Alyssa Ryan

Assistant Professor of Civil and Architectural Engineering and Mechanics
Assistant Director of the Center for Applied Transportation Sciences
Member of the Graduate Faculty
Alyssa Ryan

Civil Engineering 340

alyssaryan@arizona.edu

Alyssa Ryan is an assistant professor in the Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering and Mechanics at the University of Arizona. Her research primarily focuses on the intersection of transportation safety and equity with human factors, unmanned aerial system (UAS) applications, traffic operations, and resource allocation. Her research has been disseminated through numerous journal articles, including Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behavior, Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, and Accident Analysis and Prevention.

Ryan is an active member of several professional societies and committees, including ITE and ASCE. She currently serves as member and executive team member of two Transportation Research Board Committees, including the Women and Gender in Transportation Committee and the Strategic Management Committee.

Degrees

  • PhD Civil Engineering
    • University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States
    • Equitable Resource Allocation to Improve Safety: An Evaluation Based on Risk
  • MS Civil Engineering
    • University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States
    • Driver Performance due to Unmanned Aerial System Applications in the Vicinity of Surface Transportation
  • BS Civil Engineering
    • University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States

Work Experience

  • Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering and Mechanics, University of Arizona (2021 - Ongoing)
  • Department of Civil, Geo, and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Munich (2020 - 2021)
  • John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (2017 - 2018)

Interests

Teaching

Transportation safety; Transportation statistics; Traffic flow theory; Human factors

Research

Travel behavior; Human factors; Driving simulation; Transportation safety; Transportation equity; Driver behavior; Traffic operations; Pedestrians and cyclists; Intelligent transportation systems

Courses

CE 467/567 (Spring 2022)

Licensure & Certification

  • Engineer-In-Training, Vermont Board of Professional Engineering (2017)

Selected Publications

Journals/Publications

  • Ryan, A., Barchers, C., Christofa, E., and Knodler, M. (2021) Equitable resource allocation for municipal safety: A data envelopment analysis. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, 97, 102926.
  • Ryan, A. and Knodler, M. (2021) What Type of Crash Can We Expect? Designing for Safety at Common Traffic Control Devices. ITE Journal, 94(6), 34-38.
  • Zafian, T., Ryan, A., Agrawal, R., Samuel, S., and Knodler, M. (2021) Using SHRP2 NDS data to examine infrastructure and other factors contributing to older driver crashes during left turns at signalized intersections. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 156, 106141.
  • Ryan, A., Christofa, E., Barchers, C., and Knodler, M. (2021) The relationship between municipal highway expenditures and socio-demographic status: Are safety investments equitably distributed? Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives, 9, 100321.
  • Ryan, A., Ai, C., Knodler, M., and Fitzpatrick, C. (2021) Evaluation of small unmanned aerial system highway volume and speed-sensing applications. IET Intelligent Transportation Systems, 15(1), 84-97.
  • Ryan, A., Tainter, F., Fitzpatrick, C., Gazzillo, J., Riessman, R., and Knodler, M. (2020) The impact of sex on motor vehicle crash injury outcomes. (2020) Journal of Transportation Safety & Security.
  • Ryan, A., Page, M., Christofa, E., Fitzpatrick, C., and Knodler, M. (2020) Linking geospatial crash and citation data to inform equitable enforcement decisions. Journal of Transportation Safety & Security.
  • Ryan, A., Fitzpatrick, C., Christofa, E., and Knodler, M. (2020) Driver performance due to small unmanned aerial system applications in the vicinity of roadways. Transportation Research Part F: Psychology and Behaviour, 68, 118-131.
  • Ryan, A., Casola, E., Fitzpatrick, C., and Knodler, M. (2019) Flashing yellow arrows for right turn applications: A driving simulator study and static evaluation analysis. Transportation Research Part F: Psychology and Behaviour, 66, 324-338.  

Proceeding Publications

  • Ryan, A., Page, M., Christofa, E., Fitzpatrick, C., and Knodler, M. (2020) Linking Geospatial Crash and Citation Data to Optimize the Deployment of Enforcement Resources in Speed Management. Transportation Research Board 99th Annual Meeting, 12-16 January, Washington, D.C.
  • Ryan, A. and Knodler, M. (2019) Evaluating Crash Type Likelihood at Various Traffic Control Devices: A Multinomial Logistic Regression Approach Using HSIS Data. Transportation Research Board 99th Annual Meeting, 12-16 January, Washington, D.C.
  • Ryan, A., Fitzpatrick, C., Knodler, M., and Christofa, E. (2019) A simulator study on the impact of driver distraction due to drones based on prior experiences and perspectives of drones. Road Safety & Simulation Conference, 14-17 October, Iowa City, IA.
  • Ryan, A., Bouchard, C., Fitzpatrick, C., Knodler, M., and Ahmadjian, C. (2019) An Analytical Comparison of Core Competencies Across Civil Engineering Positions Within New England Department of Transportation Agencies. Transportation Research Board 98th Annual Meeting, 13-17 January, Washington, D.C.
  • Ryan, A., Casola, E., Fitzpatrick, C., and Knodler, M. (2018) Flashing Yellow Arrow For Right Turns: A Driving Simulator Study. European Transport Conference, 10-12 October, Dublin, Ireland. 

Presentations

  • Leingang, T. and Ryan, A. (2021) Innovative Uses of UAV Technology. Demonstration/Podium. 16th Annual Western States Rural Transportation Technology Implementers Forum, 5–7 October, Yreka, CA.
  • Ryan, A., Ai, C., Fitzpatrick, C., and Knodler, M. (2021) Development and application of a large-scale geospatial analysis tool for informed safety investment. Podium. European Transport Conference, 9–15 September, online format.
  • Ryan, A., Christofa, E., Barchers, C., and Knodler, M. (2021) Towards equitable road safety: Sociodemographic divides in municipal highway investments. Conference on Advancing Transportation Equity, 7–9 September, online format.
  • Ryan, A., Ai, C., Fitzpatrick, C., and Knodler, M. (2021) Improving local road safety through informed resource allocation: Evidence from a data envelopment analysis. Podium. ASCE International Conference on Transportation & Development, 8–10 June, online format.
  • Ryan, A., Tainter, F., Fitzpatrick, C., Gazzillo, J., Riessman, R., and Knodler, M. (2020) Inclusive roadway infrastructure design: The impact of sex on crash injury outcomes by roadway environment type. Podium. European Transport Conference, 9–11 September, online format.
  • Ryan, A., Fitzpatrick, C., Ai, C., and Knodler, M. (2019) Using Drones to Collect Speed Data: A Novel Approach. Podium. Institute of Transportation Engineers Annual Meeting, 21–24 July, Austin, TX.
  • Ryan, A., Fitzpatrick, C., and Knodler, M. (2019) Driver Behavior Due to Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Height: A Driver Simulator Study. Podium. ASCE International Conference on Transportation & Development, 9–12 June, Alexandria, VA.

Awards

  • Fly-In Travel Award
    • American Society of Civil Engineers Legislative, Spring 2022
  • Clemens Herschel Award
    • Boston Society of Civil Engineers Section, Fall 2021
  • Ernest T. and Rae N. Selig Transportation Program Fellowship
    • UMass Amherst College of Engineering, Spring 2021
  • Runner-up
    • American Society of Civil Engineers Jack E. Leisch Memorial Graduate Fellowship, Spring 2021
  • Traffic Safety Scholar
    • Lifesavers Conference, Spring 2021
    • Lifesavers Conference, Spring 2020
  • Daniel B. Fambro Student Paper Award
    • Northeastern Institute of Transportation Engineers, Spring 2020
  • American Society of Civil Engineers Legislative Fly-In Travel Award
    • American Society of Civil Engineers, Spring 2020
  • Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship
    • The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Spring 2020
    • The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Spring 2019
    • The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Spring 2018
  • ITE Upstate New York Section Scholarship
    • ITE Upstate New York Section, Spring 2020
    • ITE Upstate New York Section, Spring 2018
  • Spring 2020 Dean’s Fellow
    • UMass Amherst College of Engineering, Spring 2020
  • U.S. Fulbright Study/Research Award - Germany Research
    • U.S. Fulbright, Spring 2020
  • One-Year Research Grant for Doctoral Candidates
    • German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), Spring 2020
  • Third Place in Transportation Safety
    • ARTBA Student Video Contest, Fall 2019
  • WTS Rhode Island Leadership Legacy Award
    • Women’s Transportation Seminar, Spring 2019
  • New England ITS Joseph Sussman Award
    • New England Section of the Institute of Transportation Engineers, Spring 2019
  • Second Place
    • ITE & FHWA HSIS Research Paper Competition, Spring 2019
  • First Place Poster Award
    • ITE Northeastern District, Spring 2019
  • Graduate Thomas E. Desjardins Scholarship
    • New England ITE, Spring 2019
  • TRB Women’s Issues in Transportation Conference Travel Award
    • Women’s Issues in Transportation, Spring 2019
  • Best Oral Presentation
    • SAFER-SIM UTC Conference, Spring 2018
  • ITE Connecticut Chapter Scholarship
    • New England Section of the Institute of Transportation Engineers, Spring 2018
  • Second Place Poster Award
    • ITE Northeastern District, Spring 2018
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