Newswise — While most Americans grin and bear their commute 50 weeks a year, it puts a strain on all but the most determined vacationer to begin and end a relaxing summer vacation sitting in traffic. Yet millions of Americans will be doing just that this summer as state departments of transportation grapple with construction projects to repair, replace and expand the nation's aging highway infrastructure.
Transportation experts affiliated with the University of Virginia's School of Engineering and Applied Science, U.Va.'s Center for Transportation Studies and the Virginia Transportation Research Council, a research partnership of U.Va. and the Virginia Department of Transportation, are interested in working with the news media to explore transportation issues of public interest.
Their areas of expertise and contact information follow.
Elderly drivers and car accidents
Richard W. Kent, assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at U.Va.'s Center for Applied Biomechanics (formerly known as the Auto Safety Lab), with expertise in injuries caused by car accidents. Research interests: new developments in the field of restraint devices, and the characteristics of car accidents and the nature of injuries sustained by older drivers.
Highway safety
Nicholas J. Garber, professor of civil engineering at U.Va.'s School of Engineering and Applied Science, with expertise in transportation engineering and management. Research and teaching interests: highway safety with emphasis on intelligent transportation systems, speed management on high-speed roads, work zones and large truck safety. Co-author (with L.A. Hoel) of "Traffic and Highway Engineering," a textbook widely used in undergraduate transportation engineering courses at universities throughout the United States.
Intermodal and freight transportation planning
Michael J. Demetsky, professor and chair of U.Va.'s Department of Civil Engineering in the School of Engineering and Applied Science, with expertise in transportation engineering and management. Research and teaching interests: intermodal and freight transportation planning and operations, evaluation of intelligent transportation systems, decision support systems for transportation systems management, performance analysis of transportation systems.
Jaywalking and joyriding
Peter D. Norton, assistant professor of Science, Technology and Society in U.Va.'s School of Engineering and Applied Science, with expertise on the battle over right of way between drivers and pedestrians. Research and teaching interests: history of technology, social implications of engineering. Author of the forthcoming book from MIT Press (2007): "Fighting Traffic: the Dawn of the Motor Age in the American City."
Pavements and structural technologies
The Virginia Transportation Research Council and U.Va. recently launched a graduate pavements program in U.Va.'s Department of Civil Engineering. Researchers from VTRC, a partnership of the Virginia Department of Transportation and U.Va., serve as faculty for the program.
Brian K. Diefenderfer, research scientist with VTRC and visiting assistant professor in the pavements program in U.Va.'s Department of Civil Engineering, is a pavements expert, with a background in flexible pavement design, non-destructive pavement evaluation, and pavement rehabilitation and management.
Michael C. Brown, research scientist with VTRC and visiting assistant professor in the pavements program in U.Va.'s Department of Civil Engineering, is a structures expert, with a background in innovative applications for structural design and materials, maintenance and rehabilitation of highway structures and corrosion assessment, mitigation and prevention in reinforced concrete structures.
Smart Travel Lab
Brian L. Smith, associate professor of civil engineering in U.Va.'s School of Engineering and Applied Science, with expertise in transportation engineering and management, and co-director of the Smart Travel Lab, a collaboration between U.Va. and the Virginia Department of Transportation. The Smart Travel Lab analyzes real-time data received from VDOT systems around Virginia, particularly Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia, and shares its results with VDOT to improve traffic management systems around the state. Research and teaching interests: intelligent transportation systems, advanced transportation management.
Technology transfer
Saeed Eslambolchi, associate director of research and administration for U.Va.'s Center for Transportation Studies, with expertise on U.Va.'s research partnership with the Virginia Department of Transportation and the Virginia Transportation Research Council. Beginning July 1, U.Va.'s Center for Transportation Studies will manage the Virginia Local Technical Assistance Program for VDOT. This is a multiyear contract mandated by the Federal Highway Administration to assure that transportation research findings are transferred to the field and put into practice. The center will conduct workshops, seminars, and short courses for transportation professionals around Virginia.
Traffic flow theory
Brian B. Park, assistant professor of civil engineering at U.Va.'s School of Engineering and Applied Science, with expertise in transportation engineering and management. Research and teaching interests: optimization of traffic signal timing, evaluation of intelligent transportation systems using simulation models, travel time estimation, traffic flow theory.
Transportation systems design
Lester A. Hoel, director of the Center for Transportation Studies and professor of civil engineering at U.Va.'s School of Engineering and Applied Science, with expertise in transportation engineering and management. Research and teaching interests: design, planning and management of surface transportation infrastructure with emphasis on highway and public transit systems. Co-author (with N.J. Garber) of "Traffic and Highway Engineering," a textbook widely used in undergraduate transportation engineering courses at universities throughout the United States.
Center for Transportation Studies
The Center for Transportation Studies at the University of Virginia has emerged in the 21st century as a nationally respected source of transportation-related research.
The center sponsors a comprehensive research program, covering areas such as intelligent transportation systems, transportation planning and logistics, traffic simulation, highway safety, pavements and freight transportation operations. Working with colleagues in state, regional and federal organizations, U.Va. researchers pursue innovative projects to enhance the efficiency and safety of our national transportation infrastructure.
Housed in the Department of Civil Engineering at U.Va.'s School of Engineering and Applied Science, the center maintains ties with such organizations as the Virginia Transportation Research Council, the National ITS (Intelligent Transportation Systems) Implementation Research Center, the Federal Highway Administration and the National Institute of Justice.
For more information, visit: http://cts.virginia.edu/
U.Va. School of Engineering and Applied Science
Founded in 1836, the University of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science combines research and educational opportunities at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Within the undergraduate programs, courses in engineering, ethics, mathematics, the sciences and the humanities are available to build a strong foundation for careers in engineering and other professions. Abundant research opportunities complement the curriculum and educate young men and women to become thoughtful leaders in technology and society.
At the graduate level, the engineering school collaborates with the University's highly ranked medical and business schools on interdisciplinary research projects and entrepreneurial initiatives. With a distinguished faculty and a student body of 2,000 undergraduates and 650 graduate students, the engineering school offers an array of engineering disciplines, including cutting-edge research programs in computer and information science and engineering, bioengineering and nanotechnology.
For more information, visit: http://www.seas.virginia.edu
Virginia Transportation Research Council
The Virginia Transportation Research Council is a partnership of the Virginia Department of Transportation and the University of Virginia. The Research Council, which is also VDOT's research division, has been located in Charlottesville on the U.Va. Grounds since 1948. U.Va. benefits from its partnership with VDOT through VTRC's state-of-the-art labs and equipment, the teaching expertise of its staff and financial support for U.Va. faculty and students, primarily in the School of Engineering and Applied Science. VDOT gains from U.Va.'s broad array of academic resources that can be applied to the complex problems and issues that characterize transportation in the 21st century.
For more information, visit: http://www.vtrc.net.
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