Professor Shimul (Md. Mazharul) Haque

PhD (National University of Singapore)

Background Dr. Shimul (Md. Mazharul) Haque is a Professor of Transportation Engineering at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in Australia. He is a specialist in econometrics and artificial intelligence applications in transport engineering and traffic safety. Dr. Haque has secured about $3 million research funding from the public and industry sectors on various road safety projects. Dr. Haque has published more than 110 peer-reviewed research articles in top-class journals and international conferences. His journal papers are published in journals like Analytic Methods in Accident Research, Accident Analysis & Prevention, Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies, Safety Science, and Transportation Research Record. The publications of Dr Haque are well received by international researchers, as evidenced by the citation statistics. As per Scopus, his h-index is 27, and his journal papers in Scopus have been cited more than 2100 times by 1450 documents to date. Scopus also confirms his strong track record of publishing in high-quality journals within his research areas. For the publications indexed by Scopus from 2014-2018 inclusive, Dr. Haque’s Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) is 4.01, which suggests that his journal publications have been cited 3.01 times more time than the expected based on the world average of similar publications. Of these publications, about 55% are in the top 10% most cited worldwide , and about 85% of his publications are in journals in the top 10% journals. His publications, including conference papers, have been cited more than 3400 times as accumulated in his Google Scholar profile. As per Google Scholar, his h-index is 33 and i10-index is 61. Scopus Profile: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=23466634100 Google Scholar Profile: https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=DAJUK6EAAAAJ&hl=en ResearchGate Profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Md_Mazharul_Haque2 In recognition of his high impact research in the area of road safety and transport engineering, Dr. Haque has been appointed as an Associate Editor of Accident Analysis and Prevention, the premier journal in road safety and Associate Editor of the ASCE – Journal of Transportation Engineering, a prestigious journal within Civil Engineering published by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).  Dr. Haque’s research is also recognized by his editorial board membership of the journal Analytic Methods in Accident Research, which is the 1st ranked journal in Transportation. He is serving as the Track Chair of Safety in Australasian Transport Research Forum (ATRF). He is also a member of the Committee on Statistical Methods (AED60), Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, USA. Dr. Haque is a trained road safety auditor, having been accredited by the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia (Dept of Main Roads Western Australia) in March 2010 as well as the Land Transport Authority of Singapore on October 2010. He is an instructor of various professional courses in road safety, including Road Safety Audit: A Safe System Approach, Investigation and Treatment of Crash Locations, and Sustainable Rural Road Safety. He also has experience in delivering various road safety courses and workshops to road safety professionals in developing countries. Prof Haque is a co-found and advisor of the start-up Advanced Mobility Analytics Group (AMAG), which provides the world-leading digital platform and predictive analytics that will enable governments to Monitor, Manage, and Mitigate risks associated with Mobility for all road users on their transport networks. Research Areas: Dr Haque's specific research interests include

• Traffic Conflict Analysis
• Connected and Automated Vehicles,
• Human Factors and Driving Behaviour
• Engineering Factors in Traffic Operation and Safety
• Black Spot Identification Techniques
• Travel Behaviour
• Driving Simulator Research
• Econometrics and Artificial Intelligence Applications in Transport Engineering

Traffic Conflict Analysis Surrogate measures or traffic conflict techniques (TCTs)—where vehicle, pedestrian, and bicyclist movements are measured and monitored at sites—have been scrutinized for  a couple of decades, but recent and significant technological breakthroughs give rise to a research opportunity that can overcome past shortcomings of road safety management that only relied on crash outcomes. This technique has the potential to transform the road safety management to proactive practice. Dr. Haque has applied traffic conflict techniques to following research needs:

• Examining the relationship between conflicts and crashes
• Evaluating road safety of transport facilities like intersections and highways
• Examining road safety of various road users like pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists

Connected and Automated Vehicles Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAVs) are likely to revolutionize private, public and commercial mobility and represent the future of the transport system. Dr. Haque’s research in CAVs are focussed on the following key research directions:

• Develop safety models to examine crash risks associated with CAVs
• Investigate microscopic traffic interactions between CAVs and traditional vehicles
• Develop effective management strategies to integrated CAVs into the transport system
• Study travel behavior implications of CAVs

Human Factors and Driving Behavior Over the past decades, there has been a considerable amount of research in the modeling of driving behaviors like car following, lane changing, gap acceptance, and speed selection behaviors. To investigate the effects of human factors and driver errors on these microscopic traffic flow models, Dr. Haque’s research is involved in the following research topics:

• Impact of mobile phone distraction on driving behavior and safety
• Car-following and lane-changing behavior of drivers
• Speed selection behavior and their relationship with safety
• Driver interactions with traffic lights
• Gap acceptance behavior of drivers

Engineering Factors in Traffic Operation and Safety Engineering factors like roadway geometric and traffic characteristics are not only important for efficient traffic operation but also influence road safety. Dr. Haque’s research in this space includes:

• Motorcycle safety at signalized intersections
• Traffic safety along rural mountainous highways

Black Spot Identification Techniques The identification of Blackspots or crash locations or locations with high risk is crucial for efficient safety management of a transport network. Driver behavior or human factors are predominant factors in a major portion of crashes, yet these factors are routinely excluded from Safety Performance Functions (SPFs), mainly because these factors are difficult to measure and generally are not readily available. The impact of excluding behavioral factors in SPFs is that their contribution to crashes will be statistically attributed to observed, highly correlated geometric and operational factors. Dr. Haque’s research in this topic include:

• Developing SPFs accommodating roadway geometric, driver behavior and spatial factors
• Incorporating injury severity in blackspot identification techniques
• Developing efficient criteria to identify blackspots correctly

Travel Behavior Dr. Haque’s research is also focussed on investigating the travel behavior of commuters. He has been involved in applying econometric modeling techniques to understand behavior responses across travel scenarios. His research interests include

• Examining the mode choice behavior
• Influence of land use patterns on travel behavior
• Investigating the relationship between travel behavior factors and safety
• Integrating safety into transport planning stages
• Travel behavior in response to connected and automated vehicles

Driving Simulator Research Driving simulators are an excellent tool to investigate human factors associated with driving behavior and safety. Dr. Haque has extensive experience in conducting driving simulator research and has successfully conducted several driving simulator experiments to understand the following critical research issues:

• Driver distraction and safety
• Driving behavior in connected and automated vehicles (CAVs)
• Microscopic traffic interactions like car-following, braking, and interactions with traffic lights
• Speed selection behavior of drivers across various infrastructure settings

Econometric and Artificial Intelligence Applications in Transport Engineering Dr. Haque’s research is mainly involved in developing cutting-edge Statistical and Econometric models and Artificial Intelligence techniques for transport engineering applications. Some important models of his research are Bayesian hierarchical models, simultaneous equation models, data mining with classification and decision trees, Artificial Neural Networks, generalized estimation equations, multi-process count regression models, accelerated failure time duration models, and advanced discrete choice models like random parameters logit model and heterogeneous ordered Probit model. He has applied these models in various applications like

• Traffic safety around connected and automated vehicles (CAVs)
• Explaining microscopic traffic interactions
• Safety Performance Functions for transport facilities
• Examining Travel behavior of commuters

Research Grants:

• July 2021 – Dec 2023, A Novel Real-Time Risk Assessment System for Vulnerable Road Users at Signalised Intersections Using Artificial Intelligence-Based Video Analytics, Category 1 Grant by Commonwealth Govt - Road Safety Innovation Fund by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications Grant ($325,500)
• Jan 2021 – Dec 2023, Can we drive safer and faster? A unified theory for managing road transport systems with traditional, connected and automated vehicles, Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery (DP210102970) Grant ($368,000)
• Jan 2014 – Dec 2016, Proactive detection of motor vehicle crash black spots based on their underlying behavioural, engineering, and spatially related causes, Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery (DP140101653) Grant ($171,000)
• Jul 2020 – Jun 2023, Safety Evaluation of Right-turn Signal Phasings at Signalised Intersections Applications of Advanced Video Analytics, Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), Queensland, Australia ($250,00)
• Feb 2020 – Jun 2020, Evaluation of the Targeted Road Safety Program 2005/2006 – 2011/2012, Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), Queensland, Australia ($268,00)
• Jul 2020 – Jun 2021, Developing Safety Performance Functions (SPFs) for Queensland's state-controlled road network, Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), Queensland, Australia ($120,00)
• Sep 2019 – Jun 2020, TMR08018 Video Analytics Trial for the provision for Research and Development Services, Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), Queensland, Australia ($359,00)
• Sep 2019 – Jun 2020, Study of Travel Behaviour in Queensland Using Behavioural Economics, Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), Queensland, Australia ($90,00)
• Jul 2019 – Jan 2020, Analysis of Heavy Vehicle Crashes on Queensland's state-controlled road network, Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), Queensland, Australia ($60,00)
• Sep 2018 – Apr 2019, Pilot study on the development of a practitioners toolkit for signal control performance evaluation and development, Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), Queensland, Australia ($40,00)
• Sep 2018 – Apr 2019, A framework for incorporating Bluetooth trajectory information in OD optimization, Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), Queensland, Australia ($40,00)
• May 2018 – Jun 2019, Development of Motorcycle Safety Audit Methodology using Instrumented Motorcycle, Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), Queensland, Australia ($170,000)
• May 2018 – Dec 2018, Distracted driving research program, Australian Automobile Association (AAA), Australia ($87,000)
• Aug 2017 – Dec 2022, Evaluation of crash and behavioural impacts of Bruce highway safety treatments, Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), Queensland, Australia ($252,600)
• Aug 2016 – July 2017, Automated Video Analysis of Three Complex Brisbane Intersections: A Safety Evaluation Using Advanced Video Recognition Technology, Brisbane City Council, Queensland, Australia ($100,000)
• Aug 2016 – Dec 2016, Independent evaluation of BCC left turn on red (LTOR) trial, Brisbane City Council, Queensland, Australia ($71,000)
• Jun 2016 - Jun 2017, Evaluation of effectiveness of advertising billboards on road safety behaviour, Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), Queensland, Australia ($140,003)
• June 2014 – July 2016, Prevalence and perception of following too closely in Queensland, Motor Accident Insurance Commission (MAIC) ($337,000)
• May 2014 - April 2015, Improving taxi driver safety with a smartphone feedback system: A pilot study, Motor Accident Insurance Commission (MAIC), Queensland, Australia ($101,000)
• Mar 2016 – Jun 2016, Research services to develop an evaluation framework for the Mandatory Alcohol Interlock Program (MAIP) in Tasmania, Department of State Growth Tasmania, Australia ($42,000)
• Mar 2014 – June 2014, Developing an outcome evaluation framework for the Queensland Alcohol Ignition Interlock program, Transport and Main Roads (TMR) ($45,000)
• July 2014 – December 2015, Distraction and attitudes towards safe pedestrian behaviour, Austroads Ltd ($90,000)
• April 2013 – April 2014, An In-Depth Examination of Crashes Involving Young Drivers, Motor Accident Insurance Commission (MAIC) ($91,000)
• May 2016 – April 2017, Driver Behavioural Adaptation in Connected and Automated Vehicles, Injury Prevention & Rehabilitation Strategic Funding, QUT ($8,000)
• Jan 2013 – Dec 2013, Phase 1 of pilot research in Cambodia and Lao into combined road safety audit and disability access tools for low and middle income countries, IHBI Injury Prevention & Rehabilitation (IP&R) Domain Seeding Grant, QUT ($7,000)
• Sep 2011 – Dec 2012, Pilot Study: Distracted Australian Drivers—Risk Compensation and Mobile Phone Use, Injury Prevention & Rehabilitation Strategic Funding, QUT ($10,000)
• Jan 2008 – Dec 2008, Identifying Safety Consciousness of Motorcyclists (NUS), Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Welfare Foundation 2007-2008, Japan (S$10,000)

Awards and Recognitions:

• Outstanding Paper Award by the TRB Committee on Traffic Flow Theory and Characteristics: AHB45 in 99th Annual Meeting of Transportation Research Board (TRB), Washington DC, USA, 12-16 January 2020
• Outstanding Paper Award by the TRB Committee on Safety Data, Analysis and Evaluation: ANB20 in 95th Annual Meeting of Transportation Research Board (TRB), Washington DC, USA, 10-14 January 2016
• John Kirby Award for the Best Paper in 2014 Australasian Road Safety Research, Policing & Education Conference 12-14 November, Melbourne, Australia
• Outstanding Reviewer, Accident Analysis & Prevention, In recognition of the contributions made to the quality of the journal, May 2014
• ABC Catalyst episode on my research on driver distraction aired on ABC TV on 25 September 2014
• Keynote speaker, International Conference on Sustainable Built Environment (ICSBE) – The State of the Art, Kandy, Sri Lanka, 12-14 December 2010
• Research Award on Motorcycle Safety, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Welfare Foundation, Japan, January 2007
• PhD Research Scholarship, National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore, August 2005- July 2009
• 'Khaleque and Bari Gold Medal, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Bangladesh, December 2003
• Dean’s List Merit Scholarship, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Bangladesh, February 2003 – April 2005
• Technical Scholarship, The Government of Bangladesh, 2000 – 2005

Projects

• Evaluation of the Targeted Road Safety Program 2012/13 - 2016/17

Additional information