CUTR’s Research Programs
Advanced Air Mobility (AAM)
Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) is an emerging transportation ecosystem that moves people and cargo between places un(der)served by aviation – local, regional, intraregional, and urban – using revolutionary new aircraft and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)-based Communications, Navigation, and Surveillance (CNS) infrastructure. The AAM ecosystem needs to be powered by cutting-edge autonomous flight control systems and advanced connectivity capabilities for ensuring efficient and safe operations. In addition, AAM must be seamlessly integrated with existing multimodal transportation systems to provide holistic, sustainable, and efficient transportation solutions for people and cargo while reducing congestion and improving accessibility in un(der)served regions.
Autonomous-Connected Mobility Evaluation (ACME)
CUTR’s ACME specializes in performing economic analysis and performance evaluation of autonomous and connected transportation solutions. This program leverages academic and technical resources of the College of Engineering and the Center for Urban Transportation Research. Researchers specialize in advanced econometric methods, traffic engineering and safety, data mining, machine learning and artificial intelligence applications to produce quick response solutions to better inform practitioners and policy makers in selecting and prioritizing cost-feasible alternatives.
Driver Behavior, Human Factors and Safety Analytics (DHS)
Driver Behavior, Human Factors and Safety Analytics (DHS) is an encompassing program for CUTR’s safety research enterprise. DHS covers research relating to human/machine interactions that influence all aspects of transportation safety. Considering aspects such as impaired driving, aggressive driving, temporally shifting driver behavior, risk assessment and compensating behaviors, factors that affect the safety of vulnerable road users, the interaction of human drivers with connected and autonomous vehicles, and various aspects of transit and rail safety, the DHS program addresses a wide range of important contemporary transportation safety issues. Using traditional sources of data (crash and accident data) and emerging data sources (video analytics, sensor-generated data) the program has the capacity to apply an extensive portfolio of analytic methods including a variety of statistical and econometric methods, as well as the latest Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning methods.
Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), Traffic Operations & Safety
CUTR’s ITS, Traffic Operations & Safety Program actively pursues innovative projects and collaborations to develop and apply new concepts and technologies to solve real-world transportation problems. Researchers specialize in Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), traffic operations, vulnerable road user safety, naturalistic behavior studies and many more areas.
Motorcycle Injury Prevention
CUTR’s MIPI conducts research and educational outreach to prevent motor-vehicle injuries and fatalities focused on motorcycles. The interdisciplinary MIPI team consists of both engineers and public health professionals with significant knowledge of and experience with motorcycle safety promotion techniques including theory-based motorcyclist behavior change.
Transit Management and Innovation
CUTR’s Transit Management & Innovation Program (TMI) blends research activities with practical industry applications by providing technical support, system operational analysis, and transit management services to transportation agencies, local governments, and private sector interests. TMI coordinates the Florida Transit Planning Network and the Florida Transit Marketing Network in partnership with the Florida Department of Transportation.
Transit Research
CUTR’s transit research program includes the National Bus Rapid Transit Institute which aims to facilitate the sharing of knowledge and innovation for increasing speed, efficiency, and reliability of high-capacity bus service through the implementation of BRT systems in the United States. The NBRTI Program is divided into three core program areas of Research, Clearinghouse, and Technical Assistance/Support.
Transit Safety and Workforce Development
The Transit Safety & Workforce Development Program performs transit safety-related research initiatives for USDOT/FTA, FDOT, and TRB. Safety-related training curriculum, tools, and other resources have been developed through the program. In addition, the program provides professional development opportunities, including state-sponsored certificate programs, to Florida’s public transportation professionals.
Transportation Demand Management
Traffic congestion, air pollution, and poor mobility are some of the many issues associated with highway system expansion. Through research, workforce development, and technical assistance, the Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Program addresses these issues through strategies that influence travel behavior by mode, time, frequency, trip length, route, or cost.
Transportation Planning, Policy, and Processes (TP3)
For more than 20 years, the Transportation Planning, Policy, and Processes (TP3) program has delivered high-quality applied research, policy development, and technology transfer services for public, nonprofit, and private sector clients on a range of contemporary transportation planning topics. Knowledgeable program faculty bring together public and private sector experience to address client needs.