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.

Read more about Yingling Fan

Enhancing public engagement in transportation policymaking

Assistant professors Zhirong “Jerry” Zhao and Kathryn Quick of the Humphrey School of Public Affairs recently completed a study aimed at increasing and improving public engagement in transportation policymaking. The study, funded by CTS, included the development of a four-step framework for managing the public engagement process and a list of suggested transportation engagement opportunities.

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Measuring truck traffic with batteryless sensors

Mechanical engineering professor Rajesh Rajamani and his research team have been working on a self-powered traffic flow sensor that can measure moving vehicle axle weights. With funding from the ITS Institute, they’ve developed recent enhancements that increase the accuracy and reduce the cost of these sensors, making it easier and less expensive for transportation agencies to monitor truck traffic, especially in rural areas.

 

Read more about the sensors