Tianyi Li | Transportation Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Tianyi Li | Transportation Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Assistant Professor, Saint Louis University, United States

Tianyi Li is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at Saint Louis University. His research interests lie at the intersection of transportation engineering, cyber-physical systems (T-CPS), and machine learning, with a focus on traffic modeling, safety, and urban mobility. Prior to his current role, Li earned his Ph.D. in Transportation Engineering from the University of Minnesota, where he worked under the guidance of Dr. Raphael Stern. He holds a Master’s degree from the University of Washington and a Bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University. Li’s interdisciplinary expertise includes the application of data science and machine learning to improve traffic flow, safety, and sustainability. He has gained industry experience working with organizations like Futurewei Technology and the Washington State Department of Transportation. His ongoing research contributes significantly to advancing the understanding of smart cities, transportation systems, and public safety.

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Education 

Tianyi Li holds a Ph.D. in Transportation Engineering from the University of Minnesota, which he is expected to complete in June 2024. Under the mentorship of Dr. Raphael Stern, his doctoral research explores transportation-cyber-physical systems (T-CPS) and the integration of machine learning in transportation systems. Li also earned a Master of Science in Transportation Engineering from the University of Washington in December 2019, where he worked with Dr. Yinhai Wang. During his undergraduate years at Iowa State University, Li graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in May 2017, earning cum laude honors and membership in Tau Beta Pi. He also received certifications in Python programming, machine learning, and data science through Coursera. Li’s academic training has provided him with a solid foundation in transportation engineering, data analysis, and the application of cutting-edge technologies like AI and machine learning to transportation systems.

Experience 

Tianyi Li has diverse experience both in academia and industry. Since August 2024, he has been serving as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at Saint Louis University. In this role, he focuses on conducting research and teaching students about transportation systems, cyber-physical systems, and data science. Li’s industry experience includes a summer internship at Futurewei Technology in Bellevue, Washington, where he worked on applied machine learning for smart cities and contributed to a journal paper on taxi mobility services. In addition, he interned with the Washington State Department of Transportation in 2019, focusing on tolling data analysis, performance evaluations, and operational improvements. Li also gained early career experience as an Assistant Engineer Intern with China Railway First Group in 2017, where he participated in site surveys, field measurements, and AutoCAD drawing. His internships provided him valuable hands-on experience in the transportation field, bridging academic research and real-world applications.

Awards and Honors 

Tianyi Li has received numerous prestigious awards throughout his academic and professional career. Notable recognitions include the Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship (2021-2024), which supports his ongoing research on transportation systems. He also received the Matthew J. Huber Award for Excellence in Transportation Research and Education in 2024, which acknowledges his exceptional contributions to the field of transportation engineering. Li has earned multiple Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo-Engineering Travel Awards (2023), enabling him to present at international conferences. Additionally, he was awarded the Best Presentation Award at the UMN Transportation Seminar in 2022 for his outstanding work in transportation research. Other honors include the NSF Travel Award, the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Student Travel Award, and the 2022 ITS Minnesota Educational Scholarship. Li has also received multiple Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowships (2021-2023), which have supported his research initiatives in transportation safety and smart mobility.

Research Focus 

Tianyi Li’s research focuses on the intersection of transportation systems, cyber-physical systems (T-CPS), and machine learning. His work aims to integrate advanced data science techniques into transportation engineering to improve traffic flow, safety, and urban mobility. Key research topics include traffic estimation, modeling, and control, with a particular emphasis on leveraging machine learning and deep learning methods to optimize transportation systems. Li has explored the energy impacts of cyberattacks on adaptive cruise control vehicles, as well as the detection of stealthy cyberattacks on automated vehicles. His research also addresses transportation safety, including driver behavior at unsignalized intersections and pedestrian-driver interactions. Li’s focus on sustainable urban mobility involves developing innovative solutions for smart cities, incorporating the integration of public transit signal priority into traffic signal control. Overall, his interdisciplinary research aims to advance transportation infrastructure using emerging technologies to create safer, more efficient, and sustainable urban transportation systems.

Publications 

  1. Identifying built environment factors influencing driver yielding behavior at unsignalized intersections: A naturalistic open-source dataset collected in Minnesota 🛣️🚗
  2. Exploring Energy Impacts of Cyberattacks on Adaptive Cruise Control Vehicles 🚙💻
  3. Naturalistic open-source pedestrian-driver yielding dataset collected in Minnesota 🚶‍♂️🚗
  4. Car-following-response Based Vehicle Classification via Deep Learning 🧠🚘
  5. Assessing the Impact of Disruptive Events on Urban Mobility: A Case Study of Chicago Taxis during COVID-19 🚖📉
  6. Integrating public transit signal priority into max-pressure signal control: Methodology and simulation study on a downtown network 🚍🚦
  7. Detecting Stealthy Cyberattacks on Automated Vehicles via Generative Adversarial Networks 🛑🤖
  8. Robustness of vehicle identification via trajectory dynamics to noisy measurements and malicious attacks 🚙🔒
  9. Taxi Utilization Rate Maximization by Dynamic Demand Prediction: A Case Study in the City of Chicago 🚖📊

Salvador García-Ayllón Veintimilla | Urban Planning and Studies | Best Researcher Award

Prof Dr. Salvador García-Ayllón Veintimilla | Urban Planning and Studies | Best Researcher Award

Prof.Doctor, Technical University of Cartagena, Spain

Prof. Dr. Salvador García-Ayllón Veintimilla is an Associate Professor at the Technical University of Cartagena (UPCT) in Spain, where he serves as the Principal Investigator of the research group “Territorial Policy, Environmental Planning, and Infrastructure Planning” and the director of the Biyectiva-UPCT professorship of GIS spatial analysis and artificial intelligence. His research focuses on urban and environmental planning, utilizing spatial statistical analysis and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) tools. Prof. García-Ayllón is recognized globally for his contributions, including being listed in the top 2% of the most-cited scientists worldwide by Stanford University. 🌍

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Based on the information provided, Prof. Dr. Salvador García-Ayllón Veintimilla is a strong candidate for the “Best Researcher Award.” Here’s an analysis of his strengths, areas for improvement, and a conclusion:

Strengths for the Award

Diverse Academic Background: Prof. García-Ayllón has a comprehensive educational background with degrees in Civil Engineering, Architecture, an MBA, and a PhD in Urban Planning. This multidisciplinary education is valuable in his research, which spans urban studies, environmental planning, and civil engineering.

Extensive Research Experience: With over 60 articles published in journals with Journal Citation Reports (JCR) or SCImago Journal Rank (SJR) impact factors, his research output is significant. The presence of his work in high-impact journals (33% in T1, 25% in Q1, and 10% in D1) underlines the quality and relevance of his contributions.

High Citation Impact: An H-index of 19 and nearly 925 citations reflect the impact of his research within the scientific community. Being listed in the top 2% of the most-cited scientists worldwide by Stanford further corroborates his influence and recognition.

Leadership and Mentorship: As the principal investigator of a research group and director of a professorship at the Technical University of Cartagena, he has demonstrated leadership and mentorship skills. His guidance has led to the completion of 10 doctoral theses in the past five years, indicating his commitment to fostering new talent in his field.

International Recognition and Collaboration: His positions as a Fulbright visiting scholar at MIT and visiting professorships at UC Berkeley and Cyprus University of Technology highlight his international standing and collaborative efforts. This exposure to diverse academic environments enhances his research perspective and expertise.

Applied Research and Practical Impact: Prof. García-Ayllón has engaged in projects with significant practical implications, such as coordinating reconstruction efforts after the Lorca earthquake and managing EU investments for the Mar Menor lagoon. This involvement demonstrates his ability to apply research to real-world challenges, bridging the gap between academia and practice.

Publications and Knowledge Dissemination: In addition to research articles, he has authored 20 teaching and scientific books, contributing to knowledge dissemination and educational resources in his field.

Areas for Improvement

Focused Research Impact: While his research is published across a range of high-impact journals, focusing on a more specialized niche could enhance his impact further. A more concentrated research theme might lead to even higher recognition and influence in a specific subfield.

Increased Collaboration: Despite his international experience, there could be an opportunity to engage in more collaborative research projects with diverse international partners. This could enhance the interdisciplinary nature of his work and lead to innovative research outcomes.

Funding and Grant Success: Highlighting his success in obtaining competitive research funding or grants would strengthen his profile. Demonstrating the ability to secure funding consistently is a valuable skill for any researcher and indicates recognition and trust by funding bodies.

Education

Prof. García-Ayllón holds a diverse educational background that combines engineering, architecture, and business management. He earned his BSc and MSc in Civil Engineering from the Technical University of Valencia in 2006, followed by a BSc and MSc in Architecture from the University CEU of Valencia in 2008. He further enhanced his expertise with an MBA from ESIC Business School in 2009 and completed his PhD in Urban Planning from the Technical University of Valencia in 2013. Additionally, he possesses an English Level C2 Diploma from Trinity College, demonstrating his proficiency in English. 🎓

Experience

Prof. García-Ayllón has held various significant positions throughout his career. He has been an Associate Professor at UPCT since 2010 and has served as a Fulbright visiting scholar at MIT, a visiting professor at Cyprus University of Technology and UC Berkeley, and a coordinator for the Government of Spain’s Integrated Territorial Investment of the European Union for the Mar Menor lagoon. His experience extends to roles such as Technical Coordinator for the European Infrastructure Bank and Planning Engineer and Architect at Ferrovial Inc. 🏛️

Research Interests

His research interests primarily revolve around urban and environmental planning, with a strong focus on the application of GIS and spatial statistical analysis. Prof. García-Ayllón’s work often explores the impacts of urban transformations, sustainable city development, and the governance of territorial management. He is particularly interested in analyzing the imbalances in urban growth and the sustainability challenges posed by phenomena such as mass tourism and rapid urbanization. 🌆

Awards

Prof. García-Ayllón has received several accolades throughout his career. Notably, he was awarded the WOS Top Peer Reviewer award in 2019 in the Cross-field and Environment & Ecology categories, recognizing his significant contributions to the scientific community. His inclusion in the top 2% of the most-cited scientists worldwide by Stanford University is another testament to his research impact and scholarly excellence. 🏆

Publications

Prof. García-Ayllón has published extensively in high-impact journals. Here are some of his notable works:

“Rapid development as a factor of imbalance in urban growth of cities in Latin America: A perspective based on territorial indicators” (2016) – Habitat International (link), cited by 101 articles.

“Urban transformations as an indicator of unsustainability in the P2P mass tourism phenomenon: The Airbnb case in Spain through three case studies” (2018) – Sustainability (link), cited by 100 articles.

“The Sustainable City IX: Urban Regeneration and Sustainability (2 Volume Set)” (2014) – WIT Press (link), cited by 90 articles.

“New strategies to improve governance in territorial management: evolving from ‘smart cities’ to ‘smart territories'” (2015) – Procedia Engineering (link), cited by 83 articles.

Conclusion

Prof. Dr. Salvador García-Ayllón Veintimilla is a highly accomplished researcher with a strong record of publication, citation impact, leadership, and practical application of his research. His diverse educational background and international experience make him a versatile and impactful researcher. While there are always opportunities to enhance focus and collaboration, his current achievements make him a worthy candidate for the “Best Researcher Award.” His contributions to urban and environmental planning and infrastructure, along with his role as a mentor and leader, make him a standout candidate in his field.