On Wednesday, October 14, 2015, the Connected Vehicle Infrastructure University Transportation Center participated in the WTS Central Virginia Chapter’s Annual Girls in Transportation event. To view photos, visit this website.
In collaboration with the Virginia Science Festival, Blacksburg Transit, and Virginia Department of Transportation, VTTI hosted the Virginia Smart Road Annual Open House on October 23, 2015 as part of the 2015 Virginia Science Festival. The Virginia Science Festival is a month-long, state-wide event with hands-on experiences, live performances, and interactive demonstrations that inspire a wonder in science for all ages. Interactive tours of the Virginia Smart Road demonstrated CVI-UTC research to individuals, families and small groups during the 2015 Virginia Smart Road Annual Open House.
Click the logo to learn more about the Virginia Science Festival events in your area.
The CVI-UTC participated in the First Annual Hampton Roads Transportation Career Expo on October 21, 2015. VDOT Hampton Roads District hosted the event to expose more than 1,500 area high school students to careers in transportation. Crowds of students gathered around the CVI-UTC research display to learn more about the latest advancements in connected vehicle technology. VTTI Research Associate, Reginald Viray, spoke with students about connected vehicles and the diversity of STEM aspects associated with careers in new vehicle technology and design.
The mission statement of the Connected Vehicle/Infrastructure University Transportation Center (CVI-UTC) is to conduct research that will advance surface transportation through the application of innovative research and using connected-vehicle and infrastructure technologies to improve safety, state of good repair, economic competitiveness, livable communities, and environmental sustainability.
Dr. Thomas A. Dingus serves as the director for the CVI-UTC, as well as the director of the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) and the National Surface Transportation Safety Center for Excellence (NSTSCE). Prior to joining Virginia Tech, Dr. Dingus was founding director of the National Center for Transportation Technology at the University of Idaho and was an associate director of the Center for Computer-Aided Design at the University of Iowa. Dr. Dingus has more than 220 technical publications and has managed approximately $300 million in research funding to date ($130 million as principal investigator).