Connected Vehicle Infrastructure University Transportation Center
The Teacher Transportation Institute (TTI) at Morgan State University was implemented in two sessions during the summer and fall. The first session took place over a two-week period July 22, 2013-August 2, 2013. The fall session was held on six Saturdays from November 2, 2013- December 14, 2013. During the fall TTI teams were required to meet during the week for 2 hours. The teachers conducted research and planned for the final project presentations.
TTI participants discussed the importance of STEM to their students’ success in post-secondary education and their ability to acquire careers in transportation and related fields. The program engaged the teachers in hands-on, inquiry-based lessons that included the use of engineering principles and technology. The teachers visited transportation and transportation-related work sites to become familiar with current trends in transportation. They gained insights into careers and the work environment of engineers, transportation planners, information technology professionals and social scientists in the transportation industry. Guest speakers also discussed opportunities and careers in the transportation industry. Additionally, during a recent visit to the University, John D. Porcari, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Transportation, spoke to the teachers about current transportation trends, challenges and career opportunities.
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On Nov. 15, 2013, VTTI celebrated 25 years of advancing transportation through innovation. The institute opened its doors to hundreds of members of the community who took tours of the Smart Road and the Virginia Department of Transportation 511 Center; saw demos of transportation research efforts into connected-vehicle technology, automated vehicle technology, naturalistic driving, and efforts to deter distracted driving; and saw a demo of the Valeo self-parking car and General Motors’ luxury crossover 2013 Cadillac SRX.
Guest speakers included Deborah Hersman, chairwoman of the National Transportation Safety Board and a 1992 alumna from the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences with degrees in political science and international studies; John Capp, director of electrical systems for GM; and Nat Beuse, associate administrator for National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Vehicle Safety Research division.
CVI-UTC researcher Reginald Viray (right) discusses connected vehicles with visitors from the Office of the Vice President for Research, Amel Cuskovic (left) and Kristin Gilbert (center), at the 25th Anniversary Open House.
In the summer of 2013, Morgan State University’s National Transportation Center (NTC) hosted the Summer Transportation Institute (STI) through funding provided by the Maryland Department of Transportation, United States Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, and the Connected Vehicle/Infrastructure University Transportation Center (CVI-UTC). The STI serves to attract high school students to participate in a STEM summer program and aims to address the nation’s need for a diverse pool of transportation professionals capable of developing long-term solutions to complicated intermodal transportation issues. In order to meet this goal, STI increases pre-college students’ awareness of transportation careers. The program also helps to enhance the students’ academic skills so they can be successful in careers in the transportation industry.
Twenty-two students from diverse backgrounds participated in the nonresidential program at Morgan State University from July 9-August 2, 2013. The four-week program provided a multidisciplinary academic curriculum, which included guest speaker presentations, computer laboratories, research, and field trips. The students had an opportunity to drive a car simulator. The students learned about all modes of transportation and gained leadership skills while working on team-building projects. Field trips included the Smart Road in Blacksburg, Virginia, Maryland Transit Administration, and Maryland Boat Pilots Association. In addition, the participants learned about college preparation and career planning.
Read the full report here.
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).
