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Civil & Environmental Engineering Research

Researcher running driving simulation software next to car with wrap around screen

Transportation engineering

The transportation engineering group in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering educates, conducts research, and disseminates knowledge for the safe and efficient movement of people and goods. Preeminence in seminal and cutting-edge scholarly research and technology-based teaching drives the discovery, planning, design, development, operation, maintenance, and safety of intelligent transportation systems. Additionally, advanced and applied research and education drive the development of efficient and reliable multimodal freight systems that support economic growth and provide the foundation for success of every other industry.

The mission of transportation engineering is conducted through a nationally and internationally recognized transportation program for the benefit of industrial productivity and quality of life.

The transportation engineering group is focused on multimodal mobility and the safety of people and goods. Because of energy constraints, population growth, capacity constraints, and environmental awareness, there are special needs to advance knowledge and educate engineers and planners about more robust and efficient systems for transportation planning, transportation system design, traffic operations, traffic safety, human factors, freight efficiency, rail expansion, and transportation-based economic growth.

Rapid growth in digital communication and automotive design requires new thinking in engineering education to take advantage of new opportunities in remote controls and the use of interactive signals from vehicles, satellites, mobile phones and stationary traffic operations devices. Scholarly strengths include traffic operations, transportation safety, human factors, multimodal freight, asset management, and intelligent transportation systems (ITS).

Core faculty

Centers, consortia and institutes