ASCE has honored Sean Qian, Ph.D., M.ASCE, with the 2026 Francis C. Turner Award for outstanding research work on the integral ion and optimization of transportation as a cyber-physical system incorporating new technologies, services, and information flows.
Qian was the founder and continuing leader for the Carnegie Mellon University Mobility Analytics Center (MAC). This center has synthesized a variety of real-time and static data feeds, including both traditional sources such as roadway characteristics, volume counts and bus locations, but also novel sources such as Twitter reports of transportation incidents. With the use of advanced data analytics, the MAC can assess possibilities for improved management of transportation networks. The MAC system has been applied to assess and reduce impacts of the Greenfield Bridge closure and the McKees Rocks intermodal terminal construction in Pittsburgh.
Qian has now gone on to work on improvements for local bus service in Moon Township, rural transportation in Greene County, and loading zone parking in Pittsburgh. The MAC deployed predictive analyses of traffic incidents in Cranberry Township and recommended traffic signal timing plans for the traffic management center staff to mitigate traffic 30 minutes in advance of congestion. We expect that MAC will have growing use and impact both in Western Pennsylvania and nationally.
Qian has founded a CMU spin-off company, TraffiQure Technologies, to transfer his federally funded University Transportation Center (UTC) research to commercial applications, which is the vision of the UTC program. He has recently sponsored a workshop and launched a Digital Infrastructure & Services Initiative with founding corporate partners Honda Research and Fujitsu and local partners including the City of Pittsburgh and the Regional Industrial Development Corporation to form a university-industry-government collaboration to address societal issues, particularly related to mobility, energy, wireless communications, and human activities. Qian’s research has encompassed new and transformative developments for transportation systems.
The lectureship was established by the Transportation and Development Institute (formerly the Highway and Urban Transportation Divisions) of the Society by the solicitation of gifts from the many friends and admirers of Francis C. Turner, Hon.M.ASCE, former chief engineer of the Bureau of Public Roads and retired Federal Highway Administrator. It recognizes contributions to the advancement of the knowledge and practice of transportation engineering.
