Posted on January 31, 2025 by Sean M. Wood
Samer Dessouky
UTSA now has an Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Fellow on its faculty. Dr. Samer Dessouky, a civil and environmental engineering and construction management professor, is the only UTSA civil engineering professor appointed as an ITE Fellow.
The fellowship recognizes Dessouky’s years of work with the Texas Department of Transportation to reduce traffic fatalities, his leadership in developing new construction materials, and his role in educating the next generation of engineers.
“Having Professor Samer Dessouky on the faculty is reassuring because we have an international expert who can provide direction to our undergraduate and graduate students in their education and research endeavors,” Director of the Civil Engineering and Construction Management (CECM) School Dr. Arturo Schultz said. “It also serves as validation to the entire CECM School that one of our faculty has attained the highest level of achievement in their field.”
Dessouky is managing several projects with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to study ways to mitigate crashes on Texas roads. “You know those digital billboards that show the number of fatalities in the state?” he said. “Those figures go up yearly because more people are relocating to the state each year. TxDOT has made it a goal by 2050 to have zero fatalities. They have invested in a research project I’m leading with my students.”
Dessouky, who says he has “a PhD in asphalt and pavement materials,” has been conducting research projects on best practices for using recycled materials for road construction. It is a substantial environmental savings as new materials are not hauled in, waste materials are not hauled out, and the rubbish doesn’t end up in a landfill. “It reduces the cost of new aggregate and helps to speed construction,” he said.
He is also working with the Public Works Department of the City of San Antonio on new precast concrete that helps reduce surface temperatures to minimize urban heat islands.
“We have urban heat islands because we continue to develop our cities, turning green spaces into concrete and asphalt,” Dessouky said. “This new type of concrete can help us continue to grow without the negative impact of rising surface temperatures.”
Dessouky’s students often collaborate on these projects. He credits those students for helping him achieve his fellowship.
“Their dedication and passion for their work helped us reach this level of recognition,” he said. “They are part of the journey. It is a recognition to them as well for being with me.”
Founded in 1930, ITE is an international membership association of transportation professionals who work to improve mobility and safety for all transportation system users and help build smart and livable communities. ITE is a community of transportation professionals of more than 18,000 members working in more than 78 countries.
— Sean M. Wood
