Yao-Jan Wu
Dr. Yao-Jan Wu is a professor of transportation engineering in the Civil and Architectural Engineering and Mechanics Department and the Executive (Founding) Director of the Center for Applied Transportation Sciences (CATS) at the University of Arizona (UA). He holds PE licenses in Arizona and Missouri. Currently, Dr. Wu is the faculty advisor of the UA Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) student chapter. He has served as the Principal Investigator (PI) or Co-PI of over 40 national/international research projects.
Dr. Wu has more than 100 refereed publications, including more than 60 journal publications. He has presented his research findings more than 100 times at national and international conferences and invited speaker events. Dr. Wu’s research interests highlight a strong connection between information technology (IT) and traditional transportation research.
Degrees
- PhD Civil and Environmental Engineering (Transportation Engineering)
- University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Traffic Sensor Data-Based Arterial Performance Measurement: Methodology and Online Implementation
- MS Transportation Engineering
- National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- BS Civil Engineering
- National Central University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
Work Experience
- Smart Transportation Lab (2013 - Ongoing)
- University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (2013 - 2019)
- Saint Louis University (2011 - 2013)
- University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia (2011 - 2011)
- City of Bellevue (2010 - 2010)
- City of Everett (2010 - 2010)
- Taiwan Army (2004 - 2006)
Interests
Teaching
Traffic engineering and operations; transport engineering and pavement design; transportation data management and analysis; civil engineering computing; freshmen engineering; traffic engineering
Research
Intelligent transportation systems (image processing and computer vision applications, traffic detection technology development , and advanced/information technology applications), large-scale transportation system analysis and optimization using big data (big data management, mining, and analysis), travel behavior and pattern analysis, traffic signal control, freeway and arterial operations, Transportation safety analysis and accident modeling, and sustainable transportation systems (sustainable infrastructure, transit system planning & operations)
Courses
Transport Eng+Pave Dsgn
CE 363 (Fall 2023)
CE 363 (Fall 2022)
CE 363 (Fall 2021)
CE 363 (Fall 2020)
CE 363 (Fall 2019)
CE 363 (Fall 2018)
CE 363 (Fall 2017)
CE 363 (Fall 2016)
Traffic Engr & Operations
CE 462 (Spring 2023)
CE 462 (Spring 2021)
CE 462 (Spring 2019)
CE 462 (Spring 2017)
CE 562 (Spring 2023)
CE 562 (Spring 2019)
CE 562 (Spring 2017)
Transp Data Mngt and Anlys
CE 465 (Spring 2024)
CE 465 (Spring 2022)
CE 465 (Spring 2018)
CE 465 (Spring 2016)
CE 565 (Spring 2024)
CE 565 (Spring 2022)
CE 565 (Spring 2018)
CE 565 (Spring 2016)
Independent Study
CE 499 (Spring 2018)
CE 599 (Spring 2024)
CE 599 (Fall 2023)
CE 599 (Spring 2023)
CE 599 (Fall 2022)
CE 599 (Spring 2022)
CE 599 (Fall 2021)
CE 599 (Fall 2020)
CE 599 (Spring 2020)
CE 599 (Fall 2019)
CE 599 (Spring 2019)
CE 599 (Fall 2018)
CE 599 (Spring 2018)
CE 599 (Fall 2017)
CE 599 (Spring 2017)
CE 599 (Fall 2016)
CE 599 (Spring 2016)
Internship
CE 593 (Summer I 2016)
Research Topics
CE 596A (Spring 2022)
CE 596A (Fall 2019)
CE 596A (Fall 2016)
EM 596A (Fall 2019)
EM 596A (Fall 2016)
Research
CE 900 (Fall 2020)
Thesis
CE 910 (Spring 2024)
CE 910 (Spring 2020)
CE 910 (Fall 2019)
CE 910 (Summer I 2017)
CE 910 (Spring 2017)
CE 910 (Fall 2016)
CE 910 (Spring 2016)
Dissertation
CE 920 (Fall 2024)
CE 920 (Spring 2024)
CE 920 (Fall 2023)
CE 920 (Summer I 2023)
CE 920 (Spring 2023)
CE 920 (Fall 2022)
CE 920 (Spring 2022)
CE 920 (Fall 2021)
CE 920 (Spring 2021)
CE 920 (Fall 2020)
CE 920 (Spring 2020)
CE 920 (Fall 2019)
CE 920 (Spring 2019)
CE 920 (Fall 2018)
CE 920 (Spring 2018)
CE 920 (Fall 2017)
CE 920 (Spring 2017)
CE 920 (Fall 2016)
CE 920 (Spring 2016)
Licensure & Certification
- Professional Engineer (PE), Arizona State Board of Technical Registration (2016)
- Professional Engineer, Missouri Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Professional Land Surveyors and Professional Landscape Architects (2013)
Selected Publications
Chapters
- Karimpour, A., & Wu, Y. (2021). Freeway to Arterial Interfaces. In International Encyclopedia of Transportation. International Encyclopedia of Transportation.
- Yang, S., & Wu, Y. (2019). Data-Driven Approaches for Estimating Travel Time Reliability. In Data-Driven Solutions to Transportation Problems(pp 81-110). NY, USA: Elsevier. doi:doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-817026-7.09987-2
Journals/Publications
- Cottam, A., Li, X., Shaon, M., & Wu, Y. (2023). Investigating the impacts of E-scooters on a bike-sharing system in Tucson, Arizona with a no ride zone. International Journal of Sustainable Transportation, 1--14.
- Jalali, K. P., Karimpour, A., & Wu, Y. (2023). Severity analysis of red-light--running behavior at signalized intersections. Journal of Transportation Safety \& Security, 1--25.
- Karimpour, A., Jalali, K. P., Homan, B., Wu, Y., & Swartz, D. L. (2023). Modeling red-light running behavior using high-resolution event-based data: a finite mixture modeling approach. Journal of Intelligent Transportation Systems, 1--16.
- Li, X., Cottam, A., & Wu, Y. (2023). Transit Arrival Time Prediction Using Interaction Networks. IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems, 24(4), 3833--3844.
- Ma, X., Karimpour, A., & Wu, Y. (2023). Eliminating the impacts of traffic volume variation on before and after studies: a causal inference approach. Journal of Intelligent Transportation Systems, 1--15.
- Pudasaini, P., Karimpour, A., & Wu, Y. (2023). Real-Time Queue Length Estimation for Signalized Intersections Using Single-Channel Advance Detector Data. Transportation Research Record, 03611981221151066.
- Xia, L., Li, X., Shaon, M., Wu, Y., & Jiang, X. (2023). Arterial signal offset optimization using crowdsourced speed data. Transportation research record, 2677(2), 1633--1642.
- Xu, P., Li, X., Wu, Y., & Noh, H. (2023). Network-level turning movement counts estimation using traffic controller event-based data. Journal of Intelligent Transportation Systems, 27(5), 677--691.
- Zhang, X. i., Li, X., & Wu, Y. (2023). Safety Performance Evaluation of Flashing Yellow Arrow: Time-of-Day Versus 24-Hour Operation. Transportation Research Record, 03611981231152461.
- Karimpour, A., Anderson, J. C., Kothuri, S., & Wu, Y. (2022). Estimating pedestrian delay at signalized intersections using high-resolution event-based data: a finite mixture modeling method. Journal of Intelligent Transportation Systems, 26(5), 511--528.
- Li, X., Wu, Y., & Khani, A. (2022). Investigating a small-sized bike-sharing systemâs impact on transit usage: a synthetic control analysis in Tucson, Arizona. Public Transport, 14(2), 441--458.
- Li, X., Xu, P., & Wu, Y. (2022). Pedestrian crossing volume estimation at signalized intersections using Bayesian additive regression trees. Journal of Intelligent Transportation Systems, 26(5), 557--571.
- Luo, X., Ma, X., Munden, M., Wu, Y., & Jiang, Y. (2022). A Multisource Data Approach for Estimating Vehicle Queue Length at Metered On-Ramps. Journal of Transportation Engineering, Part A: Systems, 148(2), 04021117.
- Xia, L., Li, X., Shaon, M., Wu, Y., & Jiang, X. (2022). Arterial Signal Offset Optimization Using Crowdsourced Speed Data. Transportation Research Record, 03611981221109177.
- Xu, P., Li, X., Wu, Y., & Noh, H. (2022). Network-level turning movement counts estimation using traffic controller event-based data. Journal of Intelligent Transportation Systems, 1--15.
Proceedings Publications
- Jin, F., Sengupta, A., Cao, S., & Wu, Y. (2020). MmWave Radar Point Cloud Segmentation using GMM in Multimodal Traffic Monitoring. In 2020 IEEE International Radar Conference (RADAR).
- Liang, Y., Zheng, X., Li, X., Cottam, A., & Wu, Y. (2020, Jan). Quantifying Mobility Impact of Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon Signal on Arterial Traffic: Case Study in Tucson, Arizona. In 99th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board.
- Ma, X., Karimpour, A., & Wu, Y. (2020, January). Statistical Evaluation of Data Requirement for Ramp Metering Performance Assessment: A Case Study of SR-51, Arizona. In 99th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board.
- Wu, Y., Karimpour, A., Kluger, R., & Liu, C. (2020, Jan). Does Periodic Law Enforcement Enhance the Effectiveness of Speed Feedback Sign? A Case Study in Pima County, Arizona. In 99th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board.
- An, C., Kluger, R., Wu, Y., Guo, X., & Xia, J. (2018, Jan). An Integrated Data Approach for Constructing Arterial Shockwave Profiles. In Transportation Research Board 97th Annual Meeting.
- Ariannezhad, A., Wu, Y., & Goftar, V. N. (2018, Jan). Real-Time Crash Prediction Using Data Mining Techniques. In Transportation Research Board 97th Annual Meeting.
- Miao, Z., Wu, Y., Head, K. L., & Yang, S. (2018, Jan). A Functional Data Analysis Based Approach for Freeway Volume Data Imputation. In Transportation Research Board 97th Annual Meeting.
- Ou, J., Yang, S., Wu, Y., & Xia, J. (2018, Jan). Systematic Clustering Approach to Identifying and Characterizing Spatiotemporal Congestion on Freeway Corridors. In Transportation Research Board 97th Annual Meeting.
- An, C., Wu, Y., Xia, J., & Lu, Z. (2017, January). Investigating Impacts of Communication Loss on Signal Performance Using Event-Based Data. In 96th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board.
- An, C., Wu, Y., Xia, J., Yang, S., & Qiu, F. (2017, January). Real-Time Queue Length Estimation using Event-Based Advance Detector Data. In 96th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board.
- Ariannezhad, A., Wu, Y., Goftar, V., Riley, D., & Karimvand, R. (2017, January). Systematic Approach for Large-Scale Loop Detector Troubleshooting: Identifying Data Error Patterns. In 96th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board.
- Liu, C., Ma, X., Wen, H., Wang, Y., & Wu, Y. (2017, January). Understanding Commuting Patterns Using Transit Smartcard Data. In 96th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board.
- Luan, S., Ma, X., Wu, Y., Ding, C., & Wang, Y. (2017, January). Spatial Interpolation of Annual Average Daily Traffic Data Using Copula-Based Geostatistical Models. In 96th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board.
- Ou, J., Xia, J., Wu, Y., & Rao, W. (2017, January). Urban Traffic Flow Forecasting Using Bias-corrected Random Forests. In 96th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board.
- Yang, S., An, C., Wu, Y., & Xia, J. (2017, January). Origin-Destination Based Travel Time Reliability. In 96th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board.
Poster Presentations
- Karimpour, A., Kluger, R., Wu, Y., & Bennett-Gold, T. (2019, Jan). Quantifying the Impact of Speed-Feedback Signs on Arterial Operations. 98th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board. Washington DC.
- Ariannezhad, A., & Wu, Y. (2019, Jan). Application of Clustering and Association Rule Mining in Large-Scale Loop Detector Troubleshooting. 98th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board. Washington DC.
- Pan, M., Li, X., Kluger, R., & Wu, Y. (2019, Jan). Red-Light Violation Identification Using GPS Trajectories. 98th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board.
Others
- Jin, F., Sengupta, A., Cao, S., & Wu, Y. (2019, Dec). MmWave Radar Point Cloud Segmentation using GMM in Multimodal Traffic Monitoring. IEEE International Radar Conference 2020. arxiv.org/abs/1911.06364
- Jiang, W., Li, H., Wu, Y., & Yin, Z. (2015, Jan). Vehicle Reidentification in Low-Resolution Videos for Travel Time Estimation. TRB Annual Meeting.
- Malinovskiy, Y., Wang, Y., & Wu, Y. (2013). Video-based vehicle detection and tracking using spatio-temporal maps.
- Wu, Y., Yang, S., & Abdoli, S. (2013). Freeway Travel Time Estimation Using Existing Fixed Traffic Sensors--Phase 1.
- Malinovskiy, Y., Lee, U., Wu, Y., & Wang, Y. (2011). Investigation of bluetooth-based travel time estimation error on a short corridor.
- Wang, Y., Malinovskiy, Y., Wu, Y., & Lee, U. K. (2011, Dec). Error modeling and analysis for travel time data obtained from Bluetooth MAC address matching. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Washington.
- Briglia Jr, P. M., Fishkin, E., Hallenbeck, M. E., Wu, Y., & Trepanier, T. (2010). An Analysis of the Puget Sound In-Vehicle Traffic Map Demonstration.
- Malinovskiy, Y., Wu, Y., Wang, Y., & Lee, U. K. (2010). Field experiments on bluetooth-based travel time data collection.
- Wang, Y., Wu, Y., Ma, X., & Corey, J. (2010). Real-time travel time prediction on urban traffic network.
- Wu, Y. (2010). Traffic Sensor Data-Based Arterial Performance Measurement: Methodology and Online Implementation.
- Zhang, G., Wu, Y., & Wang, Y. (2010). Analyzing System Performance for Washington State Route 167 High-Occupancy Toll (HOT) Operations.
- Hwang, H., Lee, U., Baek, K., Wu, Y., & Wang, Y. (2009). Stereo Image Processing Algorithm for Preceding Vehicle Detection Using Lane-Related Information.
- Lao, Y., Wu, Y., Wang, Y., & Yang, X. (2009). Applicability of Signalized Single and Double Phase Midblock Crossings in Highly Populated Areas.
- Wang, Y., Corey, J., Lao, Y., & Wu, Y. (2009). Development of a statewide online system for traffic data quality control and sharing.
- Wu, Y., Hallenbeck, M. E., & Wang, Y. (2009). Interaction Between Arterial and Freeway Performance: Case Study.
Awards
- Outstanding Contribution in Reviewing
- Transportation Research Part C, Spring 2018
- LeadershipITE Fellow
- Institute of Transportation Engineers, Summer I 2017
- 2013-14 Professor of the Year (Excellence at the Student Interface)
- Department of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, University of Arizona, Fall 2014
- 2014 Outstanding English Editing Chair Award
- Chinese Oversea Transportation Association, Summer I 2014
- 2010 UTC (Region X) Outstanding Student of the Year
- TransNow, Region X University Transportation Center, Winter 2011
- 2010 Michael Kyte Award
- Region X University Transportation Center, Winter 2011
- Guiding Star Award
- 6. Smart Transportation Applications and Research Laboratory (STAR Lab), Summer I 2009
- Outstanding Graduate Student in Transportation Scholarship
- Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Washington State Section, Spring 2008