Title: Optimization, Modeling and Assessment of Smart City Transportation Systems

Speaker: Dr. Hesham A. Rakha

Date: Friday, May 27, 2022

SYNOPSIS

The transportation system has evolved into a complex Cyber Physical System (CPS) with the introduction of wireless communication and the emergence of connected travelers and Connected Automated Vehicles (CAVs). The talk will discuss the challenges associated with multi-modal transportation system optimization and modeling, the integrated modeling of the transportation and communication systems, some research in the area of multi-objective CAV optimization, and some research in CAV-enabled traffic signal control.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

In addition to serving as the Samuel Reynolds Pritchard Professor of Engineering in the Charles E. Via, Jr. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and a Courtesy Professor in the Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Dr. Rakha directs the Center for Sustainable Mobility at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute. His research focuses on large-scale transportation system optimization, modeling and assessment. He works on optimizing transportation system operations, including vehicle routing, developing various network and traffic signal control algorithms, developing freeway control strategies (speed harmonization and ramp metering), and optimizing vehicle motion (lateral and longitudinal) to reduce their energy consumption while ensuring their safety. A key component of these control algorithms are the tools needed to predict the system evolution while capturing the inherent stochasticity. In this area, Dr. Rakha and his team develop and apply modeling, artificial intelligence, and statistical techniques to predict the spatiotemporal evolution of the system. Additionally, Dr. Rakha and his researchers apply machine-learning techniques, as needed, in the development of the control systems that can adapt to the dynamic changes in the surrounding environment. In the area of large-scale transportation system modeling, Dr. Rakha and his researchers have expanded the domain of knowledge (in traveler and driver behavior modeling) and developed a suite of multi-modal agent-based transportation modeling tools, including the INTEGRATION microscopic traffic simulation software. In the area of transportation system assessment, Dr. Rakha and his researchers continue to develop the theory and models needed to quantify the efficiency, safety, energy, and environmental impacts of these systems. Finally, Dr. Rakha is an IEEE Fellow (class of 2020).