Research
Research Overview
My research aims to advance knowledge-grounded and AI-infused transportation systems that remain safe, stable, and resilient across cyber-physical-human domains. I combine theoretical modeling, multimodal learning, and generative AI to understand and mitigate disturbances that arise from automation dynamics, cyber vulnerabilities, and human variability. This approach bridges transportation science with artificial intelligence by linking traffic flow theory and control modeling with large language models and digital twins to enable resilient mobility.
For more detailed information, please visit my Google Scholar.
Journal Publications
[1] Li, Z., Ma, C., Zhou, Y., Lord, D., & Zhang, Y.* (2025). Leveraging Textual Description and Structured Data for Estimating Crash Risks of Traffic Violation: A Multimodal Learning Approach. IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems, 26(7), 9201–9213.
[2] Li, Z., Zhou, Y., Jiang, J., Zhang, Y.*, & Kulkarni, M. M. (2025). Adaptive Cruise Control under Threat: A Stochastic Active Safety Analysis of Sensing Attacks in Mixed Traffic. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 209, 107813.
[3] Li, Z., Zhou, Y.*, Zhang, Y., & Li, X. (2024). Enhancing Vehicular Platoon Stability in the Presence of Communication Cyberattacks: A Reliable Longitudinal Cooperative Control Strategy. Transportation Research Part C, 163, 104660.
[4] Li, Z., Zhou, Y., Chen, D., & Zhang, Y. (2024). Disturbances and Safety Analysis of Linear Adaptive Cruise Control for Cut-In Scenarios: A Theoretical Framework. Transportation Research Part C, 104576.
[5] Li, Z., Wei, Z., Kong, X., Zhang, Y.*, & Ma, C. (2023). Interpretable Machine Learning Framework to Study Mobility Inequity in the Recovery Phase of COVID-19 Pandemic. Travel Behaviour and Society, 33, 100621.
[6] Li, Z., Kong, X., & Zhang, Y.* (2023). Exploration of Factors Associated with Pedestrian Assertiveness While Crossing Unsignalized Intersections. Transportation Research Record, 2677(6), 182–198.
[7] Kuai, C., Wu, C., Zhou, Y., Wang, X., Yang, T., Tu, Z., Li, Z.*, & Zhang, Y.* (2026). CyPortQA: Benchmarking Multimodal Large Language Models for Cyclone Preparedness in Port Operation. AAAI Conference on Artificial Intelligence.
[8] Pu, F., Li, Z., Wu, Y.*, Ma, C., & Zhao, R. (2025). Recent Advances in Disaster Emergency Response Planning: Integrating Optimization, Machine Learning, and Simulation. Safety Emergency Science.
[9] Zhang, H., Li, S., Li, Z., Anis, M., Lord, D., & Zhou, Y.* (2025). Why Anticipatory Sensing Matters in ACC Systems under Cut-In Scenarios: A Stochastic Safety Analysis. Accident Analysis & Prevention.
[10] Wei, Z., Zhou, Y., Li, Z., Kulkarni, M., & Zhang, Y.* (2024). Supporting Equitable and Responsible Highway Safety Improvement Funding Allocation Strategies – Why AI Prediction Biases Matter. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 202, 107585.
[11] Wei, Z., Das, S., Wu, Y., Li, Z., & Zhang, Y.* (2024). Investigating the Exposure-Lag-Response Association of Hourly Weather and Speed Variation Factors on Rural Freeway Crash Risk. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 195, 107411.
[12] Yue, X., Shi, H., Zhou, Y.*, & Li, Z.. (2024). Hybrid Car-Following Control for CAVs: Integrating Linear Feedback and Deep Reinforcement Learning to Stabilize Mixed Traffic. Transportation Research Part C, 167, 104773.
[13] Kong, X., Zhang, A., Zhang, Y.*, Guo, X., Xiao, X., & Li, Z.. (2024). Investigating Relationships Between Phone Use While Driving and Drivers’ Socio-Demographic Characteristics: An Interpretable Machine Learning Approach. Data Science for Transportation, 6(2), 8.
[14] Cheng, H., Wu, L., Chen, J., Li, Z., Zhao, Y., & Zhong, M.* (2024). Experimental and Numerical Study on Fire Smoke Propagation and Ventilation Modes in Powerhouse Construction Stages. Journal of Intelligent Construction.
[15] Kong, X., Li, Z., Wallis, J. R., & Zhang, Y.* (2023). Investigating Factors Influencing Deck Conditions of Concrete and Steel Bridges Using an Interpretable Machine Learning Framework. Data Science for Transportation, 5(1), 1.
[16] Kong, X., Li, Z., Zhang, Y., Chen, X., Das, S.*, & Sheykhfard, A. (2023). Case Study on the Relationship Between Socio-Demographic Characteristics and Work-from-Home Behavior Before, During, and After COVID-19. Transportation Research Record.
[17] Wei, Z., Li, Z., Kulkarni, M., & Yue, X. (2023). Equitable Traffic Crash Prediction Framework to Support Safety Improvement Grants Allocation. ITE Journal, 96(9), 37–45.
[18] Kong, X., Li, Z., Zhang, Y.*, & Das, S. (2022). Bridge Deck Deterioration: Reasons and Patterns. Transportation Research Record.
[19] Zhou, Y., Li, Z., Meng, Y., Li, Z., & Zhong, M.* (2021). Analyzing Spatio-Temporal Impacts of Extreme Rainfall Events on Metro Ridership Characteristics. Physica A, 577, 126053.
[20] Li, Z., Tian, X., Li, Z., Zhou, W., Zhou, Z., & Zhong, M.* (2019). Risk Analysis of Metro Station Passenger Flow Based on Passenger Flow Patterns. Journal of Tsinghua University (Science & Technology), 59(10), 854–860.
Under Review & Preprints
[21] Li, Z.†, Cao, X.†, Gao, X., Tian, K., Wu, K., Anis, M., Zhang, H., Long, K., Jiang, J., Li, X., Zhang, Y., Fan, Z., Yang, T., Lord, D., Tu, Z., & Zhou, Y.* (2025). Simulating the Unseen: Urban Crash Prevention Should Learn from What Did Not Happen. Artificial Intelligence for Transportation (submitted).
[22] Li, Z.†, Kuai, C.†, Rosen, B., Paal, S., Jafari, N., Briaud, J., Zhang, Y., Hashash, Y., & Zhou, Y.* (2025). Knowledge-Grounded Agentic Large Language Models for Multi-Hazard Understanding from Reconnaissance Reports. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction (submitted).
[23] Li, Z., Lin, Q., Pu, F., Ahn, S., Zhang, Y., Jiang, J., & Zhou, Y.* (2025). Unveiling Traffic Wave of Linear Adaptive Cruise Control: A Second-Order Macroscopic Traffic Flow Model. ISTTT26 (under 2nd review).
[24] Li, Z., Pu, F., Ahn, S.*, & Zhou, Y.* (2025). Modeling Cascading Impact of Driver Intervention in Partial Automation Traffic: A Semi-Markov Chain Approach. Transportation Research Part B (under review).
[25] Kuai, C., Li, Z.*, Zhang, Y.*, Wang, X., Lord, D., & Zhou, Y. (2025). U.S. Port Disruptions under Tropical Cyclones: Resilience Analysis by Harnessing Multiple-Source Dataset. Transportation Research Part D (under review).
[26] Yue, X., Zhang, Y., Li, Z.*, & Zhou, Y. (2025). Markov-Based Analytical Approximation for Mixed Traffic Delay at Signalized Intersections. Transportation Research Record (under review).
[27] Zhang, H., Yue, X., Tian, K., Li, S., Wu, K., Li, Z., Lord, D., & Zhou, Y.* (2025). Virtual Roads, Smarter Safety: A Digital Twin Framework for Mixed Autonomous Traffic Safety Analysis. IEEE Internet of Things Journal (under 2nd review).
[28] Zhang, H., Li, Z., Wu, K., Lord, D., Tu, Z., & Zhou, Y.* (2025). On the Collision Risk of Stochastic Traffic: Analytical Approximation in 2D and 3D Spaces for Generic Vehicles. Transportation Research Part B (under review).
[29] Wu, K., Li, Z., Li, S., Ye, X., Lord, D., & Zhou, Y.* (2025). AI2-Active Safety: AI-Enabled Interaction-Aware Active Safety Analysis with Vehicle Dynamics. Accident Analysis & Prevention (submitted).
[30] Leungbootnak, N., Li, Z., Wei, Z., Lord, D., & Zhang, Y. (2025). Innovative Logit-Inspired Distribution for Modeling Headway of Heterogeneous Traffic Flow. Transportation Research Record (submitted).
[31] Chen, N., Liu, L., Li, Z., Zhu, Z., Cong, W., Hong, J., Yang, Y., Tu, Z., Wang, Y., Wang, Z., Zhou, Y., & Fan, Z. (2026). CrashTwin: Physical-Aware Stress Testing of World Models for Safety-Critical Accidents. CVPR (submitted).
[32] Luo, X., Yang, F., Fan, D., Gao, X., Xing, S., Li, Z., Tu, Z., Zhou, Y., & Liu, C. (2026). V2X-UniPool: Unifying Multimodal Perception and Knowledge Reasoning for Autonomous Driving. ICLR (under review).
In Preparation
[33] Li, Z., Zhou, Y.*, & Zhang, Y. (in prep). Enhanced Reliable Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control under Communication Cyberattacks: Multi-Path Evaluation with Evidence Theory. Transportation Research Part C (in preparation).
[34] Li, Z.†, Kuai, C.†, Ma, C., Zhang, Y.*, & Wang, X. (in prep). Enhancing Port Resilience to Impending Tropical Cyclones: Estimating Impact Ranking with Recommendation Algorithm. Transportation Research Part D (in preparation).
[35] Li, Z., Rosen, B., Zhang, H., Ahn, S., & Zhou, Y.* (in prep). Digital to Physical: LLM-Based Highway Traffic Simulation for Real-World Consistency via Self-Reflection. Transportation Research Part C (in preparation).
[36] Pu, F., Li, Z., Ahn, S., Rathinam, S., Zheng, M., & Zhou, Y. (in prep). C3M2AT: Cyclic Modulation Control of Multi-Conflict Connected Automated Traffic. Transportation Research Part B (in preparation).