Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) | Spain
Author Profile
Early Academic Pursuits
Dr. Shireen Al Suleiman began her academic journey with a Degree in Civil Engineering from the Civil Engineering University in Damascus, Syria (2002–2007), later recognized in Spain as Ingeniero Técnico de Obras Públicas (2022). She further pursued a Master’s in Infrastructure Management and Planning (2019–2020) and a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering Systems at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) (2021–2023), graduating with “Sobresaliente Cum Laude”, the highest academic distinction.
Professional Endeavors
Her career reflects a progression through national and international roles in transport engineering, infrastructure development, and project management. Early roles included working with the Ministry of Transport in Syria as a Project Manager, focusing on port infrastructure, licensing, and contract monitoring in cooperation with Turkey’s Ministry of Transportation.
In Spain, she held the position of Assistant Highway Engineer at RAUROS (TYPSA Group), contributing to road maintenance and civil consulting projects. At Vectio, she currently serves as a Consulting Transport Engineer (2025–present), and she previously held research roles at TRANSyT (UPM), first as a PhD Researcher and later as a Postdoctoral Researcher, contributing to the Trackbest-3S project on public transport satisfaction modeling and transport line planning.
Contributions and Research Focus
Her main research interests include transport systems planning, user behavior in public transit, socioeconomic factors in mobility, and service quality modeling. Her work emphasizes survey analysis, data modeling, and policy-driven transport planning aimed at improving urban bus systems.
Impact and Influence
Dr. Al Suleiman’s findings have been published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at international conferences. Her cross-cultural analysis of transport quality in Oviedo (Spain) and Tangier (Morocco) provides valuable insight into urban transport dynamics. She participated in major conferences such as:
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Transportation Engineering Forum (Madrid, 2022)
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CIT Conference (Tenerife, 2023)
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NECTAR Conference (Brussels, 2024)
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ICCE2024 (Damascus, 2025)
Academic Citations and Publications
Selected publications:
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European Transport Research Review: Key Factors for a Successful Bus System
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Transportation Research Procedia: Urban Bus Service Quality – Oviedo Case Study
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Case Studies on Transport Policy: Comparative Analysis: Tangier vs. Oviedo
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Technical Skills
She is proficient in both general and specialized tools, including:
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Project Management: Microsoft Office, Primavera
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Engineering Design & GIS: AutoCAD, QGIS
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Data Analysis: SPSS, STATA
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Transport Modeling: SIDRA, VISUM, VISSIM
Teaching Experience
At UPM, she contributed to academic mentorship, supported transport engineering teaching modules, and facilitated interdisciplinary workshops using participatory planning methods, including Focus Group approaches in both urban and rural contexts.
Legacy and Future Contributions
Dr. Al Suleiman aims to advance sustainable mobility, accessible urban planning, and evidence-based transportation policies. Her international background, multilingualism (English, Spanish, French, Arabic), and cross-sector experience make her a strong contributor to global transport research and urban innovation initiatives. Her career continues to bridge academic research, consulting practice, and policy development in transport engineering.
Publication
How to improve public transport usage in a medium-sized city: key factors for a successful bus system
Evaluation of Urban Bus Service Quality in a Medium-Sized City: Case Study Oviedo
Comparative Analysis of Perceived Quality of Bus Services in Different Socioeconomic and Cultural Urban Contexts: Tangier (Morocco) and Oviedo (Spain)
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Authors: Shireen Al Suleiman, Andrés Monzón, Elena Lopez, Adriana Cortez OUCI+6transyt.upm.es+6CoLab+6
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Journal: Case Studies on Transport Policy, Volume 19
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Year: 2025 (March 2025, Article 101321