Baabak Ashuri

Professor, GEORGIA TECH

Dr. Baabak Ashuri specializes in Quantitative Research Methods, Data Analytics, and Project Finance applied to transportation construction and infrastructure management, cost and schedule analysis, innovative project delivery and alternative contracting methods (ACM), and risk management. Dr. Ashuri secured a funding amount of over $8.75M from the National Science Foundation (NSF), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Georgia Department of Transportation (Georgia DOT), Construction Industry Institute (CII), Southeast Transportation Consortium (STC), and more. Dr. Ashuri has great expertise in assisting transportation agencies in implementing data-driven guidebooks and practical Machine Learning software programs. Dr. Ashuri is the developer of CRAFT^©, Comprehensive Risk Assessment for Transportation, the risk analysis software developed for the Office of Program Delivery at the Georgia Department of Transportation. Dr. Ashuri also developed “Next-Gen Design-Build (DB) Assessment tool” – an automated software system specifically developed to assess the cost-effectiveness of selecting design-build for a GDOT highway project. The impact of Dr. Ashuri’s work is reflected by the several awards and honors he has received. These include the Construction Industry Institute (CII) (Outstanding Early Career Researcher), the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) (Thomas Fitch Rowland paper award), and the Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) (National Research Faculty Award). Dr. Ashuri has chaired the ASCE Construction Research Council (CRC) and served on the ASCE Construction Institute (CI) Board of Governors. Dr. Ashuri is also a member of key technical committees in FHWA and Transportation Research Board (TRB). He recently co-chaired the 2019 ASCE Construction Institute (CI) Summit.

Relevant Project Experience

• Recipient of 2013 High Value Research “Sweet Sixteen” Award by the Value of Research Task Force, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) for Recommended Guide for Next Generation of Transportation Design Build Procurement and Contracting in the State of Georgia
• Member, The Stakeholder Advisory Group, invited by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to serve as a subject matter expert for “Alternative Contracting Methods Tools” research project, September 2018–December 2019
• Member, The Subcommittee AFH20-1 Quality Management for Alternative Project Delivery, The Transportation Research Board (TRB) of the National Academies, January 2017–Present
• Member, The Stakeholder Advisory Group, invited by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to serve as a subject matter expert for “Information Source for Major Highway Projects” research project, September 2018–December 2019
• Member, The Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) Transportation and Aviation Markets Committee, August 2014–Present
• Member, ACEC – GPTQ (American Council of Engineering Companies – Georgia Partnership for Transportation Quality) Innovative Delivery Task Force, August 2019–Present
• Member, the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) Public-Private Partnership (P3) Committee, November 2016–Present
• Member, the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) Owner Consultants/Advisors Committee, January 2019–Present
• Member, Renew Atlanta Infrastructure Bond Technical Advisory Committee, City Council, Atlanta, GA, July 2015–May 2017

Relevant Publications

136 peer-reviewed articles, 44 technical report, 6 keynote/plenary talks, 56 invited conference/workshop presentations, 53 invited seminars and lectures, 7 software programs, and 1 invention disclosure