Projects & Experience

Project Investigator or Co-PI

  • Wu, Y. (PI), Zhao, J. (PM of Phase I, Co-PI of Phase II), & Tsai, J. (GT, External Co-PI). AI-Enabled Traffic Asset Management. Pima County Department of Transportation, 07/01/2024–06/30/2026, $194,991 (Phase I) + $80,000 (Phase II).

    The video below shows an example of a sign annotation video related to the AI-Enabled Project. AI models were used to initially annotate signs for identification and text recognition, with annotations edited to confirm accuracy and train model improvements.

  • Shang, M. (PI), Zhao, J. (Co-PI), Wu, Y. (Co-PI), & Zhao, J. (ASU, External Co-PI). SPR-798: Statewide Pavement Marking Assessment for Driver-Assist Vehicle Technologies. Arizona Transportation Institute, Arizona Department of Transportation, 09/01/2025–10/31/2026, $125,000. [Link]

Key Researcher

2024 – Present

  • Shang, M. (PI), Wu, Y. (Co-PI), & Zhao, J. (Key Researcher). SPR-792: State of the Practice of a Data Management Office Within DOTs. Arizona Transportation Institute, Arizona Department of Transportation, 08/12/2024 – Present, $55,000. [Link]

  • Yang, B. (PI), Bernal, S. (Co-PI), Engineer, A. (Co-PI), Kokroko, K. (Co-PI), Li, S. (Co-PI), Wu, Y. (Co-PI), Shamshiripour, A. (Co-PI), Cabrera, M. (Co-PI), Van Dyke, M. (Co-PI), Pocheptsova, A. (Co-PI), Li, M. (Co-PI), & Zhao, J. (Key Researcher). South32 Hermosa Project Phase I — Asset Inventory, Gap Analysis, and Innovative Pathways. South32, University of Arizona, 11/01/2024 – 09/30/2025, $336,952. [Link]

  • Lim, C. (PI), Shang, M. (Co-PI), et al. Zhao, J. (Key Researcher). Impact of Transportation Electrification on Air Quality and Health in Arizona. University of Arizona, Technology and Research Initiative Fund (TRIF), 08/2024 – 09/2025, $100,000.

  • Wu, Y. (PI), Shamshiripour, A. (Co-PI), & Zhao, J. (Key Researcher). Leveraging Existing Data Sources to Obtain Performance Measures for a Multi-modal Transportation System. Pima Association of Governments, 11/01/2023 – 04/30/2025, $176,570. [Link]

  • Ryan, A. (PI), Hurwitz, D. (Co-PI), et al. Zhao, J. (Key Researcher). A Thoughtful Approach to the Integration of Equity in Traffic Safety. AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, 10/01/2023 – 03/30/2025, $461,000. [Link]

Before 2024

  • Zhang, L. (PI), Pack, M. (Co-PI), Darzi, A. (PM), Xiong, C., Yang, M., Ji, Y., Tang, C., et al. Zhao, J. (Key Researcher). University of Maryland COVID-19 Impact Analysis Platform. Maryland Transportation Institute (MTI), Center for Advanced Transportation Technology Laboratory (CATT Lab), 2020 – 2021. [Link]

  • Zhang, L. (PI), Xiong, C., Ji, Y., et al. Zhao, J. (Key Researcher). “IncenTrip” Smartphone App Using Personalized Incentives to Reduce Congestion, Energy Use, and Emissions. Maryland Transportation Institute, University of Maryland, 2019 – 2020. [Link]

  • Zhang, L. (PI), Rouphail, N. (Co-PI), Zhou, X. (Co-PI), Yin, Y. (Co-PI), et al. Zhao, J. (Key Researcher). Integrated, Personalized, Real-time Traveler Information and Incentive (iPretii) Technology. U.S. Department of Energy ARPA-E (TRANSNET Program), 2015 – 2019, $4.5 Million. [Link]

  • Zhang, L. (PI), Xiong, C. (Key Researcher), Zhao, J. (Key Researcher). Maryland Integrated Travel Analysis Modeling System (MITAMS). Maryland State Highway Administration, 2015 – 2016.

Assisted in Proposal Writing

  • Lim, C. (PI), Shang, M. (Co-PI), Wu, Y. (Co-PI), & Zhao, J. (Co-Author). A Data-Driven Framework to Link Mining Activities, Air Quality, and Cardiorespiratory Health. Office of Research and Partnerships (ORP), University of Arizona, Submitted 2025.

  • Lim, C. (PI), Shang, M. (Co-PI), Wu, Y. (Co-PI), & Zhao, J. (Co-Author). A Data-Driven Framework to Link Mining Activities, Air Quality, and Cardiorespiratory Health. NIH Research Project Grant: R01, to submit 10/2025.

  • Ryan, A. (PI), Pudasaini, P. (Co-Author), & Zhao, J. (Co-Author). AI-Driven Pavement Marking Visibility Assessment Tool. NCHRP IDEA, Submitted 2025.

Technical Support Research

  • Zhao, J. (PM, UA CATS), Sweet, J. (PM, PCDOT). Feasibility Study for Plan Set Review with LLM. Pima County Department of Transportation, 05/2025 – 08/2025.

  • Zhao, J. (PM, UA CATS), Hendrix, M. (PM, PCDOT). Review of Accessible Pedestrian Signal (APS) Prioritization. Pima County Department of Transportation, 08/2025 – 11/2025.

Project Reports

  • PAG (Pima Association of Governments) Phase III — Leveraging Existing Data Sources to Obtain Performance Measures for a Multi-modal Transportation System, Sep 2025. [in progress]

  • Zhao, J., Pan, Y., Xiong, C., & Zhang, L. (2016). Metro SafeTrack Impact on Individual Travel Behavior & Regional Traffic Conditions. National Transportation Center, University of Maryland. [Volume 1] [Volume 2]