Dr. Elham (Ellie) Fini, Arizona State University & Dr. Mahour Parast , Del E. Webb School of Construction
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https://arizona.zoom.us/j/5751352913
Abstract: To enhance environmental and social well-being, both private and public agencies are placing increased emphasis on adopting sustainability practices in the design, construction, and maintenance of civil infrastructure. The growing interest in sustainable highways, for instance, has prompted the pavement industry to prioritize the development of low-carbon roads. This involves the application of advanced process technologies to convert sustainable feedstocks into hydrocarbon chemicals and materials including but not limited to novel cement and adhesive formulations. Additionally, there is a push for the implementation of methods such as alternative curing methods, warm mix asphalt, and cold mix asphalt, which enable the reduction of overall carbon emissions and enhance resilience in response to extreme weather conditions. These initiatives aim not only to decrease the carbon footprint of infrastructure but also to minimize associated fumes and emissions which are exacerbated in hot and low humidity regions. Recent studies have shown that emissions from asphalt-surfaced areas constitute a significant non-combustion source of secondary organic aerosols, leading to significant negative health effects. Timely maintenance and rehabilitation of asphalt pavements are essential for preserving or enhancing pavement roughness, which serves as an indicator of pavement performance and road safety. Accurate prediction of maintenance timing can facilitate budget planning and allocation for highways while providing a better and safer driving experience for motorists. This research focuses on predicting the International Roughness Index (IRI) for asphalt pavements based on an analysis of 865 observations from the Long-Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) dataset, covering 76 roads and highways in the State of Arizona. Various methodological approaches to data analysis are presented, and the research explores both theoretical insights and practical implications derived from the findings.
Biography #1: Dr. Elham (Ellie) Fini is an Associate Professor at Arizona State University in the School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment at the Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering. She is a Fellow of ASCE and an Invention Ambassador at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Additionally, she is a Fulbright Scholar at Aalborg University in Denmark, a Senior Sustainability Scientist at the Global Institute of Sustainability and Innovation, the principal investigator, and the director of Innovative Built and Regenerative Environments for Advancing Timeless Habitability and Equity (I-BREATHE). Her research focuses on the design, synthesis, characterization, and atomistic modeling of novel materials to promote the sustainability and health of civil infrastructure. In addition to more than 200 scholarly publications and numerous invited talks, her research has been featured by BBC Women in STEM, Science Nation, and Wired Magazine, among others. She serves as an editor for the ASCE Journal of Materials and the Journal of Resources, Conservation & Recycling. Dr. Fini has also contributed to the community by serving as the president of ASCE’s North Carolina Northern Branch and as a program director at the National Science Foundation. Her achievements have been recognized through multiple awards, including an NSF CAREER award, ASEE Gerald Seeley award, BEYA Emerald STEM Innovation award, NC BioTech Research Excellence award, and WTS Innovative Transportation Solution award.
Biography #2: Dr. Mahour Parast is an Eminent Scholar at the Del E. Webb School of Construction. His research focuses on supply chain disruption risk, supply chain resilience, and process and product innovation. His scholarly works have appeared in several peer-reviewed journals such as the Journal of Operations Management, Decision Sciences, Journal of Business Research, International Journal of Operations & Production Management, IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, International Journal of Production Research, International Journal of Production Economics, International Journal of Logistics Management, Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, and Production Planning & Control. He is a member of the Decision Sciences Institute (DSI), Production and Operations Management Society (POMS), and Academy of Management (AOM). He is also a member of the International Supply Chain Risk Management Network (ISCRiM). He has been the principal investigator of several projects related to supply chain management, technology management, and technological innovation and entrepreneurship from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), VentureWell, and the Qatar Foundation. He has several years of industrial experience as a quality manager and strategic planner in the auto, electric power, and agriculture industries.