DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL , ENVIRONMENTAL , AND INFRASTRUCTURE
Dear alumni and friends,
It is my great pleasure to share our annual report for 2024. This report illuminates some examples of the hard work and successes of our students, staff, and faculty that have helped to make us an academic force in Virginia.
From strengthening the ability of our infrastructure to withstand hazard events to creating the next generation of public transit, our faculty and students are working to invent a safer, more sustainable, connected, and brilliant future.
The future is bright for civil engineering at George Mason. Our ASCE student chapter hosted the Mid-Atlantic West American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Student Symposium with our field’s favorite competitions, like racing student-designed and constructed concrete canoes and building and testing not-so-miniature steel bridges. And our students are shining in these and other competitions, taking home awards from ASCE regional and national events.
Our Engineers for International Development (EfID) also continue to shine, earning student scholarships and winning prestigious awards, including awards at the Virginia Water Environment Association Wastewater and Environmental Student Design Competitions and the 2024 National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying Engineering Education Award for impactful water distribution work in Ecuador. This year, we proudly founded an American Water Works Association student chapter and achieved another milestone by winning their student water challenge.
While competitions are fun, our mission as faculty and students is about something much deeper; it is about shaping a brighter future for humanity. Over the past year, our EfID students have been changing lives for the better. In their current project, they are constructing a reliable water supply system powered by renewable energy for the community of Los Andes, Costa Rica. The next phase includes installing a distribution network and a water treatment facility to bring clean water directly to an elementary school in the community. Elsewhere, our students are providing GIS mapping for Huacas, Costa Rica, documenting the complete water distribution system using GPS data. These efforts reflect our department’s commitment to creating sustainable solutions for communities worldwide.
With our research inventing the future, our students shaping the future, and support of our CEI Board building our future, our way forward is bright, and the path is sunny. I hope you enjoy reading about some of our accomplishments and activities. We remain grateful for your interest in civil engineering at George Mason!
Sincerely,
Elise Miller-Hooks, PhD, Professor, and Department Chair Bill and Eleanor Hazel Endowed Chair in Infrastructure Engineering
Please stay in touch and follow us on LinkedIn @George Mason Civil Engineering Department.
Dear members and friends,
In 2024, the National Science Foundation continued to recognize George Mason University’s demonstrated excellence in engineering in their rankings as they moved George Mason Engineering up five places to No. 73 nationally among all universities (an impressive gain of 69 places since 2018) and four spots to No. 52 across all public institutions. The Civil Engineering Institute (CEI) is honored to continue our mission to support this vibrant community by bringing together industry partners, faculty, and students across the full spectrum of our industry as well as across the many generations of practitioners.
We see the agility and evolution of what is next for civil engineering through the university’s enrichment in their core civil engineering curriculum as well as their exciting engagement of civil engineering into the intersections and expansions that include AI, digital twin, and interdisciplinary study. From advancing riveting research in self-healing concrete and the use of AI in the built environment to inspiring the next generation of civil engineer entrepreneurs, George Mason continues to light the way forward.
The CEI board of directors and members integrate with and serve the George Mason community as adjunct professors, student mentors, leads, and supporters for the vibrant student groups that make the George Mason experience resonate. CEI supports the school’s ABET accreditation, shares industry perspectives, and provides resources for student scholarships, programs, awards, and engagements.
We invite and welcome all of you—recent graduates, active practitioners, retired engineering industry veterans, and any who wish to support our mission and George Mason’s engineering community. If you are interested in joining CEI, please contact us and we will be happy to answer your questions and discuss how you can make a positive difference in the development and growth of our future civil engineers.
Sincerely,
George Guszcza, E.Eng, CPEM, CCM Chair, Civil Engineering Institute Board of Directors
Engineering Resilience, From Hurricanes to Communities
With her dedication to resilience and a passion for helping, Catalina Gonzalez-Duenas , an assistant professor in the Sid and Reva Dewberry Department of Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering (CEIE) is not only building stronger infrastructure—she’s shaping a future where communities can weather any storm. Her work focuses on risk and resilience around infrastructure, particularly as it pertains to hurricanes.
Gonzalez-Duenas’ research group at George Mason operates at the intersection of structural engineering, artificial intelligence, and probabilistic hazard and risk analysis to develop effective strategies that enhance resilience against extreme events, especially in the face of a changing climate. By leveraging innovative modeling techniques and data-driven insights, they help communities prepare for and adapt to the increasing frequency and intensity of these events.
“It’s becoming evident that climate change is making each hurricane season more challenging, as we’ve seen with multiple storms in fall 2024 (Beryl, Helen, Kirk, and Milton)” she said. “My research focuses on understanding how these shifting storm patterns impact infrastructure and communities, building models to help us prepare more effectively and strengthen our ability to withstand what’s now becoming more unpredictable.”
Gonzalez-Duenas is already a core member of Mason Nation. “I value the diverse and bold culture at Mason, and it’s the perfect place to pursue innovative ideas and tackle
challenging problems. The various centers focused on climate change are a testament to this spirit. I truly couldn’t ask for a better place to kick off my career!”
From Bridges to Bruises, Dave Lattanzi Creates Smarter Inspection Tools
When Associate Professor Dave Lattanzi worked as a bridge inspector, he was nearly killed three times. These close calls motivated him to search for a better way to inspect infrastructure and gain additional education. “I went back to get my PhD largely to think about how we could make the [inspection] process objective and quantifiable and link it to engineering analysis,” he said. His quest led him to use drones, point cloud analysis, and digital twins to make infrastructure inspections safer and more efficient.
Since then, Lattanzi has examined structures as diverse as 20 th-century bridges, ancient towers, the sunken hull of a Confederate submarine, a naval destroyer, and most recently, images of human bruises. This work produced a series of strategies and tools that promote safety, enhance resiliency, and improve health, all connected by data analysis and image diagnostics.
After his initial work with bridges, Lattanzi attended a NAVSEA Carderock research day and heard several researchers discussing a forensic analysis they were performing as they investigated the hull of a Civil War era submarine that had been recovered from Charleston Harbor. “What’s really interesting is they had all of the same problems…the challenges map almost one to one with the challenges I saw in infrastructure inspection,” said Lattanzi.
A tragic accident around the same time connected the two when the USS McCain suffered extensive damage from a collision in the Sea of Japan. The naval researchers and Lattanzi reasoned if they could use remote sensing to map the structural damage, they could understand the ship’s capacity to get the sailors and the destroyer safely to port. They did this by using what Lattanzi calls pixels to PSI, a process of mapping the images captured at sea to the stress analysis. Over time, the Navy has adapted what Lattanzi developed at George Mason and used it in many applications including naval operations.
Most recently, Lattanzi has joined forces with researchers in George Mason University’s College of Public Health. Now, he and the team of Kat Scafide and Janusz Wojtusiak , are using what he knows about deep learning and image analysis to develop a tool to help clinicians and others assess bruises on victims of domestic violence. The research examines bruising on people with darker skin tones, who experience worse outcomes in the healthcare and legal system because their injuries are harder to see. Lattanzi hopes to develop a tool that is equitable, generalizable, and lightweight so it can be used in the field by clinicians who need it most to help vulnerable populations.
Lattanzi’s curiosity and big-picture worldview helps him translate research into practical applications. He cares about translation and emphasizes the need for engineers to develop user-friendly tools for people who need them.
“When we ask questions and think big, we can solve all kinds of problems,” he said. “Civil engineers need to dream big. We will be at the center of climate change resilience and smart cities of the future.”
“When we ask questions and think big, we can solve all kinds of problems. Civil engineers need to dream big. We will be at the center of climate change resilience and smart cities of the future.”
Watts Powering the Next Generation of Public Transit
Wenying Ji , an assistant professor in the CEIE, teaming with principal investigator (PI) Jie Xue from George Mason’s Department of Systems Engineering and Operations Research (SEOR) and others from George Mason and University of Virginia, is co-principal investigator for a new transdisciplinary $1.5 million study funded by the National Science Foundation.
The study’s goal is to create a scalable, sustainable path for public transit systems to transition to electric buses. This involves developing intelligent decisionsupport tools that help in planning and managing fleets, while considering the unique challenges of electric buses compared to traditional ones. For instance, factors like charging capacity and
location are more crucial for electric buses due to their limited range and longer refueling times than conventional buses.
As part of the team, Ji will leverage his expertise in spatiotemporal infrastructure system modeling and community demand estimation to facilitate future e-bus transition and charging infrastructure planning. The deliverables will serve as decision-support tools to smooth the electrification of public and school buses for community partners.
The project will bring together various partners, including local transit agencies, schools, utility companies, bus service providers, and national labs, to develop innovative technologies that meet both analytical and practical needs. These technologies will include advanced machine-learning and optimization tools to handle the complexities and uncertainties of electrifying bus fleets.
These tools will help optimize daily operations, such as maintaining the right charge levels in buses, managing charging schedules, responding to incidents, and performing maintenance—all while ensuring the buses are used efficiently and the overall costs remain competitive.
At the end of the project, the researchers will deploy the CREATE Suite, a set of intelligent decision-support tools developed during the study in a pilot program in collaboration with public transit systems and school districts that are partnering in the project.
At the end of the project, the researchers will deploy the CREATE Suite, a set of intelligent decisionsupport tools developed during the study in a pilot program in collaboration with public transit systems and school districts that are partnering in the project. The project will also establish an electric bus clearinghouse as a centralized platform to disseminate lessons learned, best practices, and other information to help other transit agencies and schools electrify their bus fleets.
George Mason REACHes for Regional Health Policy Solutions
As the planet’s climate shifts, so does the health of its inhabitants. Rising temperatures, wildfires, and worsening air quality are environmental and public health concerns.
With a new $3.69 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Research and Engagement for Action in Climate and Health (REACH)
Center is set to tackle the urgent intersection of climate change and public health in the nation’s
capital. George Mason University is part of a team of institutions working on environmental health innovation that includes George Washington University (GWU), Howard University, and the Environmental Defense Fund.
The REACH Center is one of 16 new exploratory research centers funded by the NIH Climate Change and Health Initiative (CCHI). These centers will support the development of innovative transdisciplinary research into the complex impacts of climate change on health.
Lucas Henneman , an assistant professor in the CEIE, is leading a research project within the center studying climate policy in Washington, D.C. He’ll look at congestion pricing— charging a toll for vehicles traveling into a central part of the city—and the impacts on air pollution and local health. The D.C. government previously showed interest in such policies, and Henneman is working with researchers at George Mason and GWU along with a transportation advocacy group called Greater Greater Washington, who have deep ties in the D.C. government and interested community groups.
“The big thrust is that there’s all this useful data out there that can be used to better protect public health from impacts of climate change,” said Henneman, “but how do we make that data useful to stakeholders like researchers, community groups, and local governments?”
The co-location of these entities in the Washington, D.C., region allows them to work with the federal and regional
governments, as well as other experts in public health and big data. The REACH Center will also look broadly at the implication of health and climate data.
Henneman noted that, in the long run, this could mean more opportunities for George Mason researchers to study how regulations can consider the intersection of climate change and health.
“The big thrust is that there’s all this useful data out there that can be used to better protect public health from impacts of climate change,” said Henneman, “but how do we make that data useful to stakeholders like researchers, community groups, and local governments?”
Beyond the Bay: Implications of the Francis Scott Key Bridge Collapse
The collapse of the Baltimore Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, 2024 is spurring essential research by George Mason University faculty members Elise Miller-Hooks , Alireza Ermagun , and Shanjiang Zhu . Supported by two National Science Foundation (NSF) RAPID grants, their studies aim to understand the collapse’s impact on freight, logistics, and commuter behavior, while offering insights for future preventative measures.
These studies seek to provide actionable insights for transportation authorities to manage and mitigate such crises. As Miller-Hooks said, the global implications are vast as she asked, “Are goods that were destined for the port sitting on a side rail? And how is that backing up other operations in rail and trucking modes in geographically near and far locations?”
Miller-Hooks’ and Ermagun’s project, “Understanding Freight Flow Adaptations and Supply Chain Logistics Impacts of the Francis Scott Key Bridge Collapse,” examines the disruption to the regional, national, and international’s transportation network.
“The incident took out an important link in the roadway and maritime freight and cargo shipping networks. It also took out roadways that serve local traffic, so it affects much more than the blocked maritime passageway,” explained Miller-Hooks,
professor and department chair in the CEIE in the College of Engineering and Computing (CEC). Using maritime, rail, and truck data, the team is evaluating the propagation of the collapse’s impact, including potential delays in global shipments. To this end, the researchers are collaborating with the Transportation Research Board’s Urban Freight Transportation Committee and the Baltimore Industrial Group to analyze how trucking companies and drivers have adapted, as well as numerous experts from railway and maritime modes.
Zhu’s RAPID project, “Multifaceted Data Collection on the Aftermath of the Francis Scott Key Bridge Collapse,” with researchers at the University of Maryland expands on his previous work on the 2007 I-35W Mississippi River bridge collapse.
Zhu, a CEIE associate professor, focuses on both commuter behavior and freight logistics, addressing the unique characteristics of the Baltimore harbor. Using data from the website Marine Traffic, Zhu’s team tracks
vessel rerouting and its correlation with trucking traffic shifts. While Miller-Hooks and Ermagun study the impact of the collapse on logistics and supply chains, Zhu’s team is also studying impacts to roadway users and commuter behavior.
A main objective of NSF’s RAPID grants is to archive data that is at risk of perishing if not collected in time, which will support disaster research long into the future.
Viviana Maggioni Named
Editor-in-Chief of
the Journal of Hydrometeorology
“I published my very first article as first author in this journal, and my first PhD student published his first article as first author in this journal. It has meaning to me.”
Associate Professor Viviana Maggioni’s research expertise lies at the intersection of hydrometeorology and remote sensing. These activities combine water resources engineering with hydrometeorology and remote sensing to evaluate conditions in remote regions. With this expertise and passion for hydrometerology, the opportunity to serve as editor-in-chief of the Journal of Hydrometeorology (JHM) of the American Meteorological Society was one she could not pass up.
Through the publication of scholarly articles, the JHM advances research on modeling, observing, and forecasting processes related to fluxes and storage of water and energy. This includes interactions with the boundary layer and lower atmosphere, and processes related to precipitation, radiation, and other meteorological inputs.
“Respected journals like JHM, serve as a reliable and trustworthy outlet for scholars to share their work,” said Professor Elise Miller-Hooks.
“Viviana’s service as editor-in-chief connects us to experts throughout the world and advances research in modeling in this area.”
In addition to being Maggioni’s primary journal for publishing her own work, she feels a particular connection to the JHM, where she began as a reviewer in 2013. “I published my very first article
as first author in this journal, and my first PhD student published his first article as first author in this journal,” she said. “It has meaning to me.”
Maggioni’s long-standing relationship with the journal, its scholars, and expertise in the field amplify the college’s growing importance and influence in the field.
Matthew Doyle Inspires the Next Generation of Water Engineers
Adjunct Professor Matthew Doyle is more than your ordinary adjunct professor. When he is not working with our George Mason students he is overseeing the design and construction of capital projects for the wastewater collection system for Fairfax County. At George Mason, he is leading a new senior design class, advising competition-winning teams, and guiding a student organization that provides water to faraway communities in need.
Since 2008, Doyle has been an adjunct faculty member at George Mason, where he has made significant contributions to the university’s reputation in water and wastewater management education. In spring 2025, he will introduce a new water resources option for students completing projects in the senior design project course. He will organize students interested in water into teams: two working on environmental engineering
projects and one working on a local wastewater treatment plant project. The wastewater team will participate in the Virginia Water Environment Association (VWEA) Student Design Competitions’ wastewater challenge. Under Doyle’s guidance, George Mason student teams won six of the past seven statewide VWEA wastewater challenges.
Doyle engages with students beyond the classroom, offering mentorship and guidance. He advises the student group EfID, helping students apply their engineering skills to support
sustainable development projects in communities around the world.
Through his work with George Mason students, Doyle continues to inspire the next generation of engineers to meaningfully support their communities. His influence reaches far beyond the classroom, empowering students and communities alike to tackle real-world challenges in water management.
Engineers for International Development Makes a Difference Worldwide
College students often learn some of their best lessons far away from the classroom and campus. George Mason’s EfID, has completed service projects both domestically and abroad for over a decade. The organization hosts speaking events on campus once a semester as well as service trips throughout the year, including an international trip every six months.
Adjunct Professor Matthew Doyle, EfID’s faculty advisor, works full-time
as an Assistant Division Director of Wastewater Design Construction for Fairfax County and has been advising this group on international projects since 2008. He has traveled with students to Peru, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. Each project focuses on delivering water to communities in need. EfID students find and manage each project themselves, appointing an operations manager for each project. They are currently working on two projects in Costa Rica, providing a school with water and completing a mapping project.
EfID funds its activities through donations from our CEI and other organizations, including Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services, as well as through competition winnings; throughout the year, students present their EfID work and complete challenges to win prize money. The team has won several National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) engineering competitions with prizes of as high as $15,000 to support their work.
EfID not only connects students with a devoted network of industry professionals, but it also provides realworld, meaningful opportunities to work hard, solve problems, and create a better future.
ASCE Student Chapter Hosts Regional Competition and Wins Big
The ASCE student chapter of George Mason’s CEC hosted the 2024 ASCE Mid-Atlantic West student symposium on April 11–13, 2024. George Mason teams claimed victory in the Steel Bridge competition and headed to nationals at Louisiana State University. The George Mason teams were on a winning streak, taking 2nd place overall in sustainable solutions and 1st place for 3D printing.
“The symposium was a fabulous event that showcased our highend facilities at George Mason and added to the experiential learning opportunities that CEIE so cherishes,” said Professor and Department Chair Elise Miller-Hooks . “The students had a chance to try out the concepts they learn in the classroom and put to the test their concrete canoes, steel bridges, and their skills in a fun but competitive setting.”
The ASCE student chapter welcomed around 250 students from other chapters, and they competed in different events in various locations on and off campus. Leesylvania
State Park hosted the Concrete Canoe Races, the Surveying Team Competition, and the ASCE talent show. The teams gathered in EagleBank Arena for steel bridge and 3D Printing Competitions while Sustainable Solutions and Student Symposium paper competitions shared presentations in the Nguyen Engineering Building.
Approximately 50 judges and volunteers participated in and supported different competitions and student activities throughout the symposium. “I am incredibly grateful to the judges and volunteers who collaborated to create an unforgettable experience for all participating students,” said Doaa Bondok , the ASCE faculty advisor.
Over 150 Civil Engineering Students Meet 58 Employers at ASCE Career Fair
To help prepare for life after graduation, George Mason offers students chances to network and job hunt before they receive their diplomas. On October 8, 2024, more than 150 civil engineering students gathered in the HUB Ballroom to meet with 58 companies for the twentieth annual George Mason University ASCE Career Fair.
“The ASCE Career Fair offers opportunities for students at all levels—both undergraduate and graduate—whether they are just beginning to explore civil engineering or have some industry experience,” said Doaa Bondok , the ASCE faculty advisor. “This event connects students directly with potential employers, provides insights into various career paths, and helps them build essential professional networks.”
CEI Sponsors the Intersection of AI and Civil Engineering— A Panel Discussion
In an inaugural fall industry event, panel members from Figure Eight Federal, Geospatial Research Laboratory, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and an independent consulting firm explored the evolving role of AI in the civil engineering sector. The discussion was the first in what will become an annual event. “Any time we can bring students, faculty, and industry together to network and learn is a win, win, win,” said Department Chair Elise Miller-Hooks . “AI is such a hot topic in so many different fields, and the applications for civil and infrastructure are many. It is revolutionizing the way we design, build, operate and maintain the built environment.”
By discussing practical applications, potential risks, required resources, and ethical considerations, the panel highlighted AI’s transformative power. Topics ranged from how AI enhances design, project management, and infrastructure monitoring, to the challenges of data quality, algorithmic bias, and the evolving workforce. The conversation provided insights into the future of AI in civil engineering, focusing on sustainable practices and innovative solutions that ensure the resilience and efficiency of modern infrastructure.
FOUR TOPIC AREAS
1. Applications of AI in Civil Engineering: Exploring AI’s role in design, construction management, quality control, and smart infrastructure.
2. Risks and Challenges of AI Integration: Addressing data quality, algorithmic bias, cybersecurity threats, and the potential displacement of the workforce.
3. Resources Needed for AI Implementation: Discussing technological, human, and data resources required to harness AI’s full potential in civil engineering.
4. Ethical and Regulatory Considerations: Examining the ethical implications of AI in civil engineering, focusing on privacy, bias, and the need for regulatory compliance.
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
Figure Eight Federal –Inaugural Event Sponsor
National Institute of Building Sciences – Patriot Event Sponsor
Alpha Corporation – GMU Faculty/Student Sponsor
William A. Hazel, Inc. – GMU Faculty/Student Sponsor
2024 CEI Luncheon and Awards
Faculty, staff, students, alumni, board members, and guests gathered in Dewberry Hall on March 21, 2024, for the CEI Annual Meeting and Luncheon. Prior to the business meeting and the awards ceremony, students were on hand to greet guests and discuss their research posters.
CEI Chair George Guszcza and Department Chair Elise MillerHooks introduced and recognized the following awardees: Leena Eltayeb and Kyler Resnick : CEI Award for
Academic Achievement; Philip Hunt and Elizabeth Quimby: CEI Award for Leadership; Ryah Nadjafi: CEI Award for Outstanding Contributions to Research, and Matthew Doyle, PE: CEI Outstanding Service Award.
Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Thomas P. Bostick received the Engineering Excellence Leadership Award and gave the Awardee Address. Bostick served
as the 53rd Chief of Engineers and Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, where he was responsible for most of the nation’s civil works infrastructure and military construction. Earlier in his career, he was an associate professor of mechanical engineering at West Point and was a White House Fellow, serving as special assistant to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
CEI Current Members
The CEI Board of Directors meets regularly to conduct its business, interact with the department, and report on committee activity. Directors are elected by the CEI membership and serve three-year staggered terms. The board elects its officers from among its ranks.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Chair: George Guszca, E.Eng, CPEM, CCM – National Institute of Building Sciences
Vice Chair: Helman Castro, PE – Fairfax County
Treasurer: Brian Chromey, PE – Wetland Studies Solutions Inc.
Executive Director: Elise MillerHooks, PhD – Department Chair, Bill and Eleanor Hazel Endowed Chair in Infrastructure Engineering
BOARD MEMBERS
TERM EXPIRING DECEMBER 2025
Carmen Bere, PE – Fairfax Water
Cerasela Cristei, PhD, PE – ATCS
Ingrid Davis-Colato – Michael Baker International
George Guszcza , E.Eng, CPEM, CCM National Institute of Building Sciences
Hardeep Rana , PE (Ret.) –Washington Gas
John F. Roddy – William A. Hazel Incorporated
Terry Suehr, PE, PMP, DBIA Transurban
TERM EXPIRING DECEMBER 2026
Brian Chromey, PE – Wetland Studies and Solutions Inc.
Bill Haight III , PE, F.SAME – WSP
Lara Hegler, PE – Alpha Corporation
Joe Manous, Jr, PhD, PE – Institute for Water Resources, USACE
Kelsey Ryan , PE – Gordon
Kurt Thompson, PE (Ret.) – Dewberry
TERM EXPIRING DECEMBER 2027
S. Richard Benton , PE, F.ASCE, DBIA – SR Benton & Associates LLC
Helman Castro, PE – Fairfax County
Abdul Hammadi , PE – VDOT
Jamie Bain Hedges , PE –Fairfax Water
Lara Hegler, PE – Alpha Corporation
Douglas Kennedy, PE – Pennoni
Stephen D. Lisse, PE (Ret.) – Navy Civil Engineer Corps
Michael E. Post – Shirley Contracting Company LLC
MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS AND REPRESENTATIVES
Arcadis – James Kelly, PE
Balfour Beatty Construction – Alan Le
Bowman – Brad Gladfelter, PE
Dewberry – Jerry Sparks
ECS Mid-Atlantic, LLC – Bryan C. Layman, PE, LPSS, AOSE, LEED AP
