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ABOUT US

The Howard University Transportation Research Center (HUTRC) was established to lead interdisciplinary urban transportation research in Washington, DC. The Center seeks the mutual interest of the University and its sponsors.  HUTRC has embarked upon research, training, and outreach in areas such as transportation policy, management, economics, law, as well as engineering.

 

Howard University works with a consortium of colleges and universities to supplement their engineering expertise, professional skills, and research capabilities. The university also engages consultants with a history of transportation research specialties. The HUTRC is cognizant of the need to collaborate with other universities and consultants to meet the center’s goal of:

 

  • Providing the highest quality of service to its partners and the community

  • Providing safe, economically efficient, and environmentally sustainable solutions to meet the transportation needs of the District.

 

The center welcomes opportunities to work with other universities, transportation centers, and transportation agencies. For more information, please contact us via email or phone (202) 806-9135

 

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You can find our Title VI form here.

Non Discrimination Notice to Public

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MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR

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Nadir Yilmaz, Ph.D., P.E.

F.AAAS, F.ASEE, F.ASME, F.NSPE, F.SAE  

Director and Principal Investigator, HUTRC

Professor and Chair, Department of Mechanical Engineering​​​

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Degree: Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, New Mexico State University

Research Interests: Automotive Engineering, Sustainable Mobility and Transportation

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Email: nadir.yilmaz@howard.edu

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Welcome to the Howard University Transportation Research Center (HUTRC)

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I am delighted to lead this dynamic center at a time where transportation is evolving rapidly. As a leading research institution in Washington, DC, we are uniquely positioned to address the complex challenges facing our communities and our nation. The center is thus dedicated to advancing transportation safety, mobility, and sustainability through cutting-edge research and strategic partnerships.

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At HUTRC, we take pride in our collaboration with local and federal entities such as District Department of Transportation (DDOT), Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to develop data-driven solutions that enhance transportation systems locally and nationally. While our foundation is rooted in infrastructure-based solutions, we recognize the need to evolve with the rapidly changing landscape of transportation and are embracing a forward-thinking approach to transportation research.

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With a strong background in automotive engineering, my vision for the center is to push the boundaries of traditional transportation research by integrating machine learning, artificial intelligence, and emerging technologies into our work. Our research agenda focus extends to key areas such as autonomous vehicles, vehicle electrification, and sustainable mobility solutions, to ensure that we remain at the forefront of innovation. We believe that these areas hold the key to creating a safer, more efficient, and environmentally responsible future in transportation. We are dedicated to developing and applying these technologies to address critical issues like traffic congestion, pedestrian safety, and equitable access to transportation.

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The future of transportation demands interdisciplinary collaboration and a commitment to innovation. As we move forward, our goal is to build a vibrant community of researchers, students, and practitioners to develop practical, technology-driven solutions that not only address current transportation challenges but also anticipate the needs of the future. We invite researchers, industry leaders, policymakers, and students to join us in shaping the next generation of transportation systems focusing on sustainability and accessibility. I look forward to sharing our progress with you.

STAFF 

HUTRC participates in a variety of studies that impact neighborhoods, the environment and economic development in the District. The HUTRC team uses tools for statistical analysis, mapping and spatial analysis, transportation-network modeling and transportation data management. The Staff is supplemented by a varying number of graduate and undergraduate Students from Howard University and other colleges and universities throughout the metropolitan region.

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Babin Manandhar

Research Engineer

Degree: M. Eg. in Civil Engineering, Howard University
Research Interests: Traffic Safety, Highway Design, Transportation Systems, Transportation Planning, Transit Oriented Development, Statistical Analysis

Email: babin.manandhar@howard.edu

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Luwei Zeng, Ph.D.

Research Engineer

Degree Ph.D. in Systems and Information Engineering
Research Interests: Climate Change and Transportation systems, Smart Cities, Data Analysis, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Transportation System

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Email: luwei.zeng@howard.edu

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Nripendra Pradhan

Research Engineer

Degree: M.S. in Civil Engineering, McNeese State University
Research Interests: Transportation  Infrastructure Safety, Operations Research Applications to Freight Transportation Planning, Sustainability and Environmental Engineering

Email: nripendra.pradhan@howard.edu

Kayode Dunkel Vance

Research Assistant

Degree: M.S in Mechanical Engineering
Research Interests: Transportation Safety, Autonomous Vehicles, Artificial Intelligence

Email: kayode.dunkelvance@bison.howard.edu

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Richa Lamsal

Research Assistant

Degree: MBA, Howard University
Research Interests: Traffic Safety, Green and Sustainable Technology, Environmental Engineering, Graphic Design

Email: richa.lamsal@howard.edu

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Marilyn Oliva-Rivas

Research Assistant

Degree: B.S. Political Science, Trinity University
Research Interests: Transportation Safety, Transportation Planning, Sustainability and Environmental Engineering

Email: marilynolivarivas@gmail.com

RESEARCH AND PUBLICATIONS

CONFERENCE PAPERS, RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS AND TECHNICAL REPORTS

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  1. B. Rijal, N. Yilmaz, “Effects of Distracted Pedestrian Behavior on Transportation Safety: Causes and Contributing Factors,” Applied Sciences, Vol. 14(23), 11068, 2024.

  2. B. Donaldson, B. Hughes, P. Salinas, E. N. Coker, N. Yilmaz, F. M. Vigil, A. Atmanli, “Coal Pyrolysis Studies: Application to In-Situ Superheat Steam Hydrogen Production,” 4th International Conference on Energy, Environment and Storage of Energy, Proceedings of ICEESEN 2024, 5-7 September 2024, Cappadocia-Türkiye.

  3. K. Looby, N. Yilmaz, “Obstacles and New Technologies Related to Hydrogen Powered Jet Engines,” 4th International Conference on Energy, Environment and Storage of Energy, Proceedings of ICEESEN 2024, 5-7 September 2024, Cappadocia-Türkiye.

  4. N. Yilmaz, A. Atmanli, F. M. Vigil, B. Donaldson, “Detailed Characteristics of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Toxicity in a Diesel Engine Running on Diesel and Biodiesel Blends with Alcohols,” 4th International Conference on Energy, Environment and Storage of Energy, Proceedings of ICEESEN 2024, 5-7 September 2024, Cappadocia-Türkiye.

  5. N. Yilmaz, A. Atmanli, F. M. Vigil, B. Donaldson, “Formation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in a Diesel Engine Fueled with Diesel and Biodiesel Containing Low Concentrations of C3/C4/C5 Alcohols,”  4th International Conference on Energy, Environment and Storage of Energy, Proceedings of ICEESEN 2024, 5-7 September 2024, Cappadocia-Türkiye.

  6. N. Yilmaz, F. M. Vigil, A. Atmanli, B. Donaldson, “Influence of Fuel Oxygenation on Regulated Pollutants and Unregulated Aromatic Compounds with Biodiesel and n-Pentanol Blends,” International Journal of Energy Research, Vol. 2023, Article ID 3040073, 11 pages, 2023.

  7. B. Donaldson, B. Hughes, E. N. Coker, N. Yilmaz, “Pyrolysis of Oils from Unconventional Resources,” Energies, Vol. 16(8), 3455, 2023.

  8. N. Atasay, A. Atmanli, N. Yilmaz, “Liquid Cooling Flow Field Design and Thermal Analysis of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells for Space Applications,” International Journal of Energy Research, Vol. 2023, Article ID 7533993, 16 pages, 2023.

  9. E. Coker, X. Lujan-Flores, B. Donaldson, N. Yilmaz, A. Atmanli, “An Assessment of the Conversion of Biomass and Industrial Waste Products to Activated Carbon,” Energies Vol. 16(4), 1606, 2023.

  10. E. Coker, B. Donaldson, B. Hughes, N. Yilmaz, “Crude Oil Pyrolysis Studies: Application to In Situ Superheat Steam Enhanced Oil Recovery,” Energies Vol. 16(3), 1544, 2023.

  11. N. Yilmaz, B. Donaldson, W. Gill, “Aluminum Particle Ignition Studies with Focus on Effect of Oxide Barrier,” Aerospace, Vol. 10(1), 45, 2023.

  12. E. Coker, B. Donaldson, W. Gill, N. Yilmaz, F. M. Vigil, “The Isothermal Oxidation of High-Purity Aluminum at High Temperature,” Applied Sciences, Vol. 13(1), 229, 2023.

  13. N. Yilmaz, F. M. Vigil, B. Donaldson, “Effect of n-Butanol Addition to Diesel Fuel on Reduction of PAH formation and Regulated Pollutants,” Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds, DOI: 10.1080/10406638.2022.2153881, 2022.

  14. N. Yilmaz, A. Atmanli, F. M. Vigil, B. Donaldson, “Comparative Assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Toxicity  in a Diesel Engine Powered by Diesel and Biodiesel Blends with High Concentrations of Alcohols,” Energies, Vol. 15(22), 8523, 2022.

  15. K.D. Dunkel, N. Yilmaz, “Undergraduate Research in Data Science and Sustainable Aviation,” ASEE Fall Middle Atlantic Section Conference, 2022, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA.

  16. N. Yilmaz, F. M. Vigil, B. Donaldson, “Effect of Diesel and Propanol Blends on Regulated Pollutants and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons under Lean Combustion Conditions,” Environmental Progress and Sustainable Energy, DOI: 10.1002/ep.14020, 2022.

  17. N. Yilmaz, M. Rafiei, B. Donaldson, “Effect of Diesel and Pentanol Blends on PAH Formation and Regulated Pollutants,” Biofuels, DOI: 10.1080/17597269.2022.2134640, 2022.

  18. N. Yilmaz, B. Donaldson, “Combined Effects of Engine Characteristics and Fuel Aromatic Content on Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Toxicity,” Energy Sources, Part A: Recovery, Utilization, and Environmental Effects, Vol. 44(4), pp. 9156-9171, 2022.

  19. N. Yilmaz, F. M. Vigil, A. Atmanli, B. Donaldson, “Detailed Analysis of PAH Formation, Toxicity and Regulated Pollutants in a Diesel Engine Running on Diesel Blends with n-Propanol, n-Butanol and n-Pentanol,” Energies, Vol. 15(17), 2022.

  20. N. Yilmaz, S. M. Davis, “Diesel Blends with High Concentrations of Biodiesel and n-Butanol: Effect on Regulated Pollutants and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons,” Process Safety and Environmental Protection, Vol. 166, pp. 430-439, 2022.

  21. N. Yilmaz, M. Ukaoma, “Impact of Biodiesel and Propanol Blends on Engine Performance, Regulated Emissions and PAH Formation,” International Journal of Energy Research, Vol. 46(15), pp. 23433-23448, 2022.

  22. N. Yilmaz, F. M. Vigil, B. Donaldson, “Fuel Effects on PAH Formation, Toxicity and Regulated Pollutants: Detailed Comparison of Biodiesel Blends with Propanol, Butanol and Pentanol,” Science of the Total Environment, Vol. 849, 2022.

  23. N. Yilmaz, A. Atmanli, M. J. Hall, F. M. Vigil, “Determination of the Optimum Blend Ratio of Diesel-Waste Oil Biodiesel-1-Pentanol using the Response Surface Method,” Energies, Vol. 15(14), 5144, 2022.

  24. N. Yilmaz, S. M. Davis, “Formation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Regulated Emissions from Biodiesel and n-Butanol Blends Containing Water,” Journal of Hazardous Materials, Vol. 437, 2022.

  25. N. Yilmaz, “Comparative Energy and Environmental Assessment of Battery Technologies and Alternative Fuels in Sustainable Aviation,” International Journal of Green Energy, DOI:10.1080/15435075.2022.2075226, 2022.

  26. N. Yilmaz, H. Bae, “Use of Generative Design and Shape Optimization Tools for Advanced Engineering Design,” ASEE Spring Middle Atlantic Section Conference, 2022, Newark, New Jersey, USA.

STAFF
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Camera Installation at Intersection

© 2025 Howard University Transportation Research Center

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