kun Xie, Mansoureh Jeihani

Civil & Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Emerging transportation technologies are rapidly reshaping transportation systems and industry practice. However, most transportation undergraduate curricula still emphasize foundational topics such as geometric design, travel demand forecasting, pavements, and soil properties, typically delivered through lecture-centric instruction. While these subjects remain essential to the discipline, they do not fully reflect the pace of technological change or provide sufficient opportunities for experiential learning with modern tools and data. This gap limits students’ exposure to CV concepts and their ability to translate theory into practice.

Focusing on a key emerging technology, connected vehicles (CVs), this paper bridges the above gap by introducing a …

Workshop Outcomes Report: 2nd International Workshop On Seismic Resilience Of Arctic Infrastructure And Social Systems, Majid Ghayoomi, Daniela Morganti

Faculty Publications

The report provides an overview of the second international workshop on Seismic Resilience of Arctic Infrastructure and Social Systems. The report discusses agenda, workshop activities, interdisciplinary working groups, and results. It ends with several strategic questions and investigation plans that were developed as part of the workshop activities.

Predicting Safety And Mobility Parameters Based On Comprehensive Analytics Of Connected Vehicle Data, Lei Han

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Traffic safety and mobility remain critical challenges for modern transportation systems. The emergence of connected vehicle (CV) data offers unprecedented opportunities to capture microscopic, non-aggregated driving dynamics to support precise and finer-grained traffic safety and mobility research. This dissertation develops a comprehensive CV data–driven analytical framework to advance traffic safety and mobility research across multiple roadway contexts, including intersections, segments, freeways, and urban arterial networks. For traffic safety, this research extracts both longitudinal and lateral risky driving behaviors from CV trajectories and integrates them with macro-level roadway, traffic, and visual environment features. A spatial machine learning framework is proposed for …

Bond Behavior Of Uhpc-Nsc Interfaces For Bridge Deck Repair Under Flexural Loading, Larissa Santiago La Banca

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

The use of ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) has increased due to its superior mechanical properties and strong bond with normal-strength concrete (NSC). It is widely used as a repair material, particularly in bridge decks, where maintenance remains a challenge. However, the interface between UHPC and NSC is often the weakest region of the composite system and requires careful evaluation.

This study investigates the bond behavior between UHPC and NSC using different surface preparations, test setups, and UHPC materials. The experimental program included unreinforced beams with vertical interfaces tested under three- and four-point flexural loading, and reinforced slabs with horizontal interfaces …

Learning-Based Optimization For Collaborative Truck-Drone Routing And Scheduling, Ahmad A. Bany Abdelnabi

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Modern delivery networks increasingly rely on innovative technologies such as drones working alongside trucks to meet rising demands for fast and efficient last–mile transportation. Hybrid truck–drone delivery offers strong potential, but its effectiveness depends on careful synchronization between trucks and drones. Although drones provide fast, direct travel, their limited endurance and the need to coordinate launch and recovery with trucks create tightly coupled routing and scheduling interactions. Poor dispatch decisions can cause truck waiting, reduce parallelism, and increase mission completion time. These challenges motivate decision frameworks that explicitly model synchronization and develop scalable methods for coordinated truck–drone operations. This dissertation …

An Integrated Framework For Last-Mile Delivery Optimization Using Reinforcement Learning And Social Media-Based Traffic Prediction In Underdeveloped Megacities, Vasanth Bhat

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Supply chain management has become increasingly critical as transportation costs rise and urban delivery systems place additional pressure on already congested networks. Last-mile delivery—the movement of goods from distribution centers to end users—represents the most expensive and operationally complex segment of the logistics process, particularly in underdeveloped megacities characterized by unpredictable traffic, limited infrastructure, and sparse real-time data. This dissertation proposes an integrated framework for optimizing last-mile delivery in such environments by combining social media–based traffic intelligence, machine learning, and deep reinforcement learning. The framework leverages unstructured, real-time data from social media platforms to enhance traffic prediction and incorporates these …

Integrated Corridor Management Framework For Severe Freeway Incidents, Sanjida Afroz Iqra

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Traffic incidents are a major source of non-recurrent congestion on urban freeways, generating substantial mobility, safety, and economic impacts. Severe incidents that block multiple or all travel lanes are particularly disruptive because they degrade freeway operations and propagate congestion onto surrounding arterials. Effective Integrated Corridor Management (ICM) requires the ability to identify severe incidents, estimate their network-wide impacts, and anticipate the traffic conditions and driver behaviors that contribute to instability. This dissertation develops a data-driven ICM framework to address these challenges using real-world incident, crash, detector, and connected vehicle data from major Central Florida corridors, including I-4 and SR-417. The …

Enhancing Health And Safety Practices In Construction Site In Developing Nations Through Technology Advancement In South Western Nigeria, Mubaraq Lawal, Abba Mahmud, Ismail Gbolahan Dere, Thankgod Agbo Owoicho

CSID Journal of Infrastructure Development

The construction sector plays a critical role in urban development and economic growth, yet it continues to face major challenges that threaten worker health and safety. Traditional safety measures are not always sufficient for the complex conditions found on construction sites, which creates a need for technology‑based solutions. This study investigates the relationship between technology adoption and health and safety practices in the construction industry in Lagos, Nigeria. The study identifies the major causes of site accidents, examines the level of technology use on construction sites, and reviews existing literature through both primary and secondary data. Primary data were collected …

Simulation-Based Assessment Of Operational Strategies For Visibility-Responsive Variable Speed Limits, Jiyeon Ban

Theses

Managing speed limits in adverse weather is crucial for highway safety. Variable Speed Limit systems aim to adjust speed limits according to weather conditions, yet many traffic management centers depend on manual operator judgment. Rapid visibility fluctuations, along with operators handling multiple responsibilities, can cause delays in responding to deteriorating conditions, increasing the risk of rear-end collisions. A VSL control strategy is developed using real-time Road Weather Information System data to enable more proactive and effective adjustments. Microsimulation analysis indicates that visibility-responsive VSL operations can reduce conflicts by 59% in fog. Applying VSL only to fog-affected sections yields clear safety …

Shaking Table Test And Numerical Simulation Of Seismic Response Characteristics Of Rock Slope With Muddy Interlayer, Duan Chenggang, Fang Yanlin, Tian Yeqing, Zhou Zhijun

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

In order to study the seismic macroscopic failure process and dynamic response characteristics of rock slope with muddy interlayer and reveal the influence of muddy interlayer on slope stability,a similar slope model with concave and convex slope types was designed,and shaking table test was carried out;finite element analysis was used for numerical modeling analysis,and the results obtained by the two models were compared.The results show that:① The macroscopic deformation and failure process of the model slope is divided into three stages.Muddy interlayer dislocates,and cracks occur;mud interlayer slips,and cracks expand;slope collapses;② The seismic load has a decisive influence on the stability …

Effect Of Lithium Slag Dosage On Strength And Dry Shrinkage Properties Of Cement Stabilized Recycled Macadam, Zhao Ziyu, Gan Xianyong

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

To improve the mechanical properties and dry shrinkage properties of cement stabilized bases formed by cold in-place recycling of cement concrete pavements,lithium slag was mixed into the recycled mixture in mass ratios of 0%,6%,9%,and 12%.The effects of lithium slag dosage on the mechanical,dry shrinkage,and water stability properties of the recycled base were analyzed through the unconfined compressive strength,splitting,dry shrinkage,and water stability tests,and the mechanism underlying the improving effect of lithium slag on the cement stabilized base formed by cold in-place recycling of the cement concrete pavement was analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD ) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM ).The results …

Optimization Of Infill Concrete Dimension In Composite Girder Box Based On Igrnn, Wang Yafeng, Liu Jian, Ke Hongjun

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

The mechanical performance of the negative bending moment zone of steel-concrete composite continuous girders has always been a focus of attention in bridge engineering.Existing research mainly proposes improvement measures for the tension of concrete bridge decks,while paying little attention to the common phenomenon of steel girders bearing pressure.The steel girders in steel-concrete composite girders,especially the steel bottom plate in the negative bending moment area of the pier top,bear the highest compressive stress of the entire bridge.Therefore,by taking a steel-concrete composite girder bridge in Zhejiang Province as the engineering background,it is proposed to partially fill the interior of the box girder …

Research On Cable Force Optimization Of Long-Span Cable-Stayed Bridges Based On Rbfnn+Improved Parti Cle Swarm Optimization Algorithm, Deng Da, He Bowen, Liu Guokun

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

In view of the cable force optimization problem of long-span cable-stayed bridges,a cable force optimization method considering the reliability index of stay cables was proposed based on the response surface fitted by the radial basis function neural network (RBFNN ).The RBFNN-based response surface model for solving the reliability index was established by fitting the structural implicit function through RBFNN training.The improved particle swarm optimization algorithm was used to search for the optimal solution of the cable force optimization model considering the reliability index.The research results show that RBFNN can accurately predict the structural responses and fit the structural implicit performance …

Design Optimization And Experimental Study Of Cfrp Plate Anchorage With Clip-Extension Type, Qi Yijia, Xiao Dan, Wang Zhongqiang

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

Existing anchorage is prone to damaging the carbon-fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP ) plate due to the “notch effect ” and uneven distribution of clamping stress.This study proposed a new clip-extension type anchorage for the CFRP plate.This design utilized the ductility of steel for stress diffusion and guided the compressive stress zone in the CFRP plate away from the notched end,realizing a smooth transition of the clamping force of the CFRP plate at the clip port and effectively reducing the “notch effect ”.The design also reduced the strain difference between the carbon fibers,resulting in a more synchronized lateral deformation of the …

Research And Applicat Ion Of Ultra Large-Scale Consolidated Under-Reamed Drilled Shaft Technology Under Special Environmental And Geological Conditions, Ding Yi, Yu Kun, Shi Haiyang, Pei Xiaofeng, Zhu Bo

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

This article aims to add ress the poor economic efficiency of large-diameter and ultra-long piles,the high risk of hole collapse in thick sandy soil,and the limited space across the canal faced by the Bridge over Yellow River Diversion to Qindao Canal on Zhanhua ‒ Linyi Expressway.According to the comparison of conventional drilled cast-in-place piles with combined pile-end and pile-side post-grouting,the industry ’s under-reamed drilled shaft foundation with the largest disc diameter (4.5 m) and the largest single-pile volume (456 m3) was proposed and designed.At the same time,supporting devices such as three-arm rotary cutting drill bits and long arm borehole diameter …