Visitor Dr. Ali Najmi

It is with great pleasure that we announce the guest lecture of Dr. Ali Najmi at our faculty. He will speak on April 3, 2024 from 1:30 to 2:30 pm in room POT.168
on the topic "From Theory to Practice: Research Contributions in Transport Models Calibration".

Abstract of the talk:
Transportation models play a crucial role in urban planning, helping policymakers and researchers simulate and analyse complex mobility scenarios. However, the accuracy of these models relies heavily on effective calibration. This presentation delves into the intricacies of transport model calibration, exploring advanced techniques and methodologies that elevate the precision and reliability of model predictions. This presentation will begin by providing an overview of the importance of model calibration in accurately reflecting real-world transportation dynamics. We will explore traditional calibration methods and their limitations, paving the way for discussions on cutting-edge approaches, including data-driven techniques, and integration of emerging technologies.

BIO: Dr. Ali Najmi is a research associate at the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland. He received his Ph.D. from the University of New South Wales, Australia. Ali’s focus of research is on the development of shared mobility system as well as activity-based model systems. Also, he is experienced in mathematical programming and model calibration. He has published his research in several peer-reviewed journals. Ali was awarded the Honorable Mention in the 2020 Eric Pas Dissertation Competition. He is also the recipient of Pyke Johnson Award in 98th Annual meeting of Transportation Research Board, 2018 and the Faculty Postdoctoral Writing Fellowship from the University of New South Wales in 2019. In 2017, he was also the winner of Transportation Research Board Analytics Contest, 2017.  Recently, in 2023, Ali is awarded Swiss Government Excellence Postdoctoral Scholarship by the Switzerland Government owing to his outstanding research record.