Transportation Engineering Seminar Series

Optimizing the Location of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

Dr. Akmal Abdelfatah

Professor, Civil Engineering, American University of Sharjah (AUS)

As electric vehicle adoption grows, transportation agencies must determine where charging stations can best serve drivers while minimizing travel and wait times. This seminar presents a simulation-optimization approach that models EV operations, charging behavior, and traffic conditions to identify optimal charging locations. The research uses the DYNASMART traffic simulation platform and evaluates different levels of EV adoption to support more efficient and accessible charging infrastructure planning.

Exporting Abundance, Facing Scarcity: The Nebraska Food Paradox

Dr. Mary Emery

Rural Prosperity Nebraska Director & Professor Agricultural Leadership, Education & Communication, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Raquel Johnson

Postdoctoral Research Associate, Agricultural Leadership, Education & Communication, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Nebraska is a major agricultural producer, yet much of what is grown in the state does not directly support local food access. This seminar explores how fragmented regional food systems affect farmers, processors, consumers, and local markets. We will explore challenges and innovation opportunities that can help build a stronger, sustainable, regional food system.

Effects of Bridge Width on Crashes in Nebraska

Dr. Aemal Khattak

Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering & Director, Mid-America Transportation Center (MATC), University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Highway bridges often create width transitions between roadways and bridge decks, yet bridge improvement decisions are frequently based on design standards rather than crash evidence. This seminar presents a Nebraska study that combined bridge inventory data and crash records from 2020–2024 to evaluate how bridge width relates to crash outcomes. Results indicate that narrower bridges were associated with higher crash frequencies, while bridge width showed no consistent relationship with crash severity. The findings suggest Relative Bridge Width may serve as a practical screening measure for identifying locations that warrant additional engineering review.

Connecting Vehicles, Traffic, and Intelligence: Toward Safer, more Efficient, and Sustainable Transportation Cyber-physical Systems (T-CPS)

Dr. Shi'an Wang

Assistant Professor, Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, University of Kansas

Connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs) can improve traffic flow, reduce energy consumption, and enhance urban mobility, yet mixed-autonomy traffic presents challenges as CAVs operate alongside human-driven vehicles under uncertain and changing conditions. This seminar presents a transportation cyber-physical systems (T-CPS) framework connecting microscopic vehicle control with macroscopic traffic flow theory. The framework supports real-time CAV feedback control, traffic state prediction, and co-optimization of vehicle speed and powertrain. The presentation also examines evaluations using real-world traffic data and the potential of T-CPS modeling and safety-aware control to support safer, more sustainable, and resilient urban mobility.