Dr. Essam Dabbour's Biography

Dr. Essam Dabbour, Ph.D., P.Eng., F.ITE, RSP1, is a Transportation and Forensic Engineer and the President of EDA Forensics, a Canadian consulting firm specializing in traffic safety, roadway design, municipal liability, occupiers' liability, and the engineering investigation of personal-injury cases. With more than 35 years of engineering experience, Dr. Dabbour has investigated over 500 forensic engineering cases involving traffic collisions, pedestrian and cycling facilities, micromobility, slip-and-fall and trip-and-fall incidents, temporary work zones, and other transportation and infrastructure-related matters. Throughout his forensic engineering career, he has been retained by plaintiff and defence counsel, insurance companies, municipalities, public agencies, and private organizations to provide independent, objective, and evidence-based engineering opinions. His clients have included the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO), the City of Toronto, the Regional Municipality of York, the City of Timmins, Toronto Hydro, and numerous other municipalities and public-sector organizations.

Dr. Essam Dabbour - President of EDA Forensics and Forensic Engineering Expert

Selected Achievements

Investigated more than 500 forensic engineering cases.
Instructor for three Good Roads professional development courses.
Adjunct Professor at Toronto Metropolitan University.
Fellow of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (F.ITE).
Certified Road Safety Professional (RSP1).
Certified Road Safety Auditor in Ontario.
Consulting Engineer designated by Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO).
Registered Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) in Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia.
Authored more than 65 articles* that are published in scientific journals and professional magazines. Click here for a list of selected publications.

* Some of Dr. Dabbour's earlier academic publications appear under the name Essam M. Dabbour. These publications were authored by the same individual, Dr. Essam Dabbour.

Academic Background

Doctorate Degree (Ph.D.) in Civil Engineering, specializing in Transportation Engineering, from Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University), Toronto, Canada, 2009.
Master’s degree (M.A.Sc.) in Civil Engineering from Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University), Toronto, Canada, 2003.
Bachelor’s degree (B.Sc.) in Civil Engineering, Alexandria University, Egypt, 1988.

Selected Professional Development

Online preparatory course and passed the exam for Road Safety Professional “Level 1” (RSP1) by the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) and the Transportation Professional Certification Board (TPCB).
“Road Safety Audits” course provided by the Ontario Good Roads Association.
“Snow School” course provided by the Ontario Good Roads Association.
“Comprehensive Gait Analysis: Understanding Human Locomotion” online course provided by Udemy.
“Anthropometry, Biomechanics, and Motor Skills in User Design” online course provided by Arizona State University (through Coursera).
“Forensic Video Analysis: Video Literacy” Course provided by iNPUT ACE.

Employment History

July 2023 – present: President of EDA Forensics.
February 2021 – June 2023: Vice President of Advantage Forensics.
January 2020 – January 2021: Senior Engineer at Advantage Forensics.
August 2009 – December 2019: University Professor at Abu Dhabi University (United Arab Emirates).
April 2003 – August 2008: Transportation Engineer at Giffels Associates (later acquired by IBI Group).

Professional Memberships, Designations, and Appointments

Registered Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) in Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia.
Designated ‘Consulting Engineer’ by Professional Engineers Ontario.
Certified Road Safety Auditor in Ontario.
Certified Road Safety Professional “Level 1” (RSP1).
Fellow Member of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (F.ITE).
Member of the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering (CSCE).
Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).
Member of the Canadian Association for Road Safety Professionals (CARSP).
Member of the Transportation Association of Canada (TAC).
ABET/ASCE Program Evaluator for accreditation of Civil Engineering university programs.
Board member of the Safety Network Newsletter, published by the Canadian Association for Road Safety Professionals (CARSP).
Member of the Consulting Engineer Designation Committee (CEDC) – Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO).

Awards

Outstanding Reviewer Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers, 2017.
Research Fellow Award from Abu Dhabi University, 2017.
Outstanding Teaching Award from Abu Dhabi University, 2015.
Outstanding Research Award from Abu Dhabi University, 2010 and 2014.
Innovation Challenge Award from Toronto Metropolitan University, 2009.
Arthur M. Wellington Prize from the American Society of Civil Engineers, 2005 (click here to view it).

Media Appearances

An interview with CTV News (Ottawa) about traffic safety in the City of Ottawa and the implementation of traffic calming measures in Ontario, March 13, 2024 (click here to view it).
An interview with “The National” newspaper (the largest English-language newspaper in the United Arab Emirates) about traffic safety and the design of municipal roads in the City of Abu Dhabi, March 12, 2015 (click here to view it).

Professional and Academic Profiles

Click any of the following profiles to learn more: