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Academic CV - Mohammed Abdalazeem, transportation systems researcher at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

General Information

Full Name Mohammed Abdalazeem
Email mamohammed@umass.edu
Phone +1 (413) 629-9311
Website mabdalazeem.com
GitHub ma-mohammed
LinkedIn mohammed-alameen
Google Scholar Google Scholar profile
ORCID 0000-0003-4660-8030

Education

  • Jan 2021
    – Expected Fall 2026
    PhD in Civil Engineering (Transportation Systems)
    University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA
    • Dissertation: Machine Learning and Optimization for Schematic Bicycle Map Design and Cycling Behavior
    • Advisor: Dr. Jimi Oke | GPA: 3.92 | CEE Departmental Fellowship (2023)
  • Sep 2023
    – Dec 2025
    MS in Computer Science
    University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA
    • GPA: 3.71
  • Jan 2021
    – May 2024
    MS in Civil Engineering
    University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA
    • GPA: 3.92
  • Sep 2013
    – Nov 2018
    BSc in Civil Engineering, First Class Honors
    University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan

Awards and Honors

  • CEE Departmental Fellowship, University of Massachusetts Amherst (2023)
  • Graduate School Travel Awards, University of Massachusetts Amherst (2022 - 2024)
  • First Class Honors (Summa Cum Laude Equivalent), BSc Civil Engineering, University of Khartoum (2018)
  • Best Project Award, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Khartoum (2018)

Professional Experience

  • Jan 2021
    – Present
    Graduate Research Assistant
    University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA
    • Research on micromobility map design, road safety, and transit demand modeling.
  • Fall 2023
    – Fall 2025
    Teaching Assistant
    University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA
    • TA for probability and statistics and transportation systems courses.
  • Nov 2018
    – Dec 2020
    Instructor, Department of Civil Engineering
    University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan
    • Taught and led tutorials for five undergraduate civil engineering courses.

Publications

  • Journal Articles (Published)
    • Ruger, A., Abdalazeem, M., Christofa, E., and Oke, J. (2026). Explainable Data-Driven Multi-Filter Framework for Bot Detection in Incentivized Online Surveys. Data Science for Transportation, 8, 21. DOI
    • Abdalazeem, M., Altayb, G., Christofa, E., and Oke, J. (2026). Maps are good but are simpler maps better? Insights on urban bicycling in the US. Environmental Research Communications, 8(2), 025004. DOI
    • Zhao, P., Mega, J., Abdalazeem, M., Arabi, M., Barchers, C. V., and Oke, J. (2026). Scenario discovery framework aids robust regional emissions mitigation planning. Environmental Research Communications, 8(3), 031008. DOI
    • Abdalazeem, M., and Oke, J. (2025). A Roadway Crash Typology of Census Tracts Enables Targeted Interventions via Interpretable Machine Learning. Data Science for Transportation, 7, 14. DOI
    • Abdalazeem, M., and Oke, J. (2024). Enhanced Seasonal Typology-Informed Transit Trip Chaining via Mobile Boarding and Survey Data. Data Science for Transportation, 6, 19. DOI
    • Abdalazeem, M., and Oke, J. (2023). Extracting Spatiotemporal Bus Passenger Trip Typologies from Noisy Mobile Ticketing Boarding Data. Data Science for Transportation, 5, 20. DOI
    • Abdalazeem, M., and Oke, J. (2023). Origin-destination inference in public transportation systems: A comprehensive review. International Journal of Transportation Science and Technology, 12(1), 315-328. DOI
  • Conference Papers
    • Abdalazeem, M., Mohammed, O., Ibrahim, M., and Osman, H. G. (2020). Khartoum sky trains network: A study on implementing caterpillar trains concept in Khartoum. MATEC Web of Conferences, 308, 02003. DOI
  • Under Review
    • Abdalazeem, M., Christofa, E., Barchers, C., and Oke, J. Toward Unified Design Rules for Schematic Bicycle Maps.
    • Abdalazeem, M., Ruger, A., Christofa, E., and Oke, J. Schematic maps promise to induce micromobility ridership: a Bayesian latent class ordered logistic approach.
    • Bohlke, N., Bell, H., Abdalazeem, M., Oke, J., and Christofa, E. Three-decade systematic review highlights enduring barriers to cycling and reveals rural-urban evidence gap.
  • In Preparation
    • Abdalazeem, M., Demers, J., Christofa, E., and Oke, J. A Unified Geospatial Data Pipeline and Detection Algorithm for Bicycle Routes from Heterogeneous Network Data.
    • Abdalazeem, M., Christofa, E., and Oke, J. Automated Schematization of Bicycle Route Networks via Mixed-Integer Optimization.
    • Abdalazeem, M., Oke, T., and Oke, J. A novel origin-destination-transfer model using mobile ticketing activations with seasonal passenger typology and spatial error correction.
    • Zhao, P., Weinman, A., Rost-Nasshan, V., Abdalazeem, M., Han, Z., Arabi, M., and Oke, J. Road Network Typology of US Metropolitan Areas Explains Congestion, Mobile Emissions, and Safety Outcomes.

Conference Presentations

  • Lectern Presentations
    • Abdalazeem, M., Oke, T., and Oke, J. (2025). A Typology-Informed Origin-Destination-Transfer Model for a Bus Transit Network using Mobile Ticketing Data. TRB Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C.
    • Abdalazeem, M., and Oke, J. (2024). Enhancing Road Safety: A Data-Driven Spatial Typology of Crashes in New England. INFORMS Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA.
    • Abdalazeem, M., and Oke, J. (2023). Typology-Enhanced Origin-Destination-Transfer Inference from Noisy Mobile Boarding Observations. INFORMS, Phoenix, AZ.
    • Abdalazeem, M., and Oke, J. (2023). Spatiotemporal Trip Chaining Framework for Open Mobile Fare Collection Systems. TRB Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C.
    • Abdalazeem, M., and Oke, J. (2022). Spatio-Temporal Trip Pattern Typology Analysis for a Regional Bus Network. INFORMS, Indianapolis, IN.
  • Poster Presentations
    • Abdalazeem, M., Christofa, E., and Oke, J. (2025). Optimizing and Deploying Schematic Bicycle Maps with MILP and User Input. INFORMS Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA.
    • Abdalazeem, M., and Oke, J. (2025). A Roadway Crash Typology of Census Tracts Enables Targeted Interventions via Interpretable Machine Learning. NEUTC Symposium, Norwich University, Northfield, VT.
    • Abdalazeem, M., and Oke, J. (2025). A Spatial Typology Analysis of Crash Characteristics across 2,480 Census Tracts. TRB Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C.
    • Abdalazeem, M., and Oke, J. (2022). Trip Pattern Typologies in The Pioneer Valley Bus Transit System. TRB Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C.
    • Abdalazeem, M., and Oke, J. (2022). Efficient Extraction of Spatiotemporal Bus Passenger Trip Patterns in the Pioneer Valley Bus Transit System. MassDOT Transportation Innovation Conference, Worcester, MA.

Research Experience

  • Jan 2021
    – Present
    Graduate Research Assistant
    University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA
    • Schematic Bicycle Map Design and Micromobility Behavior
      • Mapped the national landscape of schematic bicycle map adoption across 684 US urban counties; Bayesian mixture modeling with XGBoost and SHAP analysis revealed three county types of adoption.
      • Designed and deployed an incentivized national survey on how cyclists and micromobility riders respond to map design: simplification level, geographic accuracy, infrastructure representation, and route legibility.
      • Modeled stated intentions to ride under different map designs with a Bayesian latent class ordered logit that separates riders into groups with different design sensitivities.
      • Formulated a mixed-integer linear program that selects bicycle map routes from street and trail networks under safety, connectivity, and user-preference constraints.
      • Built a bot detection pipeline for online surveys that combines platform signals, browser fingerprinting, timing checks, and an XGBoost validation model.
      • Funding: Armstrong Fund for Science, 2024-2026 (PI: J. Oke, co-PI: E. Christofa); NSF REU, 2023-2026.
      • 2 journal articles published, 3 under review, 2 in preparation.
    • Spatial Crash Typology and Risk Prediction
      • Classified 2,480 New England census tracts into crash types with UMAP and Gaussian mixture models, using one year of state-level crash records.
      • Linked patterns in crash frequency and severity to roadway geometry, land use, and socioeconomic conditions across urban, suburban, and rural tracts.
      • Trained XGBoost models with SHAP interpretation to predict crash risk within each type and show which factors drive risk where, informing where safety interventions should go.
      • Funding: New England University Transportation Center (NEUTC), 2024-2025 (PI: J. Oke).
      • 1 journal article published.
    • Transit OD Inference from Partial Mobile Ticketing Data
      • Built a framework that infers full origin-destination-transfer matrices from boarding-only mobile ticketing data on a regional bus network with 40+ routes.
      • Clustered 40,000+ weekly riders into passenger types using hierarchical clustering with dynamic time warping.
      • Added a gradient boosting spatial error correction step that cut MAE by 70% and SMAPE by 85% relative to the baseline trip chaining.
      • Funding: Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA), 2021-2023 (PI: J. Oke).
      • 3 journal articles published, 1 in preparation.

Teaching Experience

  • Fall 2024, Fall 2025
    Teaching Assistant - CE-ENGIN 260: Probability and Statistics for Civil Engineers
    University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA
    • Led lab sections and weekly office hours covering probability, statistical inference, and experimental design.
    • Supported roughly 160 students per semester; graded exams and wrote solution guides and grading rubrics.
  • Fall 2023
    Teaching Assistant - CE-ENGIN 310: Transportation Systems
    University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA
    • Supported students in transportation operations, network planning, and geometric design; prepared problem sets on traffic flow, capacity analysis, and signal control.
  • Nov 2018
    – Dec 2020
    Teaching Assistant - Multiple Civil Engineering Courses
    University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan
    • Taught and led tutorials for undergraduate courses: Environmental Engineering; Highway Engineering; Strength of Materials; Reinforced Concrete Design; and Theory of Structures.
    • Supervised lab sessions on water quality analysis and material testing.

Mentorship

  • Summers 2023
    – 2026
    Research Mentor, NSF REU Program
    University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA
    • Julianna Demers (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute), Summer 2026: Unified geospatial data pipeline for schematic bicycle map generation. 1 paper in preparation.
    • Andrew Ruger (Grinnell College), Summer 2025: Survey data quality and micromobility mapping; bot detection in incentivized online surveys. 1 paper published, 1 paper under review.
    • Geehan Altayb (Howard University), Summer 2024: Bicycle map features and their influence on cycling behavior. 1 paper published.
    • Vivian Rost-Nasshan (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute), Summer 2023: Vehicular delay patterns using network topology and demographic data. 1 paper in preparation.
  • Spring 2026
    Research Mentor
    University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA
    • Henry Bell (UMass Amherst), Spring 2026: Comprehensive literature review on barriers to cycling. 1 paper under review.

Professional Service

  • Manuscript Reviewing
    • Discover Public Health (Springer Nature), 2026
    • Journal of Transportation Engineering, Part A: Systems (ASCE), 2026
    • npj Environmental Social Sciences (Springer Nature), 2026
    • Scientific Reports (Springer Nature), 2025, 2026
    • Security Journal (Springer Nature), 2025, 2026
    • Scientific Data (Nature Publishing Group), 2025
    • Applied Network Science (Springer Nature), 2025
    • European Transport Research Review (Springer Nature), 2024
    • Applied Intelligence (Springer Nature), 2022, 2023
  • Conference Reviewing
    • Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting, paper reviewer (2022, 2023, 2025)
  • Leadership and Service
    • Coordinator, Graduate Writing Lab, College of Engineering, UMass Amherst (Spring 2025). Facilitated weekly writing sessions and provided feedback on graduate student manuscripts.
    • Treasurer, Graduate Student Association, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UMass Amherst (Sep 2021 - Sep 2022). Managed budgeting and event coordination for graduate student activities.

Technical Skills and Methods

  • Statistical Modeling
    • Bayesian inference, mixture models, latent class analysis, ordered outcome models
  • Machine Learning
    • Gradient boosting, unsupervised clustering, dimensionality reduction, interpretable ML (SHAP)
  • Optimization
    • Mixed-integer linear programming, network optimization
  • Survey Methods
    • Stated preference and questionnaire design, incentivized panel deployment, response quality assurance and validation
  • Geospatial
    • Census-level spatial analysis, transit network analysis, GIS
  • Transportation
    • Transit demand modeling, OD inference, active mobility and micromobility, road safety and equity analysis
  • Software
    • Python, SQL, Git, GeoPandas, QGIS, Scikit-learn, XGBoost, Pandas

Professional Affiliations

  • ELEVATE Affiliate, Energy Transition Institute, UMass Amherst
  • Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE)
  • American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
  • Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS)
  • Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)

References

Dr. Jimi Oke Associate Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering, UMass Amherst (PhD advisor) — jimi@umass.edu
Dr. Eleni Christofa Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering, UMass Amherst (committee member) — echristofa@umass.edu
Dr. Camille Barchers Associate Professor, Landscape Architecture & Regional Planning, UMass Amherst (committee member) — cbarchers@umass.edu