Sponsored by the Intelligence Base for Intelligent Construction and Safety of Geotechnical and Underground Engineering in Southwest Jiaotong University (SWJTU), the lecture "Transportation Infrastructure Optimization (Volume 1): Road, Railway and Rail Line Design" hosted by the Department of Highway and Railway Engineering, School of Civil Engineering was held on Zoom as scheduled. The lecture, hosted by He Qin, professor of Department of Highway and Railway, invited Paul Schonfeld, professor of the Department of School of Civil Engineering, University of Maryland to give the presentation. Over 100 teachers and students from different universities participated in the lecture.

Here is the outline of the lecture: 1 Overview. 2 Transportation Infrastructure Optimization. 3 Special Issues about Modeling: Crossroads, Overpasses, Bridges and Tunnels. 4 Routes and Stations Applicable to Railroad. 5 Future Research and Development.

After the presentation, experts, scholars and postgraduates from SWJTU and otherinstitutions in China had an in-depth discussion with Prof. Paul Schonfeld on the relevant issues mentioned in the presentations. Prof. Paul Schonfeld gave detailedexplanations to the questions. Finally, Prof. He concluded the lecture with the development plan of the future direction of transportation infrastructure optimization. On behalf of "111" Intelligence Base and "Yang Hua" Lecture Room, he expressed his gratitude to Prof. Paul Schonfeld for his informative and inspiring presentation, and hoped that there would be more opportunities to invite Prof. Paul Scheonfeld for another lecture with the latest research findings.

The lecture aimed to open up the academic vision for both teachers and students, inform them of the future optimization trend of rail transportation line. Meanwhile, it also showed the innovation and development of Highway and Railway Engineering discipline, promoted the internationalization of School of Civil Engineering, and provided new directions and supports for teachers and students in academic innovation in SWJTU.