The Grainger College of Engineering
Illinois Center for Transportation

Showcasing Illinois innovation at Transportation Research Board’s annual meeting

1/21/2025 Kent Reel

The 104th annual meeting of the Transportation Research Board, held Jan. 5-9 in Washington, D.C., brought together nearly 14,000 transportation professionals from around the globe.

As the largest transportation conference worldwide, the event serves as a platform for cutting-edge research, policy dialogue and innovative ideas in the transportation industry.

University of Illinois Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering faculty, staff and students pose at the CEE TRB reception, hosted by Illinois Center for Transportation. More than 800 UIUC alumni and friends attended the reception. 
University of Illinois Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering faculty, staff and students pose at the CEE TRB reception, hosted by Illinois Center for Transportation. 

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign made a strong impression, with faculty, staff and students contributing significantly to the event’s success.

Illinois was well represented at the poster sessions.  Clockwise from top left: Yudi Wang and Ramez Hajj with their poster presentation; Javier García Mainieri discussing his research; Aditya Singh emphasizing a key point; Babak Asadi and Renan Santos Maia at one of the sessions.
Clockwise from top left: Yudi Wang and Ramez Hajj with their poster presentation, Javier García Mainieri discussing his research, Babak Asadi and Renan Santos Maia at one of the sessions, and Aditya Singh emphasizing a key point..

Participants from Illinois delivered nearly 70 presentations, engaging in numerous workshops and sessions that showcased their expertise and innovation in transportation research.

Several ICT students were recognized for their research achievements. 

Johann Cardenas won the Audience Choice Award in the Three-Minute Thesis Competition. His presentation, “Rough Roads, Tough Loads: What’s Really Breaking Our Pavements?” highlighted how road surface irregularities amplify vehicle bouncing, or dynamic wheel loading, accelerating pavement deterioration.

Referencing findings from Illinois Department of Transportation-sponsored project R27-252, he emphasized the urgency of considering this effect in pavement design, especially with heavier electric trucks’ high-torque capabilities and the additional strain caused by aggressive acceleration and braking.

Yusra Alhadidi, Akash Bajaj and Abhilash Vyas were recognized for their Airport Cooperative Research Program Graduate Research Awards, which focus on applied research on airport and related aviation issues to help the public sector improve the quality, reliability, safety and security of the civil aviation system.  As recipients, they had the opportunity to present their work at the annual meeting.

Continuing a cherished tradition, ICT Director Imad Al-Qadi hosted a luncheon for current and former students, fostering connections within the ICT community and encouraging collaborative research opportunities.

For a comprehensive list of presentations delivered by Illinois participants, click here.

Current and former students connect at Al-Qadi’s annual luncheon.
Current and former students connect at Al-Qadi’s annual luncheon.
Clockwise from top left:  Johann Cardenas accepting his award, Abhilash Vyas presenting his research, ICT senior research engineer Uthman Mohamed Ali with Yusra Alhadidi at a poster presentation, and Akash Bajaj at the lectern.
Clockwise from top left:  Johann Cardenas accepting his award, Abhilash Vyas presenting his research, ICT senior research engineer Uthman Mohamed Ali with Yusra Alhadidi at a poster presentation, and Akash Bajaj at the lectern.