Abstract:

The nation’s transportation infrastructure is the backbone of a complex network providing access to goods, services, activities, and people. The capabilities of this infrastructure, therefore, play a crucial role in driving economic activity and growth, while supporting quality of life. Expenditures in the design and management of these systems are significant not just due to their scale―tens of billions of dollars per year in the United States―but, importantly, because of their far-reaching economic, social and environmental impacts.

In this talk, I will provide an overview of my recent research, which advances methodologies and analysis tools that capture the effects of resource allocation decisions, made by owners and operators, on the performance of infrastructure systems. My work supports and optimizes strategic investments aimed at improving both direct and indirect impacts. I will also highlight ongoing research on health monitoring and management, as well as on decarbonization of large-scale transportation systems, including freight rail and public transit.

Bio:

Pablo L. Durango-Cohen is an associate professor in the Transportation Systems Analysis and Planning Program at Northwestern University. He completed his Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research at the University of California, Berkeley. His research activities involve developing and analyzing optimization and econometric models to support monitoring, management and operation of transportation systems. He has also published in transportation economics and policy, as well as in environmental design and life-cycle assessment of transportation systems. Among others, his research has been recognized with a Faculty Early CAREER Development Award from the National Science Foundation, and with a Young Author Prize at the World Congress on Transport Research. Among Prof. Durango-Cohen’s professional activities, he serves as Associate Editor for the ASCE Journal of Infrastructure Systems, and has served as proposal and project reviewer for a number of federal and state agencies, as well as universities from around the world.