Category: Seminars

“Traffic Signal Control with Connected and Autonomous Vehicles in the Traffic Stream”

ABSTRACT:

The presentation will discuss on-going work to develop optimization algorithms, simulation tools, and sensor capabilities for enhancing traffic signal control operations when the traffic stream consists of connected vehicles, autonomous vehicles, and conventional vehicles.  Early versions of the optimization were deployed and tested at the Traffic Engineering and Research Laboratory (TERL), an FDOT closed-course facility. The results from the field test confirmed the feasibility of the concept and are now used to enhance it for future testing and ultimately for field deployment.  The research, led by UF, is funded by NSF and FDOT, and involves two industry partners: ISS and Econolite

BIO:

Dr. Elefteriadou is the Director of the UF Transportation Institute (UFTI), and the Barbara Goldsby Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Florida.  Her research focus is traffic operations, traffic flow theory and simulation. Dr. Elefteriadou has served as the principal investigator for numerous federal and state projects, funded by the US DOT, NCHRP, NSF, PennDOT, and FDOT.  She has authored or co-authored more than two hundred publications and reports related to traffic operational quality and highway design, as well as a textbook titled “Introduction to Traffic Flow Theory”.

To see the video from the transportation seminar click on the links below:

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVsysMPNp6o

Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knJNIftPoCE

Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLGmT4ZiBR8

Date and time: 

Thursday, September 28, 2017 – 10:45 to 11:45

Location of Event: 

Mason BLDG 1133

Event Type: 

Seminars

“Modeling and Understanding Factors Affecting the Demand for Electric Cars Fast Charging”

ABSTRACT: 

Fast chargers have the capability to charge an electric car battery from 0% to 80% within thirty minutes. This technology is expected to be a key factor in the transportation electrification revolution. The first mass production battery electric vehicle, the Nissan LEAF, was introduced in 2010 with fast charging capability. It was soon followed by the first fast chargers in Japan, the USA, and Europe. Along with researchers and planners worldwide, we at the UC Davis PH&EV Research Center began to create models that estimate the spatial and temporal demand for chargers using driving patterns of ICEV drivers. We then adapted our models based on interviews and surveys of electric car drivers. Shortly after, an expansion of charging infrastructure enabled the collection of empirical data from both the chargers and the users that suggested the models may be wrong again.

In this presentation, I will discuss charging infrastructure demand forecasting, different modeling approaches, data needs and data limitations.  I will explore the insights from empirical data that includes 1.6 million DC fast charging events, surveys of 26,000 EV owners, and GPS travel traces of 4,200 households. Our results suggest that in most cases the major use cases for fast charging are not corridor charging on the way from origin to destination, but local charging at the trip origin or destination. The usage distribution does not change as expected when factors such as pricing or battery size are considered and may reflect future usage patterns of the infrastructure. Finally, I will discuss the potential short term (2020-2025) impact of shared and autonomous vehicles on charging demand. 

BIO: 

Dr. Gil Tal is a Research Director at the Plug-in Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Research Center at the University of California, Davis.  His expertise includes understanding the electric vehicle market, travel behavior and usage patterns of plug-in vehicles, infrastructure modelling and the demand and travel impacts of new mobility services and technology. Dr. Tal’s new work is also looking at the impact of shared automated and electrified mobility on the vehicle market and the demand for transportation related energy. He is currently working on projects for the California Air Resources Board, the California Energy Commission, and the Department of Energy, as well as car companies and utility companies. As part of this research, Dr. Tal has produced methodological innovations in online travel surveys and EV charging location modeling that include GIS-based mapping.

To see the video from the transportation seminar click on the links below:

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SU-hqFEXlAI&t=1192s

Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lo7u-6_Cjsk

Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSUzSxIKveE&t=5s

Date and time: 

Thursday, September 21, 2017 – 10:45 to 11:45

Location of Event: 

Mason BLDG 1133

Event Type: 

Seminars

Join GTI for this Transportation Speaker Series event, featuring Professor James Tsai. James Tsai will be speaking on the topic of “Smart Cities Transportation Asset Health Condition Assessment Using Emerging 3D Technology and Artifical Intellegence”.

ABSTRACT: Roadway infrastructures, including pavements, bridges, and signs are deteriorating rapidly due to material aging, improper usage, harsh environments, and damages resulting from natural or man-made hazards. With the advancement of sensor technologies, it become feasible to collect the large-scale in-field detailed infrastructure data, such as 3D pavement surface data, using high-performance cameras, lasers, LiDARs, and Inertial Navigation System (INS) to gain better insight understanding of the large-scale in-filed infrastructure behavior. An intelligent sensing system will be presented, using 2D Imaging, Laser, LiDAR, and GPS/GIS Technologies with artificial intelligent and pattern recognition to automatically detect pavement surface distress, including rutting, cracking, raveling, etc. along with an innovative crack fundamental element (CFE) model that is a topological representation of cracks to support crack classification, diagnosis, and intelligent pavement management. Cases of automatic roadway health condition assessment and intelligent infrastructure system management will be presented. In addition, utilization of 3D technology for roadway safety improvement study will also be presented.

BIO: Dr. James Tsai is a professor of School of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) and an adjunct professor of School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Georgia Tech. After working as a senior research engineer in the Center of GIS at Georgia Tech for 10 years, Dr. Tsai has joined the faculty in CEE in 2007. Dr. Tsai has received his Ph.D. and MS degrees from Georgia Tech in 1994 and 1996 respectively. Dr. Tsai’s research focuses on the development of spatial information and sensing optimization methodologies, using 2D imaging, 3D Laser, LiDAR, UAV, mobile devices, and GPS/GIS technologies along with artificial intelligence and pattern recognition. Dr. Tsai and his research team have developed a large-scale pavement asset management system and it has been successfully implemented by the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) to cost effectively manage its 18,000 centerline miles of highway system for the past 19 years. Dr. Tsai was selected as a Chinese Changjiang Scholar in 2009, one of the most prestigious scholar’s honor awarded by the Chinese government, in recognition of his research on applying sensor and information technology to infrastructure management. His research project, “Implementation of automatic sign and pavement condition evaluation on Georgia’s interstate highways”, sponsored by GDOT has been competitively selected to receive the 2017 AASHTO High Research Value Award.  He also initiated a Smart City Infrastructure Vertically Integrated Project (VIP), an interdisciplinary and problem-solving oriented undergraduate course. 

To see the video from the transportation seminar click on the links below:

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4A6PXEsLG0

Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyxYR9fxmW4

Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mgJ8_PelWU

Date and time: 

Thursday, September 7, 2017 – 10:45 to 11:45

Location of Event: 

Mason BDG 1133

Event Type: 

Seminars

Join GTI for this Transportation Speaker Series event, featuring GDOT Chief Engineer Meg Pirkle. Ms. Pirkle will be speaking on the topic of “Interstate 85 Overpass Collapse”.

ABSTRACT: Georgia DOT is following an aggressive schedule for replacing the critical sections of I-85 affected by the fire and re-opening the interstate as quickly as possible after the collapse on March 30, 2017. The extent of the fire-related damage necessitates extensive reconstruction activities to ensure the safety of motorists. In addition to the collapsed section on the northbound bridge, Georgia DOT bridge inspectors have determined that adjacent northbound sections and the corresponding southbound sections of I-85 received damage from the fire requiring the replacement of those sections as well. The demolition and reconstruction of the I-85 bridge near Piedmont Road is currently underway.  Georgia DOT is committed to replacing and reopening I-85 by June 15, 2017, returning motorists to one of the main arteries through metro Atlanta approximately 10 weeks after its collapse. Chief Engineer Meg Pirkle will discuss Georgia DOT’s process on the demolition, engineering, design and construction of the replacement I-85 overpass over Piedmont Road.

BIO: Meg Pirkle has served GDOT as the Chief Engineer since January 1, 2015. She is responsible for the Divisions of Engineering, Construction, Operations, Intermodal, and P3/Program Delivery as well as the offices of TIA and Engineering Services. Ms. Pirkle began her career with GDOT in 1989 as an engineering trainee and has served in a variety of roles throughout her career. Her experience consists of Transportation Planning Engineer, State Scheduling Engineer, Assistant Director of Preconstruction, and Executive Assistant to the Chief Engineer, where she was the Program Manager for the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA). Prior to being named Chief Engineer, she served as the Director of Operations for three years. Ms. Pirkle earned a Bachelor of Civil Engineering in 1989 from Vanderbilt University and a Masters of Civil Engineering in 1997 from the Georgia Institute of Technology and is a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Georgia.

Date and time: 

Thursday, April 13, 2017 – 11:00

Location of Event: 

Mason Building, Room 1133

Event Type: 

Seminars

General Events

Georgia Tech’s Civil & Environmental Engineering Department is pleased to welcome Representative Jay Roberts (R-154)  and Senator Steve Gooch (R-51) to speak on Thursday, November 13 at 11:00 am in Mason 1133.

Rep. Roberts is the Chairman of the Georgia House of Representative’s Transportation Committee, and Sen. Gooch is Chairman of the Georgia Senate’s Transportation Committee.  Together, they are currently co-chairing the Joint Study Committee on Critical Transportation Infrastructure Funding. The committee, which was created by HR 1573 as a joint study committee, consists of 16 members. It has been charged to study the conditions, needs, issues and problems of identifying funding sources to provide transportation infrastructure sufficient to maintain and improve Georgia’s economic competitiveness and quality of life. Rep. Roberts is also a member of numerous House committees, including: Appropriations, Agriculture & Consumer Affairs,Game, Fish & Parks, and Rules.

Sen. Gooch is a member of the Senate Committees on Appropriation, MARTOC, and Natural Resources and the Environment, and he is Vice Chairman of the Economic Development Committee and Ex-Officio of the Rules Committee.

Click here for a campus map with directions to the Mason building. 

Date and time: 

Thursday, November 13, 2014 – 11:00 to 12:00

Location of Event: 

Mason Building, Room 1133

Event Type: 

Seminars

Lisa Aultman-Hall, Ph.D., is a Professor of the School of Engineering and Transportation Research Center at the University of Vermont. She joined UVM as founding director of the UVM Transportation Research Center in August 2006. She had previously served as the director of the Connecticut Transportation Institute, while an Associate Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Connecticut. Dr. Aultman-Hall teaches transportation planning and traffic safety. She studied at McMaster University and Queen’s University in Canada. She served as an Assistant Professor at the University of Kentucky. She has been funded by NSF, three UTCs from the US DOT and several state DOTs.

Recent research results include studies of tailpipe emissions, traffic safety (bicyclists, young drivers, old drivers), freight transportation planning, and transportation network robustness. Dr. Aultman-Hall’s current research Interests include the following:

• Travel Behavior, especially second-by-second driving style, route choice and idling
• Rural Travel Behavior, including accessibility, efficiency and EV adoption potential
• Long Distance and Overnight Travel
• Travel Survey Design
• Bicycle Transportation
• Traffic Safety
• Spatial Analysis using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) for Transportation

Click here for a campus map with directions to the Mason building. 

Date and time: 

Thursday, November 6, 2014 – 11:00 to 12:00

Location of Event: 

Mason Building, Room 1133

Event Type: 

Seminars

Join us for a seminar by Eric A. Morris, Assistant Professor of City and Regional Planning at Clemson University.

Eric’s primary focus is transportation, particularly how transportation contributes to our quality of life. His current research focuses on transportation and happiness; transportation, time use, and activity patterns; and transportation and access to employment, shopping, food, and medical care. He has a strong interest in transportation equity and disadvantaged populations. He also conducts research in the field of transportation history, and is currently co-authoring a book on the development and financing of the freeway system. Other interests include transportation and land use, transportation finance and economics, transportation policy, and transportation and the environment. He wrote a column on transportation for the New York Times for several years, and now is a regular contributor to the Freakonomics website. He was also the Associate Editor of Access magazine. Before returning to academia he worked as a travel writer, a sports writer, and a television writer and producer.

Click here for a campus map with directions to the Mason building. 

Date and time: 

Thursday, October 23, 2014 – 11:00 to 12:00

Location of Event: 

Mason Building, Room 1133

Event Type: 

Seminars

Join NCTSPM and Georgia Tech for this exciting, student-centric, consultant brown-bag lunch seminar this October. 

Date and time: 

Thursday, October 16, 2014 – 11:00 to 12:00

Location of Event: 

Georgia Tech, Mason Building, Room 1133

Event Type: 

Seminars

Join the Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS) at GT to hear from four of Atlanta’s top transportation leaders on their careers and keys to success! 

WTS will host four of the top female transportation leaders in Atlanta for a panel to discuss their experiences ad insights from working in the transportation industry. Panelists will offer perspectives from a variety of roles in transit agencies, county and city governments, and engineering and planning consulting firms. All are welcome to attend, and free lunch will be provided.

Panel members will include Rukiya Eaddy, Chief of Staff for MARTA, Faye DiMassimo, Director of the Cobb County DOT, Heather Alhadeff, President of Center Forward, and Margie Pozin, Transportation Group Leader for STV. 

Click here for a campus map with directions to the Mason building. 

Date and time: 

Thursday, October 9, 2014 – 11:00 to 12:00

Location of Event: 

Mason Building, Room 3132

Event Type: 

Seminars

Join the U.S. DOT Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology (OST-R) and Georgia Tech’s own Dr. Patricia Mokhtarian on August 20 for a web-based seminar entitled the OST-R Transportation Innovation Series. Dr. Mokhtarian will present her research related to Transportation Systems Engineering, specifically on “travel behavior and multitasking.” 

The series is an outreach effort which aims to showcase University Transportation Centers (UTC) researchers and research related to U.S. DOT’s strategic goals of safety, state of good repair, environmental sustainability, livable communities, and economic competitiveness.  Both Georgia Tech and NCTSPM are long-time grant recipients of the UTC Program. 

The OST-R Transportation Innovation Series is held the third Wednesday of each month and is broadcast live via web cast from U.S. DOT Headquarters.

Date and time: 

Wednesday, August 20, 2014 – 12:00 to 13:00

Event Type: 

Seminars