Corey D. Harper (E 2014, 2017)

Assistant Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Area of Expertise

Alternative Vehicles, Economics, Power Systems & Smart Grid, Public Policy, Transportation Systems

Bio

Corey Harper is an Assistant Professor in the Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) Department and Heinz School of Information Systems and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU).

Harper directs the Future Mobility Systems Lab at CMU. Harper’s research interest lies in applying modeling and simulation tools (e.g., agent-based models or regional traffic models) and multi- source data analytics to assess the equity, environmental, congestion, and policy implications of emerging technologies on the transportation system.

In the past, Harper’s research has focused on climate resilient transportation systems and automation in transportation. Here, he has used cost-benefit analysis, modeling and simulation, and machine learning to ask questions such as “how does rain impact congestion on the transportation network” and “how could robocars impact parking revenues in our central business districts.”

Harper is also the recipient of the Elsevier ATLAS Best Paper Award for his work looking at the equity impacts of automation. In 2016, he was invited to become a Young Member on the Transportation Research Board Standing Committee for Vehicle-Highway Automation.

Before joining the faculty at CMU, Harper was a consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton, supporting clients on technical and policy issues related to cyber-physical systems, especially helping the United States Department of Transportation with the integration of connected and automated vehicles.

Education

Ph.D. Civil and Environmental Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University (2017)

M.S. Civil and Environmental Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University (2014)

B.S. Civil Engineering, Morgan State University (2013)

Research

Dr. Harper’s research is focused on using transportation modeling, machine learning, and policy analysis tools to assess how emerging transportation technologies could affect safety, energy use, and equity. In one line of research he evaluates impact of shared bikes and scooters on congestion, access, and transportation sector energy use. Another line of work uses simulation to look at the sustainability and equity trade-offs of shared automated vehicles under different policy scenarios.

Publications

• Grahn, R., Harper, C. D., Hendrickson, C., Qian, Z., & Matthews, H. S. (2019). Socioeconomic and Usage Characteristics of Transportation Network Company (TNC) Riders. Transportation, 1-21.
• Khan, A., Harper, C. D., Hendrickson, C. T., & Samaras, C. (2019). Net-societal and Net-private Benefits of Some Existing Vehicle Crash Avoidance Technologies. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 125, 207-216.
• Harper, C. D., Hendrickson, C. T., & Samaras, C. (2018). Exploring the Economic, Environmental, and Travel Implications of Changes in Parking Choices Due to Driverless Vehicles: An Agent-based Simulation Approach. Journal of Urban Planning and Development, 144(4), 04018043.
• Harper, C. D., Hendrickson, C. T., Mangones, S., & Samaras, C. (2016). Estimating Potential Increases in Travel with Autonomous Vehicles for the Non-driving, Elderly and People with Travel-restrictive Medical Conditions. Transportation research part C: Emerging Technologies, 72, 1-9.
• Harper, C. D., Hendrickson, C. T., & Samaras, C. (2016). Cost and Benefit Estimates of Partially-automated Vehicle Collision Avoidance Technologies. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 95, 104-115.