Sharareh Kermanshachi

• Ph.D., F.ASCE, F.ICE, P.E.
• Vice Chancellor for Research and Outreach at Pennsylvania State University

Purpose Construction projects were significantly and negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and many researchers have examined the factors that affected the performance and resilience of construction projects during that critical and unusual time. Unlike this study, however, these studies were broad in their approach and provided general ove...

The pursuit of convenient parking presents a pervasive challenge that is exacerbated by growing populations and an increasing number of vehicles in urban areas. This study investigates the impact of smart parking systems (SPS) on parking violations, addressing a critical gap in existing research that often overlooks the dynamic influence of real-ti...

Road traffic-related fatalities, most of which are caused by human error, are a major problem globally. Autonomous vehicles (AVs) eliminate the potential for human error and thus hold promise for reducing the number of fatalities and improving overall road safety. Existing literature lacks comprehensive studies on predicting injury outcomes of AV-r...

During this era of rapid urbanization and technological strides, parking management has evolved into a crucial facet of urban planning. Smart Parking Systems (SPS) are at the forefront of enhancing parking convenience and reshaping revenue streams for sustainable city living, yet despite their acknowledged advantages, there remains a notable resear...

Expanding urban landscapes and the ever-increasing number of vehicles on the road make it challenging for drivers to find a convenient place to park and result in even more traffic congestion and higher levels of pollution. Smart parking systems (SPS) offer a transformative solution by providing real-time data that can significantly enhance the eff...

Underground wastewater collection systems degrade with time, necessitating utility owners to engage in ongoing evaluations and enhancements of their asset management frameworks to preserve the performance of their assets. The inspection and condition assessment of sewer pipes are crucial for the effective operation and maintenance of sewer systems....

Purpose The purpose of this study is to address the significant impact AVs will have on public services and the ability of first responders to conduct their jobs safely and effectively. Autonomous vehicles (AVs) are expected to drastically change the transportation industry, and it is vital that first responders be equipped to integrate them into t...

An increase in vehicular traffic and a scarcity of parking spaces are creating significant challenges for urban parking management. This study aims to tackle these issues that escalate congestion and pollution and decrease urban productivity, by utilizing machine learning models to accurately predict parking space availability and categorize occupa...

Purpose Public opinion regarding autonomous vehicles (AV) heavily influences how quickly the technology will be implemented and adopted in the future. However, there is a dearth of empirical evaluations in the literature about riders' perceptions toward service characteristics of shared autonomous vehicles (SAVs) and their attitudes toward developi...

Construction workers engage in physically strenuous tasks while being exposed to adverse environments, rendering them susceptible to a multitude of health complications and safety risks. The effect of hot weather on the exposed individuals varies based on several demographic attributes. This study aims to examine the influence of hot temperatures o...

Purpose The effects of the COVID-19 outbreak on the construction industry were formidable and far-reaching, as the construction sector is a major contributor to the gross domestic product (GDP), which balances various sectors of the global economy, and to infrastructure growth, which is a primary gauge of a nation’s advancement. The outbreak led to...

The mobility landscape is experiencing major changes due to two emerging transportation trends, autonomous vehicles (AVs) and on-demand transportation, and the convergence of these smart mobility innovations as shared autonomous vehicles (SAVs) can considerably alter travel behavior and consequently the ecological and societal aspects of the transp...

Work zone safety, especially amidst increasing highway construction and repair, is paramount in ensuring the well-being of construction workers. Between 2003 and 2019, road construction sites saw a total of 2,103 worker fatalities, averaging 131 deaths annually. During this period, Texas had the highest number of road construction-related worker de...

Public opinion regarding autonomous vehicles (AV) heavily influences how quickly the technology will be implemented and adopted in the future. This research utilized data collected from riders of RAPID (Rideshare Automation Payment Integration Demonstration), a shared autonomous vehicle (SAV) service in Arlington, Texas, and performed exploratory d...

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about significant operational disruptions in the construction industry. While a wealth of literature suggests best practices, a discernible gap remains in gauging the consensus among industry professionals on these recommendations. Specifically, uncertainty arises regarding the degree to which construction engineer...

The global crisis precipitated by the novel coronavirus brought forth considerable psychological distress and financial strife, notwithstanding governmental economic relief. This situation highlighted the degree of dependency among international markets by demonstrating the ripple effects from disturbances in one industry to another. Within this co...

The Coronavirus took toll on human lives and catalyzed a crippling economic recession that led, to soaring unemployment rates. The construction industry, due in part to its labor-intensive nature, has a high incidence of COVID-19 cases that, severely affected various aspects of project management, such as cost, schedule, contracts, finance, and occ...

Safety is the predominant concern in the advancement of automated vehicles (AVs); therefore, extensive real-world testing is underway to ensure their secure operation. Despite the widespread belief that they will decrease the frequency of accidents, there remains uncertainty about their impact on the severity of crashes in which they are involved....

Parking management presents a complex challenge in urban cities, as a scarcity of parking spaces and the ever-increasing vehicular traffic have led to congestion, environmental pollution, and overall reduced urban productivity. Addressing the problem requires predicting the exact number of available parking spaces and categorizing parking occupancy...

Parking is a growing problem globally due to the growth of urbanization, and it is particularly problematic in densely populated areas, such as college campuses, where the demand for parking is high. This research investigates the complexities of parking management at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) and looks carefully at its implication...

The COVID-19 pandemic's profound effects on various sectors have been widely reported, yet the long-term physical and mental health ramifications for construction professionals remain underexplored. This study aimed to address this gap, drawing on data from 131 responses collected from construction engineers and managers to evaluate the enduring he...

Traffic-related fatalities are a significant global challenge that is primarily attributed to human error. Autonomous vehicles (AVs) hold the promise of mitigating such fatalities by removing the potential for human error and thereby enhancing road safety; however, they too are involved in crashes that result in injuries. Prior research, limited by...

Shared autonomous vehicles (SAVs) are the result of the convergence of autonomous vehicles (AVs) and on-demand transportation. They are expected to significantly impact the mobility landscape; however, they must be thoroughly assessed prior to their widespread deployment. This study examines the repercussions of widespread use of SAVs and analyzes...

The mental health of construction workers is often neglected despite their overrepresentation in deaths associated with suicide and other mental health conditions. The nature of the construction sector is inherently stressful and failure to manage individual stress levels can manifest in depression, which can eventually lead to suicide ideation and...

Despite a global emphasis on safety, construction personnel experience a sizable number of occupational injuries. The dynamic nature of construction sites makes it extremely challenging to completely eliminate the hazards associated with these injuries, but an awareness of them and acknowledgement of their potential dangers are crucial first steps...

The development of electric vehicles (EVs) has accelerated in recent years, in part because of significant governmental support. Despite this support, however, the market share of EVs in the United States remains relatively small, and a large majority of consumers exhibit reluctance towards adopting them. This study aims to facilitate the effective...

The study aimed to identify the key elements that influenced building activities during the COVID-19 pandemic and to explore strategies for addressing these issues in subsequent emergencies. A comprehensive review of the literature was conducted to pinpoint the causes of delays in construction timelines amidst the pandemic. Subsequently, a survey w...

Most of the researchers who have explored the factors that affect the severity of crashes involving autonomous vehicles (AVs) by analyzing the data made available by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (CA DMV) have done so in general terms. A comprehensive investigation is lacking in the literature, and the purpose of this study is to reme...

Hazard identification is a fundamental step in safety management that has the potential to reduce the number and severity of occupational injuries on construction sites. Researchers have identified and evaluated some of the hazards, but few have extensively discussed all of them and none have classified them by sector. The goal of this paper is to...

Sustainable mobility options such as electric vehicles (EVs) have the potential to improve the quality of life for Americans as well as those in other countries, as they can enhance the quality of the air we breathe, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, fossil fuel consumption, and the adverse impacts of global warming. Despite their many benef...

Parking violations are a common issue in urban areas, especially university campuses, and they lead to congestion and inefficient use of parking spaces. Traditionally, fines have been issued to those who violate parking rules and regulations in an effort to enforce them; however, few research studies have explored the effectiveness of issuing warni...

This technical report investigates the burgeoning field of Autonomous Vehicles (AVs), a transformative technology set to redefine transportation by enhancing safety, efficiency, and reducing human error. Despite their potential, AVs introduce complex challenges and safety concerns, particularly in urban environments. This study focuses on Californi...

Recent advancements in autonomous vehicle (AV) technology have the potential to reduce road accidents caused by human error. However, to enhance their safety and performance, it is crucial to understand the patterns of AV collisions. This study examines AV collisions by analyzing their temporal and spatial patterns. Based on reports from the Califo...

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Past studies have focused mainly focused on studying different aspects of traditional flexible and fixed route transit services, but little attention has been paid towards ridesharing services available to university community. To bridge this gap, this study is aimed at classifying university community based on their satisfaction levels towards dem...

Parking is a persistent challenge in urban areas, especially on college campuses, as limited parking spaces and increasing vehicular traffic are at the forefront of campus administrators' concerns. Lack of parking availability leads to frustration among students, faculty, and staff and results in increased traffic congestion, environmental pollutio...

The seemingly interminable search for an available parking spot wastes time and fuel while polluting the environment. Yet, the inefficiency of the process persists, due to a lack of real-time and near-future information. Researchers are addressing this issue by developing systems that combine various modeling techniques with historical and real-tim...

Conventional parking methods often result in inefficiencies, such as traffic congestion caused by drivers searching for available spots and inadequate revenue management for parking operators. Smart parking systems (SPS) aim to address these challenges by offering real-time information on parking availability, optimizing parking space utilization,...

Traffic accidents are a national public health crisis that result in multiple injuries and fatalities. Conventional vehicle crashes are largely attributed to human errors, but autonomous vehicles (AVs) have the ability to minimize human involvement and improve road safety. To assure the safe operation of these vehicles, extensive field and simulati...

Automated driving systems are an emerging technology expected to transform the transportation industry due to reduced human involvement. While the introduction of autonomous vehicles (AVs) can significantly improve road safety, increase mobility, and reduce road crashes, there are also associated disadvantages. Policymakers have the ability to impl...

In early project phases, cross-functional collaboration is required to lead a capital project from an investment option to a full definition before its design and construction commenced. Given that many capital projects are large, complex, and take years to develop, for stakeholders to realize effective project definition and development it is impo...

The recent increase in the frequency and intensity of disasters has damaged and disrupted transportation infrastructures, thereby significantly increasing the economic losses and slowing the pace of recovery. Resilient infrastructures ensure functionality with minimal discontinuity, but there currently exists rarely a tool for assessing the resilie...

Introduction: The benefits of incorporating technological advancements and digitalization into construction firms’ inspections and material supply procurement operations have been well documented. Despite this and the availability of the technology, however, there is a pervasive lack of understanding in the industry about the appropriate applicatio...

Introduction: Universities and other educational institutions across the United States collaborate with service providers to afford their students, faculty, and staff transit services, such as dedicated buses, on-demand ridesharing, and public transportation. The university community relies on these services, especially in rural and low-density are...

This study aimed to develop predictive models that could be used to estimate the cost and schedule performance of reconstruction of transportation infrastructure damaged by hurricanes and to determine the predictors that are robustly connected to the developed models. Stepwise multiple linear regression and extreme bound analysis (EBA) were used to...

Self-driving vehicles are expected to reduce mobility barriers; however, it is still unclear how individuals will use them and how they will benefit the urban transportation system overall. This research aims to evaluate self-driving technology diffusion by applying and testing a conceptual model that was designed to unpack the possible determinant...

Students have long been among those most emotionally and physically affected by natural or manmade disasters, yet universities and colleges continue to lack effective disaster response and mitigation practices. This research identifies how students’ socio-demographics and disaster preparedness indicators (DPIs) impact their awareness of the dangers...

Shared autonomous vehicles (SAVs) have the potential to improve the efficiency, mobility, safety, and affordability of transportation systems; however, consumers will determine whether they can be successfully integrated into the current systems. This study aims to identify the perceptions, attitudes, preferences, and concerns of those who have and...

Demand responsive ridesharing services have gained popularity in the recent past and being adopted by several cities as alternative or means to augment existing public transit services. Empirical studies have explored the impacts of demand responsive ridesharing services such as congestion, travel patterns, traffic flows and emissions; however, how...

Autonomous vehicles (AVs) have the potential to lower the number of vehicular crashes, as research has shown that most collisions are caused by driver error. Consequently, several companies in the U.S. and other countries have conducted pilot tests on public highways to expedite the mainstream deployment of Avs and examine the effects that they hav...

The adverse impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on the health and safety of the construction industry has been studied by many researchers, but few have identified strategies for mitigating its effects and correlated them with the size of an organization. This research aims to identify the precautionary practices implemented by small, medium, and...

Urban transportation is the crux of economic growth in both industrialized and emerging nations, but it is also a significant contributor to energy usage, poor air quality, health impacts, and traffic problems. Sustainable mobility is one of the most comprehensive techniques for combating this global climate change. Hence, the decarbonization of th...

Digital material delivery such as electronic ticketing (e-Ticketing) is a proven method for increasing the productivity of field inspectors and engineers. A wide range of studies have been conducted that focused on implementation standards, pilot testing, and challenges in the deployment of e-Ticketing technology; however, few have quantified it’s...

Shared Autonomous vehicles (SAVs) are among the most anticipated advancements in the smart mobility domain, as they have the potential to revolutionize transportation. The literature includes studies of individuals’ attitudes toward the adoption of SAVs, but it primarily focuses on potential and non-users of SAVs who have little or no personal expe...

Shared autonomous vehicles (SAVs) are projected by experts to transform transportation, but consumers will decide whether they are actually a success. This study aims to identify the perceptions, attitudes, concerns, and preferences of people who experienced an pilot demonstration of SAVs that had been integrated with current transportation systems...

Electronic construction (e-Construction) is gaining popularity in the highway construction industry due to worker shortages and resource limitations. Adoption of e-Construction technologies can improve the productivity and efficiency of resurfacing operations. Poor performance quality occasionally noticed in highway construction has a detrimental e...

The strong impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on the construction industry has been studied by many researchers, but few have identified the individual factors that affected the efficiency of construction projects and analyzed them based on the size of the organization administering the project. This study aims to do just that: identify the facto...

Geological and mining employees working on coal mining projects are vulnerable to accidents involving powered haulage equipment, and their safety is dependent on effective safety programs. It has been demonstrated that Virtual Reality training programs facilitate participants to recognize the hazards present in the workplace, but their efficacy in...

Autonomous vehicles (AV) have transformed the transportation industry in recent years because of their potential to reduce the number of traffic deaths and injuries, and it is conceivable that when they are integrated with other rideshare networks, they will maximize the utilization of both technologies and become a major mode of public transportat...

Recent advancements in information and communication technology have contributed to the rise of a new transportation concept: on-demand ridesourcing that uses a smartphone application to connect customers and drivers for real-time and demand-responsive trips. Due to its rapid growth, the ridesharing market is expected to eventually attract a large...

The coronavirus impacted various sectors and economies around the globe in a very drastic way because of its limited manpower, materials, and machines, and the construction sector is not an exemption. As the industry is the most prominently dependent on labor and material, they have experienced an adverse effect on their economy, causing delays in...

Recent advancements in information and communication technology have contributed to the rise of a new transportation concept: on-demand ridesourcing that uses a smartphone application to connect customers and drivers for real-time and demand-responsive trips. Due to its rapid growth, the ridesharing market is expected to eventually attract a large...