Fakhreddine receives SCG Global Impact Prize at Cozad New Venture Challenge

Mohammad Fakhreddine, Illinois Center for Transportation doctoral candidate, received the SCG Global Impact Prize at the 2026 Cozad New Venture Challenge.

The program, which aims to translate ideas into real-world impact, guides students through venture creation and helps them to develop business models.

The submitted technology prototype uses a cost-efficient camera system that can be mounted on inspection vehicles and other moving platforms to deliver AI-powered analytics of roadway condition. It continuously monitors and predicts pavement surface friction, helping to identify maintenance needs before roadway safety is jeopardized.

The high-resolution camera system takes images and videos and processes them using a pipeline of computer vision algorithms to model and characterize pavement texture. From the texture images, the system uses machine learning to predict pavement friction, which impacts how vehicle tires interact with the roadway surface, especially during accelerating, breaking or turning.

The technology offers a potential alternative to current expensive methods to test pavement friction, including specialized vehicles that require contact with pavement and contactless laser-based systems.

Developed by ICT, the technology is a product of research sponsored by the Illinois Department of Transportation. The ICT-IDOT project (R27-247) focuses on developing a new standardized test that will allow agencies to continually measure and calculate surface friction to ensure safe mobility of people and goods.

Fakhreddine is the main research assistant on the project, with Hong Lang, ICT postdoctoral research assistant, also assisting. CEE professors Imad Al-Qadi and Mani Golparvar-Fard serve as co-principal investigators of this project.

“I was very honored and humbled to receive this award. I am also very thankful for all the support from my advisors, Professor Imad L. Al-Qadi and Professor Mani Golparvar-Fard, ICT students and staff, IDOT, as well as my friends and family,” Fakhreddine said. “I hope that this technology can help reduce road fatalities and contribute to safer transportation networks!”

More than 350 teams and over 900 students participated in this year’s semester-long program, now in its 26th year. Fakhreddine’s award is one of $700,000 investments and prizes awarded. View the full list of award recipients: https://tec.illinois.edu/programs/cozad/prizes