Ramin Shabanpour

overview

Dr. Ramin Shabanpour focuses his research on transportation engineering, with specific expertise in transportation planning, travel behavior, disaster preparedness, and traffic safety.

In the field of transportation planning, Dr. Shabanpour examines how autonomous and electric vehicles affect travel behavior and decision-making. He investigates how these technologies will influence travel demand, including shifts in transportation preferences, and how they might reduce congestion or change urban mobility patterns. His research also explores how the adoption of AVs and EVs can promote sustainable urban development while ensuring that these advancements are accessible to all socioeconomic groups, addressing equity concerns in transportation.

Another central aspect of Dr. Shabanpour's work is studying evacuation behavior during natural disasters. His research seeks to identify the psychological, social, and infrastructural challenges people face when making evacuation decisions under heightened stress. By exploring evacuation fatigue, financial strain, and the compounded effects of multiple disasters, he aims to provide critical insights into how communities can better prepare and respond to disasters.

In the area of traffic safety, Dr. Shabanpour employs advanced statistical models and machine learning to model and predict crash risks, identify high-risk traffic areas, and evaluate safety interventions. His research contributes to understanding how human behavior and infrastructure vulnerabilities contribute to accidents, and how autonomous technologies could potentially reduce accident rates by minimizing human error. He seeks to combine big data analytics with advanced modeling techniques to develop innovative solutions that enhance road safety.

Dr. Shabanpour is currently seeking Master’s and Ph.D. students to join his research efforts. If you are interested in applying, you can contact him at shabanpour@pitt.edu and submit your updated CV for consideration.