AI 101: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence for Transportation Professionals (On-Demand)

This introductory short course is designed for transportation professionals to provide a foundational understanding of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its potential applications in the transportation sector. During this four-hour session, participants will learn key concepts and terminology related to AI and explore its applications in the context of transportation. This course serves as the first part of a three-part series on AI for transportation professionals, with each subsequent module diving deeper into specific topics.

Outcomes/Outline

• Grasp the core concepts and definitions of AI and its role in transportation. 
• Understand different types of AI, including machine learning and deep learning. 
• Gain insights into initial applications of AI in transportation through real-world case studies. 
• Prepare for more advanced topics in subsequent modules of the AI for Transportation series.

Instructor Bio:

Yinhai Wang

Dr. Yinhai Wang is a professor in transportation engineering and the founding director of the Smart Transportation Applications and Research Laboratory (STAR Lab) at the University of Washington (UW). He also serves as director for Pacific Northwest Transportation Consortium (PacTrans), USDOT University Transportation Center for Federal Region 10, director for the Northwestern Tribal Technical Assistance Program (NW TTAP) Center, and director for Washington State Transportation Center (TRAC). His active research fields include traffic sensing, AI methods and applications, transportation data science, edge computing, transportation safety, traffic operations and simulation, and smart urban mobility. Dr. Wang is a professional engineer registered in Washington, a member of the Washington State Academy of Sciences, a Distinguished Member of ASCE, and a fellow of both IEEE and ITE.

Muhammad Karim

Dr. Muhammad Karim is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Washington, specializing in the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to transportation systems. He holds a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering and has extensive experience in developing and implementing AI-driven solutions for real- world transportation challenges. His expertise lies in deep learning, computer vision, and edge-AI, with a focus on visual recognition and prediction for improved transportation efficiency and safety. With a strong passion for integrating cutting-edge AI technologies into practical transportation solutions, Dr. Karim brings valuable insights and expertise to advancing the field of intelligent transportation systems.