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NYU/C2SMARTER TRB Reception
2024-01-08 18:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York)
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)

Transit Accessibility Showcase
2024-01-23 15:00 - 18:00 | Makerspace, 6 Metrotech
The Transit Accessibility Showcase will demonstrate new and emerging technologies to assist people with disabilities in using public transportation.

Vision Zero Youth Day
2024-02-09 14:00 - 18:00

RESCHEDULED: Women in Transportation, Prof. Lavanya Marla
2024-02-14 15:00 - 16:00 | C2SMART Center Viz Lab, 6 Metrotech Center, Room 460, Brooklyn, 11201
The confluence of learning and optimization holds great promise for solving dynamic, online resource allocation problems under uncertainty. In this talk, I will present brief overviews of two such problems in which tools developed independently in one field have helped solve problems in the complementary field. First, we focus on the problem of collaborative routing of aircraft and unmanned vehicles, under non-stationary spatial-temporal correlations. A long unsolved question in air and ground routing has been: “if a subset of traveling vehicles can be used for exploration to update information, how should vehicles be routed to collect information most useful to minimize costs for the entire fleet”? We expand on recent advances in multi-armed bandit algorithms to solve this problem, and generate near-optimal policies. We find this could reduce travel time and fuel burn by about 5% for the fleet. Second, we study how we can improve upon long-used regret bounds in AI/ML, which are based on omniscient information about the future. Our work builds on Brown, Smith, and Sun (2010), who present an approach for information-relaxation bounds in dynamic programs. However, the computation of these penalized information-relaxation bounds (or penalized regret bounds) for large-scale systems has hitherto been discussed by many as intractable. We present tractable methods to achieve bounds for time-space network-based problems and problems modeled as block-diagonal mixed-integer programs.
Light refreshments will be provided. If you cannot join in person, register to attend via Zoom

Student Learning Hub: Fireside Chat
2024-02-21 15:30 - 16:30 | C2SMART Center Viz Lab, 6 Metrotech Center, Room 460, Brooklyn, 11201
Chris is a transportation planning professional with over 10 years of experience in the industry. He has led both regional and statewide transportation planning efforts, as well as managed several sub-area and corridor studies. In his role with AirSage, Chris advises public agency and consulting clients on how to leverage mobile device and connected vehicle data for more informed decision-making. With a diverse portfolio in developing cutting-edge decision-support tools and data-driven methodologies, he consistently champions innovative approaches to address complex transportation challenges. Chris holds a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies and Economics, complemented by a Master’s in Urban Planning from the University of Kansas.

Light refreshments will be provided! If you cannot attend in person, join via Zoom

City Tech/NYU Tandon C2Smarter Poster Presentation & Social
2024-03-05 16:00 - 18:00 | C2SMART Center Viz Lab, 6 Metrotech Center, Room 460, Brooklyn, 11201

Women in Transportation Series: Ilgin Guler, Penn State
2024-03-07 15:00 - 16:00 | C2SMART Center Viz Lab, 6 Metrotech Center, Room 460, Brooklyn, 11201
Many urban areas rely on bus transit to provide mobility to people. Transit priority strategies can be used to improve bus operations. However, implementing transit priority applications can often increase the delay of non-transit modes. Hence, the system-wide benefits or impacts of transit priority applications (TPA) are typically unknown. Moreover, the impacts and benefits of TPAs can change the mode and route choice of network users. This relationship between the effects of TPAs on traffic and behavior of the network users makes accurate evaluation of TPA locations challenging. In this talk, a bi-level location optimization algorithm that can evaluate and optimally select locations of TPA applications will be presented. Further, the accuracy of the optimization process is also addressed by testing different metaheuristic methods to identify an optimization method that can account for the interdependencies between TPA locations.
Light refreshments will be provided. If you cannot attend in person, join via Zoom

SLH: Narratives in Mapping: An Introduction to ArcGIS StoryMaps in Advocacy and Public Policy
2024-03-08 12:00 - 13:00
Instructor: Saul Bezner, Carnegie Mellon University
Hands-on exercise: Yes
Beginner level: No prior experience required. Basic GIS knowledge is preferred.
Schedule: Friday, March 8th, 12:00 pm -1:00 pm ET
Description: Are you interested in public policy? Perhaps there’s an issue in your community that you want to investigate or raise awareness for. Geospatial analysis is an excellent tool that can be applied to countless areas, from independent advocacy to high level policy. In this course, participants will hear a brief presentation concerning the effects of increasing freight traffic on community health in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Participants will then be introduced to the ArcGIS analysis tools that were used to create the presentation, including the Buffer, Clip, Summarize Within, and Spatial Join tools. No prior knowledge of these tools is needed–just and eagerness to learn! The presenter will introduce tools in ArcGIS Pro 3.1. The concepts discussed can also be applied to open-source software packages like QGIS, although the platforms themselves are different.
RSVP Link: Here

Women in Transportation Panel Discussion
2024-03-11 17:00 - 18:00 | C2SMART Center Viz Lab, 6 Metrotech Center, Room 460, Brooklyn, 11201
Celebrate Women’s History Month with a series of events hosted by C2SMARTER, ITE MET Section, WTS-GNY, and YPT-NYC! This panel will bring together women from different facets of the transportation industry to share their experiences and perspectives gained during their careers. The discussion will be moderated by NYU PhD candidate Daphne Cornilesse.
Light refreshments will be provided. Non-NYU guests are welcome to attend in person (registration is required) or via Zoom.

Simulating the Future of Automated Driving: Unveiling Human Factors Issues and Providing HCI Insights
2024-03-12 16:00 - 17:00 | C2SMART Center Viz Lab, 6 Metrotech Center, Room 460, Brooklyn, 11201
This speech explores the intersection of human factors, human-computer interaction (HCI), and evaluation of automated driving systems. Based on exemplary research projects, we will delve into simulations as a powerful tool for studying automated driving. We will discuss study setup in driving simulators and mixed reality environments, addressing the sim-real domain gap. Wizard-of-Oz studies and the explainability of automated driving systems are introduced, along with the crucial role of driver-vehicle cooperation. We also explore confidence and trust in these systems, emphasizing their impact on user experience.
Light refreshments will be provided. If you cannot attend in person, join via Zoom

Seminar: Chantal Himmels, BMW
2024-03-14 14:00 - 15:00
Driving simulators are among the most frequently used research tools in the automotive domain. The main reason for this is that driving simulators offer a highly controllable and inherently safe test environment. However, researchers usually aim to draw inferences about the real-world context based on driving simulator experiments. A necessary prerequisite for this is driving simulator validity, which refers to the correspondence of driver and vehicle/environment behavior in the driving simulator with that in the real world. There are various influencing factors towards driving simulator validity, and validity must be considered independently for differing driving simulators and use cases, rather than being a general simulator property. Throughout my PhD, I proposed a methodology for validating driving simulators, and conducted numerous subject studies including simulator comparisons as well as real-world studies. The results of my PhD will be presented briefly in this presentation.

WTS GNY College Outreach Careers in Transportation Panel
2024-03-27 18:30 - 19:30
Have you considered getting a PhD? Are you currently a graduate student? If so, join us for our WTS-GNY Careers in Transportation Panel where we will learn about the experiences of three PhD graduates and how their education has informed their work in the transportation industry. The discussion will be moderated by Chair of the WTS-GNY College Outreach Committee Christina Lindstrom. Please use the Zoom link below to register for the event.

SLH: Introduction to database systems and SQL
2024-03-28 12:00 - 13:00
Instructor: Ziyue Feng, New York University
Hands-on exercise: Yes
Beginner level: No prior experience required.
Schedule: Thursday, March 28th, 12:00 pm -1:00 pm ET
Description: Databases have become indispensable in our daily lives. In this one-hour session, we’ll cover the fundamental concepts of database systems and Structured Query Language (SQL). Additionally, we are going to have a hands-on session with SQL to help you become familiar with data extraction techniques.
RSVP Link: Here

Seminar: Control Engineering for Smart Cities: Curbing Uncertainty, Taming Nonlinearity, and Putting Theory to Work
2024-03-28 14:00 - 15:00 | C2SMART Center Viz Lab, 6 Metrotech Center, Room 460, Brooklyn, 11201
Presented by Ahmad F. Taha, Associate Professor, Vanderbilt University
Seminar Abstract: Conservative projections estimate that a staggering 70% of the world’s population will live in cities by 2050. As a result of this and other megatrends shaping and defining the Anthropocene, future cities will need reliable urban infrastructure—systems that are orders of magnitude more superior in every metric than today’s aging, feeble ones. In short, today’s most critical infrastructure (i.e., energy, water, and traffic networks) are incapable of meeting future demand of cities. Transitioning to carbon-free power grids, climate-resilient, safe and equitable water systems, as well as autonomous and electrified transportation networks requires action—action that transcends sluggish political change.
Various strategies exist to address the above urban challenges. Compared to policy-driven strategies (e.g., regulation, opening new roads, building power plants, replacing deteriorating pipes), data- and system-theoretic strategies that rely on network science, applied math, control engineering, and wireless sensing and actuation technologies strike a much-needed balance between cost and efficiency. In this talk, I will present contemporary research problems in dynamic, urban networks that address two high-level challenges: human-centered uncertainty and physics-based nonlinearity. From a fundamentally new approach of looking at water system management to robust algorithms to controlling transportation systems and renewables-heavy energy systems, the talk will showcase how control and optimization theory produce answers to infrastructure challenges with monumental relevance.

Seminar: Realizing Benefits at Low Market Penetration of Connected Automated Vehicles
2024-04-02 13:00 - 14:00
Presented by Prof. Brian Park, UVA:
In this talk, I will present connected vehicles and connected-automated vehicles research demonstrating the potential for improving traffic operations at low market penetrations. The first presentation is a “day one operation” of connected vehicles, the transit signal priority (TSP) case, which works even if only buses are connected vehicles. A key advantage of connected vehicle-based TSP (referred to as TSPCV) is its capability to implement (i) cooperative control, (ii) green reallocation, and (iii) handling multiple buses approaching from conflicting directions. Both simulation-based study results and a proof-of-concept field implementation featuring traffic signal controllers and connected vehicle communications will be presented. The second presentation is motivated by adaptive cruise control (ACC) not being widely used, not taking advantage of connectivity, and human drivers wanting to be in charge. When a human driver speeds up or down depending on their perceived safety in terms of spacing or time headway to their preceding vehicle, the accelerations or decelerations are not optimal due to human nature. Thus, an algorithm called human-in-the-loop connected cruise control (hCCC, “h-triple-C”) is developed. It implements optimal acceleration or deceleration based on (i) the human driver’s intention to speed up or down and (ii) a feedforward signal from its preceding vehicle. The hCCC algorithm was tested using a driving simulator and compared with human drivers. These two presentations showcase exemplary research conducted for the early stages of connected vehicles and connected-automated vehicles, with significant potential for real-world deployment.

Engineering Careers with IKOS
2024-04-04 12:30 - 13:30 | C2SMART Center Viz Lab, 6 Metrotech Center, Room 460, Brooklyn, 11201
Join for a lunch presentation followed by a Q&A session and networking. Hear firsthand from IKOS professionals about their experiences, projects, and career paths within the company and gain insights into IKOS’ company culture, values, and commitment to excellence.

Webinar: Digitized Lifetime Concrete Corrosion and Humidity Health Monitoring of Bridges, Parking Decks, and Garages, and Other Important Structures
2024-04-11 14:00 - 15:00
Concrete corrosion represents a high risk to the reliability of critical infrastructure and is the cause of substantial maintenance, refurbishment, and rehabilitation costs. As demonstrated in two specific case studies, a fully iot-enabled, remote, corrosion monitoring system contributes to smart infrastructure monitoring of the next generation. The case studies represent cast-in-place concrete bridge decks and post-tensioned bridges in the EU. The sensors are fully embedded within the concrete structure, and they track the key parameters of humidity and temperature and detect actual corrosion, not potential. As a result of RFID technology, the passive sensors enhance the durability and lifetime of the structure, monitoring and delivering valuable data allowing detection of corrosion risks long before they become visible. Externally mounted gateways gather the information and transmit the data online to enable a remotely accessible, cost-effective monitoring and alarm system. Therefore, exploratory inspections can be reduced or eliminated, the service life of the infrastructure extended, and rehabilitation costs significantly reduced.

Presented by Kline Engineering’s Dan Kline. Co-hosted by Rutgers and the RIME Bridge Resource Program

SLH: Building Interactive Maps with JavaScript, HTML, and CSS
2024-04-18 12:00 - 13:00
Instructor: Hannah Bonestroo, New York University
Hands-on exercise: Yes
Beginner level: No prior experience required. Basic website development knowledge is preferred.
Schedule: Thursday, April 18th, 12:00 pm -1:00 pm ET
Description: In this one-hour course, you will learn how to create a basic interactive online map using JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. These essential web development tools will allow you to showcase your research findings to a wider, non-technical audience. While this course will only cover the very basics, we will discuss how further mastering these tools can open up a world of opportunity for data visualization.
RSVP Link: Here

SLH: Analyzing scope and limitations of using GeoAI Toolbox available in ArcGIS Pro/Online
2024-04-25 12:00 - 13:00
Instructor: Komal Gulati, North Carolina A&T State University
Hands-on exercise: Yes
Beginner level: Basic GIS and AI knowledge is preferred.
Schedule: Thursday, April 25th, 1:00 pm -2:00 pm ET
Description: Geospatial Artificial Intelligence (GeoAI) offer transformative capabilities for handling and analyzing geospatial data. This course will introduce you to the essentials of GeoAI, including its significance and range of applications, followed by a detailed walkthrough of the ArcGIS Pro environment and the GeoAI Toolbox. You’ll gain hands-on experience in leveraging deep learning for geospatial analysis, from preparing training datasets to executing model inferencing, culminating in a practical exercise aimed at detecting infrastructure vulnerable to landslides in the island of Grenada.
RSVP Link: Here

Seminar: The Intersection of Cloud Computing and Civil Infrastructure
2024-04-25 14:00 - 15:00 | C2SMART Center Viz Lab, 6 Metrotech Center, Room 460, Brooklyn, 11201
Over the coming years, bridges and other physical infrastructure will experience unprecedented demands due to climate driven changes and trends in freight. These increasing demands are set against a backdrop of infrastructure deterioration as many assets reach the end of their intended life. This presentation will examine not only these trends but also technology that can be leveraged by the engineering community to better analyze, understand, and overcome these challenges.
The objective of this presentation is to familiarize the engineering community with technology tools that have become well established in adjacent industries and are poised to play a large role in the field of civil infrastructure. These include cloud computing, programming languages, data visualization and machine learning. These tools are examined in the context of two upcoming challenges for our industry: climate threats and increasingly heavy freight. Ultimately, the engineers who know these problems inside and out should have the tools and skill sets to know the data inside and out.
Presented by HNTB’s Erik Zuker, PE, and Rob Wildish, EIT. Co-hosted by Rutgers and the RIME Bridge Resource Program

NYU Technology Opportunities & Ventures (TOV) Info Session
2024-06-18 11:00 - 12:00 | C2SMART Center Viz Lab, 6 Metrotech Center, Room 460, Brooklyn, 11201
Important in person info session!
NYU’s Technology Opportunities & Ventures (TOV) office will be hosting an info section on patent and commercialization on June 18. TOV is the technology commercialization unit of NYU and is the office who helps university researcher protect the and promote their outputs. Come learn about how the office functions and how to utilize it for your research.
If you can’t attend in person- stream via Zoom

Seminar: Leveraging AI to Improve Safety for Personal Mobility Device Users
2024-07-25 13:00 - 14:00 | C2SMART Center Viz Lab, 6 Metrotech Center, Room 460, Brooklyn, 11201
Presented by Prof. Reuben Tamakloe, Research Assistant Professor, KAIST
Abstract: Personal Mobility Devices (PMDs) have seen a remarkable rise in popularity, becoming a preferred mode of urban transportation. However, this surge has brought significant safety concerns, highlighted by increased PMD-involved crashes. Research shows that PMD user behavior and the physical environment, especially in urban areas, play crucial roles in these crashes. This emphasizes the need for a comprehensive investigation into the factors associated with injury outcomes in PMD-involved accidents. Notably, there is a research gap in analyzing the determinants behind fatal or severe PMD crashes, particularly those where the PMD rider is at fault. Additionally, it is unclear how micro-scale streetscape features influence the fatality of these crashes, making it difficult for safety researchers and urban planners to efficiently address the road safety problems associated with PMD users.
With advancements in computing power, safety researchers can now utilize state-of-the-art machine learning tools to understand the factors contributing to fatal/severe crashes and develop solutions to reduce their occurrence and severity. In this study, we apply unsupervised machine learning tools and computer vision to explore the factors associated with fatal or serious injuries in homogeneous groups of crashes caused by PMD riders. Furthermore, we use computer vision and automated machine learning tools to investigate the impact of streetscape quality features namely greenness, openness, enclosure, walkability, and imageability—developed based on micro-scale built environment features such as sidewalk proportion, vegetation proportion, and building/wall proportion—on the injury outcomes of PMD-involved crashes.
Our analysis revealed intriguing insights, indicating unique factor associations in homogeneous PMD-involved crashes connected with fatal/severe injury. Additionally, the study identified a strong link between these streetscape features and injury outcomes. From the non-linear factor impact analysis, opportunities to enhance PMD rider safety by improving the built environment were identified. Policymakers can apply these findings to improve PMD rider safety, contributing to greater environmental sustainability.

Webinar: Prof. Morteza Bagheri, Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST)
2024-08-16 11:30 - 12:30
Hosted by Morteza Bagheri, Associate Professor, Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST)
Recently, the United States has faced several significant freight train derailments involving hazardous materials (HAZMAT), raising serious concerns about rail safety. This seminar investigates various approaches to mitigate the risks associated with HAZMAT transport by rail. Through this seminar, we aim to explain the critical importance of effective risk management in HAZMAT transportation and emphasize the necessity of collaboration among all stakeholders to ensure everyone’s safety.

CUE Minors Info Session
2024-09-17 12:30 - 14:00 | C2SMART Center Viz Lab, 6 Metrotech Center, Room 460, Brooklyn, 11201
The Civil and Urban Engineering Department is hosting a Minor Preview event on Tuesday, September 17th from 1230-2pm. This is a great opportunity for you to learn about the minors offered in our department that are available to all of you, no matter what your major is!
Registration is required, see link below.

Transportation & Urban Systems Fall Welcome Event
2024-09-17 17:00 - 18:00 | C2SMART Center Viz Lab, 6 Metrotech Center, Room 460, Brooklyn, 11201
Come meet your fellow students and faculty, learn about upcoming courses, programs, and research opportunities in transportation and urban systems, and eat snacks!

Mass Transit & Climate Change
2024-09-26 09:30 - 11:00 | Kimmel Center, Room 914, 60 Washington Square South, New York, NY, 10012, United States
Public transportation plays a critical role in the fight against climate change. Transportation is the single largest source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, accounting for about 28% of the U.S. total. Of that, public transportation contributes little, but it plays a critical role in enabling mode shift. Reducing emissions and improving air quality in all modes, including transit, is also important to counter the effects of climate change. With excessive flooding and extreme heat on the rise, climate change is challenging our transportation networks. In response, the MTA recently published its Climate Resilience Roadmap, a comprehensive framework to fortify the transit system against the impacts of climate change. With increased funding, FTA is expanding public transportation’s role in mitigating climate effects, making a record investment in low- and no-emission technology, promoting more equitable transit-oriented development and fostering resiliency through grant programs. The NYU Rudin Center for Transportation presents an expert panel to discuss strategies that will enable our transit system to adapt and expand.
Panelists
Veronica Vanterpool, Acting Administrator, Federal Transportation Administration
Jamie Torres-Springer, President, MTA Construction & Development
Tom Prendergast, Executive Vice President & New York Metro Chief Executive, AECOM
Moderator: Sarah M. Kaufman, Director, NYU Rudin Center for Transportation
This event is sponsored by AECOM, with additional support from NYU C2SMARTER, a Tier 1 University Transportation Center, and the NYU Climate Change Initiative Seed Grant.
