Sarah Hubbard, PhD, PE

Associate Professor

Contact Info

765-494-0171

TERM 219B

West Lafayette

Dr. Hubbard is a professional engineer and Associate Professor in the School of Aviation and Transportation Technology at Purdue University. She has experience in engineering consulting, continuing education, and academia. Her professional interests in aviation and transportation include advanced technologies and sustainability, which encompasses environmental, social, economic and operational dimensions. Her scholarly output (as of Summer 2025) includes 38 peer-reviewed journal articles (2 additional papers in review), including four articles in the Q1 journal Drones¹. She has authored 29 peer-reviewed national and international conference papers, 20 additional conference presentations and posters, 16 technical reports, 1 book chapter, and three trade journal articles. Dr. Hubbard's research impact includes innovation to support sustainability, including advanced technologies, automated vehicles (AVs) and UAS (aka drones). Her publication Advanced Ground Vehicle Technologies for Airside Operations² was recently recognized by the FAA as one of two authoritative resources for automated ground vehicle systems at airports³. Dr. Hubbard serves as editor of the Special Issue: Urban Air Mobility Solutions UAVs for Smarter Cities for Drones, a Q1 journal in Aerospace Engineering¹ and as co-editor of the Special Issue “Sustainable Aviation and Urban Air Mobility: Policy, Technology, and Workforce Perspectives” for Sustainability, a Q1 journal in Geography, Planning and Development and Environmental Science in Scopus CiteScore.

Dr. Hubbard has taught the following courses:

AT 359 Introduction to Airport Management
AT 459 Airport Manager Certification
AT 505 Research Methods
AT 506 Capstone Research Project for M.S. Students
AT 490 Independent Research Projects, e.g., Airport Construction, Airport Sustainability
IT 507 Measurement and Evaluation in Industry and Technology
AT 520 Operational Assessment and Improvement

References

Journal Searches. (2025). Drones impact factor, indexing, ranking released in June 2025 for Aerospace Engineering (Q1). Available online: https://journalsearches.com/journal.php?title=drones (retrieved June 27, 2025).
Hubbard, S., Voyles, R., Souders, D., Yang, H., Hart, J., & Brammell, S. (2020). Advanced Ground Vehicle Technologies for Airside Operations (No. Project 03-48). Airport Cooperative Research Program Research Report 219.
FAA. (2025, May 27). Autonomous Ground Vehicle Systems on Airports. Available online: https://www.faa.gov/airports/new_entrants/agvs_on_airports (retrieved June 26, 2025).

Research Interests

Airport Planning & Management
Aviation Safety & Security
Multi-Model Planning
Terminal Facility Design & Service
Multi-Model Planning

Education History

PhD, Civil Engineering - Purdue University, West Lafayette IN

MS, Civil Engineering - Texas A&M University, College Station TX

BS, Civil Engineering - Purdue University, West Lafayette IN

Honors and Awards

Best Paper Award, 2024 Purdue Military Research Institute Conference
Transportation Research Board, High Value Research Winner Poster Session
National Highway Cooperative Research Program, Sweet 16 Research Award
Outstanding Faculty in Learning, School of Aviation and Transportation Technology
Favorite Faculty, Residential Life in University Residences
Outstanding Faculty in Learning, School of Aviation and Transportation Technology
Nominee from SATT for Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching
American Society of Civil Engineers, Arthur M. Wellington Prize, Annual National Award
Journal of Transportation Engineering, Best Paper Award
Dwight D. Eisenhower Graduate Fellow, National graduate fellowship granted by the U.S. Department of Transportation
Eno Transportation Fellow, National leadership award and conference
Fred J. Benson University Fellowship, Texas A&M University Award
Distinguished Research Assistant, Texas A&M University Award
Snead Fellowship, Texas A&M Civil Engineering Award
Advanced Institute in Transportation Fellowship, Texas A&M Civil Engineering Award

Publications and Presentations

Sun, J., & Hubbard, S. (2025). An Examination of UAS Incidents: Characteristics and Safety Considerations. Drones (2504-446X), 9(2).
Hubbard, S., (2025). Environmental Social Governance (ESG) Reporting for Large US Airports. Sustainability, 17(11), 4832.
Lercel, D., & Hubbard, S. (2025). The State of UAS Operations at Airports, A Perspective from Airport Managers. Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research. Accepted, publication pending.
Parry, J. & Hubbard, S. (2025). A Framework for Test Planning of a Vision System Supporting Aerial Refueling. Journal of Aviation Technology & Engineering. Accepted, publication pending.
Sobieralski, J.B., & Hubbard, S.M. (2023). Turbulent skies ahead? Pandemic related workforce issues in air transportation. Transport Policy, 130, 84-88.
Jadhav, P., Lercel, D., Hubbard, S., & Schreckengast, S. (2023). Exploring the State of SMS Implementation at Airports. The Collegiate Aviation Review International, 41(1).
Hubbard, S., & Hubbard, B. (2020). A method for selecting strategic deployment opportunities for Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for transportation agencies. Drones, 4(3), 29.
Miller, Z., Hupy, J., Hubbard, S., & Shao, G. (2022). Precise quantification of land cover before and after planned disturbance events with UAS-derived imagery. Drones, 6(2), 52.
Sobieralski, J.B., & Hubbard, S.M. (2020). The effect of jet fuel tax changes on air transport, employment, and the environment in the US. Sustainability, 12(8), 3352.
Wang, C., & Hubbard, S.M. (2022). A Comparison of Airport Risks: Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Sightings, Wildlife Strikes, and Runway Incursions. Journal of Aviation Technology and Engineering, 11(2), 4.
Parry, J., & Hubbard, S. (2023). Review of sensor technology to support automated air-to-air refueling of a probe configured uncrewed aircraft. Sensors, 23(2), 995.
Wang, C., & Hubbard, S.M. (2021). Characteristics of unmanned aircraft system (UAS) sightings and airport safety. Journal of Aviation Technology and Engineering, 10(2), 16.
Hubbard, B., & Hubbard, S. (2020). Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for bridge inspection safety. Drones, 4(3), 40.
Hubbard, S., Baxmeyer, A., & Hubbard, B. (2021). Case study of an automated mower to support airport sustainability. Sustainability, 13(16), 8867.
Major, W. L., & Hubbard, S. M. (2019). An examination of disability-related complaints in the United States commercial aviation sector. Journal of Air Transport Management, 78, 43-53.
Hubbard, S. M., & Hubbard, B. (2019). A review of sustainability metrics for the construction and operation of airport and roadway infrastructure. Frontiers of Engineering Management, 6, 433-452.
Ryan, R., Rapp, R. R., Shaurette, M., & Hubbard, S. (2018). Examining the Microeconomics of Bid Difference of Engineer & Contractor Bids in Highway Construction. The Professional Constructor, 18-29.
Mott, J.H., Hubbard, S.M., Lu, C.T., Sobieralski, J.B., Gao, Y., Nolan, M.S., & Kotla, B. (2019). Competency-Based Education: A Framework for Aviation Management Programs. The Collegiate Aviation Review International, 37(1).
Wang, C., Hubbard, S., & Zakharov, W. (2018). Utilizing the Systematic Literature Review in Aviation: A Case Study for Runway Incursions. Collegiate Aviation Review International, 36(2).
Hubbard, S. (2018). Automated Vehicle Legislative Issues. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 2672(7), 1-13.
Ryan, R., Rapp, R., Shaurette, M., & Hubbard, S. (2018). Examining the Microeconomics of Bid Difference of Engineer & Contractor Bids in Highway Design. Journal of the American Institute of Constructors, 43(2).
Major, W., Matthew, J., Hubbard, S. & Bullock, D. (2018). Evaluation of Opportunities for Connected Aircraft Data to Identify Pavement Roughness at Airports, Collegiate Aviation Review International, 36(2).
Major, W., Tinio, R., & Hubbard, S. (2018). Able Flight at Purdue University: Case Studies of Flight Training Strategies to Accommodate Student Pilots with Disabilities. Collegiate Aviation Review International 36(2).
Hubbard, S., Pak, A., Gu, Y., & Jin, Y. (2017). UAS to Support Airport Safety and Operations: Opportunities and Challenges. Journal of Unmanned Vehicle Systems, 6(1), 1-17.
Mathew, J., Major, W., Hubbard, S, & Bullock, D. (2017). Statistical Modelling of Runway Incursions. Journal of Air Transport Management, (65): 54-62.
Hubbard, S. (2016). Safety Culture: Examination of Safety Attitudes across Transportation Modes. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, (2582), 61-71.
Hubbard, S., & Lopp, D. (2015). An Integrated Framework for Fostering Human Factor Sustainability and Increased Safety in Aviation Ramp Operations. Journal of Aviation Technology and Engineering, 5(1), 44–52.
Hubbard, S.M., & Lopp, D. (2015). A Case Study Reflecting Successful Industry Engagement: Utilizing Industry Projects as a Mechanism for Discovery and STEM Education in Aviation Technology. Journal of Education and Human Development, 2(4), 175-181.
Hainen, A., Wasson, J., Hubbard, S., Remias, S., Farnsworth, G., & Bullock, D. (2011). Estimating Route Choice and Travel Time Reliability with Field Observations of Bluetooth Probe Vehicles. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, (2256), 43-50.
Remias, S., Hubbard, S.,Hulme, E., Farnsworth, G., & Bullock, D. (2011). Bias and Uncertainty in Traffic Sign Retroreflectivity. Journal of Transportation, 1(1), 1-18.
Hubbard, S., Smalley, M., & Hubbard, S. (2010). Art in Transportation: Multimodal Overview. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, (2144), 168-180.
Hubbard, S.M., Bullock, D., & Mannering, F.L. (2009). Right turns on green and pedestrian level of service: Statistical assessment. Journal of Transportation Engineering, 135(4), 153-159. (Received Journal Best Paper Award, 2009).
Hubbard, B., McGlothlin, J., & Hubbard, S. (2009). Ergonomics: Case Study: Safety Training Issues for Student Interns. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, 6(8), D35-D40.
McGlothlin, J., Hubbard, B., Aghazadeh, F., & Hubbard, S. (2009). Ergonomics Case Study: Safety Training Issues for Hispanic Construction Workers, Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, 6(9), D45-D50.
Hubbard, B., & Hubbard, S. (2009). Activities to Enhance Civil Engineering Recruitment and Coordination with Industry. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, (2109), 22-30.
Hubbard, S., Bullock, D., & Day, C. (2008). Integration of Real-time Pedestrian Performance Measures into Existing Infrastructure of Traffic Signal System. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, (2008), 37-47.
Hubbard, S., Awwad, R., & D.M. Bullock. (2007). Assessing the Impact of Turning Vehicles on Pedestrian Level of Service at Signalized Intersections: A New Perspective. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, (2027), 27-36.
Henk, R.H., & Hubbard, S.M. (1996). Developing an Index of Transit Service Availability. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, (1521), 12-19.

Certifications

Indiana Professional Engineer, Indiana License No. PE19900493

Certified Member, American Association of Airport Executives

ACE, Safety Management Systems, American Association of Airport Executives

Professional Affiliations

Executive Board of Aviation Indiana (2018 - 2026)

TRB Managing Airfield and Airspace Operations (AV014) (2016 - 2025)

FAA REDAC Committee, Airport Subcommittee (2016 - 2025)

TRB Airfield and Airspace Capacity & Delay Committee (AV060) (2016-2025)

TRB Transportation Research Board, New Users of Airspace Committee (AV095) (2020 - 2025). TRB committees currently being reorganized.

Transportation Research Board, Commercial Space Subcommittee (2018 – 2020).

Panel Member on National Cooperative Highway Research Program 03-115 Update of the 2010 Highway Capacity Manual (2013 – 2016).

Purdue University Press Editorial Board (2020 to Present)

Advisory Board, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Community Resiliency for Buildings and Infrastructure Panel (2016 – 2017)

West Lafayette Parks and Recreation Foundation Board, Secretary (2012 - 2016)

Member, American Society for Engineering Education National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship Panel (December 2015 – March 2016)

News about Sarah

March 2025

Polytechnic research awards - February 2025

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Sarah Hubbard