About Me
Hello and welcome! I'm an engineer, researcher, and lifelong LEGO enthusiast from Canada.
I've always been passionate about solving puzzles and building things. As a child, I was drawn to math, LEGO, and mechanical building sets, constantly seeking ways to combine creativity and problem-solving. This curiosity led me to pursue a Ph.D. in Transportation Engineering, where I immersed myself in innovative technologies.
Throughout my academic journey, I also maintained a love for programming. My first exposure to coding came in high school, where I learned Turing as my first programming language. In university, I became captivated by the world of self-driving cars and intelligent transportation. It felt like the ultimate combination of puzzles, programming, math, and innovation, which deepened my passion for software development.
My research has taken me across continents—I have worked and studied in Canada, the United States, and Europe, collaborating with leading institutions and researchers in transportation engineering. During my PhD, I developed the first agent-based day-to-day framework and simulation platform for evaluating Mobility as a Service in two-sided markets—a groundbreaking contribution to understanding how shared mobility systems function in complex urban environments.
For my postdoctoral research, I worked on distributed traffic management using networks of intelligent intersections for automated vehicles. This innovative work resulted in both Canadian and US patents, establishing new approaches to coordinating autonomous vehicles through smart infrastructure. These research experiences further cemented my love for coding and building software solutions that push the boundaries of intelligent transportation. During the final semesters of my PhD, I rediscovered my passion for LEGO. Building LEGO sets became a way to unwind and relax, helping me stay creative while balancing my demanding research.
I recently discovered LEGO Mindstorms and its vast potential for programmable LEGO creations. This new discovery opened up an exciting world of possibilities, merging my love for LEGO with my passion for coding. Currently, I'm working on a project to build a self-driving LEGO vehicle, which I plan to connect to my traffic simulation software—bringing my fascination with coding, LEGO, and autonomous vehicles together in one project.
After years in academia and industry, I decided to take a sabbatical. During this time, I pursued additional programming courses, explored machine learning, and deepened my passion for LEGO. I also experimented with Stud.io software (the CAD of the LEGO design world) and followed other enthusiasts, even designing a LEGO replica of my childhood vacation home.
The Birth of My Projects
It was during this sabbatical that I decided to evolve a hard-coded traffic simulation and routing platform that I had originally developed during my postdoctoral research. The early prototype focused on downtown Toronto and autonomous vehicle routing, but I knew it had the potential to become something far more advanced. I started from scratch, reimagining the platform as a dynamic, real-time traffic simulation system.
MATDIVERTS: Multi-Agent Traffic Diversion and Routing System
MATDIVERTS is a sophisticated microscopic traffic simulation platform designed for real-time vehicle routing and traffic management. Built on advanced physics models (IDM car-following, MOBIL lane-changing), it features dynamic network topology, intelligent intersection routing (I2I communication), and adaptive traffic signal control. The platform supports multiple input formats (OSM, SUMO, CSV), provides comprehensive analytics including fundamental diagrams and emission calculations, and offers professional visualization with speed heatmaps and time-space diagrams. It serves as a powerful research tool for studying connected vehicles, autonomous navigation, traffic optimization strategies, and mixed traffic scenarios.
GMITSIM: Generative Multi-Agent Intelligent Traffic Simulation
GMITSIM represents the next evolution, integrating cutting-edge generative AI capabilities into traffic simulation. Powered by GPT-5.1, it introduces "God Mode" natural language control for real-time network modifications, autonomous AI drivers with cognitive reasoning, and dynamic code execution for complex orchestration tasks. The platform combines traditional traffic engineering with modern AI, featuring adaptive traffic signals, reinforcement learning environments, and explainable AI decision logs. It bridges the gap between microscopic simulation and AI research, providing an unprecedented testbed for next-generation intelligent transportation systems.
During this time, I also hit a roadblock while watching a foreign TV show that had no good subtitle options. The available services were either costly or complicated, and I knew there had to be a better way. So, I built it.
Subtitle Sphere: Accessible Video Content for Everyone
That's how Subtitle Sphere was born—a simple, yet powerful tool for creating, translating, and editing subtitles. What started as a personal challenge evolved into a comprehensive platform designed to make video content accessible to everyone—not just professional content creators or video editors. I wanted to create something affordable, easy to use, privacy-focused, and standalone, so it can even be used offline on a personal computer without the need for costly services.
What began with just a couple of core features has grown into a feature-rich application with over 50 capabilities, downloaded by more than 1,000 people around the world as of January 2026. From unlimited transcription and translation to advanced editing tools, Subtitle Sphere continues to evolve based on user feedback and emerging needs.
This combination of problem-solving through programming, my evolving interest in software development, and my growing passion for creative projects like LEGO led me to the creation of Tandis 24 Design Lab: Bricks & Bytes—a space where I could merge my engineering expertise with my love for innovation, building solutions that blend creativity and technology.
Whether it's simulating complex traffic networks with AI-powered agents, making video content accessible across language barriers, or building programmable LEGO vehicles, my work is driven by a simple philosophy: technology should solve real problems while remaining accessible, engaging, and fun to use.