UTL News
The Utah Traffic Lab is constantly evolving to meet the academic needs of students and faculty. The lab stays on the forefront of technological advances by funding received from UDOT. Lab employees are often given the opportunity to purchase equipment that they deem useful for their research. In this way, the UTL ensures that students and staff are given ample resources to advance the civil engineering field. This mixture of technology with brilliant students has created an atmosphere conducive to excellent research.
Current News
We're On YouTube!
Thanks to Bhagavan Nadimpalli the Utah Traffic Lab now has its own YouTube. Check it out at http://www.youtube.com/user/UtahTrafficLab
A Bittersweet Day For The Utah Traffic Lab
Friday May 1, 2009, marked the end of an era for the Utah Traffic Lab. Our beloved (and for a few RAs- feared, worshipped, and always respected) Post-Doctoral Fellow, Aleksander Stevanovic has left the lab. He has accepted a teaching and research position at Florida Atlantic University, in Boca Raton. Along for the ride, he took his genius wife Jelka, and their new son Vladimir. Alex has been a fixture at the lab since January 2001, becoming a Post Doctoral Research Associate in January 2006. In May 2007, the University of Utah awarded Alex a position as a Research Assistant Professor in the College of Engineering. Jelka has been instrumental in coding Genetic Algorithm based Signal Timing Optimizations. Although it will be hard for the lab to loose such a dynamic powerhouse team, Alex and Jelka have promised to stay in touch and continue collaboration with us. What is a great loss for the University of Utah will be an immeasurable gain for FAU. Good luck in your future careers Guys- you will be missed!
Cameron Kergaye Recieves Ph.D
On Thursday April 30, 2009, Cameron Kergaye completed his PhD defense. Addressing a standing room only crowd of friends, family, and Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) colleagues, Cameron targeted his Defense around his groundbreaking research of On/Off versus Before/After signal timing optimization analysis. The research could revolutionize the way Departments of Transportation design and implement Adaptive Signal Timing Control systems. Cameron completed this degree while working full-time for UDOT, through endless nights and weekends, and with a beautiful family to keep him constantly occupied. Hopefully, he will now take some time for himself and a well-deserved break, but knowing Cameron that is unlikely. Good luck Cameron on your future pursuits. You have set a new standard of excellence that will be difficult for the rest of us to follow.
Ivana Vladisavljevic Recieves Ph.D
On Monday April 27, 2009, Ivana Vladisavljevic successfully completed her PhD Defense, the last obstacle in a long list of challenges towards an impressive goal. The defense highlighted Ivana's unique expertise with cell phone related Traffic Engineering efficiency and her overall mastery of Civil Engineering principles. Friends, family, and colleagues attended the defense. The Utah Traffic Lab would like to thank Ivana for her many contributions to the Lab and to advancing the science of Traffic Engineering. To all who have had the privilege of knowing this loving mother, wife, and brilliant scientist, it is of no surprise that Ivana completed her program so quickly or with such inexhaustible energy. Thank you Ivana and good luck in your future career!
Transportation Leadership Graduate Certificate (TLGC) Program offered Fall 2009.
CVEEN 7540: Intelligent Transportation Systems, offered Fall 2009. Instructor Professor Peter T. Martin
The nation's Regional University Transportation Centers, in consultation and cooperation with leaders from the National Academy of Sciences (TRB), public and private sectors and transportation related Associations, have established a distance learning based Graduate Education Certificate program to assist in educating the transportation leaders of the 21st Century. It's purpose is to provide breadth of knowledge and a more comprehensive understanding of the issues required to deal with multimodal transportation challenges in a complex world. In addition, it will assist in making a significant contribution in helping to enhance the profession by expanding the pool of new professionals with essential competencies. The program's objective is to nurture those individuals with potential leadership qualities in both the public and private sectors and to assist them in moving along the promotion track from excellent technical contributions to management responsibilities and eventually on to leadership roles. The theme of the program is "Transportation Policy, Management and Operations". The Certificate requires the completion of four theme related graduate courses taught by graduate faculty at some of the nation's outstanding universities. All courses will be taken by distance learning media from an individual's home or place of employment. The courses incorporate all modes of transportation and include topics such as transportation systems, policy, planning, operations, economics, safety and security, social and environmental considerations, program management, environmental and climate change, and future technologies. This organization fully and enthusiastically supports this initiative. The product of this program will be the award of a prestigious Certificate endorsed by US DOT, and leading public and private sector organizations, including this one. Completed courses will also be eligible for transfer towards a graduate degree. This is only a very brief thumbnail sketch of a very exciting opportunity available not only to individuals currently engaged in multimodal transportation activities, but also those with supporting skills in other related professions. If this sounds interesting to you, please take a few moments to review the attached program summary. Then see more details and learn more about the opportunities at the program's website found at http://www.transleader.org
VISUM-Online at the UTL
The UTL is positioned to receive North America's first installation of VISUM-Online, the traffic prediction software that is gaining notice throughout Europe
Roads and Bridges reports $16.5 billion in Utah highway needs
In mid-April the Utah State Legislature approved a measure which would create a seven-member commission to place tolls on future roads; a new 33-mile highway is currently in the environmental review phase; and the Legacy Highway...
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8.6.06 - Ivana Vladisavljevic receives student paper award
Ivana Vladisavljevic of the Utah Traffic Lab, at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Utah, receives Daniel B. Fambro student paper award from the Institute of Transportation Engineers
AUGUST 6, 2006, WASHINGTON, DC—Ivana Vladisavljevic received the Daniel B. Fambro Student Paper Award at the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) 2006 Annual Meeting and Exhibit, being held August 6-9, 2006 in Milwaukee, WI, in recognition of her paper entitled “Impact of Cell Phone Conversation While Driving on Car Following Behavior.”
The purpose of the Daniel B. Fambro Student Paper Award is to encourage ITE student members to conduct and report on independent and original research and investigation of transportation engineering subjects and to provide a means for recognizing outstanding accomplishments in this area.
The Institute of Transportation Engineers is an international educational and scientific association of transportation professionals who are responsible for meeting mobility and safety needs. Through its products and services, ITE promotes professional development of its members, supports and encourages education, stimulates research, develops public awareness programs and serves as a conduit for the exchange of professional education
Founded in 1930, ITE serves as the gateway to transportation knowledge and advancement through meetings, seminars and publications, and through its network of more than 17,000 members working in more than 92 countries.
For more information visit http://ite.org/awards/winners/index.asp
Congratulations Ivana!!!
Paper Abstract
In consideration of the growing number of wireless phone subscribers and drivers who are using cell phones, it is important to examine the effects that having a cell phone conversation while driving has on traffic flow. The goal of the study was to investigate integrating a driver simulator and a traffic simulator in order to understand cell phone impact on traffic flow. The simulation software VISSIM is the most appropriate for experiments because it uses the psycho – physical driver behavior model developed by Wiedemann. The most challenging step was replication of deterministic conditions in the stochastic simulator. A freeway simulation model was used to examine the impact of the different percentages of drivers who are talking on the cell phone on travel time, delays, and average speed.
8.1.06 - New video conference room complete!
The UTL has linked itself to TEL-8 video conferencing network
Dr. Martin has overseen the purchase and use of equipment for the room, ranging from codec devices to a post consumer touch screen panel. The touch screen panel will be programmed to control every detail of a live video conference, eliminating the need for remote controls. Dr. Martin has also overseen the various independently-contracted companies that installed wiring, videocameras, plasma pannels, carpet, a marble table, and laptop docking stations. The final touches will include the installation of microphones and networking all of the computers involved.
The UTL's conferencing room provides an excellent example for other universities and professional engineering firms that would like to participate in the conferences linked to TEL-8. Moreover, Dr. Martin can communicate effectively with students around the world without leaving the traffic lab. Below are recent pictures of the development of the conferencing room. Forthcoming are basic instructions and information which will help others who would wish to begin or upgrade a video conferencing room for themselves. Keep current by saving trafficlab.utah.edu in your favorites and frequently logging in. Please click "About Us" / "Facility" for further details.
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