Short Bio

Innovation, Technology, Research, Application

Dr. Kai Wang received his Ph.D. in Transportation & Urban Engineering from the University of Connecticut in 2016. He holds two Master's degrees, with one in Transportation Engineering from the South Dakota State University, and the other one in Computational Data Analytics from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Dr. Wang joined the Connecticut Transportation Safety Research Center (CTSRC) and the Connecticut Transportation Institute (CTI) at the University of Connecticut (UConn) in 2016, and is currently working as an assistant research professor and a project manager, leading multiple transportation safety and data science related projects.

Dr. Wang’s research interests are in the areas of applying statistical modeling, machine learning and deep learning, big data technologies, data mining, and artificial intelligence (AI) in transportation. Dr. Wang has led efforts to develop advanced systems that analyze vast amounts of transportation data to improve roadway safety. His work involves integrating cutting-edge technologies and analytical models to track traffic patterns, identify high-risk areas, and inform policy changes. By applying principles of engineering and data science, Dr. Wang has helped bridge the gap between research and practical solutions, ensuring that innovations directly impact public safety and infrastructure development. Dr. Wang has been a PI/Co-PI on multiple projects sponsored by the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP), U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and State Department of Transportations. In total, he has been the sole PI for projects totaling $8 million and a co-PI for projects totaling over $5 million. He has published as author or co-author over 50 peer-refereed journal articles and project reports.

Education

  • Ph.D. Transportation & Urban Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA, 2016
  • M.S. Computational Data Analytics, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA, 2023
  • M.S. Transportation Engineering, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, USA, 2014
  • B.S. Construction Project Management, Xiamen University of Technology, Xiamen, China, 2011

Research Focus

  • Statistical and Econometric Modeling
  • Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Deep Learning
  • Data Analytics, Computing and Big Data Technologies
  • Data Mining, Optimization and Simulation in Transportation
  • Financial Analytics in Transportation Investment

Funded Research Projects

Total Research Grants: $13,146,564

Sole PI: $7,803,813

Co-PI: $5,342,751

  • (Co-PI) University of Connecticut Safe System for All Road Users. U.S. Department of Transportation. 2025 – 2027, $1,930,425.
  • (Co-PI) Pedestrian Signal Project. USDOT/FHWA/CTDOT. Project No. PAL-S2344-0-2024-8. 2024 – 2025, $200,000.
  • (PI) Further Advancing the Transportation Safety Analysis Capabilities of the Connecticut Department of Transportation. USDOT/FHWA/CTDOT, 2020 - 2025, $7,258,813.
  • (PI) Automated Wrong Way Driving Detection Using Economical Sensor Technologies. Connecticut Cooperative Transportation Research Program (CCTRP), 2024-2025, $75,000.
  • (Co-PI) Incorporating Large Language Models into Transportation Safety Analysis and Equity. New England University Transportation Center (NEUTC), 2024–2025, $106,336.
  • (PI) Expanding Capabilities of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Based Video Analytics for Intersection Safety and Operation for CTDOT. Connecticut Cooperative Transportation Research Program (CCTRP), 2023-2024, $70,000.
  • (Co-PI) Implementation of Highway Safety Manual Based Predictive Safety Analysis in the MAG Region. MARICOPA ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS (MAG), Arizona, 2023-2024, $150,000.
  • (Co-PI) CTfastrak Automated Bus Data Repository & Analysis. Connecticut Department of Transportation. 2022–2024. $499,326.
  • (Co-PI) Advancing the Behavioral Safety Analytic Tools Capabilities of the Connecticut Department of Transportation. Connecticut Department of Transportation, USDOT/CTDOT. 2020-2021. $453,000.
  • (Co-PI) Safety Evaluation of Alternatives for Installing Pedestrian Signals Under Side Street Green Operation. Connecticut Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration. 2021-2023. $200,000.
  • (PI-UConn) The Effect of Vehicle Mix on Crash Frequency and Crash Severity. NCHRP 22-49. Transportation Research Board of the National Academies. 2020–2023. $400,000.
  • (Co-PI) Development of Crash Prediction Models for Short-Term Durations. NCHRP 22-48. Transportation Research Board of the National Academies. 2020 – 2023. $650,000.
  • (Co-PI) Development and Application of a Disaggregate Artificial Realistic Data Generator for Computationally Testing Safety Analysis Methods. Exploratory Advanced Research (EAR) Program. Federal Highway Administration. 2019-2023. $1,288,664.
  • (Investigator) Development and Application of Crash Severity Models for the Highway Safety Manual. NCHRP 17-85. Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, 2018-2021. $600,000.
  • (Investigator) Expanding the Role of the Connecticut Transportation Safety Research Center to Enhance Connecticut’s Safety Analysis Methods and Systems. Connecticut Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, 2016-2020. $10,008,427.
  • (Investigator) Evaluation of Wet Weather Crash Locations and Conducting Pavement Friction Testing in Selected Locations. CTDOT 170-3487. Connecticut Department of Transportation, 2019-2020, $230,316.
  • (Graduate Assistant) Improved Prediction Models for Crash Types and Crash Severities. NCHRP 17-62. Transportation Research Board of the National Academies. 2013-2017. $800,000.
  • (Graduate Assistant) Improvements to Road Safety Improvement Selection Procedure for Connecticut. JHR 14-1. Connecticut Department of Transportation. 2014-2015.
  • (Graduate Assistant) Selection of Interest and Inflation Rates for Infrastructure Investment Analyses. SDDOT 2012-05. South Dakota Department of Transportation. 2012-2013.

Refereed Journals

  • Lauren Hoover, Md Istiak Jahan, Tanmoy Bhowmik, Sudipta Dey Tirtha, Karthik C Konduri, John Ivan, Kai Wang, Shanshan Zhao, Joshua Auld, Naveen Eluru. Implementation of a Realistic Artificial Data Generator for Crash Data Generation. Accident Analysis & Prevention 200. 2024.
  • Kai Wang, Shanshan Zhao, Niloufar Shirani, Tianxin, Li, Eric Jackson. Data Driven Analytics on Traffic Volume Calibration and Estimation for Town Maintained Highways - A Case Study for Connecticut. Journal of Transportation Engineering, Part A: Systems. 2024 (Editor's Choice Collection).
  • Manmohan Joshi, Mohammad Razaur Rahman Shaon, Saki Rezwana, Kai Wang, Shanshan Zhao, John Ivan, Eric Jackson. Developing A Comprehensive Vulnerable Road User Safety Screening Method Using Multi-Level Data. Transportation Research Record. 2024. (TRB Committee ACS10 2024 Young Researcher Paper Award)
  • Manmohan Joshi, Anshu Banmey, Kai Wang, Shanshan Zhao, John Ivan, Eric Jackson. Analyzing the Suitability of Vehicle Telematics Data as Surrogate Safety Measure for Short Term Crashes. Transportation Research Record. 2024.
  • Niloufar Shirani, Yu Song, Kai Wang, Eric Jackson. Evaluation of Driver Reaction to Disengagement of Automated Driving System with Different Warning Systems While Driving Under Various Distractions. Transportation Research Record. 2024.
  • Md Julfiker Hossain, Namitha Pais, John Ivan, Shanshan Zhao, Kai Wang, Nalini Ravishanker. Multilevel Discrete Outcome Modeling for Crash Severity: A Novel Approach for Crash Severity Models. Transportation Research Record. 2024.
  • Mohammad Razaur Rahman Shaon, Shanshan Zhao, Kai Wang, Eric Jackson. Developing a Data-Driven Network Screening Procedures for Systemic Safety Approach. Transportation Research Record. 2023.
  • Oluwaseun Olufowobi, John Ivan, Shanshan Zhao, Kai Wang. Application of Realistic Artificial Data for Testing Various Crash Safety Analysis: A case Study for Rural Two-Lane Undivided Highways. Transportation Research Record. 2023.
  • Olin Green, John Ivan, Monika Filipovska, Marisa Auguste, Kai Wang. Using Logistic Regression to Evaluate Pedestrian-Vehicle Interaction Severity at Side Street Green and Exclusive Phase Signals. Transportation Research Record. 2023.
  • Julfiker Hossain, John Ivan, Shanshan Zhao, Kai Wang, Sadia Sharmin, Nalini Ravishanker, Eric Jackson. Considering Demographics of Other Involved Drivers in Predicting the Highest Driver Injury Severity in Multi-Vehicle Crashes on Rural Two-Lane Roads in California. Journal of Transportation Safety & Security. 2022.
  • Kai Wang, Mohammad Razaur Shaon, Niloufar Shirani-bidabadi, Andrew Tucker, Dan Russell, Eric Jackson, Neil Chaudhary, Julie Tison. Advancing the Behavioral Safety Analytic Tools Capabilities of the Connecticut Department of Transportation. National Transportation Library. US Department of Transportation. 2021.
  • Kai Wang, Niloufar Shirani-bidabadi, Mohammad Razaur Rahman Shaon, Shanshan Zhao, Eric Jackson. Correlated Mixed Logit Modeling with Heterogeneity in Means for Crash Severity and Surrogate Measure with Temporal Instability. Accident Analysis & Prevention 160. 2021.
  • Kai Wang, Tanmoy Bhowmik, Shanshan Zhao, Naveen Eluru, Eric Jackson. Highway Safety Assessment and Improvement through Crash Prediction by Injury Severity and Vehicle Damage Using Multivariate Poisson-Lognormal Model and Joint Negative Binomial - Generalized Ordered Probit Fractional Split Model. Journal of Safety Research 76. 2021.
  • Kai Wang, Shanshan Zhao, Eric Jackson. Investigation of Exposure Measures and Functional Forms in Safety Performance Functions for Urban and Suburban Intersections using Generalized Negative Binomial - P Model. Accident Analysis & Prevention 148. 2020.
  • Sadia Sharmin, John Ivan, Shanshan Zhao, Kai Wang, Md Julfiker Hossain, Nalini Ravishanker, Eric Jackson. Incorporating Demographic Proportions into Crash Count Models by Quasi-Induced Exposure Method. Transportation Research Record. 2020.
  • Shanshan Zhao, Kai Wang, Chenhui Liu, Eric Jackson. Investigating the effects of monthly weather variations on Connecticut freeway crashes from 2011 to 2015. Journal of Safety Research 71. 2019.
  • Kai Wang, Shanshan Zhao, Eric Jackson. Functional Forms of the Negative Binomial Models in Safety Performance Functions for Rural Two-Lane Intersections. Accident Analysis & Prevention 124. 2019.
  • Kai Wang, Tanmoy Bhowmik, Shamsunnahar Yasmin, Shanshan Zhao, Naveen Eluru, Eric Jackson. Multivariate Copula Temporal Modeling of Intersection Crash Consequence Metrics: A Joint Estimation of Injury Severity, Crash Type, Vehicle Damage and Driver Error. Accident Analysis & Prevention 125. 2019.
  • Shanshan Zhao, Kai Wang, Eric Jackson. Evaluation of Not-At-Fault Assumption in Quasi-Induced Exposure Method Using Traffic Crash Data at Varied Geographical Levels. Transportation Research Record. 2019.
  • Kai Wang, Shanshan Zhao, Eric Jackson. Multivariate Poisson Lognormal Modeling of Weather Related Crashes on Freeways. Transportation Research Record. 2018.
  • Kai Wang, Shanshan Zhao, John Ivan, Ishraq Ahmed, Eric Jackson. Evaluation of Hotspot Identification Methods for Municipal Roads. Journal of Transportation Safety & Security. 2018.
  • Soyoung Jung, Kai Wang, Cheol Oh, Jaenam Chang. Development of Highway Safety Policies by Discriminating Freeway Curve Alignment Feature. KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering, 2017.
  • Kai Wang, John Ivan, Nalini Ravishanker, Eric Jackson. Multivariate Poisson Lognormal Modeling of Crashes by Type and Severity on Rural Two Lane Highways. Accident Analysis & Prevention. Vol. 99, pp. 6-19, 2017.
  • Kai Wang, John N. Ivan, Amy C. Burnicki, Sha A. Mamun. Predicting Local Road Crashes Using Socio-economic and Land Cover Data. Journal of Transportation Safety & Security. Vol. 9, No. 3. pp. 301-318, 2016.
  • Kai Wang, Xiao Qin. Exploring Driver Errors at Intersections: Exploring Key Contributors and Solutions. Transportation Research Record 2514. Journal of TRB, 2015.
  • Kai Wang, Shamsunnahar Yasmin, Karthik C. Konduri, Naveen Eluru, John N. Ivan. A Copula Based Joint Model of Injury Severity and Vehicle Damage in Two-Vehicle Crashes. Transportation Research Record 2514. Journal of TRB, 2015 (TRB Committee ANB20 2015 Young Researcher Paper Award).
  • Kai Wang, Xiao Qin. Using Structural Equation Modeling to Measure Single-Vehicle Crash Severity. Transportation Research Record 2432. Journal of TRB, 2014.
  • Xiao Qin, Kai Wang, Chase E. Cutler. Analysis of Crash Severity Based on Vehicle Damage and Occupant Injuries. Transportation Research Record 2386. Journal of TRB, 2013.
  • Xiao Qin, Kai Wang, Chase E. Cutler. Logistic Regression Models of the Safety of Large Trucks. Transportation Research Record 2392. Journal of TRB, 2013.
  • Lee W Jr. Munnich, Frank Douma, Xiao Qin, David J. Thorpe, Kai Wang. Evaluating the Effectiveness of State Toward-Zero-Deaths Programs. Center for Excellence in Rural Safety. 2012

Technical Reports

  • John Ivan, Shanshan Zhao, Kai Wang, Oluwaseun Olufowobi, Naveen Eluru, Tanmoy Bhowmik, Lauren Hoover, Md I Jahan, Sudipta Tirtha, Mohamed Abdel-Aty. DREDGE (Disaggregate Realistic Artificial Data Generator) — Design, Development, and Application for Crash Safety Analysis, Volume I. FHWA-HRT-23-121. United States Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration. Office of Research and Development. 2024
  • John Ivan, Shanshan Zhao, Kai Wang, Oluwaseun Olufowobi, Naveen Eluru, Tanmoy Bhowmik, Lauren Hoover, Md I Jahan, Sudipta Tirtha, Mohamed Abdel-Aty. DREDGE (Disaggregate Realistic Artificial Data Generator) — Design, Development, and Application for Crash Safety Analysis, Volume II. FHWA-HRT-23-122. United States Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration. Office of Research and Development. 2024
  • Naveen Eluru, Tanmoy Bhowmik, Shahrior Pervaz, Dewan Ashraful Parvez, Lauren Hoover, Mohamed Abdel-Aty, Kai Wang, John N Ivan, Shanshan Zhao, Manmohan Joshi. NCHRP Research Report - The Effect of Vehicle Mix on Crash Frequency and Crash Severity. NCHRP Project 22-49. Transportation Research Board. 2024.
  • Naveen Eluru, Tanmoy Bhowmik, Shahrior Pervaz, Dewan Ashraful Parvez, Lauren Hoover, Mohamed Abdel-Aty, Kai Wang, John N Ivan, Shanshan Zhao, Manmohan Joshi. NCHRP Research Report - User’s Guide for Quantifying the Effects of Vehicle Mix on Crash Frequency and Crash Severity. NCHRP Project 22-49. Transportation Research Board. 2024.
  • John N Ivan, Shanshan Zhao, Kai Wang, Julfiker Hossain, Naveen Eluru, Mohamed Abdel-Aty, Tanmoy Bhowmik. NCHRP Research Report - Development and Application of Crash Severity Models for Highway Safety: Conduct of Research Report. NCHRP Project 17-85. Transportation Research Board. 2023.
  • John N Ivan, Shanshan Zhao, Kai Wang, Julfiker Hossain, Naveen Eluru, Mohamed Abdel-Aty, Tanmoy Bhowmik. NCHRP Research Report - Development and Application of Crash Severity Models for Highway Safety: User Guidelines. NCHRP Project 17-85. Transportation Research Board. 2023.
  • Mohamed Abdel-Aty, Naveen Eluru, Nada Mahmoud, Jingwan Fu, Heesub Rim, Tarek Hasan, Abdulrahman Faden, John N Ivan, Shanshan Zhao, Kai Wang, Manmohan Joshi. NCHRP Research Report - Development of Crash Prediction Models for Short-Term Durations. NCHRP Project 22-48. Transportation Research Board. 2023.
  • John Ivan, Kai Wang, Marisa Auguste, Olin Green. Safety Evaluation of Alternatives for Installing Pedestrian Signals Under Side Street Green Operation. Final Report, Connecticut Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration, CT Study Number SPR-2321, Report No. CT-2321-F-23-1, 2023.
  • Kai Wang, Mohammad Razaur Shaon, Niloufar Shirani-bidabadi, Andrew Tucker, Dan Russell, Eric Jackson, Neil Chaudhary, Julie Tison. Advancing the Behavioral Safety Analytic Tools Capabilities of the Connecticut Department of Transportation. Final Report. USDOT OST Policy. 2021.
  • John N Ivan, Amy Burnicki, Kai Wang, Sha Al Mamun. Improvements to road safety improvement selection procedures for Connecticut. Final Report. JHR 16-328. Connecticut Transportation Institute. 2016.
  • Xiao Qin, Kai Wang, Zhiguang Wang. Selection of interest and inflation rates for infrastructure investment analyses. Final Report. MPC 14-275. Mountain Plains Consortium. 2014.

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