Duong Nguyen Vu, Prof.
VinUniversity
Vice Provost of Graduate Education
Center for AI Research
Chief Scientific Officer
Biography
Prof. Vu had been a Professor of Aerospace Engineering at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore until July 2025, where he serves as Scientific Director at the Air Traffic Management Research Institute (ATMRI). Under his leadership—as Executive Director until 2025—the institute has emerged as a global leader in air traffic management research, thanks in large part to the scientific foundation he helped establish. Before joining NTU, Prof. Vu was the founding Director of the John von Neumann Institute at Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, spearheading university-industry collaborations and championing innovation and entrepreneurship in education. Prior to returning to Vietnam in 2010, he was Head of Innovative Research and Senior Scientific Advisor at EUROCONTROL, the European Agency for Air Navigation. His ties to VinUni and VinGroup include serving as Honorary Dean of VinUni’s College of Engineering & Computer Science (2020), Member of the VinGroup Science & Technology Advisory Committee (2019-2025), Member of the VinUni University Council (2020-2022), and Senior Advisor to VinUni since February 2025. He also advised Vietnam’s Minister of Planning and Investment on innovation strategy, contributing to the National Innovation Center.
Prof. Vu earned his Master of Engineering (1986) and Ph.D. in Artificial Intelligence (1990) from the École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées in France. His research interests center on AI for complex systems, particularly machine learning, optimization, and automation in air traffic management (ATM), including human-centric AI, multi-agent systems, computer vision for aviation, generative adversarial learning, and explainable few-shot learning. He has published over 100 papers in top-tier venues like Elselvier’s Transportation Research, IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems, Air Traffic Control Quarterly, and conferences such as NeurIPS, ICRAT, ATM R&D Seminars. We has been the founder and Conference Chair or co-Chair of the 3 most prestigious conferences in Air Traffic Management research, and 2 IEEE conferences in AI and ICT.
• Artificial Intelligence for Complex Systems
• Machine Learning Data-Driven Models
• Optimization and Automation for Air Traffic Management (ATM)
• Human-Centric AI
• Multi-Agent Systems
• Computer Vision for Aviation Operations
• Generative Adversarial Learning for Aircraft Trajectories
• Explainable Few-Shot Learning in Remote Sensing
• Airspace Complexity Untangling
• Drone Traffic Management, Urban Aerial Mobility
• Computer Vision
• Scientific Research Methods
• Complex Systems Modeling
• Technology-based Innovation & Leadership
• Critical Thinking
• Human-AI Interaction and Automation
1. H Ali, DT Pham, S Alam, M Schultz, MZ Li, Y Wang, E Itoh, VN Duong (2Human-AI Hybrids in Safety-Critical Systems: Concept, definition and perspectives from Air Traffic Management. Advanced Engineering Informatics 65, 103256
2. GY Lee, T Dam, MM Ferdaus, DP Poenar, VN Duong (2024) DRACO-DehazeNet: An Efficient Image Dehazing Network Combining Detail Recovery and a Novel Contrastive Learning Paradigm. arXiv preprint arXiv:2410.14595
3. GY Lee, T Dam, MM Ferdaus, DP Poenar, VN Duong (2024) Unlocking the capabilities of explainable few-shot learning in remote sensing. Artificial Intelligence Review 57 (7), 169
4. GY Lee, J Chen, T Dam, MM Ferdaus, DP Poenar, VN Duong (2024) Dehazing remote sensing and uav imagery: A review of deep learning, prior-based, and hybrid approaches. arXiv preprint arXiv:2405.07520
5. B Pang, KH Low, VN Duong (2024) Chance-constrained UAM traffic flow optimization with fast disruption recovery under uncertain waypoint occupancy time. Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies 161, 104547
6. DT Pham, Y Guleria, S Alam, V Duong (2023). Probabilistic Conflict Detection using Heteroscedastic Gaussian Process and Bayesian Optimization, IEEE Access
7. Y Wang, C Liu, H Wang, V Duong (2023) Slot allocation for a multiple-airport system considering airspace capacity and flying time uncertainty. Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies 153, 104185
8. GY Lee, T Dam, MM Ferdaus, DP Poenar, VN Duong (2023) WATT-EffNet: A Lightweight and Accurate Model for Classifying Aerial Disaster Images. IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Letters
9. D Delahaye, DT Pham, P Tran, S Alam, V Duong (2022) Deep Reinforcement Learning based Path Stretch Vector Resolution in Dense Traffic with Uncertainties. Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies 135, 103463
10. DT Pham, TN Tran, S Alam, VN Duong (2021) A Generative Adversarial Imitation Learning Approach for Realistic Aircraft Taxi-Speed Modeling. IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems
11. K Pushparaj, G Ky, AJ Ayeni, S Alam, VN Duong (2021) A quantum-inspired model for human-automation trust in air traffic controllers derived from functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging and correlated with behavioural indicators. Journal of Air Transport Management 97, 102143
12. GY Lee, KT Yong, H Xu, VN Duong (2021) Effective CNN-Based Image Dehazing for UAV Deep Visual Odometry. Journal of Vision 21 (9), 2193-2193
13. M Schultz, D Lubig, E Asadi, J Rosenow, E Itoh, S Athota, VN Duong (2021) Implementation of a long-range air traffic flow management for the asia-pacific region. IEEE Access 9, 124640-124659
14. Q Cai, S Alam, VN Duong (2021) A Spatial–Temporal Network Perspective for the Propagation Dynamics of Air Traffic Delays. Engineering 7 (4), 452-464
15. Pham D.T., Alam S., Duong V. (2021) An Air Traffic Controller Action Extraction-Prediction Model using Machine Learning Approach. Complexity – Special Issue on Reinforcement Learning and Adaptive Optimisation of Complex Dynamic Systems and Industrial Applications. In-press
16. Wang Y., Cao Y., Zhu C., Hu F., Hu M., Duong V., Watkins M., Barzel B., Stanley E., (2020) Universal Patterns in Passenger Flight Departure Delay. Nature – Scientific Reports 10(1), 1-10
17. Yao P., Wang Y., Zhu C.., Wu F., Hu M., Yang H., Duong V., Hu F., Stanley E., (2020) A Universal State Equation of Particle Gases for Passenger Flights in the United States. Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and Its Applications 545, pp. 123748
18. Cai Q., Alam S., Duong V. (2020) On Robustness Paradox in Air Traffic Network. IEEE Transactions on Network Science and Engineering,
19. Wang Y., Liu T., Hu M., Ma C., Duong V. (2020) Temporal Patterns Underlying Domestic Departure Passengers in the Airport. IEEE Access 8, 127969-127980
20. Tran N.P., Pham D.T., Goh S.K., Alam S., Duong V. (2020). An Interactive Conflict Solver for Learning Air Traffic Conflict Resolutions. Journal of Aerospace Information Systems 17(6), 271-277
• 1990: Ph.D. in Artificial Intelligence, École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées, France
• 1986: Master of Engineering, École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées, France
SUPERVISED DOCTORAL STUDENTS
• Coordination of Aircraft for En-Route Conflict Resolution: An Approach based on Disjunctive PERT Graphs. PhD candidate: Nguyen, Huy-Hoang. University of Technology of Compiegne, 2004. Thesis co-supervised with Jacques Carlier, UT Compiegne.
• Constraint-based Airspace Sectorisation. PhD candidate: Trandac, Huy. University of Technology of Compiegne, 2004. Thesis co-supervised with Philippe Baptiste (currently Minister of Science and Technology, France).
• Comprehensive Study of Wake Vortex Phenomena to the Assessment of its Incorporation to ATM for Safety & Capacity Improvements. PhD candidate: Choroba, Peter. University of Zilina, 2005. Current academic position: Senior Leader, EUROCONTROL Innovation Hub, EU
• A Stereoscopic 3D Visualization Environment for Air Traffic Control: An Analysis of Interactions and a Proposal of New Interaction Techniques. PhD candidate: Dang, Nguyen-Thong. Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes, 2005. Current academic position: Associate Professor, University of Saint Quentin-en-Yvelines, France
• Towards Participative Design of Social Simulations: Application to Air Traffic Management. PhD candidate: Nguyen-Duc, Minh. University of Paris 6, 2005. Thesis co-supervised with Alexis Drogoul, IRD.
• Analysis of Absorption Areas in Air Traffic Flow Management. PhD candidate: Frederic Ferchaud. University of Bordeaux I, 2006. Thesis co-supervised with Richard Castanet, ENSEIRB.
• Analysis of Passenger Viewpoints and of the Practical Shift in Air-Rail Intermodal Transport. PhD candidate: Cokasova, Antonia. University of Zilina, 2006.
• Stereoscopic 3D Visualisation for Air Traffic Control: Issues in 3D Interfaces for Air Traffic Control. PhD Candidate: Le-Hong, Ha. Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes, 2006.
• Non-Linear Prediction Model for the European Small Aircraft Accessibility for 2020. PhD candidate: Rohacs, Daniel. Budapest University of Technology and Economics, 2007. Thesis co-supervised with Tamas Gausz, Budapest UTE. Current academic position: Associate Professor, Chair of Department of Transportation, Budapest University of Technology & Economics, Hungary
• Analysis of Uncertainties in Air Traffic Flow Management. PhD Candidate: Gwiggner, Claus-Peter. Ecole Polytechnique, 2007. Thesis co-supervised with Philippe Baptiste (currently Minister of Science and Technology, France). Ecole Polytechnique. Current academic position: Associate Professor, University of Hamburg, Germany
• On the Operational Feasibility to Synchronizing Air Traffic for Higher Throughput – Applied to Central European Airspace. PhD candidate: Dravecka, Lenka. University of Zilina, 2007.
• Harmonizing Automation, Pilot and Air Traffic Controllers in the Future Air Traffic Management Systems. PhD candidate: Eri Itoh. University of Tokyo, 2008. Thesis co-supervised with S. Suzuki. University of Tokyo, Japan. Current academic position: Full Professor, The University of Tokyo, Japan
• Non-Negative Sparse Principal Component Analysis for Multidimensional Constrained Optimization in Air Traffic Management. PhD candidate: Duong, Dang Xuan Thanh. Vietnam National University HCM – College of Science, 2011.
• Analysis of Temporal, Spatial, and Fluctuation Scaling in Air Traffic Controller’s Activities with a Human Dynamics Approach. PhD candidate: Wang, Yanjun. Telecom-ParisTech, 2012. Current academic position: Full Professor, College of Civil Aviation, University of Aeronautics & Astronautics, China
• Machine Learning-based for Flight Trajectory Prediction and Conflict Management. PhD candidate: Pham, Duc Thinh. Thesis co-supervised with Marc Bui, EPHE, Paris Science-Lettres Research University, 2019. Current academic position: Principal Research Scientist at NTU Singapore
• From Human-Human Trust to Human-Autonomous System Trust. PhD Candidate: Pushparaj, Kiranraj, NTU Singapore, 2022. Current academic position: Post-Doctoral Researcher at Emery Riddle University, USA
• Droneport Airside Operations. PhD Candidate: Yeng, Yi Xi, NTU Singapore 2023. Current academic position: Research Fellow at NTU Singapore
• Detection, tracking and classification of small flying objects in wide-area. PhD Candidate: Thai, Van Phat. NTU Singapore, 2023. Current academic position: Research Fellow at NTU Singapore
• Risk-Based Route Planning & Decision Making for UAS Operations in Urban Airspace. PhD Candidate: Pang, Bizhao, NTU Singapore. Current academic position: Research Fellow at NTU Singapore
• Contrail Minimization with Virtual Centralized Air Traffic Flow Management. PhD Candidate: Ky, Gregoire Arthur, NTU Singapore 2025. Current academic position: Senior Research Engineer, NTU Singapore
• UAS Visual Tracking for Environment Issues with Reinforcement Learning. PhD Candidate: Lee, Gao Yu, NTU Singapore. Dissertation under review 2025.
• Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning for Airport Slot Scheduling with Fairness. PhD Candidate: Nguyen, Duy Anh, NTU Singapore. Dissertation under review 2025
• Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning Structure for Human-AI Hybrid Decision Making. PhD Student: Nguyen, Phan Nhat Hoang, NTU Singapore. Expected 2026.
• Dynamic Chatbots for Human-AI Hybrid Multi-Agent Decision Makings. PhD student: Le, Hoan Minh, NTU Singapore. Expected 2027
