Imad L Al-Qadi

Imad L. Al-Qadi is a distinguished Professor and W. W. Grainger Chair in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). He serves as Director of the Illinois Center for Transportation (ICT) and the Smart Transportation Infrastructure Initiative (STII). His expertise spans sustainable infrastructure, pavement engineering, and transportation systems, with a focus on asphalt technology, nondestructive evaluation, and autonomous vehicle impacts. Al-Qadi holds a Ph.D. from Penn State University and has held academic roles at Virginia Tech and Penn State. He is a Distinguished Member of ASCE and has authored over 1,000 publications.

Education:

• Ph.D., Civil Engineering, Penn State University, 1990
• M.Eng., Civil Engineering, Penn State University, 1986
• B.S., Civil Engineering, Yarmouk University, 1984

Research Interests:

Al-Qadi’s work addresses sustainable and resilient infrastructure, asphalt pavement mechanics, rolling resistance, and energy harvesting. His research integrates advanced modeling, GPR technology, and life-cycle assessment to improve pavement sustainability and durability. He leads initiatives like the Illinois Autonomous and Connected Track (I-ACT), advancing smart mobility infrastructure.

Key Contributions:

• Established the Smart Road research facility at Virginia Tech
• Elevated ICT to international prominence
• Developed innovative testing methods for pavement materials and structures

Awards & Recognition:

• 2024 Executive Officer Distinguished Leadership Award
• TRB Roy W. Crum Distinguished Service Award (2023)
• ARTBA S.S. Steinberg Award (2013)
• ASCE James Laurie Prize (2007)

Grants & Advising:

Principal investigator on over 180 projects funded by federal agencies and industry. Advised numerous students who won awards from FHWA, FAA, and ASCE. Key projects include pavement recycling optimization, electric truck infrastructure impact, and autonomous vehicle testing tracks.

Labs & Teams:

Directs the Advanced Transportation Research and Engineering Laboratory (ATERL) and leads the Illinois Center for Transportation (ICT). Collaborates globally on initiatives like I-ACT, a high-speed test track for autonomous and connected vehicles.