Christos Cassandras Honored with the 2026 IEEE Intelligent Transportation Systems Society Outstanding Research Award

By Brendan Galvin

Christos Cassandras, Distinguished Professor of Engineering (Electrical and Computer Engineering and Systems Engineering), Head of the Division of Systems, and Faculty Affiliate of Hariri Institute for Computing, and the Center for Information and Systems Engineering

Boston University Professor Christos Cassandras has been awarded the 2026 IEEE Intelligent Transportation Systems Society (ITSS) Outstanding Research Award for his pioneering work in smart cities and automated traffic management. Dr. Cassandras is a Distinguished Professor of Engineering (Electrical and Computer Engineering and Systems Engineering), Head of the Division of Systems, and Faculty Affiliate of Hariri Institute for Computing and the Center for Information and Systems Engineering. His research envisions a future where Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAVs) communicate with one another and with transportation infrastructure to optimize traffic flow, reduce congestion, and improve safety. Recently featured in Nature, Cassandras argues that even a small percentage of connected autonomous vehicles on the road could significantly influence traffic patterns by encouraging more cooperative and efficient driving behavior.

A key aspect of Cassandras’ work is the concept of “social optimality,” which shifts transportation systems away from individual, self-interested driving decisions toward coordinated actions that benefit the entire network. His research explores innovative mechanisms such as digital micropayments to reward cooperative driving behaviors, such as yielding to improve overall traffic flow. By reducing human error—responsible for the vast majority of traffic accidents—these systems could make roads substantially safer while improving efficiency.

Beyond traffic management, Cassandras envisions autonomous shared-vehicle networks transforming urban design by reducing the need for parking infrastructure. Freed-up space could be repurposed for schools, hospitals, and other community resources. While the technology for this “internet of cars” is largely in place, he notes that widespread adoption will depend on governments, automakers, and human drivers agreeing on common standards and cooperative practices.

Find the original story on the Center for Information and Systems Engineering website here.