Associate Dean for Graduate Programs; Director of the Research Center for Interacting Urban Networks (CITIES); Professor of Civil and Urban Engineering, NYU Abu Dhabi; Global Network Professor of Civil and Urban Engineering, NYU TandonAffiliation:NYU Abu Dhabi Education: PhD University of California, Berkeley
Monica Menendez is the Associate Dean of Engineering for Graduate Affairs and a Professor of Civil and Urban Engineering at New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), as well as a Global Network Professor of Civil and Urban Engineering at the Tandon School of Engineering in New York University (NYU). She is also the Director and Lead PI of the NYUAD Research Center for Interacting Urban Networks (CITIES); and the recipient of the NYUAD Distinguished Research Award for 2021.
Between 2010 and 2017, Monica was the Director of the research group Traffic Engineering at ETH Zurich. Prior to that, she was a management consultant at Bain & Company. She joined Bain after receiving a PhD and a MSc in Civil and Environmental Engineering from UC Berkeley in 2006. During her studies there, she received, among other awards, an NSF Fellowship and the Gordon F. Newell Award. In total, she is the recipient of more than 20 scholarships and awards from well-known and prestigious organizations, professional societies, and universities. Monica also holds a dual degree in Civil Engineering and Architectural Engineering from the University of Miami, from where she graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2002.
Her research interests include monitoring, modeling, and control of multimodal transportation systems, considering new technologies and data sources. She is an active reviewer for over 20 journals, and a member of multiple editorial boards for top journals in Transportation. She is also a member of a number of international organizations, including the International Advisory Committee of the International Symposium on Transportation and Traffic Theory (ISTTT), and the Mohammed bin Rashid Academy of Scientists (MBRAS). Monica is the author of over 100 peer-reviewed journal publications and over 200 conference contributions, book chapters, editorials, and technical reports. In the last five years, five of the papers that she has co-authored, have received best-paper awards.
Courses Taught
Cities are constantly on the move. Half the world's population lives in urban areas, with numbers steadily rising. How have cities depended on, and been shaped by, such mobility? What will future systems of movement look like? Can emerging technologies and information networks increase sustainability in urban transport? Can we develop prosperous, safe, and connected cities while also managing impacts on climate and public health? Bringing global and critical perspectives to bear on such questions, the course reckons with the realization that optimal mobility systems are a constantly moving target. Drawing on material from multiple disciplines, students will examine changes and challenges throughout history and across regions as they ask how mobility shapes cities, how physical mobility relates to "upward" social mobility, and how planners and citizens might better address the mobility needs and wellbeing of diverse groups. Students will engage in ongoing debates and will explore different media (e.g. animations, photography, essays) to address such questions.
Previously taught: Spring 2019, Fall 2019, Summer 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2021, Fall 2021, Fall 2022, Fall 2023, Fall 2024
Fall 2025;
14 Weeks Monica Menendez
-
TR 08:30 - 09:45
Taught in Abu Dhabi
This course appears in...
Core Curriculum > Structures of Thought and Society
Minors > Urbanization
The course introduces students to fundamental concepts that underlie highway design, traffic operations and control, and transportation systems. The course begins with vehicle performance and the role it has on road design. We later cover the fundamentals of traffic flow theory and operations. In combination with such fundamentals we also discuss the use and collection of traffic data, as well as more advanced concepts on traffic safety, public transportation, and traffic management and control. Moreover, we look at clear applications of the concepts covered in class with a real-world student led project.
Prerequisites: ENGR-UH 1000, ENGR-UH 2210, and MATH-UH 2010
Previously taught: Fall 2016, Fall 2017, Fall 2018, Fall 2019, Fall 2020, Fall 2021, Fall 2022, Fall 2023, Fall 2024
Fall 2025;
14 Weeks Monica Menendez
-
TR 09:55 - 11:10
Taught in Abu Dhabi
Fall 2025;
14 Weeks T 14:10 - 16:50
Taught in Abu Dhabi
This course appears in...
Majors > Civil Engineering
Majors > General Engineering
2 credits
Students learn about the process of design with measurable metrics, and how to incorporate appropriate engineering standards and multiple realistic constraints in the design process. Students learn how to clearly frame the design problem and follow the design process to result in an optimized solution. Students perform a review of the relevant literature, develop a preliminary design, generate solution concepts and selection criteria, and review and evaluate the chosen design. Students must consider social, economic, lifecycle, environmental, ethical, and other constraints, and must document the design process and the evolution of their design. This project culminates with a final report and presentation that proposes the actual design selected for further development and/or prototyping and testing in the subsequent semester.
Prerequisite: Declared Engineering major and have senior standing Corequisite: Two credits of disciplinary elective course in senior Fall
Previously taught: Fall 2 2016, Fall 2 2017, Fall 2 2018, Spring 2 2019, Spring 2019, Fall 2019, Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2021, Fall 2021, Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Fall 2024
Spring 2025;
14 Weeks Waleed El-Sekelly
-
M 14:10 - 15:25
Taught in Abu Dhabi
Fall 2025;
14 Weeks Pradeep George
-
F 08:00 - 09:15
Taught in Abu Dhabi
This course appears in...
Majors > Bioengineering
Majors > Computer Engineering
Majors > Electrical Engineering
Majors > General Engineering
Majors > Mechanical Engineering
The students finalize the proposed design solution, and test and verify the solution. Design modifications based on the test data are incorporated. If applicable, prototypes are built and tested. A final report for the project is prepared and the students make a presentation of their project to peers, faculty, and other professionals.
Prerequisite: ENGR-UH 4011
Previously taught: Spring 2017, Spring 2018, Spring 2019, Fall 2019, Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Fall 2024
Spring 2025;
14 Weeks Pradeep George
-
T 08:30 - 11:10
Taught in Abu Dhabi
Spring 2025;
14 Weeks Pradeep George
-
F 14:20 - 17:00
Taught in Abu Dhabi
Spring 2025;
14 Weeks Pradeep George
-
F 09:25 - 12:05
Taught in Abu Dhabi
Spring 2025;
14 Weeks Pradeep George
-
T 15:35 - 18:15
Taught in Abu Dhabi
Spring 2025;
14 Weeks Pradeep George
-
T 11:20 - 14:00
Taught in Abu Dhabi
Spring 2025;
14 Weeks Pradeep George
-
R 14:10 - 16:50
Taught in Abu Dhabi
Spring 2025;
14 Weeks Pradeep George
-
Taught in Abu Dhabi