Center for Transportation Research UT Knoxville

?? Transforming Transit in Tennessee with AI-Driven Innovation ??? Abhishek Dubey, associate professor of computer science and electrical and computer engineering, is leading a groundbreaking initiative alongside Ayan Mukhopadhyay, Jonathan Sprinkle, Dan Work, Meiyi Ma, and Jose Paolo Talusan to revolutionize multimodal transit operations in Tennessee.? Thanks to more than $8 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation under the Advanced Transportation Technology and Innovation (ATTAIN) program, the PATH-TN project (Partnership for AI-driven Multimodal Transportation Services Integration in Tennessee Cities) will tackle critical challenges in Memphis, Nashville, Chattanooga, and Knoxville, including:? ?? Declining ridership?? ?? Rising operational costs?? ?? Labor shortages?? ?? Limited coverage and options? How will this project make an impact??? Through cutting-edge AI, the PATH-TN project will:?? ?? Integrate transit modes like fixed-route buses, microtransit, and park-and-ride facilities?? ?? Develop standardized data formats for optimizing operations?? ?? Leverage real-time data for dynamic route planning?? ?? Build a data repository to promote transparency and research? A Collaborative Effort?? The consortium includes leading transit agencies like CARTA, KAT, MATA, and WeGo, as well as academic partners from the University of Memphis, UT-Knoxville, UT-Chattanooga, and Penn State.? Why does it matter??? This initiative exemplifies Vanderbilt's commitment to leveraging technology for societal impact, addressing the pressing need for sustainable, efficient, and inclusive transit solutions. As Padma Raghavan, Vanderbilt’s vice provost for research and innovation, stated, this project has the potential to set a national standard for smart mobility.? #VanderbiltEngineering #SmartTransit #ArtificialIntelligence #TransportationInnovation #CommunityImpact? ?? Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gqfY3FFs

Nashville's Transportation Improvement Plan, Choose How You Move, recently received overwhelming community support - paving the way for multimodal transit across Metro and Davidson County. This comprehensive plan aims to enhance transportation infrastructure by introducing smart signals/ITS, expanding sidewalk networks, designing all-access corridors, implementing numerous safety improvements, and ensuring expansive round-the-clock transit services throughout the city. These enhancements will improve service quality and safety for millions of residents and visitors each year. In alignment with the goal of enhancing transit services - over the past several months myself, Grady Owen, and Dr. Candace Brakewood analyzed transit policies for elderly individuals across America’s top transit agencies. While currently unpublished, the case study analysis does provide valuable insights on the future of senior mobility: - Taking the act of transportation as a fundamental right (of which driving is not), our study highlights the importance of making alternative modes of transport accessible and cost-effective for seniors, beyond personal vehicles, to encourage ridership, promote safety, and improve wellbeing. - Stressing the need to innovate tailored solutions beyond standard regulations, set forth by the FTA & ADA, to address specific community needs and adapt transit vehicles and infrastructure to a technology-driven society. - Advocating for reduced fare pricing structures for seniors and individuals with disabilities to promote transit utilization within communities. - Recognizing the role of technology in enhancing the rider experience, our findings support integrating automated route notifications, mobile apps, and subsidized rideshare services to streamline the transit experience, making transit more user-friendly and enjoyable. - Highlighting the effectiveness of offering complimentary outreach programs with community involvement to engage citizens directly, enabling agencies to tailor services to specific needs and foster connections between riders and policymakers. Efforts towards inclusive, efficient, and innovative transit solutions are essential for ensuring the well-being and mobility of all, especially the most vulnerable road users. #ChooseHowYouMove #Transit

Join us for an exclusive tour in our UAM/UAS facility as well as a reception and networking session ahead of the NC Advanced Mobility Symposium 2024! Engage with hands-on demonstrations and interactive activities showcasing cutting-edge advancements in UAS/UAM. ?? Tour Date: November 12 ?? Time: 2:30 - 5:00 PM ?? Register by: November 8 (Limited spots available!) ?? Sign up now: https://lnkd.in/eEJwSf2p Also, don't forget to register for AUVSI — Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International NC Advanced Mobility Symposium on November 13-14. Register here: https://lnkd.in/emahnhJw #AUVSI #NCAT #MobilityInnovation #AdvancedMobility #UAM #UAS #Transportation #Innovation #FutureOfMobility #Sustainability #Networking #Collaboration