Outreach
Organized the AREMA Student Chapter Rail Seminar Series at Morgan State University, featuring guest speakers from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Plasser & Theurer.
Yuliang Zhou, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Transportation & Urban Infrastructure Studies
Morgan State University
Welcome
About me
I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Transportation and Urban Infrastructure Studies at Morgan State University. My research focuses on transportation and civil infrastructure systems, with particular interests in infrastructure monitoring and assessment, sensing and data-driven modeling, condition assessment and predictive maintenance, and intelligent and resilient infrastructure. My work integrates field data, engineering knowledge, and computational methods to improve the safety, reliability, and long-term performance of infrastructure systems. I have contributed to projects supported by the FRA, AAR, USDOT, and industry partners.
Education
Ph.D. in Civil Engineering
The Pennsylvania State University · 2025
Ph.D. in Transportation Engineering
Tongji University · 2021
B.S. in Traffic Engineering
Tongji University · 2016
Research Interests
- Transportation and Civil Infrastructure Engineering
- Infrastructure monitoring and assessment
- Sensing and data-driven modeling
- Condition assessment and predictive maintenance
- Intelligent and resilient infrastructure
Latest updates
News
2026
Grant
Launched a new PI-led project, "UAS-Based Automated Inspection Framework for Track and Overhead Contact System: A Study on Maryland Light Rail," funded by the Center for Multimodal Mobility (CMMM), a USDOT University Transportation Center.
Talk
Presented research on continuous railroad track health monitoring using distributed fiber optic sensing at the 16th IACIP Annual Workshop.
2025
Outreach
Organized an AREMA Student Chapter meeting at Morgan State University, featuring an industry guest speaker from RATP Dev USA who shared insights from transit operations practice.
Outreach
Organized a site visit to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) facility for Morgan State University students, providing field exposure to transit operations and control systems.
Milestone
Joined Morgan State University as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Transportation and Urban Infrastructure Studies.
Publication
Our paper on metro tunnel structural anomaly detection using FNO and CAE networks was accepted for publication in Transportation Geotechnics.
Milestone
Earned a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering (Rail Transportation Engineering) from The Pennsylvania State University.
Research projects
Research
Sensing, modeling, and data-driven assessment of railroad track, bridges, and transit infrastructure.
Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)Video
Rail Safety Improvement Through Enhanced Understanding of Ballast and Subgrade Interactions
This FRA-sponsored project examined ballast behavior under different tamping conditions using SmartRock wireless sensors embedded beneath railway ties. Field tests on Norfolk Southern lines between 2021 and 2023 captured real-time data on ballast movement, acceleration, stress, and energy transfer during tamping. The results showed that clean ballast responded more effectively to tamping, while fouled ballast required adjusted strategies due to greater resistance and less uniform compaction. The project highlights the value of sensor-based, data-driven maintenance for improving tamping effectiveness, track stability, and rail safety.
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MxV Rail University ProgramVideo
Continuous Railroad Track Health Monitoring Using Distributed Fiber Optic Sensor
This project explores the use of Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) with existing fiber-optic cables for continuous railroad track health monitoring. By combining fiber-optic sensing, a validated 3D dynamic track model, and data-driven signal analysis, the project aims to detect changes in track structural condition from train-induced ground vibrations. Numerical simulations and field tests at TTC showed that different track conditions produce distinct rainfall plots and dispersion signatures, demonstrating the potential of DAS for scalable, cost-effective, condition-based maintenance of railroad infrastructure.
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U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT)Video
Automated Bridge Inspection and Load Rating Using Low-Cost Sensor Networks
This project develops a real-time monitoring and load rating system for railroad bridges using embedded sensing technologies, including SmartRock sensors and Wheel Impact Load Detectors. Implemented on an undergrade Amtrak bridge, the system provides continuous measurements of load, stress, and strain, supported by high-speed data transmission and cloud-based processing. The project demonstrates the potential of sensor-based structural health monitoring to improve load rating accuracy, detect emerging structural issues earlier, and support safer and more efficient bridge maintenance than traditional visual inspection methods.
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Video
Under-Tie Support Condition Assessment using Distributed Fiber Optic Strain Sensor
This project develops a new approach for evaluating under-tie support condition using high-density strain measurements from distributed fiber-optic strain sensors (DFOSS). Because railroad tie performance is strongly influenced by the uniformity of support beneath the tie, accurately characterizing support distribution is essential for understanding tie behavior and preventing premature deterioration. The study combines dense strain sensing with an inverse analysis framework based on beam theory to reconstruct bending moment, shear force, and support force distribution along the tie. Experimental results showed that the method can accurately identify different support conditions and capture support non-uniformity more effectively than conventional discrete sensing approaches. The project demonstrates the potential of distributed fiber-optic sensing for improving track condition assessment, advancing support characterization, and providing a more reliable basis for railroad tie evaluation and maintenance.
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Video
Recycled Plastics Railroad Ties Fatigue Performance
This project evaluates the fatigue performance of recycled plastic railroad ties through full-scale laboratory testing at Penn State's Civil Infrastructure Testing and Evaluation Laboratory (CITEL). A ballast-box track section with subgrade and ballast layers was constructed and loaded using MTS actuators to simulate repeated train loading. The study examines the structural response of recycled plastic ties under cyclic loading and provides data to support the assessment of their durability and potential application in railroad track systems.
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Selected work
Publication
13 selected publications
Zhou, Y., Hansmann, F., Antony, B., Huang, H., Zeng, K., Zhang, C., & Yang, Q. (2026). Bridging micro-mechanical sensing and macro-maintenance: Investigating the impact of tamping parameters on the evolution of clean and fouled ballast. Transportation Geotechnics, 102123.
2026Find paperHuang, H., & Zhou, Y. (2026). Rail safety improvement through enhanced understanding of ballast and subgrade interactions. Federal Railroad Administration.
2026Find paperZeng, K., Zhu, Y., Zhou, Y., Yang, Q., & Tang, G. (2026). A multisensor data fusion framework for real-time profile estimation of large-diameter shield tunnels. Structural Control and Health Monitoring, 2026(1), 4511210.
2026Find paperLi, Q., Xie, X., Zeng, K., & Zhou, Y. (2025). Metro tunnel structural anomaly detection based on vehicle-track-tunnel coupling model using FNO and CAE networks. Transportation Geotechnics, 55, 101680.
2025Find paperZhou, Y., Schlake, B., Hansmann, F., Huang, H.*, Antony, B., Zeng, K., & Zhang, C. (2024). Particle motion and stress response interacted with machine activity: Railroad tamping strategy. Transportation Geotechnics, 45, 101188.
2024Find paperZeng, K., Nazari, S., Zhou, Y., et al. (2024). Investigation into the effect of railroad ballast fouling on the ballast movements and strain change using SmartGrid. Transportation Geotechnics, 48, 101307.
2024Find paperZhou, Y., Huang, H.*, Shen, S., & Wang, X. (2024). Measuring under-tie support condition: An approach using distributed fiber-optic strain sensors. Measurement, 114279.
2024Find paperDing, N., Zhou, Y., Li, D., & Zeng, K*. (2024). Real-time deformation monitoring of large diameter shield tunnel based on multi-sensor data fusion technique. Measurement, 225, 114061.
2024Find paperJin, H.*, Zhou, Y., & Zhao, C. (2023). Mesoscale analysis of dry shrinkage fractures in concrete repair systems using FEM and VEM. International Journal of Pavement Engineering, 24(2), 2144310.
2023Find paperJin, H.*, & Zhou, Y. (2022). Study on dry shrinkage crack of invert-filling in the shield tunnel at mesoscale based on virtual element-finite element coupling method. China Civil Engineering Journal, 55(4), 109–119.
2022Find paper
In the classroom
Teaching
TRSS 302
Introduction to Rail Transportation Systems
Spring 2026
TRSS 426TRSP 626
Rail Transportation Engineering
Fall 2025Fall 2026
TRSS 428TRSP 628
Railroad Inspection and Maintenance Management
Fall 2026
Join the group
Students
Currently recruiting
The group is seeking Ph.D. students with interests in digital twin, infrastructure sensing, computer vision, and data-driven modeling for transportation systems.
Get in touch
Contact
Phone
443-885-5064Office
Department of Transportation & Urban Infrastructure StudiesSchool of Engineering, Morgan State University1700 E. Cold Spring LaneBaltimore, MD 21251Open in Maps