Intelligent Transportation Systems Institute
Encyclopedia
The Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Institute is a national University Transportation Center headquartered at the University of Minnesota
. The ITS Institute researches activities to enhance the safety and mobility of road-based and transit-based transportation, particularly in a northern climate and in rural environments. The ITS Institute focuses on human-centered technology, such as computing, sensing, communications, and control systems.
(ISTEA) of 1991. It is currently funded through the federal Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users
(SAFETEA-LU) transportation bill.
, teen drivers, bus rapid transit
, and driver assistive technologies. The ITS Institute uses several labs and facilities to conduct research, including the Intelligent Vehicles Laboratory, the Minnesota Traffic Observatory, the Northland Advanced Transportation Systems Research Laboratories, and the HumanFIRST program. Research partners include the Research and Technology Innovation Administration (RITA), Federal Highway Administration
(FHWA), Minnesota Department of Transportation
, and Minnesota Local Road Research Board.
. It also offers programs, events, and Web-based tools for K-12 students.
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
. The ITS Institute researches activities to enhance the safety and mobility of road-based and transit-based transportation, particularly in a northern climate and in rural environments. The ITS Institute focuses on human-centered technology, such as computing, sensing, communications, and control systems.
History
The ITS Institute was established under section 6024 of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency ActIntermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act
The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 is a United States federal law that posed a major change to transportation planning and policy, as the first U.S. federal legislation on the subject in the post-Interstate Highway System era...
(ISTEA) of 1991. It is currently funded through the federal Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users
Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users
The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users is a funding and authorization bill that governs United States federal surface transportation spending. It was signed into law by President George W. Bush on August 10, 2005, and expired as of September 30, 2009...
(SAFETEA-LU) transportation bill.
Faculty and Staff
Max Donath is the Director. The multi-disciplinary faculty and research staff represent engineering, public affairs, computer science, and the law school.Research Activities
The ITS Institute publishes many research reports each year. Some recent topics were distracted drivingDistracted driving
Distracted driving, a replacement phrase for the more popular terms "texting while driving" and "talking while driving," is what occurs when a driver has something other than driving on his mind. Driving becomes subsequent in importance to another activity that is happening inside the car, truck...
, teen drivers, bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit is a term applied to a variety of public transportation systems using buses to provide faster, more efficient service than an ordinary bus line. Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling...
, and driver assistive technologies. The ITS Institute uses several labs and facilities to conduct research, including the Intelligent Vehicles Laboratory, the Minnesota Traffic Observatory, the Northland Advanced Transportation Systems Research Laboratories, and the HumanFIRST program. Research partners include the Research and Technology Innovation Administration (RITA), Federal Highway Administration
Federal Highway Administration
The Federal Highway Administration is a division of the United States Department of Transportation that specializes in highway transportation. The agency's major activities are grouped into two "programs," the Federal-aid Highway Program and the Federal Lands Highway Program...
(FHWA), Minnesota Department of Transportation
Minnesota Department of Transportation
The Minnesota Department of Transportation oversees transportation by land, water, and air in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The cabinet-level agency is responsible for maintaining the state's trunk highway system The Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT, pronounced "min-dot") oversees...
, and Minnesota Local Road Research Board.
Education Activities
The ITS Institute organizes the Advanced Transportation Technologies seminar series and co-sponsors an annual Transportation Career Expo, held at the University of MinnesotaUniversity of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
. It also offers programs, events, and Web-based tools for K-12 students.
External links
- Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Institutehttp://www.its.umn.edu/
- HumanFIRST Programhttp://www.humanfirst.umn.edu/
- Minnesota Traffic Observatoryhttp://www.mto.umn.edu/