Ekaterina Balakina | Vehicle Movement Control | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Dr. Ekaterina Balakina | Vehicle Movement Control | Best Researcher Award

Volgograd State Technical University | Russia

Prof. Dr. Ekaterina Viktorovna Balakina is a distinguished scholar in the field of mechanical and automotive engineering, holding a Doctor of Technical Sciences degree. She graduated with honors from Volgograd Polytechnic Institute in 1993 in Mechanical Engineering and subsequently worked as a design engineer at the Titan Central Design Bureau of the Barrikady Defense Plant. In 1996, she defended her PhD thesis in “Wheeled and Tracked Vehicles” and joined Volgograd State Technical University in 1997, later completing a research internship at the Warsaw Military Technical Academy in 2004. In 2011, she defended her doctoral dissertation in the same specialty. Prof. Balakina’s research focuses on vehicle stability, elastic properties of tires, and the contact interaction of elastic wheels with solid supports. She is co-author of two national regulatory documents on vehicle handling and dynamic stabilization, and she has authored approximately 300 publications, including five monographs, 14 patents, and four software certificates. Her work has garnered 104 citations from 48 documents, with an h-index of 6. She has received multiple awards, including the Honorary Diploma of the Ministry of Education and Science. As a full member of the Russian Academy of Transport since 2014, she continues to lead research projects and teach courses on vehicle maintenance, design, and operation.

Profiles : Scopus | Orcid

Featured Publications

Balakina, E.V., Sergienko, I.V., & Konshin, V.A. (2025). Calculation of normal tire stiffness for tractors and agricultural machinery based on the loaded wheel radius. Tractors and Agricultural Machinery, Journal Article.

Balakina, E.V., Godzhaev, Z.A., Konshin, A.A., & Kochetov, M.S. (2023). Calculation of normal stiffness and contact patch of ultra-low pressure tires for agricultural machinery. Tractors and Agricultural Machinery, Journal Article.

Balakina, E.V., Lipatov, E.Y., & Sarbayev, D.S. (2020). Advantages of Using Wheel Rolling Radius for Calculating Friction Characteristics in Wheel-to-Road Contact Patch. In Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering, Book.

Golubeva, T.A., & Balakina, E.V. (2020). Finding New Component in Displacement of Normal Supporting Surface Reaction to Car Wheels. In Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering, Book.

Balakina, E.V. (2019). Calculation of the Friction Coefficient between a Steady Elastic Wheel and a Solid Support Surface in the Presence of a Lateral Force. Journal of Friction and Wear, Journal Article.

Akhilesh Chepuri | Sustainability Engineering | Young Researcher Award

Dr. Akhilesh Chepuri | Sustainability Engineering | Young Researcher Award

Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management Hyderabad | India

Dr. Akhilesh Chepuri is an accomplished academician and researcher serving as an Assistant Professor and Head of the Department of Civil Engineering at GITAM School of Technology, Hyderabad. With extensive expertise in transportation engineering, he has contributed significantly to the fields of traffic simulation, modeling, transportation safety, and urban planning. Dr. Chepuri is recognized for his impactful teaching, research, and leadership in civil engineering education. His career reflects a consistent pursuit of academic excellence and innovative research solutions to enhance traffic management and sustainable transportation systems.

Professional Profiles

SCOPUS
ORCID

Education

Dr. Chepuri has pursued a robust academic path in civil engineering, specializing in transportation engineering and planning. He holds a Bachelor of Technology in Civil Engineering, a Master of Technology in Transportation Engineering and Planning from a nationally reputed institute, and a Doctorate in Civil Engineering with a focus on transportation systems. Throughout his academic journey, he consistently achieved top positions and accolades for his outstanding academic performance, including securing the first rank during his postgraduate studies. His education provided him with strong analytical, theoretical, and practical knowledge in traffic simulation, safety, and infrastructure design.

Experience

Dr. Chepuri’s professional journey is marked by a combination of teaching, research, and administrative responsibilities. He began his career as a teaching assistant during his postgraduate and doctoral research tenure, where he gained hands-on experience mentoring students and conducting technical workshops. He later served as an Assistant Professor at Sreenidhi Institute of Science and Technology, Hyderabad, before taking on his current role at GITAM School of Technology, where he also heads the Department of Civil Engineering. His contributions include curriculum development, project supervision, guest lectures, and organizing specialized training sessions on advanced transportation software and systems.

Research Interests

Dr. Chepuri’s research primarily focuses on traffic simulation and modeling, transportation planning, and road safety management. He has a keen interest in the development and application of intelligent transportation systems, sustainable urban transport solutions, and data-driven methods to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion. His work also explores the integration of simulation tools like VISSIM, VISUM, and advanced data analysis techniques to enhance transportation infrastructure and safety standards.

Awards and Recognitions

Throughout his career, Dr. Chepuri has received numerous accolades for his academic and research excellence. He was awarded a gold medal for securing the first rank in his master’s program and has won best paper awards at prestigious national conferences. His international presence is marked by multiple travel grants, enabling him to present his research at leading global forums, including the Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board in Washington, D.C., USA. He has also been honored with a distinguished alumni award from his high school and recognized for his significant contributions to research advancement by esteemed institutions. Additionally, he has served as a reviewer for reputed international journals and conferences, further cementing his status as an authority in his field.

Publications

Chepuri, A., Kulakarni, R., Reddy, S., Bains, M.S., Arkatkar, S.S., Joshi, G. (2015). “Evaluation of BRTS Corridor in India Using Microscopic Simulation: A Case Study in Surat City” in Proceedings of Eastern Asia Society for Transportation Studies.

Raju, N., Mishra, A., Chepuri, A., Arkatkar, S.S., Joshi, G. (2017). “A Simulation Approach for Examining Designed Truck Terminal Operations for Forecasted Demand at Busy Sea Port” in Journal of Eastern Asian Societies for Transportation Studies (EASTS) .

Chepuri, A., Borakanavar, M., Amrutsamanvar, R., Arkatkar, S.S., Joshi, G. (2018). “Examining Travel Time Reliability under Mixed Traffic Conditions: A Case Study of Urban Arterial Roads in Indian Cities” in Asian Transport Studies.

Chepuri, A., Jairam, R., Arkatkar, S.S., Joshi, G., Pulugurtha, S.S. (2018). “Examining Travel Time Reliability-Based Performance Indicators for Bus Routes Using GPS-Based Bus Trajectory Data in India” in ASCE Journal of Transportation Engineering, Part A: Systems.

Chepuri, A., Wagh, A., Arkatkar, S.S., Joshi, G. (2018). “Study of Travel Time Variability Using Two-Wheeler Probed Data – An Indian Experience” in Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers – Transport.

Conclusion

Dr. Akhilesh Chepuri stands out as a dynamic and dedicated professional in civil and transportation engineering. His work bridges the gap between academic research and practical implementation, contributing to advancements in traffic safety, intelligent transportation systems, and urban infrastructure planning. As an educator, researcher, and mentor, he continues to inspire future civil engineers while actively shaping innovative transportation solutions for modern cities. His achievements reflect a deep commitment to academic leadership, research excellence, and the development of sustainable and efficient transportation networks.