CUTC MEMBERS

A-M

Arizona State University
Transportation Studies at Arizona State University

Director: Ram Pendyala
ph. (480) 727-4587

Secondary Contact: Pitu Mirchandani
ph. (480) 965 – 2758

Transportation Studies at Arizona State University is a comprehensive enterprise covering all aspects of transportation, infrastructure systems, and mobility for all. With more than 50 faculty members engaged in transportation related research and education activities, the program aims to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of the transportation system while providing mobility to all through research, education, and technology transfer activities. The program is home to the Tier 1 University Transportation Center titled “Center for Teaching Old Models New Tricks” led by Arizona State University. The enterprise includes a graduate certificate in Interdisciplinary Transportation Studies along with a number of degree programs across the university that offer a transportation emphasis. Through these programs, Transportation Studies at Arizona State University aims to develop a diverse and well-educated trans-disciplinary workforce of the future. Broad areas of emphasis covered in the research, education, and technology transfer activities of the institution include:

  1. Next generation equitable mobility for people and goods
  2. Sustainable urban design for reducing energy and environmental footprint of transportation activity
  3. Smart and durable infrastructure systems
  4. Smart and advanced transportation/vehicular technologies and services
  5. Computational modeling and simulation
  6. Governance, policy, finance and institutional processes

Auburn University
Auburn University Transportation Center

Director: Laurence Rilett
ph. (334) 844-8306

Secondary Contact: Steve Taylor

Summary: Established in 2021, the Auburn University Transportation Research Institute provides a unified presence and strategic direction for promoting the renowned transportation-related research conducted within the academic departments and research centers in the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering.

Thanks to the reputation of the units under the Institute’s umbrella — the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) and its affiliated asphalt test track, the Highway Research Center (HRC), the Alabama Transportation Assistance Program (ATAP) and the GPS and Vehicle Dynamics Laboratory (GAVLAB) — extramural funding for transportation is greater than any other single topic within Auburn University’s research footprint.

California State University – Long Beach
Center for International Trade and Transportation

Executive Director: Dr. Thomas O’Brien
Phone: (562) 985-2875

Secondary Contact: Dr. Tyler Reeb
Phone: (562)985-2879

Primary Research Goals:  The Center for International Trade and Transportation (CITT) is dedicated to delivering education programs, innovative research, and community outreach in the area of goods movement. CITT is the Long Beach home for four major research centers: METRANS Transportation Center, a U.S. Department of Transportation-designated university transportation center; the U.C. Davis-led National Center for Sustainable Transportation; MetroFreight, a Volvo Research and Education Foundations Center of Excellence in Urban Freight based at the University of Southern California; and the Federal Highway Administration’s Southwest Transportation Workforce Center (SWTWC) covering eight states—California, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, Oklahoma and Texas.

Our research portfolio features policy analysis in the areas of trade and transportation, as well as workforce development. Our outreach programs include educational forums, including the nationally recognized State of the Trade and Transportation Town Hall series, research conferences such as the International Urban Freight Conference, and media-based efforts including podcasts and newspaper columns that engage the broader community in the discussion surrounding international trade and transportation. CITT’s education programs include credit and non-credit programs in integrated logistics and feature the award-winning Global Logistics Specialist (GLS) program and the Marine Terminal Operations Professional (MTOP) designation, the only program of its kind in the country.

Carnegie Mellon University
Mobility21, National University Transportation Center for Mobility

Director: Raj Rajkumar
ph. (412) 268-8707

Secondary Contact: Stan Caldwell
ph. (412) 268-9505

Primary Research Goals: About 35,000 lives are lost every year due to road accidents in the US. In intersections alone, there are about 8,500 fatalities. More than a million accidents and injuries per year take a major toll on productivity. Most accidents occur due to human errors such as distractions, tiredness or other forms of impairment. Traffic delays cause driving commuters to spend an aggregate week stuck in traffic every year, leading to huge losses in productivity. TSET is a University Transportation Center that focuses on technologies that will make transportation safer and more efficient. The following complimentary technology thrust areas are designed to make crashes rare events rather than the normal expected events that they are today:

  • In-vehicle safety technologies

Sensors and actuators within vehicles will assist the human driver by performing around-the-vehicle sensing, looking ahead, communicating using V2V and V2I, fusing sensors and notifying the driver of unsafe conditions and intervening when necessary.

  • Infrastructure safety technologies

Smart traffic light controllers will be used to make Intersections safer, smart bridges will track their own structural health and prevent untimely failures, smart public transit will make access to parking and mass transit easier and faster, and automatic road surface monitoring will lead to well-maintained roads.

  • Human factors

human-vehicle interactions will pro-actively infer driver preferences, and issue notifications without overloading the driver.

  • Large-scale mobility and data analytics

Off-line processing of traffic datasets will identify safe and fast routes as well as dangerous and accident-prone zones. Real-time navigation assistance integrated with social networking technologies will offer up-to-date traffic information and enable drivers to reach their destinations faster and safer.

In addition, UTC-TSET strives to educate both campuses about the transportation sector through graduate seminar series on various transportation topics, faculty seminar series presentations, systems synthesis projects, and a summer program for grades k – 12.

Facilities: The lab spaces and groups include:

  • Vision and Autonomous Systems Center (VASC)
  • CMU Robotics Institute
  • The Field Robotics Center
  • Quality of Life Technology Center (QoLT)
  • Traffic21
  • General Motors Collaborative Research Lab
  • National Robotics Engineering Center
  • NavLab
  • The Intelligent Coordination and Logistic Laboratory
  • Institute for Complex Engineered Systems
  • Center for Sensed Critical Infrastructure Research
  • The Human Computer Interaction Institute
  • iLab
  • People Image Analysis Consortium
  • CyLab
  • Engineering and Public Policy
  • Vehicle Electrification Group
  • Create Lab

City College of New York, The
CUNY Institute for Transportation Systems

Director: Camille Kamga, Ph.D.
ph. (212) 650-8050

Primary Research Goals: UTRC as a consortium of universities in the Federal Region 2, pursues a research program designed to address the distinct transportation challenges facingour nation in general and our region in particular. Our nation’s transportation system is being pushed to its limits, and demands on the system will increase because of trends in population growth, technological change, and the increased globalization and competitiveness of the economy. UTRC recognizes that stovepipe approaches to solve transportation problems are not appropriate for the complex issues of the 21st Century. UTRC promotes research that supports the USDOT Strategic Goals to improve public health and safety, foster livable communities, ensure that transportation assets are maintained in a state of good repair, support the Nation’s long-term economic competitiveness, and work to achieve achieve environmental sustainability. In addition, UTRC focuses on research that helps advance the state of the practice in planning and management of regional transportation systems and that addresses concerns specific to Region 2. UTRC is uniquely positioned to educate and train the future generation of professionals and is committed to preparing the transportation workforce to plan and manage the complex transportation systems of the future.

Facilities: Centers and Institutes: Institute for Transportation Systems, Universal Transportation Modal Simulation Center, Center for Logistics and Transportation, Center for Sustainable Energy, Center on Terrorism, CUNY Aviation Institute, Pavement Management Laboratory; Other Specializations: transit operations, economic modeling, asset management, GIS/GPS/mobile technology

Clemson University
Center for Connected Multimodal Mobility

Director: Mashrur “Ronnie” Chowdhury
ph. (864) 656-3313

Program Coordinator: Charlotte Ryggs
ph. (864) 656-6546

About Us 
USDOT Center for Connected Multimodal Mobility (C²M²) is a tremendous boon to South Carolina universities in terms of prestige and resources, and contributes to one of the most important economic sectors in our state. It has elevated our state’s reputation as a hub of transportation technology research and development. South Carolina is an ideal location for C²M², the first USDOT Tier 1 University Transportation Center in the state, due to the diversity of the state’s transportation system and the rapid growth of its transportation industrial base, including high-tech companies.

C²M²’s research, education, workforce development, technology transfer, and diversity activities will enable students and professionals from diverse socioeconomic groups throughout the state to develop the skills necessary to solve some of the state’s most pressing mobility problems, and will provide a blueprint for addressing similar problems across the United States and around the world.

Mission Statement
Our vision for the Center for Connected Multimodal Mobility (C²M²), a Tier 1 University Transportation Center, is to become a globally recognized multimodal mobility innovation center for moving people and goods, specializing in connectivity and data analytics. To achieve this bold vision, our multidisciplinary research team from five leading higher education and research institutions in the state of South Carolina are working together to create and develop new initiatives and inventions by combining our complementary research strengths, our education and workforce development activities, our commitment to diversity, and our expertise in emerging communication and computing technologies.

Please visit the C²M² website for more information.

Colorado School of Mines
University Transportation Center for Underground Transportation Infrastructure (UTC-UTI)

Director: Marte Gutierrez
ph. (303) 273-3507

Secondary Contact: Priscilla Neslon
ph. (303) 384-2606

The University Transportation Center for Underground Transportation Infrastructure (UTC-UTI) is a Tier-1 University Transportation Center funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation under the 2016 UTC Competition. Colorado School Mines (CSM) is the Lead Institutions, and California State University Los Angeles (CSULA) and Lehigh University are Affiliate Institutions.

UTC-UTI addresses the FAST Act Research Priority Area: “Improving the Durability and Extending the Life of Transportation Infrastructure.” The vision for UTC-UTI is to be a leading Center for the development of technologies for UTIs that are sustainable, less costly and more durable, and that can be efficiently constructed, operated and maintained with minimal problems. Our main objectives are:

  1. Develop technologies that will improve the durability and extend the life of new and existing UTI through safe and cost-effective planning, design, construction, operation, maintenance and rehabilitation using advanced intelligent and data-driven systems based on condition monitoring, sensing and performance assessment, as well as in new construction materials and technologies;
  2. Educate and train the next generation of engineers from diverse backgrounds with educational, research and entrepreneurial experiences, and who are attuned to the multifaceted nature and impact of underground transportation projects; and
  3. Transfer research results and technology to industry (consultants, contractors and insurers), professional organizations, governmental institutions, permitting agencies and the academe, and be an incubator of new technologies.

The main research focus of the proposed University Transportation Center for Underground Transportation Infrastructure (UTC-UTI) is the development and deployment of major improvements in the design, planning, construction, maintenance, operation, retrofit and expansion of underground transportation infrastructure to make them more durable and to extend their lifetime. These developments will be realized by moving away from largely empirical and tradition-based procedures to an intelligent and data-driven system that uses recent progress in condition monitoring, sensing and asset/performance assessment, as well as in new construction materials and technologies. The research will emphasize on the following specific research topics: 1) Application of new materials and technologies; 2) Condition monitoring, remote sensing and use of GPS; and 3) Asset and performance management.

Community College of Allegheny County
Mobility21

Dean: Justin Starr
ph. 412.369.3620

Secondary Contact: Robert Koch
ph. 412.788.7378

At the Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) Mobility21 has been focused primarily on our Automotive Technology Department. CCAC automotive technology programs are designed to prepare students to become automotive technicians, trained in the latest automotive service technologies and methods. Courses include technical training on current model vehicles and components with emphasis on the latest developments in brakes, steering, suspension, basic electronics, climate control, basic engine performance, emission inspector and safety inspector certification.

The automotive program has long been established and has developed strong partnerships with the Greater Pittsburgh Auto Dealers Association, Pittsburgh Region Clean Cities and major domestic automakers Ford, General Motors and Fiat/Chrysler. In addition, CCAC is evolving its transportation curriculum to incorporate data analytics, mechatronics, and multimedia simulation programs.

Cornell University
Center for Transportation, Environment, and Community Health (CTECH)

Director: Joe Roe
ph. (607) 255-0549

Primary Research Goals: The Center for Transportation, Environment, and Community Health (CTECH) will pursue research and innovation to support sustainable mobility of people and goods while preserving the environment and improving community health. It will leverage behavioral and economic sciences, epidemiology, information technology, and environmental and transportation sciences and technologies to address critical issues falling under the FAST Act’s priority area of Preserving the Environment: greenhouse gas reduction, use of alternative fuels and energy technologies, environmentally responsible planning, and impacts of freight movement.

To address these challenges, the center organizes its research activities through six thrusts: 1) Behavior, Active Transportation, and Community Health, which studies the links between travel behavior, active transportation, the built environment, and health; 2) New Transportation Technologies and Business Models, which explores how mobility-on-demand services can be used to improve environmental sustainability and human health; 3) Green Multimodal Transportation Systems, which leverages new mobility technologies to promote sustainable and health-enhancing modal integration; 4) Freight Transportation and Community Health, which explores new vehicle technologies and operation paradigms to reduce human exposure to truck exhaust; 5) Data-Driven Transportation-Health Informatics, which leverages Smart City and IoT (Internet-of-Things) technologies to develop community-based and personalized transportation-health indices for promoting healthy mobility choices; and 6) Energy, Technology and Policy Pathways, which studies the impact of different combinations of energy, technology and policy pathways on the environment and community health. The consortium, consisting of Cornell, UC Davis, USF and UTEP, has assembled a team of renowned researchers to collaboratively advance these research activities and goals.

The center will leverage the existing strength of partner universities to create an innovative, multidisciplinary education program capable of training a workforce that will meet the complex challenges at the intersection of transportation, environment, and community health. Beyond the multidisciplinary curriculum designed in parallel with its research, the center will develop a CTECH summer course and pre-college program to attract motivated undergraduates and high school seniors to transportation, particularly from underrepresented groups. CTECH will pursue a wide range of technology transfer activities, from annual stakeholder workshops to community events. Its strong organizational structure, advisory boards consisting of stakeholder representatives, and dedication to ongoing rigorous evaluation of its performance will help ensure program efficacy.

Through multi-level, multidisciplinary and institutional collaborations, CTECH will advance transportation sustainability in its broader human and environmental contexts.

Duke University
Collaborative Sciences Center for Road Safety

Director: Mary “Missy” Cummings

The Collaborative Sciences Center for Road Safety will accelerate progress in reducing transport injuries and fatalities by utilizing a systems approach to bring perspectives from planning, engineering, public health, data science and robotics to the road safety field.

Florida Atlantic University
Freight Mobility research Institute

Director: Evangelos Kaisar
ph. (561) 297-4084

Secondary Contact: Lynn Asseff
ph. (561) 297-3453

The Freight Mobility Research Institute (FMRI) goal is to address critical issues affecting the planning, design, operation, and safety of the nation’s intermodal freight transportation system, in order to strengthen our nation’s economic competitiveness. Efficient and safe freight movement is inextricably linked to the economic vitality of a local area, state, region and beyond. In consultation with stakeholders, as well as USDOT’s strategic priorities, as expressed in FAST Act Improving Mobility of People and Goods priority and the known exclusive topic areas established by the Secretary of Transportation, we will focus on research and development that improves freight mobility through information technology, freight network modeling and operations, intermodal logistics, as well as freight and supply chain sustainability to promote smart cities, improve multimodal connections, system integration, and security, data modeling and analytical tools to optimize freight movements and improve efficiency. Also, advance regional planning and setting of transportation priorities that deliver higher practice and economic growth and enhance productivity. These research efforts will (i) support maintenance and improvement of mobility in the face of growing traffic and shrinking resources; (ii) develop methodologies that link the performance of the U.S. freight transportation system; (iii) increase border-crossing efficiency while maintaining security and resilience; and (iv) improve air quality to advance personal health as well as translate into reduced energy consumption, reduce congestion, and cooperative performance improvement.

We have assembled top expertise on freight transportation, network modeling, sustainability, and ITS, representing leading universities across the nation with deep connections to local, state, and regional communities. Each of these universities has an established transportation research center/lab with top quality faculty conducting leading edge research. We are motivated to embrace innovative research projects, train the current and future transportation leaders and workforce, and engage with the industry to enhance collaboration between agencies by improving efficiency and safety, sustainably reduce traffic congestion, and develop standards to ensure interoperability today and in the future. At the same time, the center will have a significant educational impact. The consortium members have a successful history of enhancing interdisciplinary learning opportunities and engaging underrepresented groups. In the proposed center, this commitment will be continued and improved via integrated education and outreach components that leverage ongoing activities.

Facilities:

The Freight Mobility Research Institute (FMRI) is hosted in the Department of Civil Environmental and Geomatics Engineering at Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton campus.

Florida International University
Accelerated Bridge Construction-University Transportation Center (ABC-UTC)

Director: Atorod Azizinamini, P.E.
ph. (305) 348-3821

Secondary Contact: Carlton Ng
ph. (305) 348-0074

Primary Research Goals: The primary objective of the ABC-UTC is to reduce the societal costs of bridge construction by reducing the duration of work zones, focusing special attention on preservation, service life, construction costs, education of the profession, and development of a next-generation workforce fully equipped with ABC knowledge. Specific research objectives of the ABC-UTC include:

  • Extend principles of ABC to the repair, replacement and preservation of bridges, including multi-hazards and seismic issues.
  • Enhance the service life of bridges constructed using principles of ABC by emphasizing design for service life (at the design stage), preservation, and timely maintenance.
  • Assess effects of climate change, especially of sea level rise and precipitation patterns on bridges, and develop a general framework for agencies to take timely action.
  • In collaboration with other UTCs that will be funded, especially those that will concentrate on highway safety, develop traffic safety systems specifically for modular bridge construction for all traffic levels.
  • Develop decision tools, guidelines, and specifications for adopting principles of ABC for local agencies.
  • In collaboration with other UTCs that will be funded, develop policy frameworks for rapid implementation of ABC principles.
  • Building on existing knowledge, develop the next generation of decision-making tools for better communication among stakeholders, which should assess the merits of various construction processes and visualize the entire life span of bridges in a seamless manner from birth to recycling.

Facilities:

FIU Facilities– Transportation research is a major strategic area of the Engineering College at FIU. In the structural area, the Titan America Structures and Construction Testing Laboratory is one of the largest full-scale testing facilities in the State of Florida, with a total area of 6375 ft2 of floor space. The Titan America Structures and Construction Testing Laboratory will allow for full scale testing. FIU’s wind testing facility, the Wall of Wind (WoW), is a first-of-its-kind wind testing system designed to generate sustained wind speeds of up to 156 mph.

FIU’s Integrated Intelligent Transportation Systems Laboratory (IITS) is one of very few ITS labs in the nation that have the capability to receive real-time video feeds from Traffic Management Centers (TMCs). FIU also houses a Driving Simulation Laboratory which includes a high-fidelity driving simulator that interfaces with an actual automobile, providing a realistic setting for conducting work zone safety and human factor research.

UNR Facilities– UNR houses some of the most advanced facilities for structural/seismic testing in the country. The James E. Rogers and Louis Wiener Large-Scale Structures Laboratory is equipped with four shake tables. This lab received the 2007 Best Experimental Site Innovation Award from the NEES Consortium in recognition of its expertise and innovation in experimental simulation.

ISU Facilities– At ISU, the Bridge Engineering Center (BEC) was established in 1986 with the mission to provide cost-effective bridge engineering solutions to bridge owners at the federal, state, and local levels. The BEC is housed within the Institute for Transportation (InTrans).

Georgia Institute of Technology
National Center for Transportation Systems Productivity and Management (NCTSPM)

Director: Karti Watkins
ph. (206) 250-4415

Secondary Contact: Michael Hunter
ph. (404) 894-2236

Primary Research Goals: The National Center for Transportation Systems Productivity and Management (NCTSPM) focuses on research, education and technology transfer that is multi-modal, multi-disiplinary, multi-sector and needs-driven. The theme of NCTSPM is transportation systems performance and management, and its focus is on addressing critical interactions between safety, state-of-good-repair, and economic competitiveness. NCTSPM is a collaboration between Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia Transportation Institute, Florida International University, University of Central Florida, University of Alabama at Birmingham, and each university’s state Department of Transportation.

Iowa State University
Midwest Transportation Center (MTC)

Director: Shauna Hallmark
ph. (515) 294-5249

Secondary Contact: Judy Thomas
ph. (515) 294 – 8103

Primary Research Goals: The Midwest Transportation Center, or MTC, is one of 10 regional University Transportation Centers sponsored by the Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) of the U.S. DOT. The MTC is funded by the 2012 federal transportation bill, the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21).

The MTC program is an Iowa State University-led partnership with the University of Missouri-Columbia (MU), University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL), Wichita State University (WSU), Creighton University (CU), Harris-Stowe State University (HSSU), and Seward County Community College (SCCC) (as a collaborator). Together, we pursue MTC’s theme – Data Driven Performance Measures for Enhanced Infrastructure Condition, Safety, and Project Delivery – through research, education, outreach, and technology transfer.

Our research program serves as a focal point within the region and nationally for research that develops data driven performance measures for Infrastructure Condition, Safety, and Project Delivery. The research focus area for the MTC is “State of Good Repair,” a key program under MAP-21. By beginning with the research itself, we develop products that are useful to national, state, regional, and local transportation agencies while continually providing leadership in the next generation of technology transfer. With the goal of developing the next generation of transportation professionals and providing opportunities for current professionals, education drives many of our efforts. One of these efforts is Go! magazine, which is a free, educational e-zine aimed to stimulate young minds about the vast educational and career possibilities in transportation.

Facilities: The MTC is housed at the Institute for Transportation (InTrans), the transportation research center at Iowa State University, and due to its location in central Iowa is able to tap into facilities at Iowa State University and the Iowa Department of Transportation. InTrans serves as an umbrella organization for seven discrete university centers and five long-term funded programs. Together, these programs, along with resources at our partner universities, provide broad expertise and a collaborative-multi-disciplined approach to problem solving and in addressing the issues related to the State of Good Repair.

Kansas State University
The University Transportation Center

Director: Eric Fitzsimmons
ph. (785) 532-0889

Secondary Contact: Mustaque Hossain
ph. (785) 532-1576

Primary Research Goals: The Transportation Research Center at Kansas State University is a research organization dedicated to bringing together transportation professionals, educators, and researchers to identify transportation problems—and to solving them. The theme of the Center is The Sustainability and Safety of Rural Transportation Systems and Infrastructure. This theme is selected to complement the mission and direction of Kansas State University and to meet the needs of the Kansas Department of Transportation and the rural transportation community as a whole. Research at the center will also fill a national need, specifically focusing on the sustainability and safety of rural transportation systems and infrastructure in the context of a declining and aging rural population.

Facilities: Civil Infrastructure Systems Laboratory

Louisiana State University
Transportation Consortium of South Central States (Tran-SET)

Director: Marwa Hassan
ph. (225) 578- 9189

Secondary Contact: Momen Mousa
ph. (225) 578-3805

Primary Research Goals: The Center’s Mission is to support all phases of research, technology transfer, workforce development, and outreach activities of emerging technologies that can solve transportation challenges in Region 6. The center’s research focus will be on cutting edge materials innovations and construction methodologies and their applications to the different components of the transportation infrastructure. The center will address economic limitations by only considering research topics that carry out a viable plan to move the technology from research to implementation including workforce training and specifications development.

The center’s areas of research/focus will encompass three FAST act research priorities with a focus on cutting-edge materials innovations and construction methods (Research Focus Area 4). The other focus areas involve preserving the environment (Research Focus Area 5) and preserving the existing transportation system (Research Focus Area 6). Furthermore, a regional priorities category will be considered in order to fast track projects that address an immediate regional need.

Missouri University of Science and Technology
INSPIRE UTC

Director: Genda Chen
573-341-4462

Associate Director: Suzanna Long
573-341-7621

Program Mission:  Providing leadership in research, education, workforce development and technology transfer aimed at infrastructure inspection and preservation solutions with advanced technologies for a sustainable and resilient transportation system.

Vision:  In the next 30 years, our highway and railway system will face challenges ranging from aging infrastructure and increasing congestion to declining revenues due to reduced fuel tax and increasing service interruption. Cheaper, faster, and safer inspection and preservation tools are needed to maintain our nation’s ground transportation system in a state of good repair.

Currently, bridges and tunnels are visually inspected and manually maintained under traffic control with the aid of heavy lifting equipment.

In the future, with successful development and implementation of robotic platforms such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), these structures will be evaluated and sometimes maintained underneath bridge decks with no access equipment and no traffic control, reducing labor hours, avoiding rental, transportation and mobilization costs of equipment, saving fuel and indirect costs associated with service interruption, alleviating traffic congestion, and promoting work zone safety.

Interdisciplinary Research:  Faculty from civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering, engineering management and computer science are collaborating to explore, develop, validate, and demonstrate remotely-controlled robotic platforms for the inspection and preservation of bridges and tunnels and a robot-enabled resilience analysis and intervention framework for post-disaster assessment and recovery of the structures.

Key technologies include mobile manipulating UAVs, structural crawlers, lab-on-sensor calibrations and standardizations, hyperspectral and microwave imaging, risk-based inspections, data-driven preservation strategies, and resilience analysis methods.

The developed technologies can be applied to potentially amend inspection regulation for fracture critical members and re-invent an integrated inspection and preservation decision process from performance monitoring through emerging risk identification to support planning of preservation actions.

Research Areas (5): 

(Workforce Development): 

  • A Training Framework of Robotic Operation and Image Analysis for Decision-Making in Bridge Inspection and Preservation, Dr. Ruwen Qin, Missouri S&T
  • Developing a Robotic Simulator and Video Games for Professional and Public Training, Dr. Sushil Louis, University of Nevada, Reno

(Sensing and Nondestructive Evaluation): 

  • UAV-enabled Measurement for Spatial Magnetic Field of Smart Rocks in Bridge Scour Monitoring, Dr. Genda Chen, Missouri S&T
  • In-Line Long Period Grating and Brillouin Scattering Fiber Optic Sensors for Strain, Temperature, Chloride Concentration, and Steel Mass Loss Measurement in Bridge Applications, Dr. Genda Chen, Missouri S&T
  • 3D Microwave Camera for Concrete Delamination and Steel Corrosion Detection, Dr. Reza Zoughi, Iowa State University
  • Hyperspectral Image Analysis for Mechanical and Chemical Properties of Concrete and Steel Surfaces, Dr. Genda Chen, Missouri S&T
  • Autonomous Ultrasonic Thickness Measurement by a Magnet-Wheeled Robot, Dr. Yang Wang, Georgia Institute of Technology

(Autonomous System):

  • Mobile-Manipulating UAVs for Sensor Installation, Bridge Inspection and Maintenance, Dr. Paul Oh, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
  • Climbing Robots with Automated Deployment of Sensors and NDE Devices for Steel Bridge Inspection, Dr. Hung La, University of Nevada, Reno
  • Autonomous Wall-Climbing Robots for Inspection and Maintenance of Concrete Bridges, Dr. Jizhong Xiao, The City College of New York
  • Bridge Inspection Robot Deployment Systems (BIRDS), Dr. Genda Chen, Missouri S&T

(Inspection and Maintenance):

  • Quantitative Bridge Inspection Ratings using Autonomous Robotic Systems, Dr. Anil Agrawal, The City College of New York

(Retrofit and Resilience):

  • Bridge Resilience Assessment with INSPIRE Data, Dr. Iris Tien, Georgia Institute of Technology

Montana State University
Western Transportation Institute

Director: Stephen Albert
ph. (406) 994-6126

Secondary Contact: Jaime DuHoux
ph. (406) 994-6006

Primary Research Goals: The Western Transportation Institute (WTI) is the national’s largest transportation institute focusing on rural transportation issues. The institute was established in 1994 by the State Departments of Transportation of Montana and California, in cooperation with Montana State University – Bozeman (MSU). WTI has an annual budget exceeding $7 million and an 85 person multi-disciplinary staff of professionals, students, and associated faculty from engineering, computer science, fish an wildlife, ecology, business, and economics. WTI has been recognized as a leading institution dedicated to multi-disciplinary transportation issues and has led applied research to implement practical solutions in more than 40 states, at local, state, and federal levels, as well as conducted international work in Canada, Bulgaria, Norway, Germany, China, and Mongolia.

WTI Draws from eight integrated research areas to create solutions to rural transportation issues – safety and operations, maintenance and materials, systems engineering and integration, freight management and logistics, mobility and public transportation, and transportation planning and economics.

WTI was recently awarded the National Rural Safety Center for Excellence (FHWA) which will provide training technical support, and information to transportation practitioners to help them reduce serious injuries and fatalities on their roads.

WTI also houses the Regional Surface Transportation Workforce Center, a partnership between WTI and the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute to address workforce development needs of the western region.

Facilities: WTI has a full suite of laboratories to support the research groups as well as access to additional laboratories and equipment, such as those on the campus of MSU. WTI labs include: The Corrosion and Sustainable Infrastructure Laboratory (CSIL), The Materials Lab, The Driving Simulator Laboratory, The Murdock Naturalistic Driving Fleet and Lab, and the Systems Engineering Development and integration Laboratory, and TRANSCEND -a large-scale field research facility.

Morgan State University
National Transportation Center

Director: Mansoureh Jeihani
ph. 443-885-1873

Secondary Contact: Anita Jones
ph. (443) 885-4813

Primary Research Goals: The National Transportation Center (NTC) at Morgan State University advances U.S. technology and expertise in transportation, research, and technology transfer on the university level.

The NTC’s theme is “Transportation: A Key to Human and Economic Development.” The NTC’s current areas of research focus are sustainable transportation and traffic modeling, safety, economics and equity, transportation funding, and infrastructure’s effect on aquatic life. The center also aims to increase the number of minorities and women in transportation

Facilities: Located in the Center for Built Environment and Infrastructure Studies, a LEED certified building that houses the built environment disciplines of Transportation and Urban Infrastructure Studies, Civil and Environmental Engineering and the School of Architecture and Planning (architecture, landscape architecture and city and regional planning)

N-T

New Jersey Institute of Technology
National Center for Transportation and Industrial Productivity

Director: Lazar N. Spasovic, Ph.D.
ph. (973) 642-7214

A critical mass of transportation teaching and research faculty, staff and students unparalleled in the nation is brought together at NJIT through the existence of three research centers; the National Center for Transportation and Industrial Productivity, the International Intermodal Transportation Center, and Transportation Economic Land Use System as well as the interdisciplinary program in transportation. In addition, NJIT is host agency to the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority. Multidisciplinary, cross-cutting and extensive both in the level of funding and number and profile of personnel, the centers have a combined annual funding level exceeding $1.5 million.

The convergence of so much talent enables NJIT to respond effectively and dynamically to state and regional transportation issues including educational, research and technology transfer needs. NCTIP is about to embark on the creation of a Intelligent Transportation System Resource Center with the New Jersey Department of Transportation. This center will investigate cutting-edge technologies and evaluate transportation modeling tools to improve the efficiency of our roadway network.

The research centers support faculty from all five NJIT Schools and Colleges as well as other New Jersey regional colleges and universities (faculty from Region II and from universities as far afield as Northwestern University in Chicago are also involved in NCTIP research). The centers not only provide support to students pursuing graduate degree programs in transportation, civil engineering, infrastructure, management, computer science, and logistics, but also serve as places for undergraduate students to interact with their more senior colleagues in solving real-world problems.

NCTIP continues its close collegial relationship with the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE). CEE transportation research focuses on materials, structures, environment and advanced technologies. Please see our list of associated faculty for our researchers specializing in these fields.

As NCTIP Director Dr.Spasovic have been invited to join the 10-member Board/Executive Committee of CUTC that represents the major transportation research centers and institutes in the United States; public awareness of NCTIP has greatly increased; and a firm relationship with the New Jersey School of Architecture as they focus on comprehensive issues involving transportation, land use, commercial/housing development and the environment has been established. NCTIP has become more involved in public policy research, attracted superior graduate students, and, in general, become known as a solid, successful entity.

New York University
C2SMART

Director: Kaan Ozbay, Ph.D.
ph. (646) 997 – 0552

Secondary Contact: Shri Iyer

NYU Tandon School of Engineering is home to the Connected Cities for Smart Mobility toward Accessible and Resilient Transportation (C2SMART) center, a USDOT Tier 1 UTC. C2SMART aims to accelerate transportation opportunities arising from unprecedented recent advances in communication and smart technologies and take on some of the most pressing mobility challenges facing urban areas of all sizes.

The Center’s researchers are using cities as living laboratories to study challenging transportation problems and field-test novel solutions in close collaboration with transportation users, government agencies, policy makers, private companies, and entrepreneurs. The research outcomes range from making it possible to safely share data from field tests and non-traditional sensing technologies to developing innovative solutions that focus on disruptive technologies such as connected travelers (vehicles and people), autonomous vehicles, shared mobility (such as a bike or car-sharing programs), and the Internet of Things. C2SMART’s main focus is on accelerating technology transfer from the research phase to the real world.

North Carolina A&T University
Transportation Institute

Director: Rachel Liu
ph. (336) 285 – 3359

UTC Director: Maranda McBride
ph. (336) 285 – 3359

Welcome to the Transportation Institute in the College of Business and Economics at North Carolina A&T State University. The Transportation Institute is an interdisciplinary research, training, and technology transfer unit that draws faculty, staff, and students from various departments within the School of Business and Economics, the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Engineering, and throughout the entire University.

North Carolina State University
Institute for Transportation Research and Education

Director: Billy Williams

Secondary Contact: James Martin
ph. (919) 515-8620

Third Contact: Carrie Gage

The Institute for Transportation Research and Education (ITRE) is an institutional center located at NC State University. Chartered by the North Carolina General Assembly in 1978, ITRE conducts surface and air transportation research, training, and technical support activities for municipal, state, federal, and international clients in order to address critical transportation issues. ITRE is committed to developing leadership in its study of transportation issues through fostering analytical thinking, integrating technology in education and research, serving as a catalyst for problem solving, and cultivating professionals and students dedicated to excellence in transportation.

ITRE’s strategic plan sets forth five major institute-wide goals:

  • Increase national visibility;
  • Conduct and disseminate research that impacts the transportation community;
  • Sustain and enhance educational opportunities to improve the knowledge and skills of transportation professionals;
  • Strengthen the relationship with, and gain recognition within, the University system; and
  • Provide superior technical assistance.

These goals are being achieved through various objectives such as increasing the Institute’s national exposure through conference presentations, published research and outreach efforts, and through increased national project awards. Additionally, ITRE continually expands its training efforts across North Carolina, the United States, and the globe, while promoting collaboration with faculty in the department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering at North Carolina State University and at other UNC system institutions.

North Dakota State University
Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute: Mountain-Plains Consortium

Director: Denver Tolliver, Ph.D.
ph. (701) 231-7190

Secondary Contact: Jody Bohn Baldock
ph. (701) 231-7767

The mission of the Transportation Institute is to serve as a national, regional and local clearinghouse for transportation education, research and outreach; offering seminars, workshops, lectures, publications, and other information for public and private transportation practitioners, decision-makers and the general public.

Facilities: Mountain-Plains Consortium facilities include Transportation Leadership Network, Advanced Traffic Analysis Center, Agriculture, Energy & Industrial Freight Center, Center for Surface Mobility Applications & Real-Time Simulation Environments, DOT Support Center,ND Local Technical Assistance Program, Small Urban and Rural Transit Center, and a Transportation Safety Systems Center. Utah State University has a 3200 sq ft structural testing facility (SMASH Lab) that includes a full scale strong floor and bidirectional strong wall. A real time traffic operations lab (TIMElab). A quarter mile Electric Vehicle Roadway (EVR) that includes a dedicated research building. Colorado State University has structural, hydraulics and geotechnical laboratories. University of Utah Traffic Lab (http://www.trafficlab.utah.edu/), Structures Laboratory (http://www.civil.utah.edu/structures), Bituminous Materials Laboratory, Concrete Laboratory, and Laboratory, and Geotechnical Laboratory.

Northern Arizona University
NAU AZTrans

Director: Edward Smaglik
ph. (928) 523-1431

Secondary Contact: Brendan Russo
ph. (928) 523-8094

The Pacific Southwest Region UTC conducts an integrated, multidisciplinary program of research, education and technology transfer aimed at improving the mobility of people and goods throughout the region. Our program is organized around four themes: 1) technology to address transportation problems and improve mobility; 2) improving mobility for vulnerable populations; 3) Improving resilience and protecting the environment; and 4) managing mobility in high growth areas.

Northwestern University
Transportation Center

Director: Hani Mahmassani, Ph.D.
ph. (847) 491-8727

The Institute educates students and professionals from diverse populations to provide qualified transportation professions in the workforce. The programs and activities conducted by the Institute are designed to provide ongoing initiatives in the areas of education, research, and workforce development. The Institute is a multidisciplinary unit that is dedicated to:

Facilities:

Chambers Hall
600 Foster Street
Evanston, IL 60208

Ohio State University, The
Crash Imminent Safety (CrIS) UTC

Director: Ümit Özgüner, Ph.D.
ph. (614) 537-3060

Secondary Contact: Keith Redmill
ph. (614) 292-5216

Additional Secondary Contact: Stacy Hillstrom
ph. (614) 292-5141

Facilities: Collectively, the five universities that constitute the CrIS UTC have outstanding facilities and expertise. Resources include Ohio State’s Control and Intelligent Transportation Research Laboratory (CITR) at which both theoretical and applied research is carried out on various aspects of the control and coordination of autonomous or semi-autonomous cooperative mobile systems; North CarolinaA&T’s Autonomous Control and InformationTechnology (ACIT) Center; Indiana University-PurdueUniversity Indianapolis’ Transportation Active Safety Institute (TASI); Ohio State’s Driving Simulation Laboratory (DSL); Ohio State’s Cognitive Systems Engineering Laboratory (CSEL); University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Cognitive Systems Laboratory (CSL); University of Massachusetts-Amherst’s HumanPerformance Laboratory (HPL); and Ohio State’s Injury Biomechanics Research Laboratory (IBRL).

Oklahoma State University
Oklahoma Transportation Center

Director: Kelvin Wang
ph. (405) 261-9896

Secondary Contact: Norb Delatte
ph. (405) 744-5189

Facilities: 1. 11,500 square feet in the Civil Engineering Laboratory building devoted to concrete materials research 2. 3D laser sensing and imaging lab for measuring runway and pavement defects at 60mph and at 1mm resolution. It is the only facility in the world that has both sensor and software solution platforms at a university setting. The lab also has GPU systems with tens of thousands computing nodes. 3. The new 30,000 square-foot Cooper Laboratory – Structural Engineering and Materials Laboratory (SEML) is built as a creative environment for our students and faculty to work with industry to address immediate needs and create the next generation of construction materials and structures.

Oregon State University
Kiewit Center for Infrastructure and Transportation

Director: Robert Bertini
ph. (541) 737-5682

Secondary Contact: David Hurwitz, Ph.D.
ph. (541) 737-9242

Facilities:

Pennsylvania State University
Larson Transportation Institute

Director: Eric Donnell, Ph.D, P.E.
ph. (814) 863 – 7053

The Thomas D. Larson Pennsylvania Transportation Institute is Penn State’s transportation research center. Since its founding in 1968, the Larson Institute has maintained a threefold mission of research, education, and service. The Institute brings together top faculty, world-class facilities and enterprising students from across the University in partnership with public and private stakeholders to address critical transportation-related problems.

Pima Community College
Pacific Southwest Regional University Transportation Center

Vice President of Workforce Development and Strategic Partnerships: Ian Roark
ph. 520-206-4533

Dean of Workforce Development and Continuing Education: Amanda Abens
ph. 520-206-4587

Pima Community College’s PSR-UTC grant is run in partnership with the METRANS Transportation center, and a consortium of Universities in the Pacific Southwest Region of the United States. The Pacific Southwest Region UTC conducts integrated, multidisciplinary research and education that focuses on improving the mobility of people and goods throughout the region. The program has four core themes:

  1. Technology to address transportation problems and improve mobility;
  2. Improving mobility for vulnerable populations;
  3. Improving resilience and protecting the environment; and
  4. Managing mobility in high growth areas.

Pima focuses on applying hands on learning and supporting industry needs as well as the development of new and innovative programs. In alignment with grant deliverables, the College has created new Autonomous vehicle curriculum, updated all of its Logistics and Supply Chain Management Curriculum, and is currently working on providing training to special populations including dislocated workers and tribal populations.

Portland State University
Transportation Research and Education Center (TREC)

Director: Jennifer Dill
ph. (503) 725-5173

Secondary Contact: Hau Hagedorn
ph. (503) 725-2833

  • Transportation safety
  • Facilities: TREC, the transportation research and education center at Portland State University, and incorporates transportation research from laboratories and centers across campus. We also tap the resources of our partner campuses, University of Oregon, Oregon Institute of Technology, University of Utah and University of South Florida. We use a multidisciplinary approach to address transportation issues.

Purdue University
Joint Transportation Research Program

Director: Darcy Bullock
ph: (765) 494-2226

Second Contact: Debbie Horton

  • Transportation planning

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Center for Infrastructure Transportation and the Environment

Director: Jose Holguin-Veras, Ph.D.
ph. (518) 276-6221

Secondary Contact: Jeffrey Wojtowicz
ph. (518) 276-2759

  • Modeling freight systems
  • Facilities: The Traffic Lab at RPI has a complete suite of traffic data collection devices such as traffic counters and detectors for traffic speeds, GPS loggers and mobile phones for collecting mobile sensor data, and high-resolution video cameras. These resources played a key role in the team’s previous research, such as the off-hour-delivery (OHD) project. Within CITE there is also the VREF Center of Excellence for Sustainable Urban Freight Systems which produces world-class freight research. The world class geotechnical research facilities at RPI, which has one of the largest centrifuges in the world for civilian use.

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation (CAIT)

Director: Ali Maher, Ph.D.
ph. (848) 445-2951

Secondary Contact: Patrick Szary, Ph.D.
ph. (848) 445-2999

  • Environment, energy, and sustainable transport
  • Facilities: Research Labs: Pavement Resource Program (AMRL accredited testing facility); Soil and Sediment Management Lab; Infrastructure Condition Monitoring Labs Physical Facilities at Rutgers: 15,000 sq-ft CAIT Building dedicated in 2006; 18,900 sq ft Research & support offices; 4,066 sq ft Workforce development and training space; 22,100 sq ft Laboratories Consortium partner laboratories include, but are not limited to: Columbia University: National Center for Transportation and Industrial Productivity; New Jersey Institute of Technology: Freight Infrastructure Research Lab; Princeton University: Structural Health Monitoring Lab; Mechanics, Materials, and Structures Labs; University of Delaware: Resiliency of Transportation Corridors Program; Center for Innovative Bridge Engineering; University of Texas at El Paso: Center for Transportation Infrastructure Systems; Utah State University: Systems, Materials and Structural Health Lab (SMASH Lab); Virginia Polytechnic Institute: Virginia Cooperative Center for Bridge Engineering

San Jose State University
Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI)

Director: Karen E. Philbrick, Ph.D.
ph. (408) 924-7562

Secondary Contact: Hilary Nixon
ph. (408) 924-7561

  • Transport policies and tolling

Facilities: SJSU/MTI offers a rich array of specialized facilities and laboratories, including NASA Ames Research Facility which houses state-of-the-art, large-scale simulation labs used to study human interactions with automated systems, Engineering Labs which offer state-of-the-art equipment that enables students to practice lessons learned in the classroom, and the Center for Accessible Technology (CAT), with 30 accessible stations using the latest adaptive hardware and software. This is one of the largest adaptive computing centers in the US.

MTI also has a complete suite of office space, computers, software resources (e.g., Geographic Information Systems, statistical software, transportation planning packages, etc.), and a state-of-the-art videoconference broadcast facility to support MTI’s distance-learning programs.

Texas A&M University System
Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI)

Director: Melissa Tooley, Ph.D., P.E.
ph. (979) 845-8545

Secondary Contact: Greg Winfree
ph. (979) 845-1713

Primary Research Goals: The Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) develops solutions to the problems and challenges facing all modes of transportation. The Institute conducts over 600 research projects annually with over 200 sponsors at all levels of government and the private sector. In the laboratory and the classroom, TTI researchers help prepare students for transportation careers.

Recognized as one of the premier higher education-affiliated transportation research agencies in the nation, TTI’s research and development program has resulted in significant breakthroughs across all facets of the transportation system. TTI research is widely known as an excellent value with a proven impact of saving lives, time and resources.

TTI’s mission is to identify and solve transportation problems through research; to transfer technology and knowledge; and to develop diverse human resources to meet the transportation challenges of tomorrow. The transportation system connects all aspects of life—home, work, education, commerce and recreation. TTI’s research and development improves all aspects of the system and creates new ideas and innovations that save lives, time and resources. Our focus areas include: economics and policy; environment; freight movement; human and behavioral factors; infrastructure; mobility; safety; security; and workforce development.

Facilities: TTI’s headquarters is located on the campus of Texas A&M University in College Station. The Institute maintains a full-service safety proving grounds facility; environmental and emissions facility; and sediment and erosion control laboratory in Bryan, Texas, as well as many other laboratories and facilities on the Texas A&M campus. TTI has eight offices in Texas—Arlington, Austin, Dallas, El Paso, Galveston, Houston, San Antonio and Waco—and offices in Ann Arbor, MI; Washington, D.C.; and Mexico City. TTI also has a presence in Doha, Qatar, at Texas A&M University at Qatar.

Texas Tech University
Center for Multidisciplinary Research in Transportation (TechMRT)

Director: Sanjaya Senadheera
ph. (806) 834-5815

Primary Research Goals: Serve as the focal point for multidisciplinary transportation research with local, state and federal partners, as well as the private sector. Promote and conduct transportation research, education and outreach activities at Texas Tech, specifically in areas of:

  • Environmental Engineering
  • Freight Transportation and Logistics
  • Geotechnical Engineering
  • Human Factors
  • Hydrology
  • Intelligent Transportation Systems
  • Pavement Engineering
  • Structural Engineering
  • Traffic and Highway Engineering
  • Transportation Planning
  • Partner with stakeholders to promote transportation education, training and outreach at the university, K-12 and industry levels.

Facilities: High Performance Concrete Laboratory; Bituminous/Superpave Laboratory; Aggregate Research Laboratory; Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel; Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) Test Box; Materials Characterization Center; Environmental Sciences Laboratory; Structures Laboratory; Geotechnical Laboratory; Cloud & Autonomic Computer Center Geographic Information Systems Research Laboratory; Trans Tech Traffic Engineering Laboratory; Water Research Center/USGS Research Laboratory; Earl Survey Research Laboratory.

U-Z

University of Buffalo, The State University of New York
Transportation Informatics Tier I University Transportation Center

Director: Adel W. Sadek, Ph.D.
ph. (716) 645-4367

Secondary Contact: Panagiotis (Panos) Anastasopoulos, Ph.D.
ph. (716) 645-4362

Primary Research Goals: The volume, variety, quality, and resolution of transportation-related “Big Data” currently present the transportation community with an unprecedented opportunity for improving system performance. Specifically, the wealth of data can be studied, analyzed, and mined for insights and applications that can improve the efficiency, safety, sustainability, resiliency and reliability of the transportation system, and can inform and guide transportation policy. It is to this goal that the Tier I Transportation Informatics University Transportation Center (referred to herein as TransInfo UTC) activities are dedicated. TransInfo’s mission will be to undertake research, education, training, and technology transfer activities aimed at realizing the full potential of “Big Data” and Transportation Informatics in:

  1. Improving transportation system performance; and
  2. Guiding investments

TransInfo is a consortium of four National Universities led by the University at Buffalo (UB), the State University of New york (SUNY) located in Buffalo, New York. The three other universities are: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) located in Troy, New York; George Mason University (GMU) located in Fairfax, Virginia; and the University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez (UPR-M) located in Mayagüez, PR. In addition, the Universities are partnering with CUBRC, a not-for-profit, Research Corporation headquartered in Buffalo, NY, which serves as a non-member partner.

Facilities:

  • Transportation Systems Engineering Lab
  • Integrated Traffic-Driving-Communications Simulator (ITDNS) for Testing Connected and Automated Vehicles
  • 6-Degree of Freedom Driving Simulator
  • Statistics and Econometrics Research Lab
  • Traffic Control Laboratory

University of Alabama
Alabama Transportation Institute

Executive Director: Allen Parrish, Ph.D.
ph. (205) 348-0741

Alternative contact: Justice Smyth
ph. (205) 348-2818

About the Alabama Transportation Institute:
The Alabama Transportation Institute (ATI) serves as a planning, research and policy resource to advance a 21st century transportation system. ATI brings together nationally recognized research and development industry professionals seeking innovative solutions to the challenges of building and maintaining a transportation system that provides safety and mobility for Alabama’s citizens, while providing efficient freight movement, stimulating economic growth and conserving energy resources. Better roads and bridges leads to better jobs for Alabamians throughout our state.

This interdisciplinary Institute enables Alabama to lead the way on emerging issues like developing creative solutions for financing the construction and maintenance of roads and bridges, advancing transportation safety research, and evaluating the impact that a quality transportation system will have on Alabama’s economic future. The Institute serves as an independent resource that develops unbiased information for use by local, state and national leaders in developing transportation policy. The result is more informed decision-making that leads to innovative, data-driven, cost-effective solutions. All of the best minds, under one umbrella with a common purpose, will find better solutions for the future.

University of Alaska Fairbanks
Arctic Infrastructure Development Center (AIDC)

Director: Billy Connor, Ph.D.
ph. (907) 474-5552

Secondary Contact: Kathy Petersen
ph. (907) 474 – 6410

Primary Research Goals: The mission of AIDC is to develop sound environmentally and socio-culturally appropriate designs for infrastructure in Alaska and other cold regions. There are five (5) focus areas of cold regions research addressed by AIDC:

  1. Transportation including highway, aviation, rail and pipelines.
  2. Utility infrastructure such as gas distribution systems.
  3. Vertical infrastructure including residential and commercial buildings.
  4. Community planning including understanding the impact of thawing permafrost on communities in the arctic and sub-arctic.
  5. Development of techniques to address the impacts of climate change on infrastructure.

Within the overarching goal to conduct responsible research that benefits the state and nation, there are five (5) pillars to the AIDC vision:

  • Outfitting the ELIF High Bay with current technology and equipment while increasing research use of this space.
  • Advancing the Frozen Soil Testing (FROST) Laboratory led by Professor Margaret Darrow.
  • Advancing the asphalt and materials labs led by AIDC Director Billy Connor and Assistant Professor Augusto Falchetto.
  • Advancing the traffic and safety laboratory managed by Nathan Belz.
  • Investing in student engagement opportunities (e.g. Ice Arch, Steel Bridge, Concrete Canoe, etc.).

University of Arkansas
Maritime Transportation Research and Education Center

Director: Heather Nachtmann, Ph.D.
ph. (479) 575-3484

Secondary Contact: Amy Shell, M.S.
ph. (479) 575-6021

Primary Research Goals: MarTREC’s theme is building economic competitiveness through efficient, resilient, and sustainable maritime and multimodal transportation systems. Our vision is to be recognized as the Nation’s premier source for expertise on maritime and multimodal transportation research and education. Our MarTREC consortium was formed based on nationally-renowned expertise supporting the MarTREC theme, strategic location along a major navigable river or in a coastal area, and dedication to transferable research and inclusive education and workforce development.

There are three MarTREC Research Domains, with two sub-domains each:

  • Maritime and Multimodal Logistics Management
  • Maritime and Multimodal Infrastructure Preservation
  • Disaster Response and Transportation Planning for Coastal and River Valley Communities

Facilities:

  • University of Arkansas
  • Jackson State University
  • Louisiana State University
  • University of New Orleans

University of California, Berkeley
Institute of Transportation Studies

Director: Alexandre Bayen
Ph. (510) 642-2468

Secondary contact: Laura Melendy
Ph. (510) 642-3587

About Us

For 70 years, the Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Berkeley, has been recognized as one of the world’s leading centers for transportation research, education, and scholarship.

The Institute was created as an Organized Research Unit in 1948 by the California state legislature in response to the deferred maintenance of transportation facilities during World War II. Its mission was to conduct research and provide instruction to a new generation of transportation professionals.

Today ITS Berkeley is home to a large and diverse community of people who study all aspects of transportation—from technological advances to social and environmental consequences.

  • Many of our faculty and other researchers play leadership roles in industry and government.
  • More than 100 graduate students pursuing master’s degrees and Ph.D.’s currently study here.
  • Nearly 100 graduates have gone on to university faculty positions.
  • Among the ITS faculty, four are members of the National Academy of Engineering, eight are editors or associate editors of leading scholarly journals, and several have chaired prestigious committees at the state, federal, and international level.

University of California, Davis
Institute of Transportation Studies

Director: Daniel Sperling
Ph. (530) 752-7434

Secondary contact: Susan Handy
Ph. (530) 752-5878

About Us

The Institute of Transportation Studies at UC Davis (ITS-Davis) is the leading university center in the world on sustainable transportation, hosting the National Center on Sustainable Transportation since 2013 (awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation) and managing large research initiatives on energy, environmental, and social issues. It is home to more than 60 affiliated faculty and researchers, and more than 120 graduate students, and, with its affiliated centers, a budget of $20 million. We have a strong commitment not just to research, but interdisciplinary education and engagement with government, industry, and non-governmental organizations.

ITS-Davis hosts an award-winning graduate program, Transportation Technology and Policy (TTP), which draws from 34 different academic disciplines. Our nearly 300 master’s and Ph.D. alumni are leaders in government, industry, and academia.

We are committed to putting our cutting-edge research to good use—to informing policy making and business decisions, and advancing public discourse on key transportation, energy and environmental issues. ITS-Davis is focused on issues important to society.

University of California, Irvine
Institute of Transportation Studies

Director: Stephen G. Ritchie, Ph.D.
ph. (949) 824-4214

Primary Research Goals: A fundamental goal of the Institute is the stimulation of interdisciplinary research on contemporary transportation issues. ITS research at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) involves faculty and students from The Henry Samueli School of Engineering, the School of Social Sciences, the School of Social Ecology, the Paul Merage School of Business, the School of Law, and the Bren School of Information and Computer Science. The Institute also hosts visiting scholars from the U.S. and abroad to facilitate cooperative research and information exchange, and sponsors conferences and colloquia to disseminate research results. ITS is also part of the University of California Transportation Center (UCTC), one of ten federally designated centers for transportation research and education, and a member of the Council of University Transportation Centers, (CUTC).Research at ITS covers a broad spectrum of transportation issues. Current funded research projects at Irvine focus upon: Intelligent transportation systems, particularly advanced transportation management systems; Freight transportation system modeling, planning and outcome analysis; Analysis and simulation of urban traffic networks; Transportation system operations and control; Travel demand forecasting and analysis of complex travel behavior; Transportation/land use interactions, particularly those which encourage alternative modes of travel; Planning and evaluation of advanced public transit systems; Transportation pricing and regulation; Energy and environmental issues, particularly demand for alternative fuels; Effect of land-use on transportation demand; Growth of automobile use in the U.S. and other countries

Facilities: Facilities include meeting and seminar rooms, a statewide video teleconferencing facility, computer lab, and equipment for advanced traffic detection, monitoring and analysis. The ATMS Laboratories include advanced traffic signal controllers and a variety of traffic data collection devices. These laboratories form the backbone of California’s research initiative in ATMS and, together with the California ATMS Testbed established in Orange County as part of that initiative, provide unparalleled opportunity for the development and testing of applications of advanced technology in the management of transportation systems.The transportation research program at Irvine is also supported by computerized access to the ITS Transportation Library at UC Berkeley, and ITS-Irvine subscribes to the major transportation research journals and offers a variety of computer-based information retrieval services. ITS-Irvine is linked to the broader professional community through a series of research colloquia and specialty conferences. The latter programs attract an international audience.

University of California, Los Angeles
Institute of Transportation Studies

Director: Brian D. Taylor, Ph.D.
ph. (310) 903-3228

Secondary Contact: Juan Matute
ph. (562) 546 – 2831

Primary Research Goals: Advance transportation research and education in support of economic competitiveness, environmental sustainability, and livable communities in Los Angeles, California, the nation, and the world. Our current initiatives include: The UCLA Complete Streets Initiative; The Local Government Climate and Transportation Planning Initiative; The Spatial Analytics Initiative; and the UCLA Lake Arrowhead Transportation – Land Use – Environment Symposium Series.

Facilities: The UCLA Institute of Transportation Studies maintains dedicated research and office space consisting of five office suites with 35 workstations. We also have three conference rooms with state-of-the-art sound and projection systems, a multi-functioning smart board and projector, and team work space suitable for collaborative meetings. We also maintain a secure data facility with code-based lock system for projects requiring confidential data management and storage; workstations and printers are off-network and have secure encrypted partitions. The UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs (of which the Institute of Transportation Studies is part) recently underwent renovations outfitting the School with the latest information, communications, presentation, and computing technologies. The remodel included enhanced audio-visual technology in our School’s two large lecture halls and four primary classrooms, providing them with the capacity to teleconference and podcast lectures.

University of Connecticut
Connecticut Transportation Institute (CTI)

Director: James Mahoney
ph. (860) 486-2717

Secondary Contact: Stephanie Merrall
ph. (860) 486-0352

Primary Research Goals: Three key topics drive transportation research at the University of Connecticut: Safety, Public Transportation and Urban Planning. Safety: Over 30,000 people die on U.S. Highways each year. This sad fact has many causes – among them being unsafely designed roadways. Transportation engineers and scientists at UConn are working to reduce this number by designing roadways and highways so that people will use then in a safer way. UConn is also leading major efforts to manage and analyze safety data to allow engineers, planners and lawmakers to develop policy and design that will reduce the toll of fatality and injury in our transportation system. Public Transit: Public transit helps to create vibrant, sustainable communities and is a critical part of the transportation planning toolbox. In many places around the world, strong public transit systems correspond to high-quality places to live. Public transit can provide efficient mobility and help decrease congestion and emissions. The transportation faculty at UConn conducts research on optimizing public transit and integrating it into the communities it serves. From equity in transit service provision to the influence of real-time information on travel behavior, the UConn transportation faculty is on the cutting edge of transportation research for public transit system users, planners and operators.Urban Planning: Urban planning is the design, planning and development of communities. The skillful blending of transportation systems into the urban fabric helps limit transportation energy use and carbon emissions. UConn urban planning research is highly interdisciplinary and involves close collaboration with professionals in such diverse fields as geography, sociology, political science, and computer science.

Facilities: The Center for Transportation and Livable Systems (CTLS) theme engages multi-disciplinary engineering and planning activities that promote a sustainable transportation system and livable communities connected by this system. The UCONN Center for Resilient Transportation Infrastructure (CRTI) is dedicated to the development of novel technologies to enable the next generation of sustainable and resilient transportation infrastructure. The Connecticut Transportation Safety research Center (CTSRC) at UCONN supports the Connecticut Department of Transportation by developing and maintaining a state of the art crash data entry, collection, and safety analysis system which provides efficient tools for the collection and analysis of crash data, tracks and documents safety improvements and needs in the state, develops outreach programs to target Connecticut specific/identified safety concerns, and conducts transportation safety research that has state, national and global implications and applications. The Transportation Systems Laboratory (TSL) at UConn combines an interactive educational environment with the cutting edge of simulation, GIS and transportation planning software. The lab also houses the Connecticut Photolog libraries in a high-volume (48TB) Network Attached Storage server to be used to hold and manage Photolog libraries. Photolog libraries have been collected annually since the 1970’s by the Connecticut Department of Transportation and provide unrestricted virtual access to the entire state highway system in Connecticut.

University of Delaware
Delaware Center for Transportation/University Transportation Center

Director: Sue McNeil, Ph.D.
ph. (302) 831-6578

Secondary Contact: Tiffine CanneLongo
ph. (302) 831-1446

Primary Research Goals: The mission of the DCT is to improve the movement of people, goods, and ideas, and be viewed as a valuable resource for transportation-related issues and challenges within the state, the mid-Atlantic region and beyond.

Facilities: Transportation Engineering Laboratory

University of Florida
University of Florida Transportation Institute (UFTI)

Director: Lily Elefteriadou, Ph.D.
ph. (352) 294 – 7802

Secondary Contact: Ines Aviles-Spadoni, M.S.
ph. (352) 294 – 7803

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Primary Research Goals: The UFTI aims to advance the transportation state-of-the-art, disseminate research results, and provide educational opportunities related to transportation across the lifespan. Research at the UFTI focuses on the following areas: Autonomous and connected vehicles, traffic operations, safety, planning and policy, logistics, economics, and materials and infrastructure. UFTI is home to the Southeastern Transportation Research, Innovation, Development and Education (STRIDE) Center, a Regional University Transportation Center (UTC) funded by the US DOT. STRIDE focuses on safety, livable communities, and economic competitiveness. Additional information on research activities is provided at the UFTI website (www.transportation.institute.ufl.edu).

Facilities: The UFTI has a variety of laboratories and data collection resources to meet educational and research goals and needs. It has a Traffic Signal Laboratory, several Computer Laboratories, an Instrumented Vehicle for on-the-road data collection, a laboratory for Autonomous Vehicle development, a Driving Simulator, and many other resources for data collection and analysis.

University of Illinois at Chicago
Urban Transportation Center

Director: P.S. Sriraj, J.D.
ph. (312) 413-7568

Secondary Contact: Paul Metaxatos, Ph.D.
ph. (312) 996-4713

Primary Research Goals: The Urban Transportation Center (UTC) is a research unit dedicated to innovative transportation research and education that provides technical assistance on urban transportation planning, policy, operations, finance and management. Part of the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois at Chicago, the UTC is a nationally-recognized innovator in research, education and engagement that benefits transportation networks in cities and metropolitan areas across America. The mission of the UTC is to deliver strong local research and achieve national and international prominence to advance solutions for emerging transportation challenges. The UTC was established as a campus unit in 1079. During the past 35 years, the unit has been an acknowledged leader in research that provides practical solutions in these four core clusters:

  1. Transit planning, operations and management.
  2. Transportation funding and financing.
  3. Freight planning operations and management.
  4. Data development for transportation planning and analysis.

Researchers also have proven experience in intelligent transportation systems, asset management, land use and the environment, paratransit and human services transportation. The UTC participates in two US DOT national transportation research consortia: The National Center for Transit Research (NCTR) and the National University Rail Center (NURail.)

Facilities: The UTC research staff is comprise of eleven transportation research experts – including four Ph.D. researchers – and is supported by 15 UIC affiliated faculty from other colleges and departments. Each professional brings a broad range of transportation experience and specialized skills to every research projects. The UTC is rounded out by a staff of five professionals. Researchers are supported by More than 30 UIC students who work closely with UTC research staff and affiliated faculty.

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Illinois Center for Transportation

Director: Imad Al-Qadi

Secondary Contact: Kristi Marie Anderson

Primary Research Goals: Illinois Center for Transportation steers the development and implementation of cost-effective mobility technologies, improves safety and reliability, reduces congestion, minimizes environmental impacts while returning taxpayers’ dollars. Housed at ICT is the Advanced Transportation Research Engineering Laboratory, a 60,000-square-foot transportation research and testing facility. Our premier research facility has innovative partnerships and collaborations with Illinois Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, industries, national and international agencies, and many others.

Mission

Illinois Center for Transportation promotes innovation and progress in transportation through interdisciplinary research in an objective setting. In light of ICT’s efforts, the state and nation benefit from such a rapid response to researching future transportation challenges, which provides readiness to adapt to the changing needs.

Vision

Illinois Center for Transportation serves Illinois Department of Transportation, the state of Illinois and the nation’s needs through research, education and outreach. ICT promotes the timely implementation of cost-effective technologies that improve safety and reliability as well as reduce congestion for the state of Illinois and the nation. Our efforts increase utilization of the state’s infrastructure and optimize IDOT’s resources.

University of Iowa, The
Safety Research using Simulation Center (SAFERSIM)

Director: Dawn Marshall
ph. (319) 335-4774

Secondary Contact: Jacob Heiden
ph. (319) 335-4786

Primary Research Goals: The Safety Research using Simulation Center (SAFERSIM) brings together transportation safety research leaders who have a long history of using and developing cutting-edge simulation tools We use a variety of simulation techniques to address the safety issues prioritized by the US DOT. The simulation capabilities of consortium institutions include passenger cars, heavy trucks, pedestrians, and bicyclists. Each institution has strengths in both transportation safety engineering and human factors. The consortium consists of: The University of Iowa, University of Central Florida, University of Massachusetts – Amherst, University of Puerto Rico – Mayaguez, and the University of Wisconsin – Madison.

Facilities: University of Iowa-Within the College of Engineering, NADS-1 a high-fidelity driving simulator with a 13-degree-of-freedom motion base and largest motion envelope of any driving simulator in an academic setting, NADS-2 a fixed-base simulator, several lower-fidelity MiniSim™ portable driving simulators, and an instrumented on-road vehicle that can be attached to a simulator system. Operated jointly by the Departments of Computer Science and Psychology is a pedestrian simulator and a bicycle simulator using a stationary bicycle that is unique in the capability to have two riders on separate bicycles interacting in the same virtual world.

University of Central Florida- Between CATSS, housed in the Civil Engineering Department, and the Institute of Simulation and Training there are more than ten simulators available for education and research. This widespread use of simulation across UCF creates an atmosphere of innovation in developing new simulation technology and is a reflection of UCF’s location in Orlando, home to the largest modeling, simulation, and training technology cluster in the nation.

University of Massachusetts-The Human Performance Laboratory (HPL), in the department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering hosts a state-of-the-art driving simulator with a full cab similar to Wisconsin’s.

University of Wisconsin- The Traffic Operations and Safety (TOPS) Laboratory provides facilities and equipment for research and education in microsimulation, field studies, and statistical modeling of traffic safety. Wisconsin’s driving simulator, a partnership of the TOPS Lab and the Cognitive Systems Lab, has a full-sized cab and uses software from Realtime Technologies, Inc.

University of Kansas
Transportation Laboratory

Director: Steven Schrock
ph. (785) 864-3418

Secondary Contact: Alexandra Kondyli
ph. (785) 864-6521

University of Kentucky
Kentucky Transportation Center

Director: Doug Kreis
ph. (859) 544-0066

Secondary Contact: Clark Graves
ph. (859) 247-7388

Primary Research Goals: The Kentucky Transportation Center (KTC) provides services to the transportation community through Research, Technology Transfer, and Education. The Center creates and participates in partnerships to promote safe and effective transportation systems. KTC’s charter (established by the University’s Board of Trustees in 1979) calls for the Center to address all aspects and all modes of transportation. KTC’s primary research client is the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, for whom the Center serves as the “research arm,” but KTC also provides services for numerous other state and national entities in both the public and private sectors. KTC employs approximately 100 people (including 25-30 students) and has an annual budget exceeding $10 million. Primary areas of research include Pavement Design and Construction; Pavement Preservation; Roadway Drainage; Materials; Geotechnology; Structural Design and Analysis; Bridge Preservation; Construction Engineering and Project Management; Roadway Geometric Design; Traffic Safety; Traffic Operations; Intelligent Transportation Systems; Commercial Vehicle Operations; Highway Incident Management; Transportation Planning; Economics and Finance; Transportation Policy; Environmental Analysis and Sustainability; GIS and Visualization; Structured Public Involvement; and Multimodal Freight Transportation. KTC includes an outstanding Technology Transfer Program, which is also designated as Kentucky’s Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP). This program provides training, technical assistance, numerous publications, and the state’s only transportation library. KTC provides over 200 training sessions each year, with over 5,500 attendees and over 33,000 participant-hours.

Facilities: KTC’s Administrative Offices, as well as the bulk of the Center’s office and laboratory space, are housed in the Oliver H. Raymond Building, which is part of the Engineering Complex on the main campus of the University of Kentucky. KTC also occupies office and laboratory space in four other on-campus facilities: the Center for Robotics and Manufacturing Systems, the Engineering Annex, the S.J. Whalen Building, and the F. Paul Anderson Tower.

University of Maine
Transportation Infrastructure Durability Center

Director: Dr. Habib Dagher, P.E.
ph (207) 581-2138

Secondary Contact: James Bryce
ph (207) 581-2714

Primary Research Goals: The Transportation Infrastructure Durability Center (TIDC) is the 2018 US DOT Region 1 (New England) University Transportation Center (UTC) located at the University of Maine Advanced Structures and Composites Center. TIDC’s focus is on extending the life and improving the durability of transportation assets. TIDC has six member Universities within the New England Region.  Member universities have an extensive record of accomplishments within the realm of research, education, and technology transfer as it relates to transportation infrastructure. TIDC aims to build upon these successes and continue to support current Region 1 state DOT initiatives while introducing new cutting-edge technology and information that will reduce cost and improve overall health of Region 1 transportation infrastructure with wide applicability throughout the U.S. TIDC member universities include: University of Maine, University of Connecticut, University of Massachusetts Lowell, University of Rhode Island, University of Vermont, and Western New England University.

Mission Statement: The mission of the Transportation Infrastructure Durability Center (TIDC) is to develop innovative, sustainable, next-generation solutions to improve the durability and extend the lifespan of existing and new transportation assets in New England and beyond.  We are committed to making dramatic impacts in the cost-effectiveness of transportation infrastructure through transformative research, education, outreach, workforce development, and technology transfer through four research thrust areas; 1) monitoring and assessment, 2) new materials for longevity and constructability, 3) new systems for longevity and constructability, and 4) connectivity for enhanced asset and performance management.

University of Maryland – College Park
National Transportation Center

Director: Lei Zhang, Ph.D.
ph. (301) 405-2881

Secondary Contact: Catherine LaPadula
ph. (301) 405-1974

Primary Research Goals: Center Theme: Strategic Transportation Policies, Investments & Decisions for Economic Competitiveness Center Focus Areas:

  1. Freight efficiency and reliability for domestic shipping and for our international ports;
  2. Congestion mitigation with multi-modal strategies;
  3. Smart investments in nationally critical transportation facilities such as high speed rail.

Facilities: The Maryland National Transportation Center is hosted in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Maryland College Park campus.

University of Massachusetts, Amherst
University of Massachusetts Transportation Center

Director: Michael A. Knodler, Jr., Ph.D.
ph. (413) 545-0228

Secondary Contact: Kris Stetson
ph. (413) 577-3199

Primary Research Goals: The UMass Transportation Center (UMTC) is responsible for promoting transportation research, education, and training throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Theme of the Center is “Improving Mobility and Safety with Innovative Technologies and Strategies.” The Center’s operations are supported by University funds and through contracts with state and federal agencies as well as with industry partnerships. Historically, the majority of the Center’s activities have involved faculty and staff on the Amherst Campus, although more recently faculty and staff from other university and state college campuses have become involved. The current focus of the Center’s research, education, and training efforts encompasses the following major programs: the Center is a collaborative member in the following USDOT funded University Transportation Centers – Region 1 New England UTC, the Ohio State University Tier 1 UTC, and the University of Iowa Tier 1 UTC; the UMTC/Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Cooperative Transportation Research Program; the Baystate Roads Program (LocalTechnical Assitance Program); the Massachusetts Technical Assistance Program (MTAP); the UMass Traffic Research Safety Program (UMassSafe); and the Regional Traveler Information Center (RTIC).

Facilities:

University of Michigan
University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute
Center for Connected and Automated Transportation (CATT)

Director: Henri Liu
ph. (734) 763-6076

CATT Director: Debra Bezzina

Primary Research Goals: The Transportation Research Institute at The University of Michigan is committed to interdisciplinary research that will ultimately increase driving safety and further transportation systems knowledge. UMTRI is currently operating a research program with $13.7 million in expenditures, with funds received from federal and state government agencies, motor vehicle manufacturers and suppliers, and other organizations.

Facilities: In order to conduct high quality research in the field of transporation, UMTRI staff members utilize an extensive array of labs and equipment. Whether it is testing the biomechanics of injury mechanisms, investigating heavy-duty vehicle dynamics, or analyzing the interface between driver and vehicle interior, UMTRI’s physical and virtual facilities get the job done. When existing materials will not do the job, researchers and support staff excel at fabrication and programming to create what is necessary to achieve reliable and consistent results. We operate a capable fixed-base driving simulator, a fleet of test vehicles fitted with advanced safety and data acquisition systems, and a sled lab for occupant restraint testing. In addition, UMTRI’s library houses one of the world’s most extensive collections of literature on traffic safety.In addition to the contract research conducted at UMTRI, we also provide for-fee services to interested parties who wish to evaluate child safety seat performance, test wheelchair and wheelchair tiedown/restraints, request crash data analysis, conduct publication searches and prepare reproductions, or request automotive test drive evaluations.

Center for Connected and Automated Transportation 

With a $2.4M grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, the University of Michigan, along with its partners, has created the Center for Connected and Automated Transportation (CCAT). CCAT aims to advance research in the field of transportation safety, mobility, and sustainability via connected vehicles, connected infrastructure, and autonomous vehicles.

Located at the focal point of the U.S. auto industry, CCAT will play a unique regional role in promoting connected and automated transportation research, education, workforce development, and technology transfer activities, which are of critical importance to the future of the region’s economy. The CCAT team’s extensive and substantive collaborations with stakeholders such as the region’s state DOTs, local governments, and the CAV industry will ensure that our research translates to practical outcomes through prototypes, field tests, technology transfer, implementation, and policies.

University of Minnesota
Center for Transportation Studies

Director: Kyle Shelton

Associate Director: Dawn Hood
ph. (612) 625-2304

Primary Research Goals: Transportation research at the University of Minnesota covers a wide spectrum from basic to applied research, drawing on the many transportation-related disciplines within the University. The Center for Transportation Studies (CTS) actively supports the formation of multidisciplinary research teams, working with over 30 departments and 150 faculty and researchers on over 125 research projects annually. Key research topics include:

  1. Transportation Infrastructure: materials, pavement performance, bridge design and maintenance, construction practices and contracting, deicing and corrosion.
  2. Transportation Planning and the Economy: land use, urban design, community and human issues, transportation modes, funding and finance, economic development, freight and logistics, public policy, the global economy.
  3. Environment and Energy in Transportation: air quality, alternative fuels, greenhouse gas emissions, stormwater management, and roadside vegetation management.
  4. Safety and Traffic Flow: intelligent transportation systems, traffic detection, traffic control, crash analysis, vision systems, in-vehicle communications, wireless communications, human factors, injury and crash prevention. Housed within CTS is the Roadway Safety Institute, the Region 5 University Transportation Center (UTC) funded through the MAP-21 federal transportation bill passed in 2012. The Institute focuses on traffic safety system approaches by researching design- and operation-related safety solutions that reduce fatalities and life-changing injuries across the nation, particularly for high-risk road users. In addition, the Institute addresses the following MAP-21 priorities to improve highway safety: rural road safety measures, human factor studies and measures, data collection and analysis, and safety policy studies.

Facilities: Several transportation-related research facilities are available at the University of Minnesota, including the Center for Distributed Robotics, the HumanFIRST Program, the Minnesota Traffic Observatory, the Multi-Axial Subassemblage Testing Laboratory, and the St. Anthony Falls Laboratory. The Center for Distributed Robotics is at the forefront of research in robotics, with expertise in both hardware design and algorithms. With nearly 100 robots of varying sizes, locomotion, computational and sensing capabilities, the lab has platforms for a variety of research and real-world applications. In addition, we work very closely with the Computer Vision Lab towards creating cutting-edge robotic applications that use sensors effectively. The HumanFIRST Program operates one of the most advanced driving environment simulation systems at any academic institution in the United States. This system is used to conduct research on human interaction with complex technical systems, specializing in the simulation of real-world environments to study driver control and behavior. The driving environment simulator operates with a 2002 Saturn SC2 full vehicle cab with realistic operation of controls and instrumentation including force feedback on the steering and realistic power assist feel for the brakes. The simulator provides high fidelity simulation for all sensory channels to generate a realistic presence within the simulated environment. The Minnesota Traffic Observatory (MTO) is a transportation laboratory focusing on the testing and evaluation of new transportation management and operational strategies and traveler information technologies. The MTO features a complete simulation and modeling center, equipped for any project from a single intersection to a metropolitan area. The Regional Transportation Management Center (RTMC), part of the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), supplies 16 switchable video feeds to the lab, which give researchers the ability to monitor any of the approximately 300 MnDOT cameras throughout the metropolitan freeway network. The MTO also hosts an archive of MnDOT’s freeway traffic data, which contains volume and density data from over 7000 imbedded pavement detectors throughout the Twin Cities. The Multi-Axial Subassemblage Testing (MAST) Laboratory, the largest of its kind in the world, provides a powerful tool for investigating the effects of earthquakes, hurricanes, and other extreme events on large structural components up to several stories tall. Its equipment enables evaluation of existing structures, investigation of the effects of retrofitting those systems, and evaluation of new systems and materials. The St. Anthony Falls Laboratory (SAFL) overlooks historic St. Anthony Falls in the heart of the bustling downtown Minneapolis riverfront district. This unique location allows SAFL to divert Mississippi River water from the upper pool of the falls so that it flows through the building’s many experimental facilities, then rejoins the river’s main flow below the falls. SAFL is ideally suited to support a variety of innovative research and educational activities, including hydraulic structures, sediment transport, bridge scour, hydrokinetic energy production, and effects of turbulence on biogeochemical processes.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Mid-America Transportation Center

Director: Dr. Aemal Khattak
ph. (402) 472-1992

2nd Contact: Janet Renoe

Primary Research Goals:The Mid-America Transportation Center’s research goals are to identify and complete important research initiatives as guided by the US DOT’s strategic goals of enhancing safety and reducing risk on the multi-modal transportation system in the US as well as address the specific needs of Region 7 transportation stakeholders. The Center’s research programs incorporate the strengths and interests of the consortium members, and complement the goals of MATC’s educational, workforce development, technology transfer, and diversity programs. Our researchers produce results to be published in national and international transportation peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings, presented at major national and international conferences, and adopted for use and practice in federal and state transportation entities, by peer institutions, and by the private sector. Our research will advance the state of knowledge in the Center’s thematic thrust area and have a positive impact on surface transportation in Region 7 and the nation as a whole. Additionally, MATC aims to have sponsored work continue to appear in all major transportation venues (e.g., journal papers, conference proceedings, and technology transfer workshops) and be held in high regard among peer institutions and the national transportation community. MATC strives to to increase the number of affiliated faculty members in leadership positions in leading transportation professional organizations, both nationally and internationally.

Facilities: University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s (UNL) Structural Laboratory, Nebraska Transportation Center’s (NTC) At-Grade Railway Test Bed, the Mobile Test Bed Facility, Mobile Driver Stress and Traffic Conditions Monitoring, the Peter Kiewit Institute Structural Laboratory, NTC’s Midwest Roadside Safety Facility, and NTC’s Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Laboratory. MATC also has access consortium member’s facilities such as the Accelerated Pavement Testing Facility at Kansas State University, the Structural Laboratory at Iowa State University, the National Advanced Driving Simulator (NADS) at the University of Iowa, the Traffic Safety Laboratory at Kansas University, the Intelligent Systems Center at Missouri University of Science and Technology, and the TransLab at Missouri University.

University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Rail Transportation Engineering and Advance Maintenance

Director: Professor Hualiang Teng
(702) 895-4940

Secondary Contact: Larese Patillo
(702) 895-4940

Primary Goals: The Rail Transportation Engineering and Advanced Methodology (“RailTEAM”) is a three-membered consortium which is led by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and has the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VT) and the University of Delaware (UD) as members. RailTEAM is a Tier-1 University Transportation Center (UTC) under the US Department of Transportation (DOT) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research & Technology (OST-R) program who proposes to focus its UTC on the theme of Improving Rail Transportation Infrastructure Sustainability and Durability. Improving the durability and viability of the railway infrastructure is eminently critical to improving operational performance and safety of rail transportation, which is vital to the nation’s social well-being and economic growth.

Facilities: The University Transportation Center on Improving Rail Transportation Infrastructure Sustainability and Durability has a 3D printer, a drone, railroad simulation software, and field test facilities at Nevada Southern Railroad Inc.

University of New Orleans
UNO Transportation Institute

Director: Bethany Stich, Ph.D.
ph. (504) 280-6592

Secondary Contact: Carol Short
ph. (504) 280-6520

Primary Research Goals: The Merritt. C. Becker, Jr., University of New Orleans Transportation Institute incorporates applied and scholarly research with education and outreach initiatives to support advancement in both passenger and freight transportation systems. The Institute promotes Technology transfer through strategic partnerships with the public and private sectors to advance innovative policies and practices for the users and providers of transportation. Faculty and staff associated with the Institute are recognized for their expertise in: Transportation Policy for Sustainability, Livability, Resiliency, and Disaster Recovery; Evacuation Planning for Carless and Vulnerable Populations; Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning; Transit-Oriented Development; Megaregion Research and Development; Maritime and Port Planning; Globalization Planning and Development;Public Transit Planning, Project Financing and Implementation Strategies; Freight-based Economic Development.

Facilities: The University of New Orleans has a large number of facilities and resources directly related to maritime and intermodal transportation. The university also has access to additional local facilities and resources at other educational institutions as well as through partnerships with private companies in the transportation industry. The Institute, which is housed in the College of Liberal Arts, is comprised of faculty and staff offices, classrooms, a comprehensive intermodal transportation research library and a modeling and computer lab designed to use the latest advances in GIS technology, including digital mapping, topographic charting, satellite imagery,aerial photographs, and other forms of spatially related data.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Highway Safety Research Center
Collaborative Sciences Center for Road Safety

Director: Dr. Laura Sandt
ph. (919) 962- 2358

Secondary Contact: Caroline Mozingo
ph. (919) 962-5835

Primary Research Goals: The Collaborative Sciences Center for Road Safety (CSCRS) is a National University Transportation Center (UTC) supporting the FAST Act research priority of promoting safety. CSCRS is an integrated national safety center focused on the goal of reducing injuries and saving lives on our roadway system. We will improve road safety in the U.S. by focusing our research, education, workforce development, and technology transfer efforts on the following four areas:

• Risk Assessment – Dramatic improvements in road safety require better understanding of road user perceptions and reactions to risk, particularly as personal and vehicle technology evolves.

• Integrated Systems Approach – Continued reduction of injuries and fatalities requires multi-disciplinary strategies utilizing a model that acknowledges the complexity of relationships between individual, technology, built environment, institutional, and policy levels.

• Safety Data, Technology, and Methods – Comprehensive research requires insight from big data science, which includes sophisticated management and analytical approaches to link and analyze medical, EMS, and police data, as well as technology data from vehicles and infrastructure systems.

• Transportation Workforce Culture – Further decreases in injuries and fatalities require broadening the set of professionals who understand the importance of road safety and identifying effective training strategies and tools for all practitioners.

University of North Carolina at Charlotte (CAMMSE)
Center for Advanced Multimodal Mobility Solutions and Education (CAMMSE)

Director: Wei (David) Fan
ph. (704) 687-1222

Primary Research Goals: The Center for Advanced Multimodal Mobility Solutions and Education (CAMMSE) focuses on developing advanced technology, methods and models for multimodal transportation (including highway, air, rail, freight, public transit, bicycle and pedestrian) as well as educating and developing an effective workforce. Our vision of the center is a collaborative research, education and outreach partnership will harness advanced (computing, smartphones and communication) technologies and ubiquitous data for creating sustainable, efficient and growth-enabling multimodal transportation systems using cutting edge analytical methods and models. As a result, research performed by the Center will deliver impactful products to local, regional, and national stakeholders that support economic development, significantly improve mobility of people and goods, reduce congestion, promote safety and social equity, preserve the environment, and preserve the existing transportation system.

University of Oklahoma
Southern Plains Transportation Center

Director: Musharraf Zaman, Ph.D., P.E.
ph. (405) 325-4682

Primary Research Goals: With an inclusive and sharing to gain culture, the University of Oklahoma leads the Southern Plains Transportation Center (SPTC) to bring the most talented and experienced faculty, researchers and students together to address the impact of climate extremes and severe weather on our transportation infrastructure and safety of users. Climate adaptive transportation and freight infrastructure is the primary focus of our research, education, and workforce goals. In the United States, severe weather – including tornadoes, hurricanes, winter storms, flash floods, hail storms, and high intensity wind events – not only results in hundreds of fatalities each year, but also cause the greatest economic and societal disruption. To develop severe weather-resilient transportation infrastructure, a designer must include the effect of day-to-day as well as long term weather variability in estimating design forces, selecting structure type, materials and construction methods, and devising maintenance and preservation measures. Region 6 states serve as a laboratory for understanding and solving these pressing and complex problems. As the USDOT Region 6 UTC, the SPTC is developing innovative, cost-effective and imminently implementable solutions, while preparing transportation professionals for leadership roles in technical and research careers. The education and outreach components of SPTC are focused on developing innovative programs with a strong diversity-building component that encourages K-12 students, college students or adult learners to become transportation professionals. Developing creative professional programs for training transportation professionals to work and lead in a diverse workforce is important to SPTC.

Facilities: For more than 50 years, OU and its Norman-based partners at NOAA have been international leaders in research, technology development, and forecasting applications for severe weather and extreme climate events. Today’s high-quality and timely severe weather forecasts result, in part, from pioneering successes of the Norman weather community, including: (i) Application of Doppler and phased-array radar to weather phenomena; (ii) Creation of thunderstorm-scale supercomputer-based weather prediction; (iii) Understanding of the atmosphere’s fundamentals; and (iv) Maturation of warning decision technologies. OU is the home of the renowned National Weather Center (NWC). It is also home to the Southern Climate Impacts Planning Program (SCIPP), the Oklahoma Mesonet, the Oklahoma Climatological Survey (OCS), NOAA Hazardous Weather Testbed, National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL), Advanced Radar Research Center (ARRC), Center for Analysis and Prediction of Storms (CAPS), Center for Risk and Crisis Management, and the recently formed South Central Climate Science Center (SC-CSC) – one of eight regional centers in the country. Both regional centers (SPTC and SC-CSC) have consortium members, partners, and stakeholders in all states in Region 6, including some SPTC consortium members (OU, Oklahoma State University, Texas Tech University (TTU), and University of Arkansas). The SPTC members have considerable history and resources to address weather related issues, e.g., TTU’s long history in wind research through its internationally renowned Wind Science and Engineering (WISE) Research Center. OU ITS Lab has developed and implemented innovative technologies to enhance safety on our roads and increase productivity of law enforcement agencies. Examples include Statewide Analysis for Engineering and Technology (SAFE-T), Traffic and Criminal Software (TraCS), and Police Automated Records Information System (PARIS)

University of Oregon
Sustainable Cities Initiative

Director: Marc Schlossberg
ph. (541) 346-2046

Secondary Contact: Nico Larco
ph. (503) 412-3732

Description: The Sustainable Cities Initiative (SCI) is an applied think-tank focusing on sustainability in cities. We work across disciplines inside and out of academia to re-define the delivery of higher education, conduct applied and policy-relevant research, and serve the public in the design and development of sustainable, resilient, and livable cities. Our work is consistently applied, multi-disciplinary, and sustainability focused, matching the complexity of cities with the disciplinary expertise to match. We focus on everything in cities, from sustainable architecture to transportation to engaging marginalized communities to impacting the larger, relevant policy frameworks at the local and state levels.

University of Pittsburgh
Center for Sustainable Transportation Infrastructure

Co-Director: Lev Khazanovich
ph. (412) 624-8618

Secondary Contact: Katie Sears
ph. (412) 822-3657

Primary Research Goals: The Center for Sustainable Transportation Infrastructure’s (CSTI) vision is to advance the state of sustainable transportation research through collaborative, multi-disciplinary efforts, education, and dissemination of new technologies and knowledge. The path of the Center’s success is centered on achieving established goals and objectives both in the short-term and long-term, and the partners and support needed to realize the vision. CSTI was created in August 2007. In total, we have secured over $5.5 million in external funding. In 2013 we completed 6 projects totaling over $954,000 in research funds. In 2013 CSTI sponsored the Transportation Forum at the University of Pittsburgh on March 27 Th. CSTI, in conjunction with the Pittsburgh Chapter of the American Society of Highway Engineers (ASHE), held this one-day forum to explore advanced learning on the performance measures of transportation systems. In 2013 CSTI continued participation in Pennsylvania State Transportation Innovation Council. Mark Magalotti, Co-Director, serves on the council representing CSTI. Faculty members also serve on the technical advisory groups for design, ITS, safety, materials, technology and maintenance.

University of South Florida
Center for Urban Transportation Research

Director: Xiaopeng Li
ph. (813) 974-9797

Secondary Contact: Reena Raturi

Primary Research Goals: Research is conducted in the areas of safety, management, increasing ridership and revenue, location aware software,bus rapid transit, and other subjects of interest to operating transit agencies. In addition, NCTR also researches issues associated with transportation demand management such as ridesharing, carpooling, telecommuting, and pedestrian and bicycle subjects. In addition to research, NCTR engages in extensive training of transit and commuter assistance professionals and manages communication forums that have over 10,000 subscribers. NCTR also hosts a bi-annual conference on Geographic Information Systems in Transit and publishes the only academic peer reviewed professional journal focused on public transit issues.

Facilities: The National Center for Transit Research is part of the Center for Urban Transportation Research at USF which operates from a dedicated facility with 20,000 square feet, offices for 45 faculty, 20 students, and12 administrative staff. There are classrooms, meeting rooms, and a GIS laboratory.

University of Southern California
METRANS Transportation Center

Director: Genevieve Giuliano
ph. (213) 740-3956

Secondary Contact: Thomas O’Brien
ph. (562) 985-2875

Primary Research Goals: METRANS’ mission is to solve transportation problems of large metropolitan regions through interdisciplinary research, education, and outreach. The METRANS Transportation Center has three primary objectives: foster independent, high quality research to solve the nation’s transportation problems; train the next generation workforce; and disseminate information, best practices, and technology to the professional community. We accomplish these objectives through a comprehensive and collaborative program of research, education, and technology transfer organized around three topical focus areas: integrated management of freight and passenger systems; sustainable and efficient urban freight transportation, and mobility of urban populations.

University of Tennessee, The
Center for Transportation Research

Director: Jerry Everett
ph. (865) 974-5255

Secondary Contact: Deanna Flinchum
ph. (865) 974-4626

Primary Research Goals: As an interdisciplinary research center and lead institute for the US DOT Region 4 UTC, the University of Tennessee’s Center for Transportation Research (CTR) brings together experts in many fields—engineering; urban and regional planning; logistics and supply chain management; economics; geography; and education. Center researchers address technical and policy-related issues through sponsored research in highway transportation safety, railway and inland waterway systems, transportation economics, goods movement, transportation planning, traffic demand modeling, and STEM education.Everyone—the region, state, and nation—benefits from CTR’s program of research with its overarching theme of comprehensive transportation safety. Research results inform initiatives in education, technology transfer, workforce development, training, and community outreach. Our work touches the lives of many by improving safety on our highways; influencing and informing transportation policy; educating drivers on safe practices; advising on regional economic impacts; promoting environmentally sound and sustainable alternatives to move freight; improving personnel safety in roadway work zones; and improving transportation infrastructure.

Facilities: The state-of-the-art UT Driving Simulator Laboratory is a fully integrated, immersive, high fidelity driving simulation system designed for use in ground vehicle research and training applications. It is an integral component of a study to determine how mild cognitive impairment affects drivers. CTR’s Traffic Signal Laboratory is a fully functioning closed-loop traffic control system. It includes a NEMA TS-1 and a NEMA TS-2 cabinet, high performance loop based detection as well as video detection and multi-mode fiber and spread-spectrum wireless communication. The laboratory demonstrates the complexities involved in setting up and maintaining traffic signal cabinets, detection and communication systems.The University of Tennessee just completed the state-of-the-art, five-story, 110,000 square foot John D. Tickle Engineering Building, which houses the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering.

University of Texas at Arlington, The
Center for Transportation Equity, Decisions & Dollars

Director: Qisheng Pan

Program Manager: James Wood
ph. (817) 272-5138

Primary Research Goals: The Center for Transportation, Equity, Decisions and Dollars (CTEDD) is a USDOT (Tier-1) University Transportation Center funded through the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology. CTEDD will provide the regions of consortium members and beyond with extensive research, educational, outreach/leadership programs and resources to meet the demand for updated knowledge and improved decision-making processes for transportation systems by identifying cost-effective solutions for maintenance, management, and the provision of equitable transportation services. These guidelines address how to develop an equal and inclusive transportation system that advances access and opportunity for all. CTEDD is a University of Texas at Arlington-led partnership with the California Polytechnic State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Wisconsin-Madison and University of South Florida.

University of Texas at Austin, The
Center for Transportation Research

Director: Chandra R. Bhat, P.E., Ph.D.
ph. (512) 471-4535

Secondary Contact: Amit Bhasin

Primary Research Goals: (1) To serve the public through transportation research, and the linking of research with practice, to promote a safer, happier, and healthier society. (2) To contribute to the development of the transportation work force through research-based and experiential learning. (3) To promote transformative developments in the field of transportation engineering and planning through an integrated systems approach that embraces technology advancements and proactive policy developments. (4) At a fundamental knowledge creation level, the Center will integrate the engineering focus underlying the design of transportation infrastructure systems with a broader social, economic, and behavioral science perspective that frames the needs of individuals and society as a whole to inform the development and management of resilient, life-cycle design-oriented, quality of life-enhancing transformative intelligent transportation systems.The Center has many initiatives to meet the goals, including seeking out international collaborations and building the bridges for proposals funded by Science and Technology offices of the U.S. and other countries, fostering multi-disciplinary and multi-modal research through Lunch N Learn sessions to foster cross-pollination of ideas among researchers from different disciplines, and organizing symposiums and the Texas Distinguished Lecture series in Transportation.

Facilities: In addition to the vast resources and expertise of the CTR Library, our faculty and staff researchers and students utilize the research facilities of UT’s Cockrell School of Engineering and affiliated research centers, including Ferguson Structural Engineering Laboratory, the International Center for Aggregates Research, the Center for Electromechanics, the Construction Industry Institute, the Construction Materials Research Group, and the Center for Research in Water Resources.

University of Texas at El Paso, The
Center for Transportation Infrastructure Systems

Director: Soheil Nazarian, Ph.D.
ph. (915) 747-6911

Secondary Contact: Imad Abdallah
ph. (915) 747-8907

Facilities: The laboratory facilities available to the CTIS researchers are comprehensive and modern. CTIS is equipped with a modern soil and pavement materials research test facility for conducting the most advanced dynamic and static laboratory tests, on soils, asphalt, asphalt concrete and Portland cement concrete. CTIS, in partnership with Geophysics colleagues, has developed the Laboratory for Engineering and Environmental Geophysics (LEEG). LEEG is equipped with most devices used in modern geophysical engineering (e.g., ground penetrating radar, resistivity, conductivity, and variety of seismic testing equipment).

University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV)
University Transportation Center for Railway Safety (UTCRS)

Director: Constantine Tarawneh, Ph.D.
ph. (956) 665-2607

Secondary Contact: Robert A. Freeman, Ph.D.
ph. (956) 665-2381

Primary Research Goals:The research conducted at UTRGV focuses on dynamic and thermal analyses of suspension components of freight railcars in an effort to provide comprehensive condition monitoring systems. Projects undertaken involve one or more of the following: bearing and wheel condition monitoring, vibration and thermal analyses of rolling stock, thermal and structural finite element analysis (FEA) of rolling stock components, polymer research, innovative onboard condition monitoring sensor technologies, energy harvesting devices, tribology studies, development of auxiliary hydraulic

suspension systems, improved railcar steering and suspension systems, rolling stock component material characterization, service life testing of railroad bearings, effects of steel cleanliness and rolling contact fatigue (RCF) on railroad bearing component life.

The overall goal of the research performed at UTRGV is to assist in the development and enhancement of products, devices, and systems that will improve the safe passage of freight railcars across the United States. The objectives and initiatives of the Railroad Research Group at UTRGV are driven by freight-railroad industry demands and needs.

The UTRGV Railroad Research Group is also focused on enhancing student education and training through engagement in a variety of center activities including STEM summer camps, research experiences, and community outreach projects. The opportunity to contribute to the research of new technologies with practical value attracts students and faculty to join this research group. The training of a sophisticated workforce which is thoroughly grounded in the specific demands of rail service will have a long term effect on system safety through improved safety assessments, counter-measures, and decision-making tools.

Facilities: (1) The UTRGV Railroad Research laboratory facilities currently include: (a) two railroad bearing testing laboratories (~1655 sq. ft. in total area) which house a total of four test rigs capable of testing all AAR bearing classes, and (b) an environmental chamber in which the ambient temperature can be controlled from -35°F to 150°F. (2) The Mechanical Testing of Materials and Components Laboratory at UTRGV is equipped with: (a) an MTS 810 servo-hydraulic dynamic tester with a load capacity of 22,000 lb, (b) an Instron table-mounted materials testing system,

(c) a Sintech 65G electromechanical frame with a capacity of 65,000 lb, and (d) a large four post hydraulic press with a 600,000 lb capacity.

University of Utah, The
Civil and Environmental Engineering Department
Mountain Plains Consortium

Secondary Contact: Chris Pantelides, P.E., Ph.D.
ph. (801) 585-3991

Primary Research Goals: The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Utah is a member of the Mountain Plains Consortium,a regional UTC for Region 8 (http://www.mountain-plains.org/). The department currently has 15 faculty members that have conducted or are conducting transportation related research, education, and technology transfer through the Mountain Plains Consortium. There are eight faculty members very heavily involved in transportation research, education, and technology transfer,and who are the key researchers in the Mountain Plains Consortium: Dr. Steven Bartlett, Associate Professor (Geotechnical); Dr. Amanda Bordelon, Assistant Professor (Pavements and Materials); Dr. Daniel Fagnant, Assistant Professor (Connected and Autonomous Vehicles); Dr. Cathy Liu, Assistant Professor (Transportation Planning and Operations); Dr. Chris Pantelides, Professor (Structures); Dr. R.J. Porter, Assistant Professor (Transportation Design and Safety); Dr. Pedro Romero, Associate Professor (Pavements and Materials); and Dr. Milan Zlatkovic, Research Assistant Professor (Traffic and Transit Operations). Detailed faculty profiles are available at http://www.civil.utah.edu/faculty

Facilities:

Utah Traffic Lab (http://www.trafficlab.utah.edu/)

University of Utah Structures Laboratory (http://www.civil.utah.edu/structures)

Bituminous Materials Laboratory at the University of Utah

Concrete Laboratory at the University of Utah

Geotechnical Laboratory at the University of Utah

University of Washington
Pacific Northwest Transportation Consortium (PacTrans)

Director: Yinhai Wang, Ph.D.
ph. (206) 616-2696

Secondary Contact: Cole Kopca
ph. (206) 685-6648

Primary Research Goals: The goal of PacTrans is to create a collaborative platform for consortium universities and transportation agencies in Region 10 to work together. Its research activities both meet the needs of the Region and align with the five strategic directions of the Secretary of Transportation: safety, state of good repair, livable communities, environmental sustainability, and economic competitiveness. This initiative has been well received by the participating universities and transportation agencies in this region. The UW serves as the lead institution and works in close coordination with the other four consortium universities: Oregon State University (OSU), Washington State University (WSU), University of Alaska at Fairbanks (UAF), and University of Idaho (UI). The Pacific Northwest is a region known for its sustainability, deployment of advanced technologies, collection and proactive use of the data derived from those technologies, and continuing population and employment growth. Hence, PacTrans research focuses on using advanced technologies to develop data-driven, sustainable solutions for the diverse transportation needs of the Pacific Northwest.The current PacTrans project portfolio is composed of projects of small, medium, and large scopes. The small projects are designed to help foster pilot projects within each consortium university. The medium and large sized projects are designed to include two or more partner institutions to jointly address critical transportation issues of regional importance. Details of these projects can be found at http://depts.washington.edu/pactrans/research/.

Facilities: The PacTrans consortium has many state-of-the-art facilities to conduct research in Environmental Sustainability as well as the other four strategic directions of the USDOT. PacTrans has extensive structural, seismic, materials, and environmental labs to study the interaction of roadway infrastructure and the surrounding environment. Our consortium has four driving simulators (UW, OSU, UI, and WSU), one bicycle simulator (OSU), and one instrumented vehicle (UW) for work on safety and road user behavior. There are also two traffic labs (UW and UI) with state-of-the-art data collection tools and traffic control equipment to examine issues with traffic operations. Premier labs within our partnership are briefly described below.The UW includes three research labs that provide hands-on experience for undergraduate and graduate students. Smart Transportation Applications and Research Laboratory (STAR Lab) serves as the remote training center and data management center for Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). It has five powerful server computers to host some of the most sought after data on traffic management and operations, and provides hands-on training instruments and software applications for students. Human Factors and Statistical Modeling Laboratory conducts basic and applied research in driver behavior, driver safety, and crash risks and includes a driving simulator and instrumented vehicle. The Urban Form Lab (UFL) has conducted research on land use and non-motorized travel behavior since 1994. With grant support from a variety of sources, the UFL is currently investigating the combined influences of the transportation network and the built environment on the level of active travel using objective travel behavior data.

University of Wisconsin-Madison
National Center for Freight and Infrastructure Research and Education

Director: David Noyce
ph. (608) 265-1882

Primary Research Goals: The theme of the CFIRE consortium is Making Multi-modal Freight Systems Work for Economic Recovery and Quality of Life. CFIRE researchers are national leaders in freight planning and policy for truck, rail, waterway, and intermodal freight transportation and draw expertise from a wide array of fields: civil and transportation engineering, urban and regional planning, economics, public policy, sociology, business, and geographic information systems. CFIRE research focuses on freight transportation planning, economic competitiveness, OSOW transport, transportation asset management, developing survey instruments, interviewing, agency coordination, data modeling, geospatial analysis, policy analysis, statistical analysis, and data analysis.

Facilities: CFIRE’s research, education, and outreach efforts advance technology, knowledge, and expertise in the planning, design, construction, and operation of sustainable freight transportation infrastructure and systems. CFIRE also coordinates the Mid-America Freight Coalition (MAFC), a consortium of ten states that cooperate on planning, operating, preserving, and improving of freight transportation infrastructure and networks in the Midwest. CFIRE also administers the Transportation Management and Policy (TMP) program, an interdisciplinary graduate certificate program that integrates the study of the environment, transportation and land use planning, engineering, economics, freight mobility, multi-modal systems, spatial analysis, and decision making with the study of political, legal, environmental, and social factors that shape transportation management. A new effort affiliated with CFIRE is the Midwest Transportation Workforce Center (MTWC), which is a regional surface transportation workforce center funded by the US Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration.

University of Wisconsin-Superior
Transportation and Logistics Research Center

Director: Richard D. Stewart, Ph.D.
ph. (715) 394-8547

Secondary Contact: Mei Cao, Ph.D.
ph. (715) 394-8281

Primary Research Goals: The mission of the TLRC is to provide applied transportation, and logistics research, education, and advisory services that advance the economy of the region. Primary transportation research focus areas include: marine, rail, pipeline, trucking, Intermodal, air, terminal management, transportation planning and policy The TLRC is a consortium member of Center for Freight Infrastructure, Research and Education, (CFIRE) and of the Great Lakes Maritime Research Institute.

Facilities: The UW-Superior Transportation and Logistics Research Center has three full time Ph.D. faculty a program administrator and two research assoiciates. The center has seven offices, an inteactive conference room and a computer laboratory.

Utah State University
Utah Transportation Center

Director: Paul C. Barr, Ph.D.
ph. (435) 797-8249

Primary Research Goals: The center has conducted research in Structural Engineering, Non Destructive Testing, Bridge Monitoring, Transportation Engineering, Transportation Ecology, Transportation Economics, and Asset Management.

Facilities: SMASH Lab (Structural Analysis Lab), TIMELab (Transportation Operations Lab), Utah Water Research Laboratory

Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt Center for Transportation Research (VECTOR)

Director: Craig Philip
ph. (615) 343 – 2372

Secondary Contact: Mark Abkowitz
ph. (615) 343 – 3463

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech)
Virginia Tech Transportation Institute

Director: Zac Doerzaph
ph. (540) 231-1500

Primary Research Goals: The mission statement of the Connected Vehicle/Infrastructure University Transportation Center (CVI-UTC) is to conduct research that will advance surface transportation through the application of innovative research and using connected-vehicle and infrastructure technologies to improve safety, state of good repair, economic competitiveness, livable communities, and environmental sustainability. The goals of the CVI-UTC are:

  • Increased understanding and awareness of transportation issues
  • Improved body of knowledge
  • Improved processes, techniques and skills in addressing transportation issues
  • Enlarged pool of trained transportation professionals
  • Greater adoption of new technology

Facilities: Smart Road, Northern Virginia Test Bed in Merrifield, VA, National Transportation Center at Morgan State, Center for Transportation Studies at UVA, VTTI laboratories and data processing centers.

Washington State University
Transportation Infrastructure Durability & Life Extension (TriDurLE)

Director: Xianming Shi
ph. (509) 335-7088

Outreach Coordinator: Cheryl Reed
ph. (509) 335-7508

TriDurLe Strategic Goals

  1. Facilitating innovations in data modeling/management, analytical tools, and decision-making related to infrastructure durability and life-extension.
  2. Enhancing understanding of transportation infrastructure performance and asset management via condition monitoring and remote sensing.
  3. Extending the service life of transportation infrastructure and addressing durability issues through new materials and technologies and best practices.
  4. Leading the way in education, workforce development, capacity building, and technology transfer.

Research

The research activities of the National UTC TriDurLE are grouped into six interrelated thrust areas as follows, which will be supplemented by education and technology transfer activities.

  1. Management: Asset management and performance management for enhanced durability and life-extension of transportation infrastructure.
  2. Monitoring: Condition monitoring, remote sensing, and the use of GPS for enhanced durability and life-extension of transportation infrastructure.
  3. Addressing corrosion of transportation infrastructure.
  4. Addressing aging and other materials-related durability distresses of transportation infrastructure through the use of new materials, technologies, and construction methodologies.
  5. Addressing natural hazards and extreme events that threaten the durability and service life of transportation infrastructure.
  6. Intervention and rehabilitation of transportation infrastructure through advanced materials, technologies and construction methodologies.

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