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InTrans

Institute for Transportation

InTrans|People

Wasama Abdullah

TITLE

Research Engineer, CTRE

PHONE

515-294-8103

EMAIL

wasama@iastate.edu

AFFILIATIONS

InTrans, CTRE

About Wasama

Ms. Wasama Abdullah is a research engineer at Iowa State University’s Institute for Transportation. She contributes to transportation safety projects involving connected vehicle data, second Strategic Highway Program (SHRP2) naturalistic driving data, and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) related technologies, with applications in traffic simulation modeling and the development of evidence-based safety strategies.

Her research integrates big data analytics, automation, spatial and temporal analyses, and web-based mapping to examine driver behavior and roadway interactions, alongside speed modeling, vehicle trajectory analysis, and statistical modeling to support behavior-driven evaluations.

Education


  • PhD, Transportation Engineering, Iowa State University (Expected)
  • MS, Transportation Engineering, Iowa State University, 2020
  • BS, Civil Engineering, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan, 2017

Certifications


  • Engineer-in-Training (EIT-0105)
  • McTrans Course: Highway Safety Analysis Based on HSM/HSS, Spring 2022
  • Designing Signalized Intersections Program, Spring 2022

Professional Experience


  • Research Engineer, Center for Transportation Research and Education, Institute for Transportation, 2025–present
    • Builds upon prior graduate assistantship responsibilities with expanded scope across a dynamic speed feedback sign (DSFS) project for Iowa DOT, Horizontal Sightline Offset (HSO) methodology development, and speed management workshops for a National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) project (NCHRP 14-117).
    • Leads the evaluation of ADAS impacts using the SHRP2 naturalistic driving data, focusing on real-world driver behavior, treatment site interactions, and behavioral modeling for a Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) project
    • Develops automated workflows in ArcGIS and ArcPy using directional logic and custom geospatial identifiers for spatial processing of large-scale waypoint data.
    • Applies traffic simulation modeling, temporal trend analysis, and ADT-based visualizations to assess safety impacts and operational outcomes.
    • Conducts statistical modeling, speed profiling, and behavior-driven evaluations to support evidence-based safety strategies across multiple project contexts.
  • Graduate Research Assistant, Institute for Transportation, 2024–2025
    • Utilized connected vehicle and NDS data to identify influence zones, generate speed profiles, and analyze driver behaviors and speeding patterns for a DSFS project funded by the Iowa DOT, among other responsibilities.
    • Contributed to the research and technical documentation of deriving new mathematical methodologies to calculate HSO in alignment with American Association State Highway Transportation Officals (AASHTO) and roadway design standards.
    • Collaborated on logistical support & identified stakeholders for input on NCHRP 14-117
  • Civil Engineer, Foth Infrastructure & Environment, LLC, Johnston IA, 2020–2023
    • Played a key role in the City of Johnston Comprehensive Traffic Study, conducted several traffic and safety impact studies across various scales and significance, conducted multiple location-specific studies, created comprehensive roadway design plans and sheets, and performed field reviews as a Resident Engineer/Observer
  • Transportation Safety Data Analyst Intern, Iowa Department of Transportation, 2020
    • Conducted safety performance analyses using GIS data to evaluate the impact of implemented countermeasures, reviewed Intersection Conflict Warning System (ICWS) locations, and collaborated with the traffic and safety team to assess wrong-way driving locations and proposed solutions for high-risk sites.
  • Graduate Research Assistant, Institute for Transportation, 2018–2020
    • Actively provided support for the on-demand Iowa Traffic Safety Data Service (ITSDS) requests, coordinated the Iowa DOT Intersections data project, and contributed to the Iowa DOT’s adoption of the FHWA Highway Safety Manual (HSM) calibration tool
  • Part-time Site Engineer, Global Engineering Consortium (GEC), Amman, Jordan, 2018
  • Transportation Planning and Procurement Engineer, Al-Derah Contracting Company (DCC), Amman, Jordan, 2017–2018

Selected Presentations


  • Transforming Roundabout Design with Data Driven Speed Prediction, Missouri Valley District of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (MOVITE) Poster Competition, 2024
  • Using Big Data for Safety Network Screening, Iowa Section of Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Annual Meeting, 2023
  • Quantifying the Relationship Between Skid Resistance and Crashes for Iowa Roadways, Iowa Section of ITE Annual Meeting, 2021

Professional Affiliations, Honors, and Service


  • President, Transportation Students Association (TSA), 2024–present
  • Chair, Events Committee, Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS), 2023–present
  • Member, Institute of Transportation Engineers, 2020–present
  • Jan Kibbe Student Scholarship, Missouri Valley District ITE (MOVITE), 2025
  • Iowa Section of ITE: Inaugural Student Excellence Scholarship, 2024
  • Helene M. Overly Memorial Graduate Scholarship, WTS, 2019
  • Undergraduate National Excellence Scholarship, Elia Nuqul Foundation, 2012–2016
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