Global Symposium on Racing Speaker: Dr. Joe Dvorak
Joseph (Joe) Dvorak, Ph.D., P.E. is an Associate Professor of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering at the University of Kentucky, where his research focuses on sensors, machine vision, artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, and data-driven decision support for complex outdoor environments. He has been a faculty member at the University of Kentucky since 2012 and is a licensed Professional Engineer in Kentucky.
Dr. Dvorak's work combines sensor development, computer vision, machine learning, and autonomous systems to improve the measurement and management of biological and physical systems. His research has included optical sensing, UAV-based remote sensing, LiDAR applications, predictive modeling, agricultural robotics, and AI-enabled decision support. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications in sensing, automation, and precision monitoring technologies and serves as an Associate Editor for ASABE journals.
In recent years, Dr. Dvorak has expanded his research into racing surface assessment and monitoring. He has advised projects investigating sensor technologies for measuring soil moisture under high-salinity conditions and has led efforts to explore computer vision and artificial intelligence techniques for estimating track moisture conditions from wheel-track imagery. His current work evaluates how emerging sensing technologies, convolutional neural networks, and visual language models can complement traditional racetrack surface measurements and help fill critical data gaps. By combining engineering measurements with AI-based interpretation, his research aims to provide more continuous, scalable, and actionable information for racetrack maintenance and safety.
At the 2026 Global Symposium on Racing, Dr. Dvorak will discuss new sensor technologies and AI-enabled approaches that could help the racing industry better understand and manage racetrack surface conditions.