The UFTI officially launched its Industry Partnership Program (IPP) on October 26, 2023, with an inaugural event at the Hilton University of Florida to establish collaboration and partnerships between the institute and companies serving the transportation technology sector. Visionary companies such as UrbanSDK, Atkins, Iteris, WGI, and HTNB were the first to sign on as the UFTI’s IPP partners. These companies will support UFTI’s research and educational initiatives, driving technological advances in the transportation industry. Former Florida Senator Jeff Brandes (R-Fla.) also participated in the event and facilitated a panel discussion that included three venture capitalists from the automated vehicles sector. [Read more]

In Orlando, Florida, there are electric, driverless autonomous shuttles operating on the streets of Lake Nona, a community that prides itself on embracing modern technology and innovation. Beep is the company that operates the shuttles. The shuttles can transport up to 10 people at a time, driving residents from neighborhoods in the community to its central hub, the Town Center. Renan Favero, a third-year doctoral student working at the UFTI with Dr. Lily Elefteriadou, is leading a “Calibration and Simulation of Autonomous Shuttles” study at Lake Nona. He has spent countless hours driving in a conventional car in front of these shuttles, gathering data to create a tool to simulate how AVs perform in different scenarios, especially in traffic. Furthermore, through a data agreement between Beep and UFTI, the company is providing essential GPS data from the autonomous shuttles to support this study. [Read more]

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, large-scale infrastructure projects, including toll road Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), faced many challenges and uncertainties. These challenges called for renegotiations of the terms and conditions of PPPs. Project budgets, timelines, and other aspects crucial to the project’s long-term survival had to be modified, causing delays, loss in time and money. A recent study presented at the University of Illinois at Chicago by Dr. Gabriel Castelblanco, an assistant professor in the M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction Management at the University of Florida, explored the impact of the pandemic on renegotiations related to toll road PPPs using AI techniques. [Read more]

Bridges are vital for keeping our transportation network running smoothly, but they need careful attention to stay safe and functional as they age. Dr. Aaron Costin of UF's M.E. Rinker, Sr., School of Construction Management is using cutting-edge technologies like sensors, computers, and data analysis, to create a digital version of a bridge to help monitor its condition and make intelligent decisions about maintenance. [Read more]

Transportation research is genuinely interdisciplinary, encompassing a variety of factors crucial to understanding how people and goods move efficiently and sustainably. Dr. Luyu Liu understands this. He is a postdoctoral associate in the UFTI working with Dr. Xiang ‘Jacob’ Yan and Dr. Xilei Zhao, both faculty members in the Department of Civil and Coastal Engineering in the Engineering School of Sustainable Infrastructure at the University of Florida. His academic training draws from environmental sciences and mathematics. Dr. Liu's focus on transportation, however, is rooted in a passion for addressing climate change and promoting social equity. [Read more]

Each year, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) University Transportation Center’s (UTC) program recognizes a student from each UTC across the nation for their achievements and promise for future contributions to the field of transportation. This year, the UFTI’s STRIDE Center has selected Bryce Grame, a concurrent degree master’s student in urban and regional planning and doctoral student in civil engineering specializing in transportation, as the 2023 Student of the Year.  [Read more]

Congratulations to the GatorITE (Gator Institute for Transportation Engineers) Student Chapter for winning the Florida-Puerto Rico District Best Student Chapter Award during the district's annual meeting in St. Petersburg, Florida.

From left to right: Chris Russo (ITE Student Relations Chair), Gustavo Zschaber (UF graduate student), Dr. Fabio Sasahara (GatorITE UF Student Chapter Adviser), Victoria Zorbas (UF graduate student), Rosana Correa (International President of ITE), Bryce Grame (UF graduate student), Tyler Blair (GatorITE Industry Adviser from EXP)

The UFTI invites your company to partner with us through the Industry Partnership Program.

Your company’s contribution will support our work related to research, technology development, and innovation in transportation, including student scholarships and fellowships. Sponsored partnerships will provide you with collaboration on research projects and potential intellectual property (IP), national, state, and locally funded proposals and projects, access to unique UF facilities and data, access to the I-STREET Living Lab, world-class students, and more. Funds raised through partner contributions are used to support student scholarships and fellowships, independent research, technology development, and innovation in transportation.

Transportation Technology (T2) Transfer Trainings

The T2 Center offers a wide range of programs and webinars for professional development and continuing education from transportation research and practice. We also offer a complete range of entry-level and technical courses. We are happy to register individuals or schedule your entire group. Contact us to discuss your needs and discover how T2 can help you advance your knowledge and practice.

UF alumni are eligible for 15% off. Submit your UF degree and registration to T2Training@ce.ufl.edu for review.

Questions? Contact T2Training@ce.ufl.edu or call 352.273.1670

McTrans Virtual

Trainings

Highway Capacity Analysis

Dec 5-7, 1-5 PM ET

Highway Safety Analysis

Dec 12-13, 1-5 PM ET

Microsimulation Fundamentals (New!)

Dec 13-14, 1-5 PM ET

Register at mctrans.ce.ufl.edu/training/. 

For more information, contact mctrans@ce.ufl.edu

STRIDE Webinars & Archives

The STRIDE Center regularly hosts webinars throughout the semester. Past webinars can be accessed and viewed here.

The STRIDE Center is the 2016 U.S. Department of Transportation's Regional (Southeast) grant-funded University Transportation Center (UTC). Find out more about the research, education, and technology transfer activities taking place at STRIDE by visiting https://stride.ce.ufl.edu

By making your tax-deductible contribution, you can help power and move forward the Research, Education, Technology Transfer, and K-12 efforts at the UFTI.

University of Florida Transportation Institute

319 Weil Hall | UFTI@eng.ufl.edu | 352.294.7762