The USF College of Engineering celebrates the groundbreaking contributions, research, and corresponding awards of Yu Zhang, Ph.D., a professor within USF鈥檚 Civil and Environmental Engineering and an influential leader in transportation research. Professor Zhang, also the Program Director of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) at the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR), continues to elevate USF鈥檚 standing through her work in transportation and aviation.
In 2024, Yu Zhang was recognized by the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies with the Best Paper Award, published in the IEEE Intelligent Transportation Systems Magazine, and backed by the USF College of Engineering to submit a U.S. Fulbright Scholar application.
Professor Zhang said, 鈥淭he future of transportation will be an interconnected ecosystem where people, vehicles, and infrastructure communicate seamlessly. Ground, air, and even sea transport will converge into a holistic system that prioritizes safety, accessibility, and sustainability. The journey will be on-demand, clean, and fast, fundamentally transforming how we think about distance and mobility."
The National Academies Transportation Research Board Best Paper Award
Yu Zhang was awarded the Best Paper Award by the Transportation Research Board Standing Committee of Intelligent Transportation System at with my co-authors Postdoctoral Researcher at CUTR, and Assistant Program Director at CUTR.
The paper's title is 鈥�DARTS: Drone-Based AI-Powered Real-Time Traffic Incident Detection System.鈥� It summarizes parts of the outcomes from a NICR-sponsored research project. NICR stands for National Institute for Congestion Reduction, a National University Transportation Center sponsored by USDOT. USF and Zhang would like to recognize other project team members Brian Porter and Joseph Post and thank Florida Department of Transportation District 7 for their support on data collection.
Professor Zhang鈥檚 article, 鈥淎n Introduction to the Smart Urban Mobility Laboratory at the 最新天美传媒,鈥� was recently published in the prestigious e. The article highlights the advancements of the where researchers focus on improving urban mobility through intelligent systems and cutting-edge technology. You can read the article .
Additional Accomplishments: Advanced Air Mobility
Professor Zhang鈥檚 expertise in Advanced Air Mobility https://www.cutr.usf.edu/advancedairmobility/ has positioned USF as a hub for pioneering research in integrating new entrants such as electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles (eVTOLs) into existing airspace systems. Over her career, she has led nearly 20 funded projects for the , Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), and .
Zhang's recent studies have explored innovative approaches, including integrated network design and demand estimation of urban air mobility, automated pre-departure flight planning of high density eVTOL operations, and environmental impact analysis of emerging AAM mode. These efforts have drawn national attention, highlighting how USF researchers are contributing solutions to modern transportation challenges.
Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Application Advances
Adding to her accomplishments, Professor Zhang is advancing to the next phase of review for the prestigious Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program for 2025-2026. If selected, she plans to collaborate with the TRUE Lab at under the U.S.-Korea Presidential STEM Initiative. The project will focus on Advanced Air Mobility research, further establishing USF as a leader in global transportation solutions.
鈥淐ollaborative efforts between U.S. and Korean researchers can drive advancements in advanced air mobility by leveraging our shared experiences and addressing common challenges, such as regulatory frameworks, infrastructure development, and implementation of advanced technologies while seizing opportunities to innovate and shape the future of sustainable urban transportation,鈥� said Professor Zhang Collaborative Research at CUTR.
As the Director of the , Professor Zhang oversees federally funded initiatives aimed at alleviating urban transportation challenges. Under her guidance, USF鈥檚 partnerships with federal and state agencies continue to address critical issues like traffic congestion and sustainable mobility solutions.
鈥淒r. Zhang鈥檚 work in directing the National Institute for Congestion Reduction has led to groundbreaking research, the benefits of which will be felt for many years to come. Under her leadership, the consortium of universities led by USF has made countless contributions to alleviate and mitigate the effects of traffic congestion, and the Institute has helped educate and motivate a new generation of transportation researchers,鈥� said CUTR Executive Director, .
Stay up to date with USF College of Engineering!
Follow us on | | | | | News Stories | |
Subscribe to our | Subscribe to our