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Virginia P. Sisiopiku

Virginia P. Sisiopiku

Associate Professor, Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering
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(205) 934-9912
Hohen 311

Research Interests: Traffic operations, congestion monitoring, transportation safety, simulation and modeling, emerging technologies, and sustainable transportation

Office Hours: By appointment only

Education:

  • B.S., Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Civil Engineering
  • M.S., University of Illinois at Chicago, Civil Engineering
  • Ph.D., University of Illinois at Chicago, Civil Engineering
  • Post Doc, University of Illinois at Chicago, Electrical Engineering

Dr. Virginia P. Sisiopiku is an Associate Professor specializing in transportation engineering. She is the founding director of the UAB TREND Lab and has 25+ years of professional experience in the transportation field as an academic and a consulting transportation engineer.

Dr. Sisiopiku studies transportation-related challenges such as congestion management, traffic safety, and performance monitoring and proposes effective strategies to address them. She utilizes traffic flow theories, simulation tools, and transportation data analytics to analyze the performance of transportation systems under present and alternative configurations. She also studies the role of new and emerging technologies in transportation operations and safety. Her research provides transportation solutions that improve the transportation system operational efficiency and safety, support livability and sustainability goals, and have a direct positive impact on people’s everyday lives.

Learn more about Dr. Sisiopiku’s interests and accomplishments.

Download Curriculum Vitae

  • Research Interests

    Dr. Sisiopiku’s current work focuses on traffic operations, emerging technologies, and data analytics. Examples of on-going projects include the development of performance measurements for congestion management using data from connected vehicles, the study of the impacts of shared mobility and e-hailing services on travel demand and user behavior, and investigation of traffic control options for optimizing work zone management. Learn more about Dr. Sisiopiku’s research.

  • Recent Courses
    • Transportation Engineering
    • Traffic Flow Theory
    • Non-Motorized Transportation Design and Planning
    • Intelligent Transportation Systems
    • Sustainable Infrastructure and Transportation
    • Sustainability Design and Rating Systems
  • Select Publications

    Dr. Sisiopiku’s research work produced 190+ refereed books, chapters, journal articles, and peer-reviewed conference papers. A brief list of select publications is provided below. See a complete list of publications here.

    • Kondyli, A., Barmpoutis, A., Sisiopiku, V.P., Zhang, L., Zhaob, L., Islam, M.M., Patil, S.S. and Rostami Hosuri, S. (2017). “A 3D Body Posture Analysis Framework during Merging and Lane Changing Maneuvers”. Journal of Transportation Safety & Security, pp. 1-18
    • Ramadan, O. and Sisiopiku, V.P. (2016). “Evaluation of Merge Control Strategies at Interstate Work Zones Under Peak and Off-Peak Traffic Conditions”, Journal of Transportation Technologies, Special Issue on Transportation Planning and Management, Vol 6, No. 3, pp. 118-130.
    • Schwebel, D.C., Combs, T., Rodriguez, D., Severson, J., and Sisiopiku, V. (2016). “Community-Based Pedestrian Safety Training in Virtual Environment: A Pragmatic Trial”, Accident Analysis and Prevention, Jan. 2016; Vol 86, pp. 9-15.
    • Sisiopiku, V.P., Hester, D., Gan, A., Stavrinos, D., and Sullivan, A. (2015). “Digital Roadside Advertising and Traffic Safety”, Urban Planning and Civil Engineering, August 2015, pp. 43-54.
    • Mamidipalli, S., Sisiopiku, V.P., Schroeder, B., Elefteriadou, L., and Salamati, K. (2015). “A Probit-based Pedestrian Gap Acceptance Model for Mid-Block Crossing Locations”, Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, No. 2519, pp. 128-136.
    • Sisiopiku, V.P. (2012). “Active Traffic Management as a Tool for Addressing Traffic Congestion”, Book chapter in Intelligent Transportation Systems, Ahmed Abdel-Rahim Editor, ISBN 979-953-307-420-6, March 2012, pp. 169-188.
    • Sisiopiku, V.P., and Cavusoglu, O. (2011). “Evaluating Designated Truck Lane Strategies for an Urban Freeway Corridor”, Journal of Transportation of the ITE- Institute of Transportation Engineers, Vol. 2, No 1, October 2011, pp. 57-70.
    • Sisiopiku, V.P., and Akin, D. (2003). “Pedestrian Behaviors at and Perceptions towards Various Pedestrian Facilities: An Examination Based on Observation and Survey Data”, Transportation Research, Part F, Vol. 6, Issue 4, December 2003, pp. 249-274.
  • Academic Distinctions & Professional Memberships

    Academic distinctions and awards:

    • 2017 Best Member Technical Paper Runner-up Award, Southern District of Institute of Transportation Engineers (SDITE), March 2017
    • 2015 ALSITE Transportation Engineering Educator nominee for the SDITE Excellence in Transportation Engineering Education Award, January 2016
    • 2013 Best Paper Merit Certificate, 2013 International Conference on Connected Vehicles and Expo (ICCVE/IEEE), December 2013
    • Best Research Paper Award, Southern District of Institute of Transportation Engineers (SDITE), June 2012
    • 2010 Dean’s Award for Excellence in Mentorship, UAB Graduate School, April 2010
    • UAB Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching, April 2007
    • Best Sponsored Technical Paper Award, Southern District of Institute of Transportation Engineers (SDITE), April 2005
    • Dwight David Eisenhower Faculty Fellowship Award, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Washington, D.C., 2003 and 2002
    • Featured in Who's Who in America; Who's Who in Science and Engineering; Who’s Who in the World; Who's Who of American Women; Who's Who in Engineering Education (multiple listings) 

    Professional societies:

    • Chair, American Association of University Women (AAUW) Birmingham (AL) Branch College/University Relations Committee
    • Vice Chair, UAB Commission for the Status of Women (CSW)
    • Fellow, Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE), September 2014-present.
    • Faculty member, Tau Beta Pi, the Engineering Honors Society, inducted April 2005.
    • Faculty member, Chi Epsilon, the Civil Engineering Honors Society, inducted April 2004.
    • Member, Women's Transportation Seminar (WTS)
    • Elected Director, Research and Education Division, American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA); 2015-present.
    • Member, Alabama Network for Women Leaders in Higher Education, American Council for Education (ACE), 2015-present.
  • Student Groups
    • Faculty Advisor, UAB Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Student Chapter
    • Faculty Advisor, UAB Girls in Science and Engineering Day (GSED)