10/16/2025
Erol Tutumluer named ASCE Distinguished Member, the highest honor bestowed by ASCE, reserved for ASCE Members or Fellows who have attained eminence in their profession. Learn More>>
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Abel Bliss Professor in Engineering and Paul F. Kent Endowed Faculty Scholar Erol Tutumluer has been named an American Society of Civil Engineers Distinguished Member. The highest honor bestowed by ASCE, Distinguished Membership is reserved for ASCE Members or Fellows who have attained eminence in their profession.
One of eleven professionals selected for the class of 2025, Tutumluer receives this honor, “For pioneering contributions to transportation geotechnics field in which he develops and implements geomechanics principles in the analysis and design of transportation facilities, as well as for his unwavering commitment to education/mentoring of students and to professional service.”
Tutumluer and the rest of newly selected Distinguished Members were honored and officially inducted at the ASCE Annual Convention on October 8-11, 2025, in Seattle, Wash. A short video from ASCE about his many prestigious accomplishments and contributions to advancing the field of transportation geotechnics can be viewed here.
Tutumluer shared his gratitude for receiving this title.
"With humility, I accept this honor for my pioneering work in transportation geotechnics, where I develop and apply geomechanics principles to the analysis and design of transportation infrastructure. I also dedicate this recognition to my commitment to education, mentoring, and professional service."
Joining the University of Illinois in 1996, Tutumluer has taught courses in transportation engineering, pavement analysis and design, transportation soils engineering, soil stabilization, airport facilities design, and transportation infrastructure for smart mobility to as many as 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Of these students, Tutumluer has graduated 27 PhD and 47 MS candidates, and advised many postdocs and visiting scholars.
A global leader in transportation geotechnics, Tutumluer’s research focuses on pavement and railroad track geomaterials, sustainable construction practices, geosynthetics and advanced technologies such as AI, smart sensors and imaging for infrastructure monitoring. He has led over 125 research projects, published more than 400 peer-reviewed papers and additionally serves as the Director of International and ZJUI Education Programs in the department of civil & environmental engineering.
His career additionally includes numerous awards, such as the ASCE James Laurie Prize (2020), Geo-Institute’s Carl L. Monismith Lecture Award (2021) and the International Geosynthetics Society Award (2023). In 2024, he received the ASCE Francis C. Turner Award, delivered ISSMGE’s Proctor Lecture during the 5th International Conference on Transportation Geotechnics in Sydney, Australia, and was selected to chair a federal working group by the U.S. Department of Transportation.