Babak Mehran's Research Group
Transportation Systems Research Lab @ University of Manitoba
Babak Mehran
PhD positions available (filled)
PhD positions are available to conduct research on traffic operations. Applicants with the following qualifications are preferred: 1) BSc in Civil Engineering or closely related areas (Min. GPA 80%), 2) MSc in Transportation Engineering or closely related areas (Min. GPA 80 %), and 3) Computer programming skills (e.g. MATLAB, Python, R). If interested please submit your CV, transcripts, and a short statement by email to babak.mehran@uregina.ca
Research positions available (filled)
PhD and MSc positions are available to conduct research on i) traffic operations and ii) transportation network analysis. Applicants with the following qualifications are preferred: 1) BSc in Civil Engineering or closely related areas (Min. GPA 80%), 2) MSc in Transportation Engineering or closely related areas (Min. GPA 80 %), 3) Computer programming skills (e.g. MATLAB, Python, R), and 4) Working knowledge of GIS and/or traffic simulation software packages. If interested please submit your CV, transcripts, and a short statement by email to babak.mehran@uregina.ca.
Note: These positions have been filled. New positions will be posted as they become available.
Research Interests
- Transportation operations
- Traffic flow modeling and simulation
- Adaptive traffic control
- Applications of connected vehicle technology in traffic management
- Transit planning and operations
- New traffic sensing technologies
- Transportation network analysis
- Modeling and simulation of active transportation modes
Undergraduate Courses
ENEV 475 Traffic Engineering (University of Regina)
Calendar description: Study of the characteristics of traffic flow and methods of traffic control; introduction to traffic flow and queuing theory; roadway capacity and level of service analysis; speed and volume studies; traffic signs and signalization; computer control systems; and, accident analysis.
ENEV 484 Highway Design (University of Regina)
Calendar description: Detailed geometric design of highways; functional and detailed geometric design of at-grade and grade separated intersections; and, introduction to design of flexible and rigid pavements.
ENEV384 Engineering Materials (University of Regina)
Calendar description: Structure and properties of engineering materials, particularly steel, aggregates, asphalt and Portland cement concretes. Introduction to soils. Environmental aspects of materials.
ENGG 123 Engineering Design and Communications (University of Regina)
Calendar description: Students will be introduced to the concepts of engineering design and communications. In addition, the consequences of engineering projects on society will be explored.
CIVE440/PLAN478 Transit Planning and Operations (University of Waterloo)
Calendar description: The historical evolution of transit in cities; the technological innovations which made transit possible; and transit mode definitions. Models of transit vehicle motion are presented; transit travel times under different travel regimes are derived. Transit scheduling methods are shown. System operational characteristics are defined and quantitative measures of effectiveness are introduced. Transit network planning objectives are identified; actual geometries are qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed. Transit ownership structures and economics are discussed; contemporary ITS applications are presented. Methods for selecting appropriate transit modes are covered.
Graduate Courses
ENEV 841 Urban and Regional Transportation Planning (University of Regina)
Calendar description: Context and definition of transportation planning, transportation in an urban setting, planning and decision making, data management and diagnosis, demand analysis, supply analysis, study of a selected software package for transportation planning, reviewing of regional transportation studies.
ENEV 843 Urban Traffic Management (University of Regina)
Calendar description: Traffic components and characteristics, traffic stream characteristics, traffic flow theory, data collection and traffic monitoring, fundamental concepts for uninterrupted flow facilities, freeway capacity and level of service, traffic control devices, fundamental concepts for interrupted flow facilities, principles of intersection signalization, analysis of signalized intersections, pedestrian and bicycle facilities.
CIVE643 Fundamentals of Traffic Flow Theory (University of Waterloo)
Calendar description: This course examines the formulation, derivation, and application of theories associated with traffic flow on interrupted and uninterrupted road networks. Topics include traffic stream characteristics, human factors, car following models, safety, energy and emissions, and traffic flows at signalised and un-signalised intersections. Theoretical models will be tested using field data and simulation. This course was taught in collaboration with Dr. Bruce Hellinga.
Research Projects
Development of Strategies for Improving Traffic Operations and Safety in Winter
The main objective of this research is to investigate the impacts of extreme weather conditions on microscopic and macroscopic traffic flow parameters and driver behaviour with the intention of developing weather-responsive traffic management systems through deployment of advanced ITS solutions.
Improving the Efficiency of Public Transportation in Low Demand Areas
This research develops analytical models to estimate operating and user costs for regular bus and demand-responsive transit services to assist transit planners determine critical ridership to switch between different service models and delivery schemes in low demand areas.
Development of Transportation Network Analysis Methods to Assess the Risks Associated with Transportation of Hazardous Materials
The objective of this research is to develop risk analysis methods to address major transportation challenges and requirements when identifying the ideal routes for HAZMAT transportation considering transportation risks and preferences.
Traffic Monitoring and Control Using Connected Vehicle Technologies and New Traffic Sensing Methods
This research explores the feasibility of incorporating multi-source traffic data including Connected Vehicles and traffic sensing methods such as WiFi/Bluetooth detection into Traffic Management Systems to improve the efficiency of traffic monitoring and control methods.
Babak Mehran
Associate Professor
Department of Civil Engineering
University of Manitoba
E1 - 446 EITC, 15 Gillson Street
Winnipeg MB R3T 5V6