Researchers at Colorado State University developed and applied a methodology for performing a complete structural analysis of transportation infrastructure elements, moving from digital images, acquired from either hand-held cameras or uncrewed aircraft systems, through several image processing schemes into a finite element analysis of representative structures.
Researchers at Utah State University studied the performance of concrete panels with embedded inductive charging systems in early near full-scale testing to learn how the panels performed under thermal stress from the charging system and load stresses from traffic.
Research at Colorado State University is a step toward improving models for simulating and representing the threats of natural hazards such as floods, landslides, and debris flows on transportation infrastructure.
With the increasing adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), particularly in rapidly growing regions like metropolitan areas, efficient deployment of charging infrastructure is critical to avoid overloading the power grid and to meet the charging needs of EV users. Researchers at the University of Utah developed a framework capable of modeling the spatiotemporal distribution of public charging demand and provide practical support for future public charger installations.
Drivers will be less likely to experience bumps at the ends of bridges thanks to research at the University of Utah into the settlement and heaving of soils used in bridge embankments. Laboratory tests were performed on compacted specimens of 10 embankment materials specified by the Utah Department of Transportation using both standard-size and large-scale equipment.
Researchers at the University of Colorado Denver developed a low-cost, scalable solution for real-time monitoring of roadway conditions, reducing traditional inspection costs from $429 per mile to near zero by utilizing GPS and smartphone sensors in vehicles.
Research at the University of Colorado Denver found that paratransit trips experience more inefficient travel times than an equivalent car trip. Paratransit is assumed to be an effective door-to-door service that enables people with disabilities to travel easily. However, when using the standard benchmark of car travel as a comparison, the research shows that paratransit often fails those with disabilities.
Wes Marshall, CTIPS director for the University of Colorado Denver, continues to garner press attention for his 2024 book, Killed by a Traffic Engineer: Shattering the Delusion that Science Underlies our Transportation System. Marshall was recently interviewed by Flora Lichtman for Science Friday, a program that airs on more than 500 public radio stations across the United States. Marshall’s interview aired April 18.
The University of North Dakota steel bridge team recently qualified for the Student Steel Bridge Competition National Finals to be held May 30-31 at Iowa State University in Ames. The team is advised by Sattar Dorafshan, CTIPS director for UND.
Arman Malekloo, a Ph.D. student at the University of Utah, has been named a 2025 Lifesavers Traffic Safety Scholar, one of only 29 students across the United States selected through a competitive application process. The honor gave him the opportunity to attend the Lifesavers Conference on Roadway Safety in Long Beach, California.
New high-resolution computational fluid dynamics simulations are providing insights into the tremendous forces that cause semi-trucks and other high-profile vehicles to topple during high-wind events.
Research at Colorado State University shows that action-conveying and emotionally motivated signs are more effective at influencing pedestrian safety and decision-making at railroad crossings.
Researchers at North Dakota State University improved commercial vehicle weight monitoring accuracy by more than 90% by combining traditional weigh-in-motion systems with machine learning techniques and advanced sensor data to integrate information on temperature fluctuations, pavement surface conditions, and vehicle dynamics.
Researchers at Colorado State University have developed an automated pothole detection tool, which combines visible and thermal images to reliably identify potholes under various conditions, particularly in regions with challenging weather.
Researchers at Colorado State University studied various approaches to eco-driving in connected autonomous vehicles to learn how best to evaluate the methods for energy economy. Eco-driving is a strategy designed to reduce fuel consumption by minimizing accelerations and unnecessary braking events.
Research at South Dakota State University shows that plastic from used water bottles can be turned into microfibers and used to improve the performance of asphalt.
Research at Utah State University suggests that travelers who adjust their travel behavior in response to area-wide pollution do so as a "risk averse" reaction rather than for "altruistic" reasons.
With pedestrian injuries and fatalities increasing, researchers at Utah State University studied pedestrian and traffic behavior near transit stops to develop recommendations for locating, designing, and operating transit stops to improve both pedestrian safety and traffic operations at signalized intersections.
An uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV)-based system developed by researchers at Colorado State University is a step toward a cost-saving system that is more efficient and reliable for vibrations of bridges and other structures that are key indicators of structural health.
Researchers at Colorado State University developed a resilience-based framework that significantly improves recovery planning for transportation networks after earthquakes. The methodology integrates both traffic efficiency and safety.
Research at South Dakota State University could lead to new, less-damaging products and procedures for keeping roads and runways ice free. Chloride-based deicers are essential for ensuring road safety in cold seasons.
Researchers at Utah State University have developed a non-proprietary ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) mix that will be at least 50% less expensive than proprietary mixes.
Researchers at the University of Colorado Denver examined bridge beams reinforced with ultra-high performance concrete and carbon fiber reinforced polymer to determine how they perform under a combination of stresses such as cyclical structural loading and high temperatures.
Researchers with the Center for Transformative Infrastructure Preservation and Sustainability will present nearly 50 research papers at the 104th annual meeting of the Transportation Research Board (TRB) in Washington, D.C. January 5-9.
Ryan Jones, a Ph.D. student in Transportation and Logistics at North Dakota State University, has been named the 2024 Student of the Year for the Center for Transformative Infrastructure Preservation and Sustainability (CTIPS). He will be honored with other award winners from across the country during an awards ceremony January 4 in Washington, D.C.
In early research on infrastructure-embedded power systems for electric vehicles, researchers at Utah State University studied concrete slabs embedded with electric power systems to determine their durability.
Researchers at South Dakota State University found that a combination of steel slag and steel chips, two common steel byproducts, can help reduce the levels of E. coli and phosphorus in storm runoff water from transportation infrastructure and other areas.
Researchers at the University of Colorado Denver and Colorado State University have developed computer models that will help decision-makers, such as highway agency staff and building owners and managers, allocate limited financial resources in ways that will most effectively extend the lives of structures such as bridges and buildings.
Researchers at Utah State University examined how the vital connections between bridge components used in accelerated bridge construction react to vehicle impacts and how those impacts affect any subsequent earthquake activity.
Researchers at the University of Utah developed a repair technique that will reduce maintenance costs and sustain the safety of bridges that are suffering from delamination of their concrete bridge decks.
Researchers at the University of Colorado Denver studied timber bridges as well as computer models to determine how two common load rating methods are related.
Researchers at Utah State University studied the connections between steel reinforcement bars embedded in concrete bridges to help bridge designers improve designs for accelerated bridge construction. The construction technique cuts construction time and costs, reduces risk for workers and the traveling public, improves quality assurance, and is more environmentally friendly.
Utah State University researchers developed a protective coating to safeguard bridge decks overlaid with polymer concrete, a material that is seeing an increased use because of its high bond strength, short curing times, good resistance to water and chlorine penetration, and excellent skid and abrasion resistance.
Researchers at the University of Wyoming developed a system for establishing passing zones on rural two-lane highways that is more accurate and more efficient that an existing outdated system. The two-vehicle system uses vehicle-to-vehicle communication, video technology, GPS, speed data and machine vision systems to establish passing and no-passing zones.
Researchers at the University of Utah are developing accurate ways of modeling the seismic performance of bridges constructed using accelerated bridge construction techniques that enhance construction quality and speed.
Research at Utah State University will help guide programs designed to change travel behaviors in a way that will improve air quality. The research provides insight into people’s perceptions of air pollution and how they change (or do not change) their travel behavior in response to episodes of area-wide poor air quality.
Researchers at Utah State University are taking advantage of novel pedestrian push-button traffic signal data to advance pedestrian traffic monitoring and improve pedestrian traffic safety.
North Dakota State University researchers studied walkability on the Fort Totten Indian Reservation to improve pedestrian safety and mobility. In many Native American communities, walking is a significant form of mobility to reach destinations such as schools, stores, parks, and post offices.
Research at Utah State University provides a roadmap for standardizing connected and autonomous vehicle (CAV) crash reporting practices across the United States.
Research at North Dakota State University’s Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute shows that a parent advisory letter can be an effective tool for improving teen driver safety.
On July 15, Dr. Chris Pantelides discussed research related to using FRP composites in new bridge structures. Capacity degradation in RC components of existing bridges occurs in harsh weather conditions when corroded steel reinforcement expands, which causes subsequent strength losses in concrete through the development of cracking and spalling.
