Chairman Oberstar visits University for transportation research update

U.S. Rep. James L. Oberstar, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, visited the University of Minnesota on November 12 for an update on the latest University transportation research. He met with Transportation Engineering and Road Research Alliance (TERRA) board members, tried out the HumanFIRST driving simulator, and toured the Minnesota Traffic Observatory (MTO), guided by CTS acting director Laurie McGinnis and ITS Institute director Max Donath. "I love what you're doing here," Oberstar said.

Researchers demonstrate next-generation bus; fleet planned for USDOT congestion relief program

The next generation of Twin Cities transit took center stage at the 2009 ITS Minnesota Fall Forum, as Intelligent Vehicles Laboratory (IV Lab) director Craig Shankwitz presented a driver-assistive system for buses operating on bus-only shoulders and bus lanes.

Second-generation geospatial database to enable ITS applications

The University of Minnesota’s Intelligent Vehicles (IV) Laboratory, part of the Intelligent Transportation Systems Institute, has developed a new version of its geospatial database software. The newly optimized database brings the benefits of real-time access to extremely accurate and dense geospatial data to a wider variety of ITS applications. The new system was developed by IV Lab researchers Bryan Newstrom and Curtis Olson, who documented the process in a recently published report; lab director Craig Shankwitz served as principal investigator on the project.

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Annual report now available

The ITS Institute's 2008–2009 annual report is now available online. The report highlights the Institute's research, education, and outreach activities from July 2008 through June 2009.

Webinar: Non-Intrusive Detection of Driver Drowsiness

Advanced Transportation Technologies Seminar, November 19, 2009
Xun Yu, Assistant Professor, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Minnesota Duluth

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New online game explores world of traffic management

A new traffic control game developed by the ITS Institute and Web Courseworks lets high school students try their hand at working in the engineering and transportation field.

"Gridlock Buster" is a traffic control game that incorporates tools and ideas that traffic control engineers use in their everyday work. Players must pass a series of levels while acquiring specific skills for controlling the traffic and ensuring that delays don't get out of hand. For example, a player might need to manage a high volume of traffic passing through an intersection, where long lines form if vehicles don't get enough green-light time. The more drivers are delayed, the more frustrated they get—causing the game's "frustration meter" to rise. Sound effects and animation simulate cars honking and drivers' fists shaking to illustrate the realistic results of backed-up traffic queues.

The game is based on work by Chen-Fu Liao, the ITS Institute's education systems engineer. The goal is to provide a fun way to engage students in the traffic engineering field, teach what is involved in traffic grid management, and make transportation interesting and relevant.

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