New role at the University of Arizona
In November 2025, I was promoted to Research Scientist III, continuing my work with the Arizona Transportation Institute (AZTI) and the Center of Applied Transportation Sciences (CATS) at the University of Arizona.
About Me
I hold a Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Virginia Tech (2025), advised by Prof. Hesham Rakha (check my doctoral thesis). Prior to that, I earned my M.Sc. and B.Sc. from Cairo University in my home country of Egypt. I am currently working as a Research Scientist in the Center of Applied Transportation Sciences (CATS) as well as the Arizona Transportation Institute (AZTI) at the University of Arizona. My research interests span a wide range of topics including traffic operations and transportation planning.
Research Interests
- Traffic Flow Theory
- Traffic Control and Optimization.
- Traffic Modeling and Simulation.
- Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)
- Transportation Planning
- Traffic Signal Optimization
- Stochastic Optimization
- Connected and Automated Vehicles
- Vehicle Trajectory Optimization
Projects
Applied research advancing safer, cleaner mobility
A curated set of ongoing and past projects spanning connected vehicle optimization, micromobility planning, traffic engineering, and transportation demand modeling.
Current & Recent
Traffic Engineering Technical Support — City of Yuma, AZ
Project manager overseeing traffic operations support for the City of Yuma, delivering analysis and recommendations on signal timing, safety countermeasures, and mobility improvements.
Inexperienced Driver Mitigation (ABOR-funded)
Leading research to identify risk factors for novice drivers and propose data-driven interventions that improve safety outcomes across Arizona roadways.
Research Program Management — Arizona Transportation Institute
Coordinating proposal evaluations and research portfolio planning, aligning academic work with agency needs and stakeholder priorities.
Connected & Automated Vehicles
Stochastic Optimization of Vehicle Trajectories
Developed optimization frameworks for connected and automated vehicles near actuated signals, balancing delay, fuel use, and robustness to traffic uncertainty.
Micromobility & Pricing
GIS Evaluation of Micromobility Stations — Alexandria, VA
Used spatial analysis to assess station placement, access, and utilization, informing network improvements and equity goals.
Optimal Pricing Policy for E-Scooter Mobility
Studied pricing strategies to balance profitability, demand, and curb management, integrating simulation results into operator guidelines.
Transportation Planning & Modeling
National Transportation Demand Model Update — Egypt
Replicated and refreshed the JICA (2010) national demand model, calibrating new survey data and modernizing workflows in PTV Visum.
Traffic Impact Assessments — Egypt & KSA
Completed 10+ traffic impact assessments for major developments, combining demand estimation, Synchro-based operational analysis, and mitigation design.
Macroscopic Network Modeling
Built large-scale roadway models to support feasibility studies and investment decisions for rail and road corridors.
Publications
Real-Time Traffic State Estimation and Short-Term Prediction Using Probe Vehicle Data: A Kalman Filter Approach
Published in Sensors, 2024
This paper presents a Kalman filter approach for real-time traffic state estimation and short-term prediction using probe vehicle data.
Recommended citation: A. K. Shafik, and H. A. Rakha, "Real-Time Traffic State Estimation and Short-Term Prediction Using Probe Vehicle Data: A Kalman Filter Approach," in Sensors (In Press).
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Queue Estimation and Consideration in Vehicle Trajectory Optimization at Actuated Signalized Intersections
Published in 2024 IEEE International Conference on Smart Mobility (SM), Niagara Falls, ON, Canada, 2024, 2024
This research develops a Green Light Optimal Speed Advisory (GLOSA) EcoDrive system operating in the proximity of actuated traffic signals considering the vehicle queuing effects.
Recommended citation: A. K. Shafik and H. A. Rakha, "Queue Estimation and Consideration in Vehicle Trajectory Optimization at Actuated Signalized Intersections," 2024 IEEE International Conference on Smart Mobility (SM), Niagara Falls, ON, Canada, 2024, pp. 61-66, doi: 10.1109/SM63044.2024.10733497.
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Enhancing and Evaluating a Decentralized Cycle-Free Game-Theoretic Adaptive Traffic Signal Controller on an Isolated Signalized Intersection
Published in 2024 IEEE International Conference on Smart Mobility (SM), Niagara Falls, ON, Canada, 2024, 2024
This paper enhances an adaptive traffic signal control based on a game-Theroretic framework.
Recommended citation: A. K. Shafik and H. A. Rakha, "Enhancing and Evaluating a Decentralized Cycle-Free Game-Theoretic Adaptive Traffic Signal Controller on an Isolated Signalized Intersection," 2024 IEEE International Conference on Smart Mobility (SM), Niagara Falls, ON, Canada, 2024, pp. 216-221, doi: 10.1109/SM63044.2024.10733500.
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Kalman Filter-based Real-Time Traffic State Estimation and Prediction using Vehicle Probe Data
Published in 2024 IEEE International Conference on Smart Mobility (SM), Niagara Falls, ON, Canada, 2024, 2024
This paper presents a bi-level Kalman filter methodology for real-time traffic state estimation and short-term prediction at signalized intersections.
Recommended citation: A. K. Shafik and H. A. Rakha, "Kalman Filter-based Real-Time Traffic State Estimation and Prediction using Vehicle Probe Data," 2024 IEEE International Conference on Smart Mobility (SM), Niagara Falls, ON, Canada, 2024, pp. 110-115, doi: 10.1109/SM63044.2024.10733394.
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Integrated Back of Queue Estimation and Vehicle Trajectory Optimization Considering Uncertainty in Traffic Signal Timings
Published in IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems, 2024
This research develops and evaluates an Eco-Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control system in proximity of traffic signals considering queues.
Recommended citation: A. K. Shafik and H. A. Rakha, "Integrated Back of Queue Estimation and Vehicle Trajectory Optimization Considering Uncertainty in Traffic Signal Timings," in IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems, doi: 10.1109/TITS.2024.3460375.
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Optimization of Vehicle Trajectories Considering Uncertainty in Actuated Traffic Signal Timings
Published in IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems, 2023
This paper introduces a robust green light optimal speed advisory (GLOSA) system for fixed and actuated traffic signals considering a probability distribution.
Recommended citation: A. K. Shafik, S. Eteifa and H. A. Rakha, "Optimization of Vehicle Trajectories Considering Uncertainty in Actuated Traffic Signal Timings," in IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems, vol. 24, no. 7, pp. 7259-7269, July 2023, doi: 10.1109/TITS.2023.3253424.
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Optimization of Vehicle Trajectories Considering Uncertainty in Actuated Traffic Signal Timings
Published in Transportation Research Board (TRB) 102nd Annual Meeting, 2023
This paper presents trajectory optimization techniques for connected vehicles approaching actuated traffic signals under uncertainty.
Recommended citation: A. K. Shafik, Eteifa, S, & Rakha, H. (2023). Optimization of Vehicle Trajectories Considering Uncertainty in Actuated Traffic Signal Timings. Transportation Research Board (TRB) 102nd Annual Meeting.
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Development of Online Vissim Traffic Microscopic Calibration Framework Using Artificial Intelligence for Cairo CBD Area
Published in Ekistics and The New Habitat, 2022
This paper presents an online calibration framework for VISSIM microscopic simulation using artificial intelligence techniques.
Recommended citation: A. K. Shafik, Hassan, A., Saied, A. M., & Abdelmegeed, A. E. (2022). Development of Online Vissim Traffic Microscopic Calibration Framework Using Artificial Intelligence for Cairo CBD Area. Ekistics and The New Habitat, 81(1), 2-9.
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Teaching
Graduate Teaching Assistant - Traffic Engineering & Transportation Planning
Graduate and Undergraduate courses, Virginia Tech, Department of Civil Engineering, 2022
Position: Graduate Teaching Assistant
Duration: January 2022 – March 2025
Institution: Virginia Tech, Department of Civil Engineering
Graduate Teaching Assistant - Civil Engineering
Undergraduate courses, Cairo University, Faculty of Engineering, 2017
Position: Graduate Teaching Assistant
Duration: January 2017 – August 2021
Institution: Cairo University, Faculty of Engineering