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Research at the ITS Institute focus on the development of tools and technologies to improve the safety and mobility of all forms of private and public transportation. These research activities span multiple disciplines, ranging from engineering and computer science to psychology and public policy.

Research spotlight

Rural Intersection Decision Support

Truck at rural intersection - Highway 52

The Intelligent Transportation Systems Institute is working with several state departments of transportation to improve the safety of rural highway intersections through the application of Intelligent Transportation Systems technologies. In addition to gaining a better understanding of the causes of crashes at rural intersections, this study aims to develop a deployable system to improve driver safety without obstructing the movement of highway traffic. Project Web site

Programs and Labs

  • The Minnesota Traffic Observatory (MTO) is a transportation laboratory focusing on testing and evaluation of new transportation management and operational strategies and traveler information technologies.
  • The HumanFIRST Program is the Institute’s primary human factors research laboratory, employing the tools and methods of psychology and human factors engineering to improve the understanding of driver behavior.
  • The Intelligent Vehicles Laboratory develops and tests innovative technologies that reduce driver error, integrating sensor networks, vehicle control systems, navigation systems, and specially designed human interface components.
  • Policy & Planning for ITS is a federally funded research program designed to equip transportation and infrastructure professionals with the technological tools to address congestion and other system challenges in the coming years.
  • The Northland Advanced Transportation Systems Research Laboratories (NATSRL) on the Duluth campus carries out a range of research including sensing, transportation data management, and management of transportation infrastructure.

Recently published research reports

More research reports