Hamidi secures $800K TxDOT award to advance AI waterway monitoring

Lamar University’s Dr. Maryam Hamidi has received an $800,000 research award from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to lead the next phase of an artificial intelligence-driven system designed to improve vessel monitoring and freight analysis along the Texas portion of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.

Hamidi, the project’s principal investigator, will oversee development of a system that integrates video feeds, trade data and marine Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) data using advanced computer vision and machine learning techniques. The expanded system builds on an earlier phase in which the Lamar research team created a user-interface software platform for TxDOT to quantify and visualize traffic patterns along the waterway using AIS data.

AIS broadcasts provide vessel location and identification information but can contain inaccuracies due to manual data entry. In some cases, a vessel may report a length of 200 feet, even though the combined length of the vessel and its barge tow may exceed 1,600 feet.

The new phase of the project aims to address those gaps by combining live video analysis with AIS and trade data to improve accuracy and deliver real-time insights for maritime stakeholders, including TxDOT and U.S. Coast Guard vessel traffic service units.

Currently, waterway surveillance relies heavily on operators manually monitoring multiple camera feeds, a process susceptible to fatigue and human error. The AI-enabled system under development will automatically detect vessels and barges, classify them by size and type and track their direction of travel, enhancing operational efficiency and decision-making capabilities.

“We sincerely appreciate the Texas Department of Transportation, maritime section, for its support and strong collaboration on this project,” Hamidi said. “TxDOT’s technical expertise, guidance and partnership have been instrumental in advancing the research and ensuring its practical relevance and impact.”

The award reflects LU’s continued investment in applied engineering research focused on infrastructure innovation, freight mobility and maritime safety along the Gulf Coast.

To learn more about the university’s port and maritime research initiatives, visit https://www.lamar.edu/engineering/research/center-for-advances-in-port-management/about/index.html.