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Developing a Framework to Optimize Floodnet Sensor Deployments Around NYC for Equitable and Impact-Based Hyper-Local Street-Level Flood Monitoring and Data Collection
2023-09-28 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
Urban floods can lead to significant damages, and accurately measuring flood extents and depths is vital for effective management. Traditional flood measurement methods can be costly and may not provide detailed mapping. Recent advancements in affordable flood-monitoring sensors offer real-time measurements, but there’s a challenge in prioritizing where to place them, especially when considering equity and the needs of various stakeholders. This research introduced a framework that uses expert input to determine potential uses for these sensors and metrics to decide where to deploy them. The method was tested in New York City and was found to be more effective than basic prioritization methods, ensuring stakeholder needs and equity concerns were met. This framework can help local governments prioritize sensor locations for better flood management, promoting resilient and equitable cities. Future studies can adapt and test this approach in different urban settings.
Presented by NYU’s Riccardo Negri and Prof. Luis Ceferino

Transportation Jeopardy! NYU ITE vs. Northeastern
2023-10-03 18:00 - 19:30 | C2SMART Center Viz Lab, 6 Metrotech Center, Room 460, Brooklyn, 11201
Think you know everything there is to know about traffic and transit? Put your knowledge to the test in this friendly competition between NYU’s chapter of ITE and Northeastern University’s chapter of ITE. Come prepared with bits of transportation trivia and be ready to buzz in when you know the answer!

Project Mjolnir : The Journey of Designing an Open Source Adaptive Mountain Bike
2023-10-12 10:00 - 11:00
Presented by NYU Shanghai’s Noel Joyce

Biweekly Coffee and Tea Break
2023-10-12 14:00 - 15:00 | C2SMART Center Viz Lab, 6 Metrotech Center, Room 460, Brooklyn, 11201
Come stop by the Data Viz Lab for some light refreshments!

CUE PhD Biweekly Friday Seminar
2023-10-13 10:30 - 11:00
Updated Quantifying and Visualizing City Truck Route Network Efficiency Using a Virtual Testbed
Presented by Haggai Davis, III

Student Learning Hub: Introduction to Neural Networks (NNs): How and When to Use Recurrent NNs and Convolution NNs
2023-10-13 11:30 - 12:30
Instructor: Haggai D. Davis, III, New York University
Hands-on exercise: Yes
Beginner level: No prior experience required.
Schedule: Friday Oct 13th, 11:30am-12:30pm
Description: Machine learning is an incredibly broad term that encompasses a lot of different algorithms which can be applied to solve a variety of problems. Neural networks are one category of ML algorithms which consist of layers of nodes (or neurons) which will activate to transmit information when certain thresholds are met. RNNs and CNNs are subclasses of neural networks whose differing structures allow for the analysis of different types of datasets, usually things like time-series and pattern-recognition, respectively.

TransportationCamp 2023
2023-10-14 | 370 Jay Street
TransportationCamp brings together thinkers and doers in transportation and technology. It’s not a traditional conference.
The core of TransportationCamp consists of presentations, discussions, and activities led and planned by attendees themselves. TransportationCamp will convene in-person for the ninth consecutive year of events.
This year’s event will be at NYU’s Tandon School of Engineering on October 14, 2023.

ITE MET Section Student Mixer
2023-10-14 12:30 - 13:30 | 370 Jay Street
During the lunchtime portion of TransportationCamp, members of the ITE Met Section student chapters can meet and chat! This will be a great opportunity to get to know interesting and like-minded people from Cooper Union, NYU, Manhattan College, NJIT and TCNJ.

Women in Transportation Seminar: Elaine Du, AKRF
2023-10-17 16:00 - 17:00 | C2SMART Center Viz Lab, 6 Metrotech Center, Room 460, Brooklyn, 11201

Let’s Talk About Infrastructure as Symbols that Construct Values and Behaviors
2023-10-18 16:00 - 18:00 | C2SMART Center Viz Lab, 6 Metrotech Center, Room 460, Brooklyn, 11201
Penalosa Lets Talk Infrastructure CMAA

Student Learning Hub: Contextualising Cloud-based Geospatial Analytics Techniques
2023-10-20 12:00 - 13:00
Instructor: Vidisha Chowdhury, University of Pennsylvania & Philippe Schicker, Carnegie Mellon University
Hands-on exercise: Yes
Beginner level: No prior experience required.
Schedule: Friday October 20th, 12-1 pm

Description: Google Earth Engine (GEE) and other cloud-based geospatial analysis platforms can be powerful tools for data scientists and researchers to analyze vast amounts of satellite imagery and geospatial data. In this one-hour introductory course, we are going to provide you with a basic understanding of GEE, contrast it to traditional geospatial techniques, and highlight how GEE can be used for applications such as environmental monitoring, land cover classification, and more.

Building Your Career in Transportation Planning & Engineering
2023-10-23 19:00 - 20:00
Working in transportation engineering and planning means having a direct impact on the safety, livability, efficiency, and equity of communities—and there are many ways to build a meaningful career in this profession. You could work for a public agency, representing a specific community. You could serve as a consultant in the private sector and work with a variety of clients and projects across the country. Or, you could dedicate your career to researching the ways our communities will move in the future, and educating the next generation of transportation professionals.
How do you know which career path is right for you?
Join us to learn about the career options that exist in the transportation profession, and why we’re so passionate about this work! Jane Lim-Yap, Brian Bustos, Sam Liu, Jacki Smith, and Kittelson CEO Brandon Nevers will describe how transportation planners and engineers impact communities, give an overview of the differences between working in the private and public sectors of the profession, and share their advice for finding a job or internship that aligns with your values and purpose.
After a brief presentation, the discussion will be built around what’s on your mind as you evaluate career options, so please come with questions!

Internships at Kittelson
2023-10-25 19:00 - 20:00
Kittelson interns work on a variety of real projects and build relationships with team members across the firm through project work, technical trainings, meet & greets, and a two-day SCOUT Summit. If you’re interested in a 2024 internship, we invite you to join us for this follow-up Q&A session to learn about the experience of interning with Kittelson, and what we look for in an internship application. You’ll hear from Sonia Daleiden, Kittelson’s director of staff development; Mark Heisinger, one of our internship program organizers; former intern Megan Mello; and Jade Ma, who interned with us most recently in Summer 2023.

Biweekly Coffee and Tea Break
2023-10-26 14:00 - 16:00 | C2SMART Center Viz Lab, 6 Metrotech Center, Room 460, Brooklyn, 11201
Come stop by the C2SMART Data Viz Lab for some light refreshments!

Student Learning Hub: Solving Large-Scale Optimization Problems: A Practical Guide to High-Performance Computing (HPC) and Using C++ APIs for CPLEX
2023-10-27 12:00 - 13:00
Instructor: Yuhao Liu, NYU Shanghai
Hands-on exercise: Yes
Beginner level: No prior experience required.
Schedule: Friday Oct 27th, 12-1pm

Description: This course is designed to equip the audience with the basic knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the world of high performance computing (HPC) and leverage IBM’s CPLEX optimization studio for tackling complex optimization challenges. In this course, you will learn 1) how to run computation tasks on HPC clusters; 2) how to solve optimization problems using the C++ API of CPLEX; and 3) how to deploy and run CPLEX programs on HPC clusters for large-scale optimization models and/or parallel optimization algorithms.

Seminar: Advancing Sustainable Transportation: Policy Analysis and Operation Design for Electrified Ride-Sourcing Systems.
2023-11-01 15:00 - 16:00 | C2SMART Center Viz Lab, 6 Metrotech Center, Room 460, Brooklyn, 11201
Presented by NYU Shanghai’s Zhibin Chen

National Stem Day
2023-11-08 10:30 - 14:30 | C2SMART Center Viz Lab, 6 Metrotech Center, Room 460, Brooklyn, 11201
C2SMARTER and ITE MET Section are hosting a National STEM Day Event with students from Bronx high school(s) on Wednesday, November 8th.

Fireside Chat- From Classroom to Career: How Students Can Harness Experiential Learning for Future Success
2023-11-08 16:00 - 17:00
C2SMARTER’S Dr. Jingqin Gao will moderate a discussion with Prof. Gabriela Gongora-Svartzman from Carnegie Mellon University.
In this insightful fireside talk, we explore the synergy between data-driven careers, industry, and education, emphasizing the transformative power of data literacy in decision-making. Prof. Gongora-Svartzman will provide insights on maximizing the value of academic and experiential opportunities, bridging the gap between education and real-world applications, and offering guidance on post-graduation career transitions. Additionally, Prof. Gongora-Svartzman will delve into the pivotal role of technologists in building public trust through technology in the public sector and promoting tech for social good. She will address the critical importance of ethical data analysis, highlighting the role of data storytelling and visualization in projects. Join us to shape a future where data-driven professionals play a vital role in fostering positive societal impact.
BIO
Prof. Gongora-Svartzman serves as an Assistant Teaching Professor for Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University, where she teaches various courses, including Exploratory Data Analysis and Visualization with Python, Machine Learning Foundations with Python, and Data Analytics with Tableau. She also holds the role of faculty advisor for capstone projects for various graduate programs. Before joining CMU, she was an Adjunct Instructor at Stevens Institute of Technology’s Business Intelligence and Analytics Program and an Adjunct Associate Faculty at Columbia University’s Applied Analytics Program. Prof. Gongora-Svartzman’s research focuses on Urban Informatics, Data Visualization for Decision Making, and Resilience and Social Perception. Her work uniquely bridges technical service performance with human perceptions, covering areas like disaster preparedness through social media analysis, smart city service quality, social equity movements, transportation services, and decarbonization strategies. She actively contributes to the field as a member of INFORMS, leading sessions on diversity, equity, and inclusion and serving in various leadership roles. Beyond her academic pursuits, she champions women in STEM, diversity, equity, and inclusion in computing and mentors students in data competitions. She has also served as chair of the Early Career Teachers Network (ECTN 2021 and 2022), Secretary for Women in OR/MS (2021), current VP of Communications for Women in OR/MS (2022) and has been a mentor for the Women in OR/MS Mentorship program for 2019-2021.

Student Learning Hub: Essentials of Data Acquisition for Transportation Analysis
2023-11-10 12:00 - 13:00
Instructor: Vivian Otieno, Texas Southern University
Hands-on exercise: Yes
Beginner level: No prior experience required.
Schedule: Friday November 10th, 12-1pm

Description: Essentials of Data Acquisition for Transportation Analysis involves the collection, processing, and analysis of data about traffic patterns, vehicle movements, and other factors that can be useful in the transportation industry. This course will cover types of data acquisition systems, the technologies used in data acquisition, the advantages and disadvantages of data collection systems, and how the collected data is used in the transportation industry to improve the system and make it better.

C2SMARTER Industry Roundtable
2023-11-13 14:00 - 15:00 | C2SMART Center Viz Lab, 6 Metrotech Center, Room 460, Brooklyn, 11201
This roundtable discussion brings together founders from technology start-ups in the NYC area aiming for transportation data analytics and mobility innovations, where they will share their ventures, experiences, and lessons learned. The event will be moderated by NYU’s Prof. Eugene Vinitsky.
The panelists for the roundtable are:

Su Sanni, founder and CEO of Dollaride
Tara Pham, founder and CEO of Numina
Navjodh Singh, founder of Strata

Civil Engineering Career Fair
2023-11-29 09:00 - 14:00 | C2SMART Center Viz Lab, 6 Metrotech Center, Room 460, Brooklyn, 11201

Vision Zero Research on the Road Symposium
2023-11-29 09:00 - 16:30 | One Liberty Plaza, One Liberty Plaza, NY, NY

Women in Transporation II: Lavanya Marla
2023-11-30 16:00 - 17:00 | C2SMART Center Viz Lab, 6 Metrotech Center, Room 460, Brooklyn, 11201

Leveraging Passively-collected Mobility Data in Generating Spatially-heterogeneous Synthetic Population
2024-01-05 13:00 - 14:00
Conventional population synthesis methods rely on household travel survey (HTS) data. However, the synthesized population suffers from a low spatial heterogeneity issue due to high data aggregation and low sampling rates of HTS data. Passively collected (PC) data from smartphone devices or transit smart cards have the potential to overcome the limitations of HTS data, thanks to the continuous collection of mobility patterns at a high spatial resolution for a large proportion of the population. However, the mismatched spatial resolution, sampling rate, and attribute information make the fusion of HTS and PC data challenging. This study presents a novel cluster-based data fusion method that exploits the benefits of both HTS and PC data to generate a synthetic population with high spatial heterogeneity. As the number of the value combinations for spatial attributes (e.g., home and work locations) in PC data is much larger than that in HTS data, clustering is adopted to deal with the high-dimensionality issue and link spatial attributes in the two data sources. The data fusion problem is then formulated as tractable multiple low-dimensional optimization subproblems. The properties of the proposed method are analytically derived. The application of the proposed approach is demonstrated using the HTS and LTE/5G cellular signaling data from Seoul, South Korea

TRB 2024: UTC Directors Meeting
2024-01-07 09:00 - 11:00

NYU/C2SMARTER TRB Reception
2024-01-08 18:00 - 20:00
Monday, January 8, 2024
6:00pm – 8:00pm ET
Marriott Marquis Salon 15 (M2 Level)
901 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC

TRB: Center Meeting
2024-01-09 17:00 - 19:00

TRB Workshop: Understand Digital Twins for Transportation Systems
2024-01-11 09:00
Although the idea of pairing simulation with traffic operations is not new, the development and deployment of digital twins have been gaining popularity among transportation practitioners and researchers. This workshop will cover the past and current application of digital twins and future opportunities with a focus on a plethora of applications ranging from traditional traffic signal control to more ambitious city-wide management and planning of various mobility solutions. The role of artificial intelligence and machine learning to handle input and output requirements will also be discussed.

7th NYUAD Transportation Symposium
2024-01-12 08:00 - 17:00 | 19 Washington Square North, 19 Washington Square North, NY, NY
The symposium, cosponsored by C2SMARTER, will be held at the NYUAD site in NY, 19 Washington Square North, in the heart of the NYU campus, on January 12, 2024, immediately after the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting.
This year’s theme is Climate Change and Transportation.

NYC Intelligent Transportation Workshop
2024-01-16
Speakers:

Prof. Zhibin Chen (NYU Shanghai)
Prof. Xuan Sharon Di (Columbia University)
Prof. Monica Menendez (NYUAD)
Prof. Andrea Lodi (Cornell Tech)
