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About the Director

Profile Abbas Dr. Montasir Abbas is a Professor in the Transportation Infrastructure and Systems Engineering at Virginia Tech. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from University of Khartoum, Sudan (1993), a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from University of Nebraska-Lincoln (1997), and a Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering from Purdue University (2001). Dr. Abbas has wide experience as a practicing transportation engineer and a researcher. He was an Assistant Research Engineer and the Corridor Management Team Leader at Texas Transportation Institute (TTI), where he has worked for four years before joining Virginia Tech. Dr. Abbas has been awarded over 35 grants at Virginia Tech and Texas A&M Transportation Institute, totaling about $4 million in personal share, $5.5 million in VT share, and over $19 million in total project funds. Dr. Abbas is one of the award recipients of the Federal Highway Administration Exploratory and Advanced Research (FHWA EAR) program. The objective of the FHWA EAR is to "research and develop projects that could lead to transformational changes and truly revolutionary advances in highway engineering and intermodal surface transportation in the United States." The award funded multidisciplinary research that utilizes traffic simulation and advanced artificial intelligence techniques.  Dr. Abbas published 3 book chapters and more than 170 peer-reviewed publications. He was also an invited speaker, contributor, and organizer of numerous workshops.

 Dr. Abbas developed Purdue Real-Time Offset Transitioning Algorithm for Coordinating Traffic Signals (PRO-TRACTS) during his Ph.D. studies at Purdue University, bridging the gap between adaptive control systems and closed-loop systems. He has since developed and implemented several algorithms and systems in his areas of interest, including the Platoon Identification and Accommodation system (PIA), the Pattern Identification Logic for Offset Tuning (PILOT 05), the Supervisory Control Intelligent Adaptive Module (SCIAM), the Cabinet-in-the-loop (CabITL) simulation platform, the Intelligent Multi Objective Control Algorithms (I-MOCA), the Traffic Responsive Iterative Urban-Control Model for Pattern-matching and Hypercube Optimal Parameters Setup (TRIUMPH OPS), the Multi Attribute Decision-making Optimizer for Next-generation Network-upgrade and Assessment (MADONNA), the Safety and Mobility Agent-based Reinforcement-learning Traffic Simulation Add-on Module (SMART SAM), the Broad Area-wide and Distance-wise Agent-based Signal-optimization System (BADASS), and the Green Light SONATA (SONATA: Signal Operation with Neuro-fuzzy Acoustic Tuning Applications--a novel concept that combines traffic flow, control, and music theories). He was also one of the key developers of the dilemma zone protection Detection Control System (D-CS) that was selected as one of the seven top research innovations and findings in the state of Texas for the year 2002. 

 Dr. Abbas served as the chair of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) traffic engineering council committee on "survey of the state of the practice on traffic responsive plan selection control" and the chair of the agent-based modeling and simulation task group in the TRB SimSub committee. He is currently a member of the "Traffic Flow Theory and Characteristics" and "Highway Capacity and Quality of Service" TRB committees. He has also served as a member of the TRB "Traffic Signal Systems" Committee, "Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Computing Applications Committee," and the Joint "Subcommittee on Intersections." He also served as the President of the Faculty Senate at Virginia Tech in 2016-2017 academic year. Dr. Abbas is a recipient of the Oak Ridge National Lab Associated Universities (ORAU) Ralf E. Powe Faculty Enhancement Award and the G. V. Loganathan Faculty Achievement Award for Excellence in Civil Engineering Education. He is also a recipient of the TTI/Trinity New Researcher Award for his significant contributions to the field of Intelligent Transportation Systems and Traffic Operations.
After Joining Virginia Tech, Dr. Abbas established the VT-SCORES laboratory with state-of-the-art equipment for traffic control and hardware-in- the-loop simulation in the Via Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. He has also developed a new course on advanced signal system control that covers state-of-the-art topics in signal control utilizing the new lab facilities. In addition, Dr. Abbas teaches Traffic Engineering, Traffic Flow Theory, Intro to Transportation Engineering, and Computer Applications in Civil Engineering.

Contact
Telephone: (540) 231-9002
E-mail: abbas@vt.edu
301, Patton Hall
Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA-24061.
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