Sean Qian
H.J. Heinz III Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Heinz College
Courtesy Appointment, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Sean Qian is a professor jointly appointed at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy, and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). He directs the Mobility Data Analytics Center (MAC) at CMU. In 2020, Qian founded a CMU technology spinoff firm, TraffiQure Technologies, to commercialize AI/ML technologies in the infrastructure and mobility service domain.
Qian’s research interest lies in large-scale dynamic network modeling and large-scale data analytics for multi-modal transportation systems, in development of intelligent transportation systems (ITS) and in understanding infrastructure system interdependency. His research has been supported by a number of public agencies and private firms, such as NSF, U.S. DOE, U.S. DOT, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), IBM, Honda Research Institute, Fujitsu Inc., Benedum Foundation, and Hillman Foundation. Prof. Qian serves an Associate Editor for Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies, Transportation Science, Transportmatrica B, and Journal of Public Transportation, and an editorial board editor for Transportation Research Part B: Methodological. Qian is an active member of the Network Modeling Committee and AI Committee of TRB, and the AI Committee of ASCE. He is the recipient of the NSF CAREER award in 2018 and Greenshields Prize from the Transportation Research Board in 2017.
Education
2012 MS, Statistics, Stanford University
2011 Ph.D., Civil Engineering, UC Davis
2006 MS, Civil Engineering, Tsinghua University
2004 BS, Civil Engineering, Tsinghua University
Research Interests
- advanced infrastructure systems
- autonomous driving
- big data
- civil engineering
- Climate-resilient environmental systems and technologies
- environmental engineering
- mobility
- smart cities
- smart infrastructure
- Sustainable energy and transportation systems
- transportation engineering
- transportation systems
- vehicular information technology
Media mentions
Smart Cities Dive
Qian quoted on New York congestion pricing
CEE’s Sean Qian was quoted in Smart Cities Dive about how New York City congestion pricing could disproportionately affect different groups based on their access to public transportation.
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Four CEE faculty named endowed chairs
The College of Engineering announced eight new endowed chairs. Four are professors in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
CMU Engineering
The battle for curb space
Civil Engineering researchers examine how new mobility systems are transforming city curbs into critical infrastructure and develop a framework to model usage and inform future policies.
CMU Engineering
Toward improving rural mobility
Researchers designed and piloted the rural access mobility platform to improve rural mobility services that are inefficient, unaffordable, inaccessible, and unsustainable.
The Business Journals
Qian quoted on collapse of Francis Scott Key Bridge
Sean Qian was quoted on the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Revolutionizing engineering with AI and digital twins
CEE hosts its inaugural Spring Industry Day with speakers and panels discussing how cutting-edge technologies are reshaping the future of our field.
Fujitsu
Qian mentioned in social digital twin technology collaboration
CEE’s Sean Qian was mentioned in a story about recent advances in social digital twin technology, a joint research effort between CMU and Fujitsu Limited.
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Transforming infrastructure through digital twins
A collaboration between Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and Fujitsu, a global leader in technology solutions and services, is advancing digital twin technologies in southwestern Pennsylvania to address the recent challenges posed by aging infrastructure.
PITA
Transforming infrastructure with digital twins
A collaboration between Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and Fujitsu, a global leader in technology solutions and services, is advancing digital twin technologies in southwestern Pennsylvania.
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Predicting climate-induced transportation risks: CEE-Morgan State collaboration
CEE's Sean Qian and his doctoral students are collaborating with Morgan State University (MSU) researchers to predict the impacts of climate change on transportation systems. The work not only creates an early-warning notification system that detects impending infrastructure problems, but also allows Qian’s students to learn from MSU faculty and researchers who are world-class leaders in hazard modeling.
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Graff awarded K&L Gates Presidential Fellowship
CEE PhD student Lindsay Graff received the prestigious K&L Gates Presidential Fellowship for her research in optimizing mobility subsidies and network investments in multi-modal transportation. Her work aims to address inequities in transportation infrastructure, ensuring fair distribution and meeting the diverse needs of communities.
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Freymiller awarded Eisenhower Fellowship
Kevin Freymiller, a CEE PhD student, has received the esteemed Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Under the mentorship of Professor Sean Qian, his research delves into the intricate relationship between energy and transportation systems, focusing on electric vehicle usage during morning commutes and aiming to develop strategic policies to alleviate the financial burdens of both systems, all while exploring the impact of solar energy.