Ahmed Aredah

Ahmed Aredah

Creating Large Scale Simulators for Efficient Freight Network

Ahmed Aredah: Engineering the Future of Sustainable Freight Systems

Welcome to the official website of Ahmed S. Aredah, a multi-disciplinary engineer, researcher, and software developer transforming the future of freight transportation, infrastructure, and environmental sustainability.

About Me

I am currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering and a Master’s in Computer Science at Virginia Tech, where I lead advanced research initiatives in freight logistics, energy efficiency, and transportation modeling. With a rich professional background spanning academia, government-funded research, and industry, my mission is to build intelligent systems that drive national infrastructure resilience and sustainable development.

What I Do

My work lies at the intersection of transportation systems, computer science, and sustainability. I develop simulation-based solutions, AI-driven analytics, and digital infrastructure tools to address energy consumption, emissions, and logistics inefficiencies across the U.S. freight sector.

Research & Development Highlights

  • ShipNetSim and NeTrainSim: Open-source simulators I developed for evaluating energy consumption and emissions across maritime and rail freight networks.
  • Multi-Decadal Decarbonization Pathways (DOE, ARPA-E): Contributed to a $1.5M federally funded project to simulate energy use for diesel, bio-diesel, and hydrogen-powered trains.
  • Door-to-Door Freight Optimization (USDOT UTC): Developed agent-based modeling frameworks for improving U.S. freight logistics using simulation and predictive analytics.
  • Port Optimization at Norfolk International Terminal (Moffatt & Nichol): Boosted throughput by 375% through dynamic modeling and the development of custom simulation tools.

PhD Research: Building an Integrated Freight Simulation Ecosystem

During my PhD at Virginia Tech, I developed a suite of simulation tools aimed at optimizing freight logistics, energy consumption, and multimodal network performance across the United States. The diagram below illustrates the simulation ecosystem I built—each module shown was developed by me, with the exception of the Integration component.

PhD Simulation Framework

The key tools include:

  • CargoNetSim: Orchestrates end-to-end freight movement across rail, ship, and terminal systems.
  • NeTrainSim: Simulates network-level freight train motion and energy consumption across the U.S. rail network.
  • ShipNetSim: Models ship dynamics, fuel usage, and emissions across global shipping routes.
  • TerminalSim: Captures port operations to evaluate throughput and optimize loading/unloading.
  • NeTrainLine: Evaluates path optimization and routing through a dynamically coded network.

These tools empower stakeholders, from policymakers to industry leaders, to make data-informed decisions aligned with national decarbonization strategies and infrastructure modernization goals.

Industry Impact

  • Spearheaded web-based infrastructure management systems using Azure, React.js, and FlexTerm.
  • Led training and technical presentations for stakeholders on infrastructure simulation, data analytics, and system integration.
  • Designed highway and port infrastructure for multi-million-dollar national projects using BIM, Civil 3D, and scheduling software.

Publications

I have authored several peer-reviewed articles in journals such as Applied Energy, Railway Engineering Science, and Energies. My work has been presented at international conferences including the Transportation Research Board (TRB) and IEEE Smart Mobility Conference.

Selected publications:

  • Energy Optimization in Freight Train Operations, Applied Energy, 2024
  • Comparative Analysis of Alternative Powertrains, Applied Energy, 2024
  • NeTrainSim Simulator Development, Railway Engineering Science, 2024

Full list of publications:
Google Scholar | ORCiD | ResearchGate

Technical Expertise

  • Programming: C++, Python, React.js, MATLAB, SQL
  • AI/ML Tools: TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-learn
  • Simulation & Modeling: Carla Simulator, SUMO, VISSIM, ArcGIS, PTV
  • Infrastructure Design: BIM, Revit, Navisworks, Civil 3D
  • Project Management: Jira, MS Project, Primavera P6

Recognitions & Awards

  • Last Mile Leadership Scholarship, U.S. Department of Energy (LODESTAR Program)
  • Multiple Graduate Research/Teaching Assistantships at Virginia Tech

Teaching & Mentorship

Former Teaching Lecturer at the German University in Cairo, where I delivered over 10 courses in civil engineering and architecture, contributed to curriculum development, and mentored students in design, BIM, and sustainable transportation.

Let’s Connect

Explore my portfolio, research, and tools showcased here. I’m open to academic, governmental, and industry collaborations. Connect with me on LinkedIn, view my code on GitHub, or reach out via email.

Together, let’s design the future of sustainable infrastructure and intelligent transportation systems.