Winner: University of Michigan took top honors at the 2022 Transportation Technology Tournament, with a focus on pedestrian safety using Connected and Automated Vehicle (CAV) technology.
Overview
The annual Transportation Technology Tournament challenges student teams to solve real-world transportation problems by leveraging existing infrastructure and maximizing the use of operations and Intelligent Transportations Systems (ITS) strategies. The problems are defined by transportation agencies and students collaborate with agency representatives to develop better understanding of the issues and needs. The tournament – a partnership of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s ITS Joint Program Office Professional Capacity Building Program (ITS JPO PCB) and the National Operations Center of Excellence (NOCoE) – seeks to build on transportation curriculums by teaching problem solving, communications, and team building skills with students with a variety of educational backgrounds.
The winning team from University of Michigan addressed pedestrian safety by proposing improvements to signal timing and CAV-pedestrian signaling systems to protect pedestrians from vehicles. The solution also exhibited innovation with lit crosswalks as well as a focus on community needs and wants.
Finalists delivered a 10-minute presentation to the panel of judges from the public and private sectors and academia. Judges ask detailed and pointed questions to challenge the teams on their solution’s approach, cost, lifecycle benefits, maintenance, and overall feasibility. The two other finalist teams this year were from Florida International University and the University of Memphis, which tackled problems featuring integrated corridor management solution for southeast Florida and safety in the City of Nashville.
The 2022 finals marked a return to the in-person finals at ITE Annual meeting after being held virtually in 2020 and 2021.
| College/University | Problem Statement Topic | Participating Agency | Submissions | Student Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Florida International University |
Using Integrated Corridor Management (ICM) Strategy to Mitigate Congestion Along I-95 |
Florida DOT |
ConOps | Student Information |
| University of Memphis (Cicinelli) | MDOT Superior Region (Michigan Upper Peninsula) Portable Changeable Message Sign (PCMS) Stations for Emergency Response | Michigan DOT | ConOps | Student Information |
|
University of Memphis (Amundson) |
Nashville Vision Zero |
Nashville DOT |
Student Information | |
|
University of Memphis (Flanagan) |
Nashville Vision Zero |
Nashville DOT |
Student Information | |
|
University of Memphis (Johnston) |
Nashville DOT: Culbertson Road Safety Challenges |
Nashville DOT |
ConOps | Student Information |
|
University of Michigan |
Corktown Last-mile Transit Challenge (MDOT and Michigan Central Team, Ford Motor Company) |
Michigan DOT |
ConOps | Student Information |