Exhibit D - Research Project Requirement: PDF Link

Project Outcome Brief: PDF Link

Final Report: TBD

Project Summary: The project aims to develop an optimal and safe route for freight transportation in rural areas. Transportation of goods in remote regions often faces challenges such as inadequate road infrastructure, limited access to real-time information, and potential safety hazards. This project seeks to address these issues by utilizing advanced technologies and data-driven approaches. The primary objective is to design an intelligent routing system that takes into account various factors, including road conditions, weather conditions, traffic congestion, and the nature of the cargo being transported. To achieve this, the project will employ a combination of geographic information systems (GIS), machine learning algorithms, and sensor technologies.

• Smart Parking Strategy for Freight Infrastructure Planning in North Carolina

1. Saeidi, S., Kaisar, E., & Moreno, F. (2025). A novel multi-objective inventory routing problem with backhaul orders in a multi-attribute multigraph considering access tax. Presented at 23rd European Control Conference (ECC), Thessaloniki, Greece. https://doi.org/10.23919/ECC65951.2025.11187200

2. Saeidi, S., Moreno, F., Kaisar, E., Ni, Z., & Shahin, M. (2025). Risk-aware inventory routing in rural transportation system with link-access tolls: A rural logistics case study. The 30th International Conference on Technologies and Applications of Artificial Intelligence (TAAI 2025), Taipei, Taiwan. https://doi.org/10.36227/techrxiv.176153530.05723416/v1

3. Liu, D., Kaisar, E., Yang, Y., & Yan, P. (2022). Physical Internet-enabled E-grocery delivery network: A load-dependent two-echelon vehicle routing problem with mixed vehicles. International Journal of Production Economics, 254, 108632. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpe.2022.108632

4. Saeidi, S., Moreno, F., Kaisar, E., & Ni, Z. Risk-Aware Inventory Routing in Rural Transportation System with Link-Access Tolls: A Rural Logistics Case Study. Journal of Transportation Engineering, Part A: Systems (under review), 2025.

5. Saeidi, S., & Kaisar, E. Rural Multi-Period Inventory Pickup and Delivery Problem with Multi-Attribute Alternative Routes: A Case Study. Transportation Planning and Technology (under review), 2025.

6. Saeidi, S., & Kaisar, E. Rural multi-period inventory pickup and delivery problem with multi-attribute alternative routes: A case study. Journal of Transportation Planning and Technology (under review).

1. Saeidi, S., Kaisar, E., & Moreno, F. (2025). A multi-objective inventory routing problem considering multi-attribute alternative links (time and risk) with backhaul orders. Presented at 7th Interdisciplinary Conference (ICPLT), Darmstadt, Germany.

2. Saeidi, S., Kaisar, E., & Moreno, F. (2025). A novel multi-objective inventory routing problem with backhaul orders in a multi-attribute multigraph considering access tax. Presented at 23rd European Control Conference (ECC), Thessaloniki, Greece.

3. Saeidi, S., & Kaisar, E. (2026). Rural multi-period inventory pickup and delivery problem with multi-attribute alternative routes: A case study. 105th Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C.

4. Saeidi, S., Shah, D., Kaisar, E., Moreno, F., Gulati, K., Chen, M., Huang, P., Pandey, V., & Ni, Z. (2024). Intelligent routing system for safe and efficient freight transportation in rural areas using autonomous truck platooning. Transpo2024.

5. Saeidi, S., Kaisar, E., Gulati, K., & Pandey, V. (2024). Deploying smart parking systems in rural areas: Integrating GIS and real-time data analytics to mitigate illegal truck parking. Transpo2024.

6. Saeidi, S., Kaisar, E., & Moreno, F. A Multi-Objective Inventory Routing Problem with Backhaul Orders in a Multi-Attribute Multigraph with Access Tax: A Case Study. METRANS International Urban Freight Conference, Los Angeles, California, 2024.

7. Saeidi, S., Nagarajan, S., & Kaisar, E. Evaluating the Readiness of Rural Florida Communities for Autonomous Vehicle Adoption. METRANS International Urban Freight Conference, Los Angeles, California, April 2024.

8. Kaisar, E., Saeidi, S., Gulati, K., & Pandey, V. Deploying Smart Parking Systems in Rural Areas: Integrating GIS and Real-Time Data Analytics to Mitigate Illegal Truck Parking. Oral presentation at the Transpo Conference, Orlando, Florida, August 25–28, 2024.

9. Liu, D., & Kaisar, E. (2023). Improving the sustainability of an e-grocery delivery network by integrating autonomous delivery vehicles. 26th IEEE International Conference on Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITSC 2023), Spain.

10. Pandey, V. (2024). Optimizing freight delivery in urban environments: Challenges and opportunities with autonomous vehicles. Presented at the North Carolina Autonomous Vehicle Symposium.

11. Liatsos, V., Ioannou, I., Golias, M., & Kaisar, E. (2024). Fuel emission reduction by the hybrid capacitated truck platooning. IEEE Forum for Innovative Sustainable Transportation Systems 2024.

Optimal and Safe Route for Freight Transportation in Rural Areas, Evangelos Kaisar (FAU), April 16, 2026, Southeast Annual Symposium  on Freight and Mobility, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Optimal and Safe Route for Freight Transportation in Rural Areas, Komal Gulati (NCAT); Soheila Saeidi (FAU), Peng Huang (FAU), Venkatesh Pandey (NCAT), Evangelos Kaisar , Mei Chen (UKY), Joint CATM and CR2C2 Symposium,  April 18, 2024.

Identifying Critical Freight Corridors in Kentucky Using a Multi-Path Logit-Based Assignment Approach,  Deepak Raj Shah (UKY), Xu Zhang (UKY), Mei Chen (UKY), Southeast Annual Symposium  on Freight and Mobility, April 14-16, 2026, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Strategic Truck Parking Solutions Through Facility Location and Reservation: A Multi-State Case Study,  Komal Gulati (NCAT), Venktesh Pandey (NCAT), Soheila Saeidi (FAU), Evangelos Kaisar (FAU), Southeast Annual Symposium  on Freight and Mobility, April 14-16, 2026, University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Enhancing Rural Freight Network Resilience in Kentucky, Deepak Raj Shah (University of Kentucky), Xu Zhang (University of Kentucky),  Mei Chen (University of Kentucky), Joint CATM and CR2C2 Symposium, April 17-18, 2024.  

Optimal and Safe Route for Freight Transportation in Rural Areas, Deepak Shah (UKY), Dr. Evangelos Kaisar (FAU), Komal Gulati (NCAT), Dr. Mei Chen (UKY), Peng Huang (FAU), Soheila Saeidi (FAU), Dr. Venktesh Pandey (NCAT), Dr. Zhen Ni (FAU), Joint CATM and CR2C2 Symposium, April 17-18, 2024.