"Quantum Computing for Resilient Transportation Systems: Foundations, Methods, and Emerging Applications"

Abstract: Quantum computing is rapidly transitioning from a theoretical paradigm to a practical computational tool, offering new opportunities to address the combinatorial complexity inherent in transportation systems planning and operations. Classical optimization approaches often struggle to scale when faced with large-scale, hierarchical, and equity-sensitive transportation problems, limiting their applicability in smart cities, inclusive mobility planning, and post-disaster recovery. This paper provides an examination of the emerging intersection between quantum computing and transportation systems, highlighting both methodological foundations and real-world applications. We first review recent advances in quantum and hybrid quantum-classical algorithms relevant to transportation problems, including routing, logistics, traffic optimization, and infrastructure restoration, and discuss key challenges related to scalability, hardware limitations, and model formulation. Building on this foundation, two representative application frameworks are presented that demonstrate the practical potential of quantum computing in transportation decision-making. The first introduces a hybrid quantum-classical bilevel optimization framework for bus route design aimed at improving accessibility for senior populations. In this framework, strategic decisions are handled by a classical optimizer, while operational routing and stop placement decisions are reformulated as a Quadratic Unconstrained Binary Optimization (QUBO) problem and solved using the Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm (QAOA). The second application focuses on post-disaster transportation network restoration, where rapid and equitable recovery is critical for community resilience. Using a hybrid quantum solver, the proposed framework optimizes road link restoration under budget constraints while explicitly prioritizing underserved communities.

Qianwen (Vivian) Guo, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

FAMU-FSU College of Engineering

Speaker Bio: Dr. Qianwen (Vivian) Guo is an Assistant Professor of Transportation Engineering in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. Her research interest focuses on transportation systems optimization problems, especially in public transit, shared mobility, and transportation resilience. Dr .Guo is the Member, Standing Committee on Transit Management (AP011), Transportation Research Board. She has published more than twenty papers on a wide range of research topics as the first author or corresponding author in renowned transportation journals, including Journal of Air Transport Management, Transportation Research Parts A, B and C. Dr. Guo also leads multiple federally and state-funded research projects sponsored by National Science Foundation, Florida Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of Transportation, and U.S. Department of Agriculture, with cumulative research funding exceeding 2 million.