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InTrans

Institute for Transportation

InTrans|People

Omar Smadi

TITLE

Director, CTRE

PHONE

515-294-7110

EMAIL

smadi@iastate.edu

ADDITIONAL ROLES

Professor, Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering

AFFILIATIONS

InTrans, CTRE, REACTOR

About Omar

Dr. Omar Smadi has over 25 years of experience in the area of infrastructure and asset management ranging from pavements, bridges, safety, pavement marking, signs and other infrastructure assets. He is currently serving as principal investigator for several research projects for the Iowa Department of Transportation, Iowa Highway Research Board, the federally funded Midwest Transportation Center, National Cooperative Highway Research Program, Second Highway Research Program, and Federal Highway Administration dealing with roadway data, safety, and asset management.

 

Education


  • PhD, Transportation Engineering, Iowa State University, 2000
  • MS, Transportation Engineering, Iowa State University, 1994
  • BS, Civil Engineering, Yarmouk University, Jordan, 1987

Professional Experience


Iowa State University (ISU), Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering

  • Professor, 2023–present
  • Associate Professor, 2014–2023
  • Associate Chair for Research and International Collaboration, 2020–present

Institute for Transportation, Iowa State University

  • Director, Center for Transportation Research and Education (CTRE), 2015–present
  • Director, Roadway Infrastructure Management and Operations Systems (RIMOS) program, 2010–present
  • Research Scientist, 1994–present

Selected Publications


Dr. Smadi has authored or co-authored a total of 48 peer-reviewed archival journal articles in impactful journals. Since joining the CCEE Department in 2014, Dr. Smadi published 36 journal articles, with the overwhelming majority being with his students, post-doctoral associates, and fellow research staff. In addition to journal articles, Dr. Smadi has authored 65 peer-reviewed conference proceedings and 39 technical reports.

  • Abukhalil, Y., and O. Smadi. 2022. A Bootstrap-Based Integer Programming Algorithm for Budget Allocation in Pavement Management Systems. Journal of Infrastructure Systems, Vol. 28, No. 1.
  • Chen, Y-A., H. Ceylan, I. Nlenanya, O. Kaya, O. Smadi, P. C. Taylor, S. Kim, K. Gopalakrishnan, and D. E. King. 2022. Long-term performance evaluation of Iowa concrete overlays. International Journal of Pavement Engineering, Vol. 23, No. 3.
  • Nlenanya, I., and O. Smadi. 2021. A Risk Management Database Framework Implementation for Transportation Asset Management. CivilEng, Vol. 2, pp. 193–
  • Sassani, A., O. Smadi, and N. Hawkins. 2021. Developing Pavement Marking Management Systems: A Theoretical Model Framework Based on the Experiences of the US Transportation Agencies. Infrastructures.
  • Safaei, N., O. Smadi, A. Masoud, and B. Safaei. 2021. An Automatic Image Processing Algorithm Based on Crack Pixel Density for Pavement Crack Detection and Classification. International Journal of Pavement Research and Technology, 15, pp. 159–172.
  • Alhasan, A., O. Smadi, R. Walton, and B. L. Schleppi. 2020. Pavement texture characterization using wavelets analysis in relation to pendulum skid tester. International Journal of Pavement Engineering.
  • Hallmark, S., A. Goswamy, T. Litteral, N. Hawkins, O. Smadi, and S. Knickerbocker. 2020. Evaluation of sequential dynamic chevron warning systems on rural two-lane curves. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, Vol. 2674, No. 10.

Professional Affiliations, Honors, and Service


  • American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
    • Member, ASCE Infrastructure Management Committee (2008–present)
    • Member, ASCE Advanced Technology Committee (2010–present)
    • Member, ASCE Highway Pavement Committee (2010–present)
  • International Road Federation (IRF)
    • Executive Board Member of the Washington Program Center (2012–present)
    • Executive Board Treasurer (2021–present)
    • Asset Management Committee (Chair for 4 years) (2013–2018)
  • Transportation Research Board (TRB)
    • Member, TRB Committee AFD20 – Pavement Monitoring and Evaluation (Chair for 6 years) (2004–2016)
    • Member, TRB Committee AFD10 – Pavement Management (2005–2014)
    • Member, TRB Committee ABC40 – Asset Management (2007–2019)
  • Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE)
  • Friend, AASHTO Asset Management Subcommittee
  • World Road Association (PIARC): Infrastructure Asset Management Group

Completed Research


Nov, 2022
Safety and Performance Criteria for Retroreflective Pavement Markers
Jun, 2022
MnDOT Evaluation of Work Zone Safety Using the SHRP2 Naturalistic Driving Study Data
Jul, 2021
Evaluations of Work Zone Safety Using SHRP2 Naturalistic Driving Study Data
Feb, 2021
Asset Management, Extreme Weather, and Proxy Indicators
Oct, 2020
Assessing and Enhancing the Transportation Resilience for the State of Iowa
Mar, 2020
Risk-Based Bridge Management: A Methodology to Assess and Incorporate Risk in Decision-Making
Dec, 2019
Use of SHRP2 NDS Data to Evaluate Roadway Departure Characteristics
Sep, 2019
High Friction Surface Treatment for High Crash Locations
Sep, 2019
NCHRP 24-46: Development of an Implementation Manual for Geotechnical Asset Management for Transportation Agencies
Jun, 2019
Evaluating All-Weather Pavement Markings in Illinois: Volume 2
Sep, 2018
Concrete Overlay Performance on Iowa’s Roadways
Apr, 2018
Durable Pavement Marking and Grooving
Apr, 2018
Investigating the Necessity of and Prioritizing Pavement Markings on Low-Volume Roads
Nov, 2017
MnDOT LRRB Minnesota Local Agency Pavement Marking: Mining Existing Data
May, 2017
A Multidisciplinary Approach to Investigate Work Zone Safety Using SHRP 2 Safety Data
Nov, 2016
Development of a Pavement Marking Material Matrix for ODOT District 11
Sep, 2016
Synthesis of Information Related to Highway Problems. Topic 46-13. Practice of Rumble Strips and Rumble Stripes
Sep, 2016
Historical Performance Evaluation of Iowa Pavement Treatments Using Data Analytics
Aug, 2016
Technical Analysis to Support the Bridge Condition Performance Measure
Apr, 2016
MnDOT Rumble Stripe: Evaluation of Retroreflectivity and Installation Practices
Mar, 2016
MnDOT Evaluation of Pavement Markings on Challenging Surfaces
Jan, 2016
Machine-Vision-Based Roadway Health Monitoring and Assessment
Dec, 2015
MnDOT LRRB Next Generation Bridge Management Tools and Inspection
Dec, 2015
Evaluating All-Weather Pavement Markings in Illinois: Volume 1
Nov, 2015
Iowa Pavement Asset Management Decision-Making Framework
Nov, 2015
Evaluation of the Sequential Dynamic Curve Warning System
Feb, 2015
SHRP 2 (S04A) Roadway Information Database Development and Technical Coordination and Quality Assurance of the Mobile Data Collection Project (S04B)
Jan, 2015
Evaluation of Dynamic Speed Feedback Signs on Curves: A National Demonstration Project
Dec, 2014
Pavement Management Performance Modeling: Evaluating the Existing PCI Equations
Oct, 2013
Low-Cost Strategies to Reduce Speed and Crashes on Curves
Mar, 2013
Measuring Salt Retention
Jan, 2013
NCHRP Synthesis 439: Use of Transportation Asset Management Principles in State Highway Agencies
Dec, 2012
Evaluating the Effectiveness of the City of Des Moines LED and RRFB Pedestrian Crossing Treatments
Nov, 2012
Recommended Laboratory Test for Predicting the Initial Retroreflectivity of Pavement Markings from Glass Bead Quality
Oct, 2012
Implementation, Training, and Outreach for MnDOT Pavement Marking Tool – Phase II
Jul, 2012
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Temporary Work-Zone Pavement Marking Products
Jun, 2012
Visualization Resources for Iowa State University and the Iowa DOT: An Automated Design Model to Simulator Converter
Nov, 2011
Roadway Lighting and Safety: Phase II-Monitoring Quality, Durability, and Efficiency
Nov, 2011
Wet-Reflective Pavement Marking Demonstration Project
Oct, 2011
Pavement Marking Compatibility with Chip Seal and Micro Surfacing
May, 2011
Iowa Pavement Marking and Sign Management System
Mar, 2011
Asset Management and Safety: A Performance Perspective
Feb, 2011
The Actual Cost of Food Systems on Roadway Infrastructure
Nov, 2010
Pavement Markings and Safety
Sep, 2010
Development and Field Evaluation of a Prototype Tool to Detect and Identify Left Turning Vehicles
Jul, 2010
Local Agency Pavement Marking Plan
Jun, 2010
Pavement Markings Concept
Feb, 2010
Minnesota Local Agency Pavement Marking Practices – Phase I
Nov, 2009
Minnesota Truck Parking Study Phase 2
Jun, 2009
Pavement Marking Demonstration Project
Dec, 2008
Interstate System 4R Plan: An Asset Management Approach
Oct, 2008
Planning, Implementation, and Operation of the Iowa Pavement Management Program, Phase 13
Sep, 2008
Developing and Implementing Enhanced Pavement Marking Management Tools for the Minnesota Department of Transportation: Phase I – Mapping Tool
Sep, 2008
PONTIS, Implementation and Operation: Iowa DOT and Counties, Phase III: Implementation and Operation
Aug, 2008
Implementation of HERS-ST in Iowa and Development /Refinement of a National Training Program
Jul, 2008
Sign Management System for Iowa DOT
Jul, 2008
Planning, Developing, and Implementation of the Iowa Pavement Marking Management Program III
May, 2008
Iowa DOT Pavement Marking Management System: Research and Field Evaluation Assistance
Feb, 2008
Developing Guidance for Use of Lighting on Rural and Urban Roadways in Iowa
Jul, 2007
Implementation and Operation of the Iowa DOT Pavement Management Optimization Model
Jun, 2007
Use of Functional Silos to Optimize Agency Decision Making
Apr, 2007
Existing Pavement Input Information for the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide
Apr, 2007
Validation of Pavement Performance Models for the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide
Dec, 2006
County Non-FAE Paved Road Condition: Data Collection, Summary, and Delivery, Phase II
Dec, 2006
PONTIS Implementation and Operation, Phase 5
Sep, 2006
Planning, Developing and Implementing the Iowa Pavement Marking Management System (IPMMS)
Dec, 2005
PONTIS, Phase 4
Dec, 2005
County Non-FAE Paved Road Condition: Data Collection, Summary, and Delivery, Phase I 2003-2005
Jun, 2005
Iowa Pavement Management Program, Phase X
Apr, 2005
Development of a Method to Determine Pavement Damage Due to Detours (TR-470)
Dec, 2004
Pavement Management through Data Collection and Analysis
Dec, 2004
Automated Pavement Condition Data: Analysis, Feasibility and Data Integration
Sep, 2004
PONTIS Implementation and Operation, Phase II: Implementation
Jun, 2004
Implementation of Iowa DOT Pavement Management Optimization Model, 2004
May, 2004
Planning, Implementation and Operation of the IPMP, Phase IX
Mar, 2004
Planning, Developing and Implementation of the Iowa Pavement Markings Management Program
Sep, 2003
Statistical Analysis of Highway Needs Condition Data: Manual vs Automated
May, 2003
Planning, Implementation and Operation of the IPMP, Phase VIII
Apr, 2003
Implementation of Iowa DOT Pavement Management Optimization Model, 2002
Jun, 2002
Planning, Implementation and Operation of the IPMP, Phase VII
Jun, 2002
Implementation of Iowa DOT Pavement Management Optimization Model, 2001
Dec, 2001
PONTIS Implementation and Operation: Iowa DOT and Counties
Apr, 2001
Implementation of Iowa DOT Pavement Management Optimization Model, 2000
Dec, 2000
Planning, Implementation, and Operation of the IPMP, Phase VI: Proposal to develop the Implementation and Operation of the IPMP
Oct, 2000
HWYNEEDS: Methodology, Analysis and Evaluation (TR-433)
May, 2000
Local Agency Pavement Management System
Dec, 1999
Planning, Implementation, and Operation of the Iowa DOT Pavement Management Program, Phase V: Proposal to Develop the Implementation and Operation of the IPMP
Dec, 1999
Implementation of Iowa DOT Pavement Management Optimization Model, 1999
Oct, 1998
Feasibility of Using Automated Distress Data in the County Need Study (TR-418)

In-Progress Research


Mar, 2022
Guidebook for Application of Polymer-Modified Asphalt Overlays: From Decision-Making to Implementation
Apr, 2021
Applying the Transportation Asset Management Plan (TAMP) System Performance Requirements to Pavement and Bridge Conditions
May, 2020
Iowa’s Pavement Preservation Guide
Mar, 2020
Developing Guidance Documents and Training Workshops to Support Enhancement of the State DOTs Transportation Asset Management Plans
Sep, 2019
Infrastructure Research and Technology Deployment Program
Sep, 2019
Impact of Pavement Friction on Traffic Safety, Phase 1: Pavement Friction Evaluation
Jan, 2018
Pavement Management Support for the Iowa DOT and Local Agencies
Oct, 2017
High Friction Surface Treatment for High Crash Locations Phase II: Performance Assessment
Dec, 2015
NCHRP Standard Definitions for Comparable Pavement Cracking Data
Nov, 2015
Research Utilizing the SHRP2 Safety Data to Support Highway Safety
Nov, 2007
Implementation of the Iowa DOT Pavement Management Optimization Model
Jan, 2006
AASHTOWare BrM Bridge Management System Implementation and Operation
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