About Zhenyu (Jade) Zhao:

Zhenyu Zhao (Jade) is a visiting PhD student from Tongji University, supported by the China Scholarship Council (CSC) Joint Training Program. She is currently enrolled in an integrated Master–PhD program in Transportation Engineering and joined the GeoTrans Lab in 2025 under the supervision of Dr. Tae J. Kwon.

Her research focuses on transportation safety, urban low-altitude traffic conflict analysis, and the investigation of automated vehicle crash mechanisms. At Tongji University, she has been involved in projects related to crash data modeling, conflict detection, and risk evaluation across emerging transportation systems.

Jade’s academic experience includes statistical modeling, traffic conflict analysis, and the application of machine learning to understand safety performance in both ground and low-altitude urban mobility systems. Her long-term goal is to contribute to safer, smarter, and more resilient transportation systems in rapidly evolving urban environments.

Outside of research, Jade enjoys exploring new cities, photography, and spending time with friends.

Research Interests

• Transportation Safety and Crash Analysis

• Urban Low-Altitude Traffic Conflict Detection and Modeling

• Automated Vehicle Crash Mechanisms and Safety Evaluation

• Data-Driven Methods in Transportation Engineering