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E-mail: cts@umn.edu
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Programs & Institutes
Transport and Land Use
CTS sponsors the publication of the Journal of Transport and Land Use, an open-access, peer-reviewed online journal publishing original interdisciplinary papers on the interaction of transport and land use.
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Researchers find that China's pollution related to e-cars may be more harmful than gasoline cars
UMNews, February 13, 2012
Electric cars have been heralded as environmentally friendly, but new findings from an international research team suggest that electric cars in China have an overall impact on pollution that could be more harmful to health than gasoline vehicles. University of Minnesota civil engineering assistant professor Julian Marshall and researcher Matthew Bechle are part of an international team studying the issue.
U of M research aims to curb distracted driving
KSTP-TV News, February 12, 2012
Researchers at the University of Minnesota are coming up with new ways to curb distracted driving, especially among young people. Max Donath from the university's Intelligent Transportation Systems Institute talks with 5 EYEWITNESS News about a game that creates distractions for drivers on a virtual road.
Watch the KSTP-TV News report
Play Distraction Dodger
Watch a related story on FOX 9 News
Read a related story at Minnesota Public Radio
Read a related story at the Star Tribune
Read the University of Minnesota press release
Watch This Week @Minnesota segment about the game
U-M transit research leads to biz
Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, February 10, 2012
When Henry Liu began researching ways to make traffic signals more efficient, he never considered that his discoveries could one day become marketable products. But Liu might one day see technology he and his research team developed at the University of Minnesota improve traffic conditions in a growing number of U.S. cities.
Interstates fastest during snowy commute — or not
Star Tribune, January 28, 2012
Do you wait out the gridlock or flee to the side streets? The average commute time in the Twin Cities is 22.9 minutes, according to Census figures. During a storm, it can take two to three times longer. Experts disagree on how exactly to speed that up. "If you see congestion on the freeway, you may be better off to take an arterial parallel street," said Henry Liu, an associate professor in civil engineering at the University of Minnesota.
Feb. 14: Winter luncheon explores how transportation systems shape cities
At the CTS Winter Luncheon, Michel Parent will use the example of the greater Paris region to explore how new transportation technologies can help cities meet the challenges of mobility. The luncheon will be held on February 14 at the University Hotel Minneapolis.
More about the luncheon
Read the University of Minnesota news release
Feb. 15: Seminar highlights new system for visually impaired pedestrians
Chen-Fu Liao will review the development of the Mobile Accessible Pedestrian Signal (MAPS) system at this CTS Research Seminar, to be held Wednesday, February 15, from 8:45 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. at Walter Library. The MAPS system, designed to help pedestrians with limited or no eyesight cross intersections safely, uses a smartphone and text-to-speech interface to communicate information to users.
Feb. 28: Transportation Career Expo offers networking opportunity to students
The Transportation Career Expo provides information to undergraduate and graduate students on transportation-related careers. The annual event features an interactive transportation industry panel and provides time for students to network with transportation professionals and employers. The expo will be held Tuesday, February 28, from 4:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. in the Great Hall at Coffman Memorial Union.
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CTS and its programs offer free webinars on a wide range of transportation topics.
HumanFIRST Program partnership develops Safe Teen Car System
Researchers from the HumanFIRST Program at the University of Minnesota's ITS Institute and the private research company Westat have developed a prototype system for new cars. It's called the Safe Teen Car System, and it actually gives teens feedback to help them develop safer driving habits. Sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the project is an extension of a national focus on teen driving safety.
Designing smart supply chains: Saif Benjaafar
Research @ the U of M, January 18, 2012
CTS Scholar and Distinguished McKnight University Professor Saif Benjaafar draws on knowledge of engineering, economics, computing, and business to determine the most efficient way to manage complex supply chains. Benjaafar’s discoveries about everyday business practices may prolong the livability of the planet. His research combines several disciplines to examine the entire product life cycle — raw material extraction, manufacturing, distribution, warehousing and retail.
Read more about Saif Benjaafar and his supply chain research
CTS Scholar named 2012-14 McKnight Land-Grant Professor
Yingling Fan, assistant professor at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, received a 2012-14 McKnight Land-Grant Professorship for her work Transforming the Built Environment for Health and Equity: Integrated Socio-Spatial Planning. The McKnight award consists of a research grant in each of two years and a research leave in the second year. Fan has conducted research for the Transitway Impacts Research Program.