Transportation Engineering Research

Sample speed data for a single driver on one road.

Transportation research at OSU can be divided into two broad interest areas: 1) traditional transportation engineering (e.g., transportation planning, traffic operations, geometric design) and 2) pavement design and pavement materials. There are overlapping interests, but Professors Katharine Hunter-Zaworski, Karen Dixon, and Ida van Schalkwyk   principally lead research in the the traditional transportation area, and Professors Lundy and Bell work in the pavements area.

The Transportation group focuses on applied research into state and national transportation priorities. Current research activities include: infrastructure technologies, intelligent transportation systems, transportation safety, low volume railroad grade crossings, accessible transportation systems and infrastructure, access management, sustainable transportation, transportation and congestion management, transportation economics and planning, and advanced transportation materials. Significant funding comes from various State of Oregon agencies and federal sources such as the National Cooperative Highway Research Program, Environmental Protection Agency, and the Federal Transit Administration.

A hub for transportation engineering research at OSU is the National Center for Accessible Transportation (NCAT). NCAT research is focused on solving problems related to accessible public transportation including intra-city and over-the-road-buses, trains, and air travel. Its goal is to make travel seamless, safe and dignified for all.