About Simita Biswas

Simita Biswas started her PhD in Transportation Engineering at University of Alberta from September 2017, under the supervision of Dr. Tae J. Kwon. She received her MSc degree in Transportation Engineering from University of Alberta in 2016 and BSc in Civil Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). Her current research focus is winter transportation engineering and optimization of ITS facilities. She enjoys painting, dancing, swimming, travelling and photography.  

Professional Activity

• Vice President (Culture) of Bangladeshi Student Association at University of Alberta (BSAUA) (January 2018 – January 2019)

•  Current Executive Committee Member (Youth Secretary) of Bangladesh Canada Association of Edmonton (BCAE - https://www.bcae.ca/) (January 2022 – December 2022)

Awards/Scholarships

• Runner up for URISA Alberta Graduate Student Scholarship Competition and one of the top-three winners of the one-year URISA Alberta student membership.  (2019 - 2020)

• President’s Doctoral Prize of Distinction (PDPD) (May 2019 – April 2021) 

• Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarship - Doctoral (CGS D) (May 2019 – April 2021)

• Alberta Innovates Graduate Student Scholarship (September 2021 – August 2022)

Research Interests

•   Winter Transportation Engineering

•   Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) 

•   Geostatistical Analysis and Optimization of Road Weather Information System (RWIS) 

Academic Events

•  Attended Transportation Research Board (TRB) 98th Annual Meeting from 13th to 17th January 2019, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center,  in Washington, D.C. and presented two posters on my research. 

•  Attended International Conference on Transportation Innovation (ICTI) on 6th and 7th September 2018, at University of Alberta and presented poster  on my research 

Publications

1. Biswas, S., and Kwon, T. J. (2020). Developing Statewide Optimal RWIS Density Guidelines Using Space-Time Semivariogram Models. Journal of Sensors, 2020, 1208692

2. Biswas S., M. Wu, S. J. Melles, and T. J. Kwon. (2019). Use of Topography, Weather Zones, and Semivariogram Parameters to Optimize Road Weather Information System Station Density across Large Spatial Scales. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board. 

3. Biswas, S., Hashemian, L., and Bayat, A. (2018). Investigation of Pothole Severity and Maintenance Methods in Canada through Questionnaire Survey. Journal of Cold Regions Engineering, 32(2), 04018002.

4. Biswas, S., Hashemian, L., Hasanuzzaman, M., and Bayat, A. (2016). A study on pothole repair in Canada through questionnaire survey and laboratory evaluation of patching materials. Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering, 43(5), 443-450.

5. Biswas, S., Hashemian, L., and Bayat, A. (2016). Investigation on seasonal variation of thermal-induced strain in flexible pavements based on field and laboratory measurements. International Journal of Pavement Research and Technology, 9(5), 354-362.

6. Shafiee, M. H., Biswas, S., Zadeh, N. T., Hashemian, L., and Bayat, A. (2017). Investigation of thermal-induced strains in flexible pavements based on field data. Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering, 44(4), 244-252.

7. Shafiee, M. H., Biswas, S., Zadeh, N. T., and Bayat, A. (2015). Investigation of Thermal-Induced Strains in Flexible Pavements. Conference of the Transportation Association of Canada, 29th September, 2015. Charlottetown, PEI.