Program Overview
This program actively pursues innovative projects and collaborates with peers to develop and apply new concepts and technologies to solve real-world transportation problems. The expertise of its faculty and staff covers Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), Connected Autonomous Vehicle (CAV), traffic operations, transportation safety, public education and outreach, and technical training and assistance.
Specialties on ITS and CAV include 1) development and application of ITS technologies to transportation systems, 2) automated shuttle demonstrations, 3) connected vehicle (CV) project evaluations 4) evaluation of smart work zone applications, 5) assessment of automated pedestrian detection systems, 6) public safety awareness technology evaluations, 7) cybersecurity for CV infrastructure, and 8) development of mobile lighting level measurement devices and automated diagnosis tools.
Traffic operations research focuses on 1) transportation systems management and operations (TSMO), 2) applications of traffic signal operations to improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety, 3) demand management to reduce recurring traffic congestion, 4) optimization of freeway patrol to reduce non-recurring traffic congestion, 5) research on backup power systems to extend traffic signal operations, 6) traffic simulation, 7) traffic system modeling, and (8) advanced data collection and analysis techniques.
Safety research areas include 1) traffic safety, 2) pedestrian and bicycle safety, 3) transit safety, 4) truck safety, 5) rail safety, 6) mitigation for railroad trespasser and suicide fatalities and injuries, 7) wrong-way driving prevention, 8) incident management, and 9) behavioral research and human factor analysis, 8) school transportation research
Additionally, researchers and staff specialize in public education and outreach, public opinion surveys and analysis, graphic design and production, and development of effective paid media campaigns. The ITS program also manages and operates the prestigious Florida Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) Center to serve and provide technical training and assistance to Florida local and tribal agencies.
Research Focus:
Smart work zone applications and work zone safety
Automated shuttle demonstration
Connected vehicle project evaluation
Assessment of automated pedestrian detections
Public safety awareness technology evaluation
Cybersecurity for connected vehicle infrastructures
Advanced lighting measurement systems and automated diagnosis tools
Transportation systems management and operations
Freeway management and operations
Management of recurring and non-recurring traffic congestion
Research on backup power systems to extend traffic signal operations
Pedestrian and bicycle safety research
Traffic, transit, truck, and rail safety
Mitigation for railroad trespasser and suicide fatalities and injuries
Wrong-way driving research
Behavioral research and human factor analysis