CTS Seminar Series
by Center for Transportation Studies
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Description
Every year, the Center for Transportation Studies offers a Seminar Series on current transportation research projects at the University of Minnesota. Research projects cover a wide range of disciplines such as mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, human factors, computer science and engineering, planning, and civil engineering.
| Name | Description | Released | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Video2/7/12 - Towards a Low-Temperature Performance Specification for Asphalt Mixtures | In this presentation, Mihai Marasteanu summarized work performed under two national pooled-fund studies that investigated the low-temperature behavior and performance of asphalt pavements. Marasteanu reviewed the development of current performance specifications and discussed the limitations of their parameters. He also highlighted how his team used laboratory and field data to begin the development of a performance-based specification for asphalt mixtures and suggested steps for the successful implementation of such a specification. | 2/8/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 2 | Video12/8/11 - Toward Universal Access to Seamless Travel of Indoor and Outdoor Spaces With and Without Vision | The consideration of vision loss is of growing importance in research, planning, and implementation of travel and transportation needs. There are approximately 12 million people with some form of visual impairment in the United States, and this number is estimated to double in the next 20 years as a consequence of our aging population. To meet the needs of this growing population, far more research is needed to better understand what information is used to support spatial behaviors for people with low (or no) vision. In this seminar, Nicholas Giudice will discuss some practical solutions that can improve information access, safety, and efficient travel for people with vision loss. He will also explain why the failure to consider human perceptual and cognitive factors often leads to poor design decisions—especially when incorporating auditory, haptic, and other non-visual information into traditional navigation systems and transportation networks. | 12/12/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 3 | Video12/1/11 - Transportation Safety Issues and Priorities in Minnesota | Traffic safety comes in several shapes and sizes. Ask a maintenance worker what safety is and you might hear that it's plowing roads when it snows. A transportation designer might say that safety is designing signposts that break away without intruding into a vehicle. A local official might say that installing an interchange or converting a two-lane road to four lanes is safety. Safety has been ingrained in the transportation profession since the time of horse and buggy trails. In this presentation, Brad Estochen will discuss the Minnesota Department of Transportation's diverse approach to roadway safety. He will highlight traditional measures and prioritization processes as well as approaches for addressing safety on a systemic level and using data to help drive Minnesota toward its goal of zero deaths. | 12/2/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 4 | Video11/10/11 - Cyclopath: Personalized Routing and Open Collaboration for Bicyclists | Cyclopath is a routing and mapping system for bicyclists in the Twin Cities metro area. The system, developed at the University of Minnesota, generates bicycling routes that can be personalized to meet individual cyclists' preferences. Cyclopath is also the world's first full-featured geographic wiki—all users can edit the system's maps of roads and trails. Much information about bike trails and cycling conditions is currently known only to individual cyclists, and Cyclopath allows them to share this key knowledge with each other. Cyclopath is a popular resource for the cycling community and a powerful research platform. In this seminar, Loren Terveen will describe the innovative aspects of the Cyclopath system design, summarize several research studies of Cyclopath users and usage, and describe a few new development and research directions. | 11/11/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 5 | Video11/3/11 - Response Modification for Enhanced Operation and Safety of Bridges | The integrity of bridges has become a major public safety concern. In this seminar, Arturo Schultz and Steve Wojkiewicz will report on a project aimed at improving the safety and operation of bridges by developing response-modification technology for bridges and their components. The new technology monitors structural health and controls stress paths in order to protect bridges from live loading. Loads of concern include heavy but legal trucks, overloaded and illegal trucks, and catastrophic loads, such as vehicle strikes, earthquakes, or blasts. The project represented a first step toward enhanced operation and safety of bridges. | 11/4/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 6 | Video10/27/11 - Development of a Traffic Information and Dissemination System for Work-Zone Environments | To save lives and prevent injuries on U.S. highways, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication is essential. In this seminar, M. Imran Hayee reviewed the architecture, functionality, and field demonstration results of a newly developed V2I communication system that incorporates V2V assistance. The system, which relies on dedicated short-range communications technology, was developed to improve traffic efficiency and increase safety in congested work-zone areas. The system can automatically acquire important traffic information—such as travel time and the starting point of congestion—and relay it back to drivers approaching the work zone. It uses a single roadside unit to collect traffic data from vehicles traveling on the road that are also exchanging information with each other. Field demonstration results indicate that the system can adapt to dynamically changing work-zone traffic environments and can cover larger work-zone areas than a system using V2I communication without V2V assistance. | 10/31/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 7 | Video10/20/11 - Implementing Distance-Based User Fees as a Replacement for the Fuel T | This presentation will highlight a study comparing the current fuel-tax-based system for funding surface transportation with a potential future system based on mileage-based user fees. The study examined the strengths and weaknesses of both the fuel-tax funding system and a mileage-based user fee system using a set of transportation finance principles: efficiency, equity, revenue adequacy and sustainability, environmental sustainability, and feasibility. | 10/21/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 8 | Video10/13/11 - Detection of Road and Bridge Surface Conditions Using Time Domain Reflectometry and Dielectric Relaxation Spectrosco | In this seminar, John Evans will discuss a practical sensor technology to improve public safety through the remote sensing of snow and ice on bridge and road surfaces. A system based on such technology can provide real-time information about the surface condition of a roadway. This information could then trigger signage to alert motorists of unsafe conditions and/or notify maintenance personnel that deicing is needed. Evans' approach uses time domain reflectometry (TDR) to acquire dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (DRS) data from low-cost passive sensors. TDR and DRS technology has been used in such disciplines as soil science and high-speed electronic data transfer and is a viable alternative for probing bridge or road surface conditions. Evans will outline the electronic hardware and software components necessary for this approach, as well as explain the integration of the components into an overall system that can be deployed in remote locations. | 10/14/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 9 | Video10/6/11 - Exploring Models of Regional Sustainability Planning and Implementation | In this seminar, Carissa Schively Slotterback will highlight findings from a research project focused on an approach to planning for and implementing sustainability on a regional scale. The presentation will include an overview of the components of a model framework for regional sustainability and implementation. The framework is informed by a detailed case-study analysis of recently completed regional sustainability plans and draws on a review of planning documents and interviews with key stakeholders. The analysis considered the content of regional sustainability plans, processes used to develop them, and approaches used to implement the plans and monitor outcomes. Schively Slotterback will also share thoughts on how the project's findings might be used by organizations and stakeholders interested in pursuing sustainability planning in their own regions, as well as in evaluating regional sustainability planning efforts. Her presentation will draw on insights from a research advisory committee that includes regional stakeholders to examine how the framework might be applied to regional sustainability planning efforts in the Twin Cities. | 10/7/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 10 | Video9/29/11 - Pedestrian and Bicycle Crossing Experience in Modern Roundabouts | Many cities in the U.S. are installing roundabouts instead of traditional signalized intersections, largely due to evidence that roundabouts dramatically reduce fatal and severe injury crashes. However, the impact of roundabouts on pedestrian safety is not clear. In this seminar, John Hourdos will discuss a research project aimed at investigating pedestrian accessibility in Minnesota’s urban roundabouts and addressing complaints from pedestrians regarding intersection crossing and safety issues. The project involved the observation and analysis of interactions between pedestrians or bicycles and vehicles at two modern urban roundabouts in the Twin Cities area. The researchers examined factors such as who yielded, the location of the crossing, the number of subjects involved, and the conditions inside the roundabout before the interaction occurred. Hourdos will also discuss the study’s results, which highlight and categorize the existence of friction between pedestrians and drivers at roundabout crossings. | 9/30/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 11 | Video9/15/11 - The Role of Transportation Researchers in Rehabilitation Hospitals to Keep Patients Mobile | Driving is a significant part of independent living for people of all ages and abilities. Within the next decade, a quarter of all U.S. drivers are expected to be over the age of 65. To address the needs of the growing aging driving population, Clemson University researchers are partnering with two major hospital systems to develop objective training programs as well as develop and evaluate new products and services. In this seminar, Johnell Brooks discussed the research partnership and its initiatives, which include comprehensive studies of aging drivers. Through these studies, the research team aims to lengthen the duration of patients' independent living status by providing evidence-based preventative measures for senior drivers through medicine, rehabilitation, engineering, and research. Brooks also reviewed the driving simulators, mobility and physical functioning lab, and instrumented vehicle research used in the studies. | 9/20/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 12 | Video2/23/11 - Cracking Evaluation of Thin Bonded Asphalt Overlays | Asphalt overlays provide an economical means for treating deteriorated pavements. Thin bonded overlay (TBO) systems have become popular options for pavement rehabilitation because they provide functional improvements and ensure a high degree of waterproofing benefits. The use of spray paver technology for the construction of TBO leads to continuously varying asphalt binder content, up to approximately one-third of the layer thickness. The graded material behavior and thinness of TBOs make them challenging to characterize in a lab, and it is often difficult to realistically simulate them for design and analysis purposes. In this seminar, Eshan Dave will outline newly developed laboratory fracture measurement techniques, numerical simulation methods for design and analysis, and early field performances of TBOs. | 3/14/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 13 | Video2/23/11 - Requirements for Effective Fuel Economy Displays for Improving Fuel Economy and Safety | Fuel efficient driver behavior, such as coasting to a stop or avoiding complete stops, has helped drivers achieve large reductions in fuel consumption. Vehicle interfaces that deliver fuel economy information to drivers can also help attain fuel savings. In this seminar, Justin Graving will discuss a recent study that evaluated how features of market and aftermarket fuel economy displays affected fuel consumption during simulated driving. Study results indicated that the presence of a fuel economy display promoted fuel efficient driving, but also showed that when instructed, drivers were able to reduce their fuel consumption without the aid of a display. | 3/14/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 14 | Video2/22/11 - Advancing Public Interest in Public-Private Partnerships of State Highway Development | In response to an increasing demand for new capacity on highways, many states are exploring Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in state highway development. PPPs allow public agencies to access private project financing and specialized expertise, often resulting in saved public investment, expedited project completion, and improved service quality and diversity. However, the confusion and controversy surrounding recent concession cases in the United States has led to widespread public concern and legislative caution on the question of whether a PPP project is advancing the public interest. In this seminar, Jerry Zhao will report on a study of public interest associated with PPPs in terms of both outcome and procedure. For each PPP option, the study analyzed public benefits, associated risks, and possible approaches to mitigate these risks. Research also included an archive study to examine related public concerns and discuss potential strategies to address these concerns at different stages of PPP decisions. | 3/14/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 15 | Video12/2/10 - Visualization and Assessment of Arterial Progression Quality | Coordination is essential to providing the highest possible quality of service on signalized arterials through movements, and travel time is its most accurate yet most expensive measure. In this seminar, Darcy Bullock will present a methodology for evaluating signal coordination that combines high-resolution signal data with travel time measurement using Bluetooth device MAC-address matching. The Purdue Coordination Diagram is used as a tool for visualizing and quantitatively evaluating signal performance and identifying opportunities for improvements. Bullock will discuss a study in which arterial travel times were measured using MAC-address matching. In the study, intersection and mid-block detecting stations were used to identify, calculate, and implement timing improvements. The presentation will also include a discussion of Bluetooth tracking applications in airport security lines and work-zone origin-destination research. | 12/3/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 16 | Video11/18/10 - Automation Mania in the Time of Reason: Considerations for Complex Transportation Problems | Despite a solid body of evidence about distraction and its risks, automobile manufacturers now allow you to update your Facebook page while driving. Positive Train Control systems have been mandated for implementation, yet there has been little if any attempt to understand the new roles of the human operator given the aggressive time frame in which the system must be in operation. There is a similar concern about the NextGen air transport system, which is supposed to revolutionize how flights are managed and flown. Developing the system architecture is the straightforward part. Understanding the myriad of human and policy implications is much more complex, but it is foundational and necessary if the system is to be safe and realize its intended potential. This presentation develops an approach to understanding the application of automation technology through three interdependent models: sociotechnical, human systems integration, and formative evaluation. | 11/19/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 17 | Video11/4/10 - Camera Networks for Security and Traffic Applications | Computing is ubiquitous in nearly every household. Computers are becoming smaller, more portable, and embedded in many common appliances and devices. In addition, digital cameras are becoming pervasive in society. They are appearing in many varieties, and can be found in devices ranging from cars to telephones. This seminar focuses on the problem of camera networks for transportation and security applications. Nikolaos Papanikolopoulos will present the Hyperion framework, which involves the computation of an extensive set of video-analytics based on human and crowd activity monitoring, automatic camera placement, camera-to-camera tracking, semi-autonomous calibration, and video forensics analysis. An innovative user interface allows a single user to monitor thousands of cameras. Applications of this technology include the real-time identification of empty parking spots at truck stops and traffic data collection on freeway systems. | 11/5/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 18 | Video10/28/10 - Performance of Pervious Concrete Pavement in a Cold Weather Climate | Over the past five years, there have been many pervious concrete projects in Minnesota. The majority of studies on pervious concrete have concentrated on the analysis of laboratory specimens without significant examination of field performance. Furthermore, most of these studies have not taken the comprehensive approach of evaluating the pervious concrete’s durability from both a hydraulic and structural perspective. In this seminar, Lev Khazanovich will discuss the study of pervious concrete completed at the University of Minnesota, including its aims to categorize distresses common to pervious concrete in a wet, freeze-thaw environment and analyze pervious concrete as a pavement. As part of the study, researchers analyzed core samples of existing, local, in-service pervious concrete, including samples at the MnROAD facility in Albertville, Minnesota. | 10/29/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 19 | Video10/14/10 - Itasca County Area Transportation Study | Itasca County, Minnesota, is the third largest county in the state by land area, but one of the smallest in terms of population. The challenge this presents to transportation planners was recently addressed in a study by the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs and CTS. Researchers conducted focus groups, listening sessions, interviews, and background research to identify the county’s key transportation needs. In this presentation, Frank Douma will discuss the study’s evaluation of the cost and ease of implementing travel options within Itasca County. The study’s resulting recommendations, including improving bike routes and awareness of public transportation, improving bus service from the county to Duluth, and launching a carpool service, will also be discussed. | 10/18/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 20 | Video10/7/10 - Vehicular Communications for Cooperative Safety Systems | The next quantum leap in vehicle safety is represented by cooperative systems where vehicles exchange critical safety information among themselves and with the roadside infrastructure. The research community has already developed a set of new communication standards and built prototype systems demonstrating the feasibility and high potential introduced by cooperation among road users. However, key areas such as security and smart channel load control techniques still need to be addressed. In this seminar, Luca Delgrossi will discuss his team's contribution to the development of 5.9 GHz Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) technology, including their participation in the first installation of the system at an intersection in Atherton, California. Delgrossi will also detail the technology's advantages and limitations, and discuss how 5.9 GHz DSRC can be used by automotive OEMs to enhance safety. Speaker Luca Delgrossi, Director, Driver Assistance and Chassis Systems, Mercedes-Benz Research and Development North America Delgrossi's team in Palo Alto, California, has contributed to the development of 5.9 GHz dedicated short-range communications (DSRC) technology since the early stages and helped install the first 5.9 GHz DSRC intersection at 5th and El Camino Real in Atherton, California. In 2008, the team publicly demonstrated a Mercedes-Benz S-550 coming to stop automatically upon detection of an imminent red light violation at an instrumented intersection at the ITS World Congress in New York, New York. Delgrossi, who holds a Ph.D. in computer science, also serves as chairman of the board of directors at the Vehicle Infrastructure Integration (VII) Consortium and is co-editor of the IEEE Communications Magazine Automotive Networking and Applications Series. | 10/8/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 21 | Video9/30/10 - Economic Impact of Airports | Airport managers and commissioners have historically confronted a dilemma when trying to make a case regarding the economic value of their airport. In response to this issue, William Gartner and Daniel Erkkila of the University of Minnesota developed a Web-based airport economic impact calculator in 2004. In this presentation, Gartner will detail the recent process of updating the calculator, which prompts users to enter data on nine types of economic activity to determine the impact of their local airport. The newly updated calculator allows for greater variability in the size and scale of airport operations and also reflects changes in the economy since the calculator was first developed. Gartner will also discuss an accompanying study on the total economic impact of Minnesota's airports. Among the findings: Minnesota airports generated $12.2 billion in economic activity last year. | 10/1/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 22 | Video9/23/10 - A Causal Model of Traffic Crashes and Conflicts | In this seminar, Gary Davis will report on the use of data collected in the Strategic Highway Research Program 2 to support microscopic modeling of crashes and near-crashes. In this project, several crashes between a following and leading vehicle were reconstructed using vehicle-based data from a 100-car study, site-based video data from the Minnesota Traffic Observatory, and site-based Doppler shift data from the Cooperative Intersection Collision Avoidance Systems (CICAS) project. In each case, estimates of acceleration histories, driver reaction time, and the situation at the start of the reaction phase were obtained. The project also demonstrated the potential of systems such as CICAS to provide data on near-crashes in intersections. | 9/24/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 23 | Video9/16/10 - Simulating Transportation for Realistic Engineering Education and Training | This seminar will discuss the development of Web-based simulation modules to improve instruction in transportation engineering courses. Although simulation has proven to be a powerful tool in encouraging active learning in other disciplines, it has not yet been fully adopted in transportation engineering. The Web-based interface allows easy access for users without the high cost associated with commercially available simulation products. The simulation-based materials form an active textbook, which offers an interactive learning environment to undergraduate students. The modules are being rigorously evaluated and tested in course offerings from civil engineering programs across the country and are being disseminated to the general public through the project Web site. | 9/17/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 24 | Video9/9/10 - Intelligent Decision Support Systems Inside the Vehicle | In this seminar, Hayes will describe a study examining the safety impact of three decision support systems (DSS) used at intersections where a highway crosses a minor road controlled by a stop sign. Many crashes occur at such intersections because even cautious drivers sometimes make poor judgments about when to enter high-speed highway traffic. The three DSS warning systems evaluated in this study were a dynamic highway sign placed in the intersection, a similar display placed on sideview mirrors, and a haptic warning system in the seat that vibrates when gaps are unsafe. All three were evaluated and compared to identify which has the greatest ability to reduce crashes and increase safe driving behaviors. Speaker: Caroline Hayes, Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota | 9/10/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 25 | Video2/25/10 - Identifying Methods and Metrics for Evaluating Interagency Coordination in Traffic Incident Management | This seminar addressed findings from a study to identify methods and metrics for evaluating interagency coordination in traffic incident management. For more information, see http://www.cts.umn.edu/Events/ResearchSeminars/2010/spring/feb25.html | 2/25/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 26 | Video2/17/10 - Crack and Concrete Deck Sealant Performance | This seminar addressed findings from a research project to define the current state-of-the-art regarding the use of bridge deck sealants and crack sealers to extend the life of reinforced concrete bridge decks. For more information, see http://www.cts.umn.edu/Events/ResearchSeminars/2010/spring/feb17.html | 2/22/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 27 | Video10/29/09 - The Economic Impact of Upgrading Roads | This presentation discusses the nature and magnitude of benefits accruing to nearby properties that arise from major highway construction or reconstruction projects, more precisely those that add capacity to an existing highway. For more information, see http://www.cts.umn.edu/Events/ResearchSeminars/2009/fall/oct29.html | 10/30/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 28 | Video10/22/09 - Ramp Metering for Postponing Freeway Breakdown | This seminar presented procedures developed through research (NCHRP 3-87) for implementing ramp-management strategies at freeway sections that regularly experience breakdown and operate under congested conditions. For more information, see http://www.its.umn.edu/Events/SeminarSeries/2009/fall/october22/index.html | 10/22/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 29 | Video10/15/09 - Evaluating Roadway Subsurface Drainage Practices | This seminar discussed a field experiment designed to test whether an alternative drain configuration might have a significant effect on drainage amount and moisture conditions beneath pavements. The experiment evaluated the efficacy of selected drain configurations, including the conventional edge-drain system and two centerline configurations suggested by county engineers in Minnesota. For more information, see http://www.cts.umn.edu/Events/ResearchSeminars/2009/fall/oct15.html | 10/15/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 30 | Video10/1/09 - Urban Partnership Agreement: Technology and Collaboration in Effective Transportation Policy | This presentation focused on the initial findings of a longitudinal study of the federally funded Urban Partnership Agreement (UPA) program being conducted by a team of researchers at the Humphrey Institute. For more information, see http://www.cts.umn.edu/Events/ResearchSeminars/2009/fall/oct1.html | 10/1/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
| Total: 30 Episodes |
