Servet Lapardhaja, Ph.D.

Transportation Engineer

Welcome to the portfolio of Dr. Servet Lapardhaja, a dedicated professional in Transportation Engineering and a Ph.D. graduate from the University of California, Berkeley. Discover Dr. Lapardhaja's experience, innovative research, and contributions that are advancing the future of transportation.

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About

Dr. Servet Lapardhaja

I am a Transportation Engineer with a strong background in traffic engineering, transportation operations, and the impact of automated vehicles on mobility. My expertise extends to data analytics, machine learning, and computational modeling, which I apply to optimize transportation systems and improve urban mobility.

I hold a Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, specializing in Transportation Engineering. My doctoral research focused on Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) vehicles and their effects on urban congestion, leveraging data-driven simulations and predictive modeling. I also earned an MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering from UC Berkeley and a Diploma of Engineering (BS & MEng) from the National Technical University of Athens, where I specialized in Transportation Engineering with a minor in Surveying Engineering.

My work integrates advanced data science techniques, machine learning algorithms, and traffic simulation models to enhance transportation planning, operations, and decision-making. I am particularly interested in how emerging mobility technologies and AI-driven solutions can transform the future of urban transportation.

Experience

HNTB

December 2023 - Present

New York, NY, USA

Engineer I

  • Led the calibration and validation of VISSIM traffic models, integrating Turning Movement Counts and Automatic Traffic Recorder data to ensure accurate microscopic simulations that reflect real-world conditions
  • Developed existing, no-build and build scenarios, enabling comprehensive evaluation of network performance and facilitating data-driven decision-making for critical infrastructure projects
  • Designed and implemented mitigation strategies for the Secaucus to Meadowlands Transitway, addressing anticipated event-driven congestion during FIFA 2026 and ensuring the transitway's operational efficiency and reliability
  • Engineered advanced Python-based tools for LOS estimation and OD flow modeling, achieving over 95% time savings while ensuring precision and consistency in traffic analysis workflows
  • Developed an automated Python-based OD matrix estimation framework, replacing manual calibration with an algorithm-driven approach, significantly improving computational speed and accuracy in predicting OD flows
  • Applied dynamic traffic assignment (DTA) in VISSIM to evaluate new transit infrastructure and roadway modifications, optimizing network performance under varying demand and operational conditions
  • Automated radar data processing for the Maine Turnpike, developing a Python script to compute AADT from high-resolution sensor data, reducing a manual two-week process to seconds

University of California, Berkeley

Aug 2019 - Dec 2023

Berkeley, CA, USA

Graduate Student Researcher

  • Led cutting-edge research on the impacts of Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) on urban transportation networks, demonstrating a potential surge of up to 80% in network-wide Vehicle Hours Traveled (VHT)
  • Developed and validated advanced car-following models using Python and AIMSUN to assess the effects of AVs on traffic congestion
  • Analyzed large-scale datasets to derive insights into the behavior of AVs and ACC systems in real-world scenarios
  • Developed the OPT (Operations Planning Toolbox) for Caltrans, a next-generation multi-modal transportation modeling software to replace FREQ12, and performed rigorous software quality assurance (SQA)
  • Analyzed millions of ridership records from three San Francisco Bay Area transit agencies (AC Transit, VTA, and Tri Delta) using SQL and Python, providing key insights into transit ridership trends during the COVID pandemic
  • Provided data-driven insights to stakeholders to improve transit services and resource allocation during the pandemic
  • Published findings on transit impacts in the book Pandemic in the Metropolis: Transportation Impacts and Recovery

University of California, Berkeley

Jan 2021 - Dec 2023

Berkeley, CA, USA

Graduate Student Instructor

  • Intelligent Transportation Systems - CE253 (Spring 2021)
  • Highway Traffic Operations - CE255 (Fall 2021)
  • Transportation Systems Engineering - CE155 (Fall 2022)
  • Operation of Transportation Facilities - CE251 (Fall 2023)

HNTB

May 2023 - August 2023

New York, NY, USA

Civil Engineer Intern

  • Developed Wrong-Way Driving Prevention concepts and Signing/Striping Service Requests (SSRs) for tunnels (Holland and Lincoln Tunnels) and bridges (George Washington and Bayonne Bridges) under the jurisdiction of the NY-NJ Port Authority, adhering to MUTCD and Port Authority standards
  • Designed detailed signal and signage plans for the 50% submission milestone of the Lincoln Avenue Grade Crossing project in Albany, NY
  • Conducted traffic impact analyses for future build scenarios and updated and validated the traffic simulation model for the Delaware Memorial Bridge
  • Evaluated the Level of Service (LOS) at three intersections near MetLife Stadium in Meadowlands, NJ, through on-site observations during an event, providing recommendations to enhance operations for the FIFA World Cup 2026

Fehr & Peers

May 2022 - August 2022

Walnut Creek, CA, USA

Transportation Engineer Intern

  • Created the Transportation Impact Reports for the Housing Elements of the City of Antioch, City of Pleasanton, and Town of Moraga
  • Performed the Transit Market Assessment for the State Route 239 (SR 239) Project
  • Analyzed collision data through GIS to identify patterns of accidents for the preparation of the Local Road Safety Plan (LRSP) of the City of Walnut Creek and Concord
  • Estimated the existing parking demand for the Culture Cannabis Club of Concord
  • Performed the modelling of the interchange I-680 and SR-4 for existing and future conditions

European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN)

Apr 2018 - Sep 2018

Geneva, Switzerland

Research Engineer Intern

  • Developed high-precision target detection algorithms using MATLAB, significantly enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of geodetic measurements at CERN, achieving a measurement precision of ±0.04 pixels
  • Applied advanced photogrammetry techniques to improve measurement and alignment processes within the Large Hadron Collider (LHC)
  • Created a unique algorithm for automatic target recognition of AICON-type coded circular targets across multiple photos
  • Integrated the algorithm with existing surveying software at CERN, transforming it into a production-ready tool and boosting the efficiency of geodetic work at the LHC
  • Published and presented the research findings at the International Workshop on Accelerator Alignment at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory

Education

M.S. in Analytics

Jan 2025 - Present

Georgia Institute of Technology

  • Specialization: Computation Dana Analytics (Data Science & Machine Learning)

Ph.D. in Civil & Environmental Engineering

May 2020 - Dec 2023

University of California, Berkeley

  • Specilization: Computation Dana Analytics (Data Science & Machine Learning)

M.S. in Civil & Environmental Engineering

Aug 2019 - May 2020

University of California, Berkeley

  • Transportation Engineering
  • GPA: 3.96/4.00
  • Research focus on traffic flow theory and transportation operations

Diploma of Engineering

Sep 2014 - Jul 2019

National Technical University of Athens

  • B.S. and M.Eng. in Rural and Surveying Engineering
  • GPA: 9.70/10.00 (ranked 1st among class of 135 and in the history of the department)
  • Specialization in Transportation Engineering
  • Minor in Surveying Engineering

Skills

Programming

  • Python
  • SQL
  • MatLAB

Software Tools

  • Aimsun
  • Vissim
  • Synchro
  • FREQ12
  • MatLAB
  • AutoCAD
  • MicroStation
  • ArcGIS
  • QGIS
  • Microsoft Office

Field Knowledge

  • Transportation Engineering
  • Surveying Engineering
  • Behavioral Modeling
  • Data Science
  • Machine Learning
  • City Planning

Licenses & Certifications

Graduate Certificate in Applied Data Science

University of California, Berkeley

May 2023

Engineer in Training (EIT)

California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists

November 2022

Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Certificate

University of California, Berkeley

June 2021

Publications

ACC, queue storage, and worrisome news for cities

2024

Lapardhaja, S., Godier, J. D., Cassidy, M. J., & Kan, X. D. (2024).

Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies, 167, 104809

View Publication

Commercial Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Capacity Drop at Freeway Bottlenecks

2024

Lapardhaja, S., Gong, Y., Murshed, M. T., & Kan, X. D. (2024).

International Journal of Transportation Science and Technology

View Publication

MicroSimACC: An open database for field experiments on the potential capacity impact of commercial Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)

2024

Yang, M., Chon-Kan Munoz, P., Lapardhaja, S., Gong, Y., Imran, M. A., Murshed, M. T., Yagantekin, K., Khan, M. M. H., Kan, X. D., & Lee, C. (2024).

Transportmetrica A: Transport Science, 1-30

View Publication

Unlocking potential capacity benefits of electric vehicles (EVs) with adaptive cruise control (ACC)

2023

Lapardhaja, S., Yagantekin, K. U., Yang, M., Majumder, T. A., Kan, X. D., & Badhrudeen, M. (2023).

Transportmetrica B: Transport Dynamics, 11(1), 1894-1911

View Publication

Testing alternative treatments for underused carpool lanes on narrow freeways

2021

Lapardhaja, S., Jalota, D., Doig, J., Almubarak, A., & Cassidy, M. J. (2021).

Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 149, 139-149

View Publication

Position determination of encoded and uncoded targets on the large hadron collider at CERN

2019

Lapardhaja, S., Lambrou, E. (2019).

Applied Geomatics, 11(4), 429-437

View Publication

Impacts of Adaptive Cruise Control on Urban Congestion: A Queuing Perspective

2023

Lapardhaja, S., (2023).

Ph.D. Dissertation, University of California, Berkeley

View Dissertation

Position determination of encoded and uncoded targets on the large hadron collider at CERN

2019

Lapardhaja, S., (2019).

Diploma Thesis, National Technical University of Athens

View Dissertation

Unlocking the Potential Congestion Relief from Electric Vehicles (EVs) - Field Experiements, Open Database, and Simulations of EVs with Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)

2024

Lapardhaja, S., Yagantekin, K. U., Yang, M., & Kan, X. D. (2024).

4th IEEE Forum for Innovative Sustainable Transportation Systems FISTS 2024, 26-28 February, Riverside, California, USA. Paper No. 22

View Publication

MicrosimACC: An Open Database For Field Experiments On The Potential Capacity Impact Of Commercial Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)

2023

Mingyuan, Y., Lapardhaja, S., & Kan, X. D. (2023).

26th IEEE International Conference on Intelligent Transportation Systems ITSC 2023, 24-28 September, Bilbao, Spain. Paper No. 869

View Publication

Dynamic Curbside Management: Optimizing Supply and Demand at the Curb with New Data and Technologies

2023

Mitman, M., Montgomery, A. R., Gibler, T., Howell, A., Primus, J., Flores, M., & Lapardhaja, S., (2023).

Transportation Research Board 102nd Annual Meeting, 8-12 January, Washington D.C. Paper No. 23-00964

Modeling CAV Car Following on Freeways and Arterials – Case Study of Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) Equipped Vehicles

2022

Mingyuan, Y., Lapardhaja, S.,, Kan-Munoz, P. C., Murshed, M. T., Kan, X. D., Hao, L., & Xiao-Yun, L.

Transportation Research Board 101st Annual Meeting, 9-13 January, Washington, D.C. Paper No. 22-02452

Field Experiment of Mixed Traffic - Interaction between Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Human Drivers

2022

Yaobang, G., Kan-Munoz, P. C., Lapardhaja, S., Murshed, M. T., & Kan, X. D. (2022).

Transportation Research Board 101st Annual Meeting, 9-13 January, Washington, D.C. Paper No. 22-03779

Impact of Commercially Available Automated Vehicles on Freeway Bottleneck Capacity

2021

Lapardhaja, S., Gong, Y., Murshed, M. T., & Kan, X. D. (2021).

Transportation Research Board 100th Annual Meeting, 5-29 January, Washington D.C. Paper No. 21-02087

Field Experiments of Commercially Available Automated Vehicles on Freeways

2021

Kan-Munoz, P. C., Lapardhaja, S., & Kan, X. D. (2021).

Transportation Research Board 100th Annual Meeting, 5-29 January, Washington D.C. Paper No. 21-03778

Recent developments for a photogrammetric system to measure offsets to stretched wires at CERN

2018

Mergelkuhl, D., Vendeuvre, C., & Lapardhaja, S., (2018).

In Proceedings of the 15th International Workshop on Accelerator Alignment (IWAA), 8-12 October, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, Batavia, Illinois, USA

View Publication

Monitoring of Bus Transit in Bay Area During COVID-19

2022

Kurzhanskiy, A., & Lapardhaja, S., (2022).

In Pandemic in the Metropolis: Transportation Impacts and Recovery (pp. 283-297)

View Publication

Bus Operations of Three San Francisco Bay Area Transit Agencies during the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic

2022

Kurzhanskiy, A., & Lapardhaja, S., (2022).

View Publication

MicrosimACC-EV

Dataset for Electric Vehicles with Adaptive Cruise Control

View Dataset

MicrosimACC-ICE

Dataset for Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles with Adaptive Cruise Control

View Dataset

Recognitions

Thomaidio Award

Awarded for the highest GPA among all students in the School of Rural and Surveying Engineering (NTUA)

2014-2015 2015-2016 2016-2017 2018-2019

Papakyriakopoulos Award

Awarded for the highest average grade in Mathematics (NTUA)

2014-2015 2015-2016

Kritikou Scholarship

Awarded for the highest average grade in Mathematics (NTUA)

2014-2015

Chrisovergi Award

Awarded for graduating 1st out of 135 students in the 2019 graduating class (NTUA)

2019

Academic Excellence Award

Awarded by the Greek State Scholarships Foundation for graduating 1st out of 135 students in the 2019 graduating class

2019

Lambadarios Award

Awarded by the Academy of Athens for the highest GPA in geodetic courses among all Polytechnic school graduates in Greece

2018-2019

UC Berkeley Fellowship

Full fellowship at the University of California, Berkeley

2019-2020

ITS California and CTF Scholarship

ITS California and California Transportation Foundation (CTF) Scholarship

2022-2023

Contact

Feel free to reach out for collaborations, research opportunities, or questions.

Address: Empire State Building, 57th Floor, 350 5th Ave, New York, NY 10118, USA

Email: servet.lapardhaja@berkeley.edu