Home

Dr. Amit Kumar

Assistant Professor
Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Construction Management
University of Texas at San Antonio

Office: BSE 1.334
Ph: 210-458-2641
email: Amit.Kumar@utsa.edu

Transportation Systems Modeling Laboratory

Facilities

Transportation Systems Modeling Laboratory (TSM Lab) is the state-of-the-art facility for teaching and research in the area of Transportation Engineering in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). It provides the contemporary tools for the researchers in the the domain of transportation engineering at UTSA  to analyze the problems of urban transportation. It incorporates high-end computational facilities, transportation planning and micro-simulation software, sensors, traffic cameras, drones, and other equipment for experiment, design, planning, and analysis of transportation systems.  TSM Lab provides an excellent foundation with integrated hands-on applications for undergraduate and graduate-level student so that they can master the tools to shoulder the transportation related problems of today and future.

The main areas of research are:

  • Modeling and optimization of both transportation network supply and demand with emphasis on sustainability.
  • Planning and design of  transportation infrastructure under evolving technologies such as automated vehicles and electrified transportation system.
  • Application of Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) along with statistical and econometric modeling techniques to analyze transportation data.

The TSM Lab is furnished with simulation, optimization and statistical software along with hardware and sensors.

Contact Information

Dr. Amit Kumar
E-mail: amit.kumar@utsa.edu

Phone: (210) 458-2641

Research

Research Thrusts

  • Connected and Autonomous Vehicle (CAV)
  • Traffic and Incident Management
  • Intelligent Transportation Systems
  • Public Transportation and Accessibility
  • Transportation Planning/ Travel Demand Modeling
  • Transportation Infrastructure Investment Decision Making
  • Air Quality and Health Impacts of Transportation System
  • Micromobility
  • Sustainable Transportation
  • Smart Cities
  • Infrastructure Interdependencies
  • Multimodal Network Modeling
  • High Speed Rail
  • Transportation Electrification/ Electric Vehicles
  • Crowdsourcing Applications

Ongoing Research Projects

“SRS RN: Sustainable Transportation Electrification for an Equitable and Resilient Society (STEERS)“, Role: Researcher, PI: Thomas Overbye (TAMU), a collaborative project of four Texas universities: Texas A&M University (TAMU, lead) including the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI), Rice University (Rice), Texas Tech University (TTU), and University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), funded by National Science Foundation (NSF), (01/01/2022-12/31/2022).
“Develop Roadway and Parking Design Criteria to Accommodate Automated and Autonomous Vehicles”, Role: PI, Co-PIs: Samer Dessouky, Hatim Sharif, José Weissmann, research conducted at UTSA, funded by Texas Department of Transportation, (09/01/2020-08/31/2022).
“Modeling Crash Severity and Collision Types Using Machine Learning”, Role: PI,  research conducted at UTSA, funded by Transportation Consortium of South-Central States (Tran-SET) the Region 6’s University Transportation Center led by Louisiana State University, (08/01/2020-07/31/2022).

Past Research Projects

“Development of Traffic dispersion model with the aid of video records from Multiple UAVs for effective Signal Coordination along Urban arterials carrying Heterogeneous Traffic flow”, Role: Co-PI, PI: Dr. Gunasekaran Karuppanan (Anna University, India), funded by Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC), Govt. of India. (2019-2021).
“When and Where are Dedicated Lanes Needed under Mixed Traffic of Automated and Non-Automated Vehicles for Optimal System Level Benefits?”, Role: Co-PI, PI: Subhrajit Guhathakurta, worked at Georgia Tech, funded by Center for Transportation, Equity, Decisions and Dollars (CTEDD), USDOT (Tier-1) University Transportation Center, (09/01/17-08/31/18).
“Challenges to CV and AV Applications in Truck Freight Operations“, Role: Researcher, worked at Georgia Tech, PI: David Fitzpatrick, funded by NCHRP, (2015-2016).
“Crowdsourced Social Media Monitoring System Development”, Role: PI, worked at Georgia Tech, funded by Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), (2016-2017).
“Integrating Transportation Management Companies (TMCs) and Public Transportation”, Role: Researcher, worked at Georgia Tech, funded by Center for Transportation, Equity, Decisions and Dollars (CTEDD), USDOT (Tier-1) University Transportation Center. (2017-2018).
“Data Driven Approach to State Transportation Investment Decisions: a Transportation Project Investment and Evaluation Resource (T-PIER)”, , Role: Researcher, funded by USDOT/RITA through University Transportation Center (UTC) at Georgia Tech. (2014-2015).
“A Collaborative Model for Healthy Freight Planning”, Funded by Pew Charitable Trusts. Role: Researcher, worked at Georgia Tech, (2014-2016).
“Freight Impacts on Small Urban and Rural Areas”, Funded by USDOT/RITA through UTC at Georgia Tech. Role: Researcher, worked at Georgia Tech, (2014-2015).
“Post-Processing Techniques to Enhance Reliability of Assignment Algorithm Based Performance Measures”, Funded by Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT).  Role: Researcher, worked at Purdue University, (2008-2011).
“Incorporating High Speed Passenger Rail into a Multimodal Network Model for Improved Regional Transportation Planning”, Funded by USDOT/RITA through UTC at Purdue University. Role: Researcher, worked at Purdue University, (2013-2014).
“Integrated Framework to Capture the Interdependencies between Transportation and Energy Sectors due to Policy Decisions”, Funded by USDOT/RITA through UTC region 5 at Purdue University. Role: Researcher, worked at Purdue University, (2013-2014).

Media

 

 

 

 

 

 

Publications

Published in peer reviewed journals

  1. Kumar, A, Mishra, S., Ngo, H. “Dynamic Wireless Charging Facility Location Problem for Battery Electric Vehicles under Electricity Constraint“, Networks and Spatial Economics, 1-35, June 2023.DOI: 10.1007/s11067-023-09592-1
  2.  Koohfar, S., Woldemariam, W., Kumar, A. “Performance Comparison of Deep Learning Approaches in Predicting EV Charging Demand“, Sustainability 15(5):4258, 2023. DOI:10.3390/su15054258
  3. Koohfar, S., Woldemariam, W., Kumar, A. “Prediction of Electric Vehicles Charging Demand: A Transformer-Based Deep Learning Approach“, Sustainability 15(3):2105, 2023. DOI:10.3390/su15032105
  4. Kumar, A., Guhathakurta, S. and Venkatachalam, S. “When and where should there be dedicated lanes under mixed traffic of automated and human-driven vehicles for system-level benefits?“, Research in Transportation Business & Management, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rtbm.2020.100527
  5. Ngo, H., Kumar, A., Mishra, S. “Optimal Positioning of Dynamic Wireless Charging Infrastructure in a Road Network for Battery Electric Vehicles.“, Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, 85, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trd.2020.102385
  6. Kumar, A., Haque K., Mishra, S., Golias MM. “Multi-Criteria Based Approach to Identify Critical Links in a Transportation Network.”, Case Studies on Transport Policy, 7(3), 519-530, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cstp.2019.07.006
  7. Kumar, A. and Mishra, S. “A Simplified Framework for Sequencing of Transportation Projects Considering User Costs and Benefits.”, Transportmetrica A: Transport Science, 14 (4), 346-371, 2018. https://doi:10.1080/23249935.2017.1387827
  8. Mishra, S., Kumar, A., Golias, M., Welch, T., Taghizad, H. and Haque K. “Transportation Investment Decision Making for Medium to Large Transportation Networks”., Transportation in Developing Economies (TiDE), 2:18, 2016. doi:10.1007/s40890-016-0023-8.
  9. Agrawal, S., Zheng, H., Peeta, S. and Kumar, A. “Routing Aspects of Electric Vehicle Drivers and Their Effects on Network Performance.”, Transportation Research Part D, 46, 246–266, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trd.2016.04.002
  10. Kumar, A. and Peeta, S. “A Day-To-Day Dynamical Model for the Evolution of Path Flows under Disequilibrium of Traffic Networks with Fixed Demand.”, Transportation Research Part B, 80, 235-256, 2015.
  11. Kumar, A. and Peeta, S. “Entropy Weighted Average Method for the Determination of a Single Representative Path Flow Solution for the Static User Equilibrium Traffic Assignment Problem.”, Transportation Research Part B, 71, 213–229, 2015.
  12. Kumar, A. and Peeta, S. “Slope-Based Path Shift Propensity Algorithm for the Static Traffic Assignment Problem.”, International Journal for Traffic and Transport Engineering, 4(3), 297-319, 2014.
  13. Kumar, A. and Peeta, S. “Strategies to Enhance the Performance of Path-Based Static Traffic Assignment Algorithms.”, Computer-Aided Civil and Infrastructure Engineering, 29(5), 330-341, 2014.
  14. Kumar, A., Peeta, S. and Yu-Nie. “Update Strategies for Restricted Master Problems for the User Equilibrium Traffic Assignment Problem: Computational Study.”, Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 2283(1), 131-142, 2012.
  15. Kumar, A. and Peeta, S. “Slope-Based Multipath Flow Update Algorithm for Static User Equilibrium Traffic Assignment Problem.”, Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 2196(1), 1-10, 2010.

Refereed conference proceedings

  1. Melempat Kalapurayil, H. K., Koohfar, S., Woldemariam, W., and Kumar, A. Assessment of the Past, Present, and Future School Bus Electrifications in the United States: A Longitudinal and Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Electric School Bus Program Adoption and Commitment Rates. In the proceedings of 102th Annual Meeting of Transportation Research Board of the National Academics, Washington, D.C., Jan, 2023.
  2. J Jewel, M Imalka, H Trinh, Kumar, Amit. A Comparative Analysis of Innovative Interchanges: Single Point Interchange, Displaced Left-Turn Interchange, and Diverging Diamond Interchange. Conference: International Conference on Transportation and Development 2022. DOI: 10.1061/9780784484340.008
  3. Pradeep V.H. and Kumar, A. Modeling the Effect of Take Over Time and Willingness to Pay in Market Penetration of Conditional Automated Vehicles. In the proceedings of 101th Annual Meeting of Transportation Research Board of the National Academics, Washington, D.C., Jan, 2022.
  4. Melempat Kalapurayil, H. K. and Kumar, A. County-Level Crash Data Exploration Using Principal Component Analysis Based Agglomerative Hierarchical Clustering. In the proceedings of 100th Annual Meeting of Transportation Research Board of the National Academics, Washington, D.C., 2021.
  5. Kumar, A., Guhathakurta, S. and Venkatachalam, S. When and where should there be dedicated lanes under mixed traffic of automated and human-driven vehicles for system-level benefits? In the proceedings of 15th World Conference on Transport Research, Mumbai, India, 2019.
  6. Mishra, S., Ngo, H.H., and Kumar, A. Dynamic Wireless Charging Infrastructure Planning for Electric Vehicles. In the proceedings of 98th Annual Meeting of Transportation Research Board of the National Academics, Washington, D.C., 2019.
  7. Kumar, A., Ross, C.L., Karner A. and Katyal R. Traffic and Incident Management Using Crowdsourced Data: Challenges and Lessons Learned from Practice. In the proceedings of 97th Annual Meeting of Transportation Research Board of the National Academics, Washington, D.C., 2018.
  8. Welch, T., Kumar, A., Widita, A., and Mishra, S. Constructing a Nationally Comparable Measure of Transit Performance Using GTFS Data. In the proceedings of 97th Annual Meeting of Transportation Research Board of the National Academics, Washington, D.C., 2018.
  9. Welch, T., Mishra, S., Kumar, A., and Widita, A. Public Transit Resilience to Service Disruptions. In the proceedings of 97th Annual Meeting of Transportation Research Board of the National Academics, Washington, D.C., 2018.
  10. Kumar, A., Haque K., Mishra, S., Golias, M., and Welch, T. A Multi-Criteria Based Approach to Identify Critical Links in a Transportation Network. In the proceedings of 96th Annual Meeting of Transportation Research Board of the National Academics, Washington, D.C., 2017.
  11. Ross, C.L., Kumar, A., Welch, T., Wang, F. and Hylton, P. Disaggregation of Nationwide Commodity Movement Data to County-to-County and State-Level Travel Analysis Zones. In the proceedings of 96th Annual Meeting of Transportation Research Board of the National Academics, Washington, D.C., 2017.
  12. Ross, C.L., Welch, T., Kumar, A. and Hylton, P. Air Quality and Health Impacts of Freight on Small Urban and Rural Areas. In the proceedings of 96th Annual Meeting of Transportation Research Board of the National Academics, Washington, D.C., 2017.
  13. Kumar, A. and Mishra, S. Incorporating Sequencing of Transportation Projects in Network Design Problems. In the proceedings of 95th Annual Meeting of Transportation Research Board of the National Academics, Washington, D.C., 2016.
  14. Agarwal, S., Kumar, A., Zheng, H. and Peeta, S. Routing Aspects of Electric Vehicle Users and Their Effects on Network Performance. In the proceedings of 94th Annual Meeting of Transportation Research Board of the National Academics, Washington, D.C., 2015.
  15. Kumar, A. and Peeta, S. Entropy Weighted Average Method for the Determination of Single Representative Path Flow Solution for the Static User Equilibrium Traffic Assignment Problem. In the proceedings of 94th Annual Meeting of Transportation Research Board of the National Academics, Washington, D.C., 2015.
  16. Kumar, A. and Peeta, S. A Day-To-Day Dynamical Model for the Path-Shift Behavior of Drivers under Disequilibrium of Traffic Networks with Fixed Demand. In the proceedings of 93rd Annual Meeting of Transportation Research Board of the National Academics, Washington, D.C., 2014.
  17. Kumar, A. and Peeta, S. A post-processing technique for the four-step travel demand modeling executed through a feedback loop. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, Elsevier, Vol. 104, pp. 611–620, 2013.
  18. Kumar, A. and Peeta, S. Strategies to Decrease the Computational Burden of Path-Based Static Traffic Assignment Algorithms. In the proceedings of 92nd Annual Meeting of Transportation Research Board of the National Academics, Washington, D.C., 2013.
  19. Velaga, N.R. and Kumar, A. Techno-economic Evaluation of the Feasibility of a Smart Street Light System: A case study of Rural India. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, Elsevier, Vol. 62, pp. 1220-1224, 2012.
  20. Kumar, A. and Peeta, S. An Enhanced Travel Demand Modeling Framework with a Post-Processing Technique Executed through a Feedback Mechanism. 4th Transportation Research Board Conference on Innovations in Travel Modeling (ITM), Tampa, Florida, 2012.
  21. Kumar, A. Peeta, S. and Yu-Nie. Update Strategies for Restricted Master Problems for the User Equilibrium Traffic Assignment Problem: A Computational Study. In the proceedings of 91st Annual Meeting of Transportation Research Board of the National Academics, Washington, D.C., 2012.
  22. Kumar, A. and Peeta, S. An Improved Social Pressure Algorithm for the Static Deterministic User Equilibrium Traffic Assignment Problem. In the proceedings of 90th Annual Meeting of Transportation Research Board of the National Academics, Washington, D.C., 2011.
  23. Kumar, A. and Peeta, S. Slope-Based Multipath Flow Update Algorithm for Static User Equilibrium Traffic Assignment Problem. In the proceedings of 89th Annual Meeting of Transportation Research Board of the National Academics, Washington, D.C., 2010.
  24. Kumar, A. Intelligent Incident Management System for a Trans Harbour Link Using Location Technologies. In 3rd International Conference on Positioning, Navigation and Surveying, LOCATION 2008, Noida, India, 2008.
  25. Kumar, A. and Rao, K.V.K. Study of Impact of ITS Enabled Public Transit System. 11th World Conference on Transportation Research, Berkeley, USA, 2007.
  26. Kumar, A. and Rao, K.V.K. Uninterrupted Traveler Information System for Transit Busses Using GIS and GPS Integration. In 2nd International Conference on Positioning, Navigation and Surveying, LOCATION 2006, Bangalore, India, 2006.

Abstracts and talks in conferences (refereed by abstract, presenter underlined)

  1. Kumar, A., Ngo, H.H., and Mishra, S. “Planning Induction Based Wireless Charging Locations in a Road Network for Battery Electric Vehicles.”, 15th World Conference on Transport Research, Mumbai, India, 2019.
  2. Kumar, A., Ross, C.L. and Karner A. “Understanding the Role of OSNs and Crowdsourced Data for Traffic and Incident Management.”, ACSP 58th Annual Conference, Buffalo, New York, October 25-28, 2018.
  3. Kumar, A. and Peeta, S. “Entropy Weighted Average Method for the Determination of Unique Path-Flow Solution for Static Deterministic User Equilibrium Traffic Assignment Problem.”, INFORMS Annual Meeting, San Francisco, California, USA, 2014. (One of the four presentation selected for the best presentation award at INFORMS annual meeting 2014).
  4. Agrawal, S., Kumar, A., Zheng, H. and Peeta, S. “Evaluation of Market Penetration Rate of Electric Vehicles on Network Performance.”, INFORMS Annual Meeting, San Francisco, California, USA, 2014.
  5. Kumar, A., He, X. and Peeta, S. “Day-to-Day Dynamics in a Traffic Network under Bounded Rationality.”, INFORMS Annual Meeting, San Francisco, California, USA, 2014.
  6. Kumar, A. and Peeta, S. “Dynamical System Based Formulation to Represent the Day-to-Day Dynamics of Transportation Network under Fixed Demand.”, INFORMS Annual Meeting, Minneapolis, USA, 2013.
  7. Kumar, A., Peeta, S and Yu-Nie. “Investigating the Performance of Path-Based Algorithms for the Static User Equilibrium Traffic Assignment Problem.”, INFORMS Annual Meeting, Charlotte, NC, USA, 2011.
  8. Kumar, A. and Peeta, S. “Disequilibrium to Equilibrium for Transportation Networks with Fixed Demand and Representation of Day-to-Day Dynamics.”, INFORMS Annual Meeting, Charlotte, NC, USA, 2011.
  9. Kumar, A. and Peeta, S. “An Enhanced Transportation Planning Framework with an Improved Traffic Assignment Algorithm Executed with a Feedback Mechanism.”, 9th International Workshop on Transportation Planning & Implementation Methodologies for Developing Countries, IIT Bombay, Mumbai, India, 2010.
  10. Kumar, A. and Peeta, S. “An Improved Traffic Assignment Algorithm that Inherits the Concept of Social Pressure and Slope.”, INFORMS Annual Meeting, Austin, Texas, USA, 2010.
  11. Kumar, A. and Peeta, S. “An Improved Path-based Flow Update Algorithm for the Static User Equilibrium Traffic Assignment Problem.”, INFORMS Annual Meeting, San Diego, California, USA, 2009.
  12. Kumar, A., Rao, V.N. and Dhingra, S.L. “Opportunities of Harnessing Emerging ITS Technologies for Transforming Urban and Rural India.”, National Conference on Civil Engineering Systems, Osmania University, Hyderabad, India, 2006.

Technical Reports

  1. Guhathakurta, S. and Kumar A. When and Where are Dedicated Lanes needed under Mixed Traffic of Automated and Non-Automated Vehicles for Optimal System Level Benefits? Report No. CTEDD: 017-04, 2019.
  2. Ross, C., Watkins, K. E., and Kumar, A. Integrating Transportation Management Companies (TMC’s) and Public Transportation. Report No. CTEDD: 017-02, 2019.
  3. Kumar, A., Ross, C.L., Karner A. and Katyal R. Crowdsourced Social Media Monitoring System Development. Publication FHWA-GA-17-1614, Report No. 16-14, 2017.
  4. Fitzpatrick, D., O’Rourke, L., Cordahi, G., Ross, C.L., Kumar, A., and Bevly, D. Challenges to CV and AV Applications in Truck Freight Operations. National Cooperative Highway Research Program, Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, 2016. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17226/24771.
  5. Ross, C.L., Kumar, A., Wang, F., and Hylton, P. Freight Movement, Port Facilities, and Economic Competitiveness – Supplemental Task: County-to-County Freight Movement (National and State Level). Publication FHWA-GA-16-1327. Center for Quality Growth and Regional Development, Georgia institute of technology, 2016.
  6. Ross, C.L., Smith, S., Kumar, A., Hylton, P., Kent, M., Sperling, E., Bearn, C., Wang, F., and Karner, A. Health Impact Assessment (HIA), CORE MPO Freight Study. Center for Quality Growth and Regional Development (CQGRD), Georgia Institute of Technology. Atlanta, GA, 2016.
  7. Peters, J.C., Han, E., Kumar, A., Peeta, S. and DeLaurentis, D. Incorporating High Speed Passenger Rail into a Multimodal Network Model for Improved Regional Transportation Planning. NEXTRANS Project No. 055PY03. Purdue University Discovery Park, 2014.
  8. Peeta, S., Peters, J.C., Kumar, A., Zheng, H. and Agrawal, S. Integrated Framework to Capture the Interdependencies between Transportation and Energy Sectors due to Policy Decisions. NEXTRANS Project No. 079PY04. Purdue University Discovery Park, 2014.
  9. Peeta, S., Kumar, A. and Sharma, S. Post-Processing Techniques to Enhance Reliability of Assignment Algorithm Based Performance Measures. Publication FHWA/IN/JTRP-2011/19. Joint Transportation Research Program, Indiana Department of Transportation and Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, 2011. DOI: 10.5703/1288284314643.