PUBLICATIONS

Books

  1. Qiu, S., Zaheer, Q., Wang, J., and Ai, C. (2025). Smart Infrastructure Management. Elsevier, Cambridge, MA. ISBN-9780443340178. [Link].
  2. Wang, W., Zaheer, Q., Qiu, S., Wang, W., Ai, C., Wang, J., Wang, S., and Hu, W. (2023). Digital Twins in Transportation Infrastructure Management. Springer Nature, Singapore. ISBN-9789819958030. [Link].

Journal Papers

  1. Gu, Y., Wang, S., Li, Z.*, Zhang, G., Ai, C., and Li, P. (2025). Why to Buy or Why Not to Buy? Revealing the Inherent Mechanism and the Psychological Impacts on the Behavior of Purchasing Automated Vehicles. Research in Transportation Economics, 109, 101516. [Link]. 
  2. Patterson, D.*, Ai, C., Christofa, E., Remache-Patino, B., Indrakanti, S., Kostopoulou, E. (Fay), and Leao, G. (Gui). (2025). Enhancing Disaster Response Planning: A Framework for Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 2679(8), 721–741. [Link].
  3. Qiu, S., Xiao, C., Wang, J., Wang, W., Ai, C., Luo, Y., and Wei, X.* (2025). Automated Flatness Quantization and Assessment for Tunnel Initial Support Based on Terrestrial Laser Scanning. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, 161, 106551. [Link].
  4. Qiu, S., Zaheer, Q., Ali, F., Wajid, S., Chen, H., Ai, C., and Wang, J.* (2025). Exploring the Impact of Digital Twin Technology in Infrastructure Management: A Comprehensive Review. Journal of Civil Engineering and Management, 31(4), 395–417. [Link].
  5. Qiu, S., Zaheer, Q., Hassan Shah, S. M. A., Shah, S. F. H., Wang, W.*, Ai, C., and Wang, J. (2025). LiDAR-Simulated Multimodal and Self-Supervised Contrastive Digital Twin Approach for Probabilistic Point Cloud Generation of Rail Fasteners. Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering, 39(2), 04025001. [Link].
  6. Qiu, S., Zaheer, Q., Shah, S. M. A. H., Ai, C., Wang, J., and Zhan, Y.* (2025). Vector-Quantized Variational Teacher and Multimodal Collaborative Student for Crack Segmentation via Knowledge Distillation. Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering, 39(3), 04025030. [Link].
  7. Qiu, S., Zaheer, Q., Shah, S. M. A. H., Shah, S. F. H., Ehsan, H., Atta, Z., Ai, C., Wang, J., Wang, W., and Peng, J.* (2025). Multimodal Geometric AutoEncoder (MGAE) for Rail Fasteners Tightness Evaluation with Point Clouds and Monocular Depth Fusion. Measurement, 244, 116557. [Link].
  8. Ren, Y.*, Lu, P., Ai, C., and Keramati, A. (2025). Hybrid Local-Feature-Based Approach for Automated Rail Extraction from Lidar Data. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 2679(5), 53–71. [Link].
  9. Wang, W., Yin, Q., Ai, C., Wang, J., Zaheer, Q., Niu, H., Cai, B., Qiu, S., and Peng, J.* (2025). Automation Railway Fastener Tightness Detection Based on Instance Segmentation and Monocular Depth Estimation. Engineering Structures, 322, 119229. [Link].
  10. Zaheer, Q., Malik, M., Shah, S. M. A. H., Ai, C., Wang, H., Liang, Z., and Qiu, S.* (2025). Attention-guided Triplet Framework for Synthetic Data Generation and Semantic Segmentation of Railway Fasteners under Data Scarcity and Disparity. Applied Soft Computing, 184, 113784. [Link].
  11. Zaheer, Q., Qiu, S., Shah, S. M. A. H., Ai, C., and Wang, J.* (2025). Intelligent Multitasking Framework for Boundary-Preserving Semantic Segmentation, Width Estimation, and Propagation Modeling of Concrete Cracks. Journal of Infrastructure Systems, 31(3), 04025009. [Link].
  12. Zaheer, Q., Wang, J., Muhammad Ahmed Hassan Shah, S., Atta, Z., Wang, W., Malik, M., Ai, C., and Qiu, S.* (2025). An Efficient PointNet-based Multifaceted Autoencoder (PMAE) for Denoising Rail Track Fastener Point Clouds. Journal of Civil Structural Health Monitoring. [Link].
  13. Zaheer, Q., Wang, J., Shah, S. M. A. H., Ehsan, H., Shah, S. F. H., Ai, C., Kuang, J., Wang, W., and Qiu, S.* (2025). Self-supervised Contrastive Anomaly Detection in Railway Fasteners using Point Clouds and Deep Metric Learning for Imbalance Dataset. Journal of Civil Structural Health Monitoring, 15(7), 2861–2886. [Link].
  14. Christofa, E., Ai, C., Deliali, A.*, Tainter, F., Cesic, L., Hannon, T., and Kostopoulou, E. (2024). Bicyclist and Motorist Behavior at Bike Boxes. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 2678(3), 235–251. [Link].
  15. Ge, H., Qiu, S., Hou, Q., Wang, J., and Ai, C.* (2024). Development of a Large-Scale Horizontal Curve Inventory for Safety Analysis using Open GIS Data. Intelligent Transportation Infrastructure, 3. [Link].
  16. Hou, Q., and Ai, C.* (2024). Point Cloud Generation for Critical Transportation Infrastructure through Bézier Curve. Automation in Construction, 157, 105163. [Link].
  17. Hou, Q., Ai, C., and Boudreau, N. (2024). An Automated Pavement Marking Retroreflectivity Condition Assessment Method Using Mobile LiDAR and Video Log Images. Journal of Infrastructure Systems, 30(2), 04024004. [Link].
  18. Hu, W., Wang, W., Liu, X., Peng, J., Wang, S., Ai, C., Qiu, S.*, Wang, W., Wang, J., Zaheer, Q., and Wang, L. (2024). Hybrid Pixel-Level Crack Segmentation for Ballastless Track Slab Using Digital Twin Model and Weakly Supervised Style Transfer. Structural Control and Health Monitoring, 2024(1), 8846470. [Link].
  19. Peng, J., Wang, W., Hu, W., Ai, C., Xu, X., Shi, Y., Wang, J., Ran, Z., and Qiu, S.* (2024). Automated Detection and Quantification of Pavement Cracking around Manhole. Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence, 130, 107778. [Link].
  20. Qiu, S., Ge, H., Li, Z., Gao, Z., and Ai, C.* (2024). Network-level Crash Risk Analysis using Large-scale Geometry Features. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 207, 107746. [Link].
  21. Qiu, S., Zaheer, Q., Ehsan, H., Hassan Shah, S. M. A., Ai, C., Wang, J., and Zheng, A. A.* (2024). Multimodal Fusion Network for Crack Segmentation with Modified U-Net and Transfer Learning–Based MobileNetV2. Journal of Infrastructure Systems, 30(4), 04024029. [Link].
  22. Ren, Y., Ai, C., and Lu, P. (2024). Advanced Deep Learning-Based Hybrid Rail Extraction Algorithm Leveraging LiDAR Technology. Journal of Infrastructure Systems, 31(1), 04024030. [Link].
  23. Tzortzinis, G., Filippatos, A., Wittig, J., Gude, M., Provost, A., Ai, C., and Gerasimidis, S.* (2024). Structural Integrity of Aging Steel Bridges by 3D Laser Scanning and Convolutional Neural Networks. Communications Engineering, 3(1). [Link].
  24. Wang, S., Yan, B., Hu, W., Liu, X., Wang, W., Chen, Y., Ai, C., Wang, J., Xiong, J., and Qiu, S.* (2024). Digital Reconstruction of Railway Steep Slope from UAV+TLS using Geometric Transformer. Transportation Geotechnics, 48, 101343. [Link].
  25. Wei, X., Wang, J., Ai, C., Liu, X., Qiu, S.*, Wang, J., Luo, Y., Zaheer, Q., and Li, N. (2024). Terrestrial Laser Scanning-assisted Roughness Assessment for Initial Support of Railway Tunnel. Journal of Civil Structural Health Monitoring, 14(3), 781–800. [Link].
  26. Deliali, A.*, Tainter, F., Ai, C., and Christofa, E. (2023). A Framework for Mode Classification in Multimodal Environments using Radar-based Sensors. Journal of Intelligent Transportation Systems, 27(4), 441–458. [Link].
  27. Hennessy, E. R.*, and Ai, C. (2023). A comparative analysis of pedestrian network connectivity and accessibility using network approximation. Journal of Transport Geography, 111, 103637. [Link].
  28. Ryan, A.*, Ai, C., Fitzpatrick, C., and Knodler, M. (2023). Developing a Geospatial Safety Analysis Tool: A Systematic Approach to Identify Safety-Critical Horizontal Curve Segments and Hazardous Contributing Factors. Journal of Transportation Engineering, Part A: Systems, 149(7), 04023051. [Link].
  29. Wang, J., Ai, C., Chen, Y., A, R., Wang, W., and Qiu, S.* (2023). Position-track-time Three-dimensional Network Model-based Improvement for High-speed Rail Scheduling and Operation. Computer-Aided Civil and Infrastructure Engineering, 38(6), 720–738. [Link].
  30. Wang, W., Cui, D., Ai, C., Zaheer, Q., Wang, J.*, Qiu, S., Li, F., and Xiong, J. (2023). Target-free Recognition of Cable Vibration in Complex Backgrounds based on Computer Vision. Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing, 197, 110392. [Link].
  31. Hou, Q., and Ai, C.* (2022). An Automated Sound Barrier Inventory Method Using Mobile LiDAR. Journal of Transportation Engineering, Part A: Systems, 148(10), 0000732. [Link].
  32. Hou, Q., Ai, C.*, and Boudreau, N. (2022). Network-Level Guardrail Extraction Based on 3D Local Features from Mobile LiDAR Sensor. Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering, 36(6), 04022035. [Link].
  33. Ren, Y.*, Ai, C., Lu, P., Dai, Z., and Wang, H. (2022). An Automated Rail Extraction Framework for Low-Density LiDAR Data Without Sensor Configuration Information. IEEE Sensors Journal, 22(13), 13234–13243. [Link].
  34. Ren, Y.*, Dai, Z., Lu, P., Ai, C., Huang, Y., and Tolliver, D. (2022). Rail Gage-based Risk Detection Using iPhone 12 Pro. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit, 237(4), 429–437. [Link].
  35. Ryan, A.*, Ai, C., Fitzpatrick, C., and Knodler, M. (2022). Crash Proximity and Equivalent Property Damage Calculation Techniques: An Investigation using a Novel Horizontal Curve Dataset. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 166, 106550. [Link].
  36. Ryan, A.*, Hennessy, E., Ai, C., Kwon, W., Fitzpatrick, C., and Knodler, M. (2022). Driver Performance at Horizontal Curves: Bridging Critical Research Gaps to Increase Safety. Traffic Safety Research, 3, 000014. [Link].
  37. Tzortzinis, G., Ai, C., Breña, S. F., and Gerasimidis, S.* (2022). Using 3D Laser Scanning for Estimating the Capacity of Corroded Steel Bridge Girders: Experiments, Computations and Analytical Solutions. Engineering Structures, 265, 114407. [Link].
  38. Hennessy, E. R.*, and Ai, C. (2021). A Spatial Comparison of Roadway Lighting and Nonmotorist Crashes in Cambridge, MA. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 2675(7), 491–500. [Link].
  39. Hu, W., Wang, W., Ai, C., Wang, J., Wang, W., Meng, X., Liu, J., Tao, H., and Qiu, S.* (2021). Machine Vision-based Surface Crack Analysis for Transportation Infrastructure. Automation in Construction, 132, 103973. [Link].
  40. Keramati, A., Lu, P.*, Ren, Y., Tolliver, D., and Ai, C. (2021). Investigating the Effectiveness of Safety Countermeasures at Highway-rail At-grade Crossings using a Competing Risk Model. Journal of Safety Research, 78, 251–261. [Link].
  41. Ren, Y., Lu, P.*, Ai, C., Gao, L., Qiu, S., and Tolliver, D. (2021). Review of Emerging Technologies and Issues in Rail and Track Inspection for Local Lines in the United States. Journal of Transportation Engineering, Part A: Systems, 147(10), 04021062. [Link].
  42. Hou, Q., and Ai, C.* (2020). A Network-level Sidewalk Inventory Method using Mobile LiDAR and Deep Learning. Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies, 119, 102772. [Link].
  43. Ryan, A., Ai, C.*, Knodler, M., and Fitzpatrick, C. (2020). Evaluation of Small Unmanned Aerial System Highway Volume and Speed‐sensing Applications. IET Intelligent Transport Systems, 15(1), 84–97. [Link].
  44. Ai, C., Qiu, S.*, and Xu, G. (2018). An Anisotropic Heat Diffusion Model for Enhancing the Extraction of Underground Rail Track Fasteners under Extremely Low and Uneven Illumination Conditions. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit, 233(4), 410–419. [Link].
  45. Ai, C., Qiu, S.*, Xu, G., Zhang, A., and Wang, K. C. P. (2018). A Nonballasted Rail Track Slab Crack Identification Method Using a Level‐Set‐Based Active Contour Model. Computer-Aided Civil and Infrastructure Engineering, 33(7), 571–584. [Link].
  46. Tsai, Y. (James), Wu, Y., Pranav, C.*, and Ai, C. (2018). Identification of Site Characteristics for Proactive High-Friction Surface Treatment Site Selection using Sensor-Based, Detailed, Location-Referenced Curve Characteristics Data. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 2672(38), 69–80. [Link].
  47. Tsai, Y. (James), and Ai, C.* (2017). Automated Superelevation Measurement Method Using a Low-Cost Mobile Device: An Efficient, Cost-Effective Approach Toward Intelligent Horizontal Curve Safety Assessment. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 2621(1), 62–70. [Link].
  48. Ai, C.*, and Tsai, Y. (James). (2016). An Automated Sign Retroreflectivity Condition Evaluation Methodology using Mobile LIDAR and Computer Vision. Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies, 63, 96–113. [Link].
  49. Ai, C.*, and Tsai, Y. (James). (2016). Automated Sidewalk Assessment Method for Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance Using Three-Dimensional Mobile Lidar. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 2542(1), 25–32. [Link].
  50. Ai, C.*, and Tsai, Y. (James). (2015). Automatic Horizontal Curve Identification and Measurement Method Using GPS Data. Journal of Transportation Engineering, 141(2), 0000740. [Link].
  51. Ai, C.*, and Tsai, Y. (James). (2015). Critical Assessment of an Enhanced Traffic Sign Detection Method Using Mobile LiDAR and INS Technologies. Journal of Transportation Engineering, 141(5), 0000760. [Link].
  52. Ai, C.*, and Tsai, Y. (James). (2015c). Geometry Preserving Active Polygon-Incorporated Sign Detection Algorithm. Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering, 29(6), 0000422. [Link].
  53. Tsai, Y. (James), Ai, C.*, Wang, Z., and Pitts, E. (2013). Mobile Cross-Slope Measurement Method Using Lidar Technology. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 2367(1), 53–59. [Link].
  54. Ai, C.*, and Tsai, Y. (James). (2012). Hybrid Active Contour–Incorporated Sign Detection Algorithm. Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering, 26(1), 28–36. [Link].
  55. Tsai, Y. (James)*, Dusanter, T., Wu, Y., Ai, C., and Caïtucoli, Q. (2012). Automatic Truck Processing Time Extraction at Marine Container Terminal Gates Using Low-Frame-Rate Images. Journal of Intelligent Transportation Systems, 16(4), 211–225. [Link].
  56. Tsai, Y. (James), Wu, Y.*, Ai, C., and Pitts, E. (2012). Critical Assessment of Measuring Concrete Joint Faulting Using 3D Continuous Pavement Profile Data. Journal of Transportation Engineering, 138(11), 1291–1296. [Link].

Patents

  1. Tsai, Y., Ai, C., François-Marchal, M., Pranav, C., Six, N., Saminda, D., Wu, Y., Yang, Z., and Yu, P. (2025). Methods and System for Determining Appropriate Curve Warning Signage and Compliance Assessment. US Patent Application 18/997,410.
  2. Gerasimidis, S., Ai, C., Provost, A., and Tzortzinis, G. (2024). Evaluation of In-Service Bridge Beam Condition and Testing of Structural Capacity Using Point Cloud. US Patent Application US 2024/0402037 A1. [Link].
  3. Ai, C., Tsai, Y., Wang, Z., and Yezzi, A. Systems and Methods for Identifying Traffic Control Devices and Testing the Retroreflectivity of the Same. U.S. Patent US9767371 B2 (Granted on Sept. 19th, 2017). [Link].

Selected Peer-Reviewed Conference Proceedings

  1. Yahyapour, E. and Ai, C. (2025). Fairness-Aware Boosting Model for Imbalanced 3D Point Cloud Segmentation in Autonomous Driving. Proceedings of the IEEE/CVF Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition (CVPR), 3817-3825. [Link].
  2. Tzortzinis, G., Wittig, J., Filippatos, A., Gude, M., Provost, A., Ai, C., and Gerasimidis, S. (2024). “Failure Mode and Load Prediction of Steel Bridge Girders through 3D Laser Scanning and Machine Learning Methods.” Proceedings of the 11th International Symposium on Steel Bridges, Ernst & Sohn GmbH. [Link].
  3. Lu, P., Ren, Y., Ai, C., Yang, X., Tolliver, D., and Yang, X. (2024). AI-Assisted LiDAR System’s Performance Assessment for Automatic Track Geometry Monitoring. Proceedings of the ASCE International Conference on Transportation & Development (ICTD 2024), ASCE Press. [Link].
  4. Tzortzinis, G., Ai, C., Breña, S., and Gerasimidis, S. (2022). From Point Clouds to Capacity Assessment of Corroded Steel Bridges. Bridge Safety, Maintenance, Management, Life-Cycle, Resilience and Sustainability: Proceedings of the Eleventh International Conference on Bridge Maintenance, Safety and Management (IABMAS), CRC Press. [Link].
  5. Tsai, Y., Ai, C., Wu, Y., and Siplon, P. (2010). Simulating Port Logistics Operations Using 3-D Visualization Technology. Proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Computing in Civil and Building Engineering (ICCBE), Nottingham University Press. [Link].

Selected Technical Reports 

  1. Hou, Q., Remache-Patino, B., Ai, C. (2025). A Method for Pavement Marking Inventory and Retroreflectivity Condition Assessment Using Mobile LiDAR – Phase 2. Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Report No. 25-066. [Link].
  2. Remache-Patino, B., Gerasimidis, S., Ai, C. (2024). Development of a Visualization, Sharing, and Processing Platform for Large-Scale Highway Point Cloud Data. Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Report No. 25-068. [Link].
  3. Provost, A., Gerasimidis, S., Ai, C., and Brena, S. (2024). Development of Improved Inspection Techniques Using LiDAR for Deteriorated Steel Beam Ends. Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Report No. 24-061. [Link].
  4. Christofa, E., Ai, C., and Tainter, F. (2024). Effectiveness of Two-stage Turn Queue Boxes in Massachusetts: A Comparison with Bike Boxes. Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Report No. 24-057. [Link].
  5. Ai, C., Tessier, R., and Avhad, V. (2024). “Development of a Salt Spreader Controller Program using Machine-Sensed Roadway Weather Parameters.” Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Report No. 24-056. [Link][AASHTO Sweet Sixteen 2025].
  6. Apolstolov, A., Xie, Y., Ai, C., Tainter, F., and Oke, J. (2024). Artificial Intelligence Framework for Crosswalk Detection across Massachusetts. Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Report No. 23-049. [Link].
  7. Xie, Y., Liu, B., Ai, C., Chen, Q., Bhuyan, Z., and Kusupati, V. (2023). Uncovering the Root Causes of Truck Rollover Crashes on Ramps. Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Report No. 23-038. [Link].
  8. Ai, C. and Hou, Q. (2022). Low-Cost Crowdsourcing-Based Infrastructure Mapping for Pedestrian Accessibility. MassVenture. [Report upon request][UMass News][MassVenture News]. 
  9. Ai, C. and Hennessy, E. (2022). A Method for Pavement Marking Inventory and Retroreflectivity Condition Assessment Using Mobile LiDAR. Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Report No. 22-030. [Link].
  10. Ai, C. and Hou, Q. (2022). Automated Guardrail Inventory and Condition Evaluation. Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Report No. 21-031. [Link].
  11. Ai, C., Knodler, M., Hou, Q., and Tainter, F. (2021). Quantifying the Impacts of Situational Visual Clutter on Driving Performance Using Video Analysis and Eye Tracking. Safety Research Using Simulation University Transportation Center (SaferSim UTC), Report No. UM-2-Y3. [Link].
  12. Christofa, E., Ai, C., Deliali, A., Tainter, F., Cesic, L., Hannon, T., and Kostopoulou, E. (2021). Effectiveness of Bike Boxes in Massachusetts. Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Report No. 21-021. [Link].
  13. Fitzpatrick, C., Knodler, M., Ryan, A., Ai, C., and Chen, D. (2019). The Application of Unmanned Aerial Systems in Surface Transportation-Volume II-C: Evaluation of UAS Highway Speed-Sensing Application. Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Report No. 19-010. [Link].
  14. Ai, C., and Hou, Q. (2019). Improving Pedestrian Infrastructure Inventory in Massachusetts using Mobile LiDAR. Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Report No. 19-007. [Link][AASHTO Sweet Sixteen 2020].
  15. Tsai, Y., Wu, Y., Ai, C., and Pranav, C. (2018). Developing Georgia’s High Friction Surface Treatment (HFST) Program – HFST Site Characteristics (HFST-SC) Data Collection and Analysis. Georgia Department of Transportation, Report No. 15-04. [Link].
  16. Tsai, Y., Ai, C., and Wu, Y. (2017). Curve Identification for High Friction Surface Treatment (HFST) Installation Recommendation.  Georgia Department of Transportation, Report No. 15-05. [Link].
  17. Tsai, Y., Wang, Z., and Ai, C. (2017). Implementation of Automatic Sign Inventory and Pavement Condition Evaluation on Georgia’s Interstate Highways. Georgia Department of Transportation, Report No. 15-11. [Link][AASHTO Sweet Sixteen 2017][Georgia Tech News].
  18. Tsai, Y., and Ai, C. (2016). Delta TechOps Parking Lot Traffic and Employee Safety Improvement Study. Final Report, Delta TechOps RG274. [Report upon request].

(* Corresponding author; __ Advisees)