{"id":14036,"date":"2023-08-01T00:20:21","date_gmt":"2023-08-01T07:20:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/business.wsu.edu\/edividend\/?p=14036"},"modified":"2026-03-26T10:15:14","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T17:15:14","slug":"amirhossein-moadab","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/business.wsu.edu\/edividend\/2023\/08\/01\/amirhossein-moadab\/","title":{"rendered":"Drones of Hope: PhD Student Aims to Revolutionize Humanitarian Relief Efforts from the Skies"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image wsu-spacing-after--medium\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1124\" height=\"350\" src=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-business\/uploads\/sites\/3488\/2023\/07\/35720-AmirHosseinMoadab-PhD-StudentSpotlight_banner-Aug23.jpg\" alt=\"A white quadcopter drone marked with a red \u201cSAR RESCUE\u201d emblem flies above a dense forested landscape with distant mountains under a cloudy sky.\" class=\"wp-image-14088\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-business\/uploads\/sites\/3488\/2023\/07\/35720-AmirHosseinMoadab-PhD-StudentSpotlight_banner-Aug23.jpg 1124w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-business\/uploads\/sites\/3488\/2023\/07\/35720-AmirHosseinMoadab-PhD-StudentSpotlight_banner-Aug23-396x123.jpg 396w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-business\/uploads\/sites\/3488\/2023\/07\/35720-AmirHosseinMoadab-PhD-StudentSpotlight_banner-Aug23-792x247.jpg 792w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-business\/uploads\/sites\/3488\/2023\/07\/35720-AmirHosseinMoadab-PhD-StudentSpotlight_banner-Aug23-768x239.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-business\/uploads\/sites\/3488\/2023\/07\/35720-AmirHosseinMoadab-PhD-StudentSpotlight_banner-Aug23-990x308.jpg 990w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1124px) 100vw, 1124px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-medium is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-business\/uploads\/sites\/3488\/2023\/07\/35720-AmirHosseinMoadab-PhD-StudentSpotlight_body1-Aug23-396x528.jpg\" alt=\"Headshot of Amir Hossein Moadab.\" class=\"wp-image-14121\" width=\"300\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-business\/uploads\/sites\/3488\/2023\/07\/35720-AmirHosseinMoadab-PhD-StudentSpotlight_body1-Aug23-396x528.jpg 396w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-business\/uploads\/sites\/3488\/2023\/07\/35720-AmirHosseinMoadab-PhD-StudentSpotlight_body1-Aug23.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Amirhossein Moadab<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>In a quest to bridge the gap between cutting-edge technology and humanitarian aid, a Carson College of Business PhD student is harnessing the potential of aerial drones to revolutionize disaster response and bring swift relief to victims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Driven by a deep sense of empathy, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/amirhossein-moadab\/\">Amirhossein Moadab<\/a>, a PhD student studying <a href=\"https:\/\/business.wsu.edu\/graduate-programs\/phd-business\/programs\/management-operations\/\">operations and management science<\/a>, is no stranger to the devastating impact of natural disasters. Having experienced the harrowing 2003 Bam earthquake in southeastern Iran at the tender age of eight, followed by the 2006 Borujerd earthquake in his hometown when he was just 11, he witnessed firsthand the urgent need for effective humanitarian aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Throughout those challenging times, Moadab couldn\u2019t help but question the effectiveness of relief efforts, as he observed countless resources and supplies failing to reach those in dire need. The seismic landscape of Iran, marked by frequent tectonic activity, serves as a poignant backdrop to Moadab\u2019 s journey, fueling his determination to find a solution that reaches even the most remote and inaccessible areas of terrain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Aerial drone technology may aid first responders in multiple ways<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When it comes to planning for natural disasters, there are four critical areas of focus:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>mitigation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>preparedness<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>response<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>recovery<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Moadab is focusing on the preparedness and response phases, and technology plays a crucial role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe first thing that happens is disruption in the supply chain. We can perform the same types of operations as before but have to plan for how we address uncertainties,\u201d Moadab says. &#8220;Everything changes when disaster strikes.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, collapsed buildings or bridges after an earthquake may cause roadblocks or other barriers which may impede recovery efforts by boots-on-the-ground emergency responders. Moadab has been working on advanced mathematical modeling, which considers real-world scenarios, to run drone fleet simulations and test feasibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cYou can use emerging technologies, like drones, for a variety of different tasks,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Coordinated fleets of aerial drones have the potential to aid first responders in a number of ways, such as delivering aid and supplies, identifying survivors beneath, communicating with victims that help is on the way, and many other applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Moadab&#8217;s current drone rescue research is built on his previous research \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41598-022-10408-4\">Drone Routing Problem Model for Last-Mile Delivery Using the Public Transportation Capacity as Moving Charging Stations,<\/a>\u201d published in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41598-022-10408-4\"><em>Scientific Reports<\/em><\/a> and \u201cA Novel Mathematical Model for a Cloud-Based Drone Enabled Vehicle Routing Problem considering Multi-Echelon Supply Chain,\u201d published by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S2405896320326380\">Federation of Automatic Controls<\/a>. Both papers, along with his current work, are based on a novel mathematical model he and his coauthor developed. His paper on drone routing and last-mile delivery earned him an invitation from the chair of the \u201cCollaborative Routing and Planning of Aerial and Other Vehicle&#8221; session at the 2022 Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS) annual meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis paper poses a novel idea of using already existing infrastructure, such as public transportation, to carry and charge drones instead of utilizing trucks,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To Moadab\u2019s delight, the paper has already received 21 citations since its publication in mid-2022, a remarkable achievement in such a short period for a technical, non-survey paper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">WSU&#8217;s reputation and positive peer feedback stand out<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Moadab earned a master&#8217;s degree in industrial engineering from Iran&#8217;s Sharif University of Technology, renowned for its excellence in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. He chose to build on his industrial engineering expertise by pursuing a PhD in operations management at WSU.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI selected WSU for two specific reasons,\u201d Moadab says. \u201cThe strength of the research, especially that of <a href=\"http:\/\/directory.business.wsu.edu\/Directory\/Profile\/munson\/\">Dr. Chuck Munson<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/directory.business.wsu.edu\/Directory\/Profile\/xinchang.wang\/\">Dr. Xinchang Wang<\/a>, whose research and expertise aligned with my interests in logistics and operations, and positive feedback I heard about the college from current students and alumni of the PhD program.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI felt confident that this program would help me develop stronger managerial insights,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Moadab reached out though LinkedIn to Carson College doctoral students and alumni who, like him, were from Iran, to ask for their opinions on the college\u2019s doctoral program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI messaged them and asked questions about WSU and the Carson College. I liked what they had to say; they vouched for the school and the program, so here I am.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Moadab believes earning his doctorate in operations management is the \u201clast piece in the puzzle\u201d of how he envisions his career path and his responsibility to the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBecoming a professor in my field is my goal. Part of my teaching philosophy is to not only share knowledge; I can also learn from students. That\u2019s why I love teaching,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And just as his research focus has been shaped by experiences of his past, so has Moadab&#8217;s desire to learn, teach, and mentor others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIn Iran, we have so many areas where children barely have blackboards to write on, let alone many other important educational resources. It\u2019s because of where I come from, I know education, and more specifically, earning my PhD will allow me to do the work I want to in terms of social good and serving humanity.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As a young boy growing up in Iran, Amirhossein Moadab experienced the devastation of earthquakes and observed suffering after resources failed to reach people in need. Today, as a doctoral candidate studying operations and management science, he aims to improve drone technology in response and recovery efforts following natural disasters.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":[630],"featured_media":18214,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[614,425,550],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/business.wsu.edu\/edividend\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14036"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/business.wsu.edu\/edividend\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/business.wsu.edu\/edividend\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/business.wsu.edu\/edividend\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/630"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/business.wsu.edu\/edividend\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14036"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/business.wsu.edu\/edividend\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14036\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19726,"href":"https:\/\/business.wsu.edu\/edividend\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14036\/revisions\/19726"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/business.wsu.edu\/edividend\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18214"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/business.wsu.edu\/edividend\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14036"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/business.wsu.edu\/edividend\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14036"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/business.wsu.edu\/edividend\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14036"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/business.wsu.edu\/edividend\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/author?post=14036"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}