UROP Project

Resilient Underground Subway Infrastructure Maintenance Planning

transportation, subway/metro systems, infrastructure resilience, public transportation, infrastructure maintenance

Research Mentor: Dr. Ziyue (Jelly) Li, he/his/him
Department, College, Affiliation: Civil and Environmental Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
Contact Email: zl23n@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:

Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 6
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors
Project Location: Fully Remote
Research Assistant Transportation Required: No, the project is remote
Remote or In-person: Fully Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:

• Day: Friday, September 4
  Start Time: 12:00
  End Time: 12:30
  Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/2236120485
• Day: Friday, September 4
  Start Time: 12:30
  End Time: 1:00
  Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/2236120485

Project Description

You will participate in the Transforming Urban Underground Infrastructure (TUUI) Collaborative Activity Group, titled “Resilient Underground Subway Infrastructure Maintenance Planning.” This project aims to improve our understanding of how aging underground subway infrastructure can be monitored, maintained, and managed to improve system resilience and reduce service disruptions, congestion, and economic losses. These challenges are becoming increasingly important as subway systems age and face growing risks from climate-related hazards such as flooding.

The project focuses on key underground subway assets, including tunnels, rail tracks, power systems, and signal systems. Potential research topics include infrastructure degradation and condition assessment, state-of-the-art infrastructure health monitoring technologies, vulnerability to natural hazards, data availability and integration, and maintenance planning practices used by transit agencies in different regions. Students may also explore how infrastructure conditions and maintenance decisions affect subway service quality, reliability, and ridership.

You are encouraged to explore a research topic related to this broader theme based on your interests. Possible activities include conducting surveys or interviews with transit agencies or transportation professionals in New York City, Atlanta, or other domestic and international cities; collecting and analyzing publicly available data on subway infrastructure and service performance; conducting statistical or other data analyses; and reviewing and synthesizing the relevant academic and industry literature. The specific research question and methods can be developed based on the student's interests and background.

Students interested in subway systems in the UK and Japan are particularly encouraged to apply. These countries provide valuable and contrasting cases for studying underground subway infrastructure, maintenance, and resilience, and the project will draw on international cases and research collaborations involving these systems.

More information about the project can be found here: https://tuui.civil.gmu.edu/resilient_underground/

Research Tasks: Flexible, depending on the student's interests and background. Potential research tasks include literature review, data collection, data analysis, surveys and interviews, and other research activities related to resilient subway infrastructure and maintenance planning.

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: No specific skills are required. Good communication, writing, and critical thinking skills are desirable.