Please note: NOCoE can only fund travel to the ITE Annual Meeting for teams from U.S.-based universities.
All participants travel at their own risk. NOCoE reimburses travel but cannot assist with passport, visa, immigration or other travel requirements.
Overview
The Transportation Technology Tournament (TTT) is an annual event hosted jointly by the National Operations Center of Excellence (NOCoE) and the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) that connects student teams with public agencies to solve real-world transportation problems utilizing ITS and Transportation Systems & Operations (TSMO) solutions. Former projects feature exciting solutions that include video detection, machine vision, Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning, digital twins, and more. TTT Finalist teams are invited to the ITE Annual Meeting to present their submission to judges – all expenses paid!
2027 Overview Webinar
Join the 2027 Transportation Technology Tournament Overview webinar on Wednesday, December 2, 2026, from 1:00 to 2:00 pm ET. The webinar covers how the tournament works, the training provided to student teams, the timeline, and the 2027 theme: AI for TSMO and ITS. It is open to professors, advisors and prospective student teams.
How It Works
- Teams of 4-6 students register
- Teams receive a problem to solve from an agency
- Teams participate in virtual trainings on ITS, TSMO, and topic areas relating to the challenge problem
- Teams work with the agency and their academic mentor to develop and submit a Solution Document (a light ConOps)
- The review panel selects TTT finalists
- Finalists meet with industry mentors and present at the ITE Annual Meeting
- The Tournament winner is announced at the ITE Annual Meeting Event
Challenge Problems
Challenge problems are developed with a transportation agency who can provide a real-world problem for students to find a solution to. This past problem statement template is an example on how to get started. A 2027 version will be provided soon.
Benefits of Participating
- Students– The Tournament provides students with opportunities to expand teamwork, problem solving, communications, and presentation skills; gain real-world experience working with ITS professionals; gain national recognition for work; network with ITS professionals; and attend the ITE Annual Meeting.
- Agencies– The Tournament provides agencies with the opportunity to get one of their transportation problems solved by a group of brilliant students. Additionally, the agencies act as mentors for the students, helping to develop the future transportation workforce.
- Mentors– Mentors will meet with the students virtually throughout the tournament and in-person at ITE. The mentors have an opportunity to help to develop the future transportation workforce.
2027 Tournament Schedule and Milestones
| Activity | Details | Dates |
| Sign-up Deadline | Last day to register a team for the tournament | Saturday, January 30, 2027 |
| Tournament Kickoff | Officially kick off the 2027 TTT and begin working on problem statements | Monday, February 1, 2027 5:00 pm ET |
| Training Module #1 | Examples of AI for TSMO and ITS Applications | Monday, February 22, 2027 5:00 pm ET (tentative) |
| Training Module #2 | TSMO and ITS systems, architecture, and integrating solutions | Monday, March 15, 2027 5:00 pm ET (tentative) |
| Training Module #3 | Communicating your solution | Monday, April 5, 2027 5:00 pm ET (tentative) |
| Solution Documents Due | Final deadline to submit solution documents | Monday, May 3, 2027 |
| Finalists Chosen | Finalist teams selected to compete at the ITE Annual Meeting | Monday, May 17, 2027 |
| Final Event at ITE Annual Meeting | Finalist teams present to judges in Calgary, AB | Monday, July 26, 2027 (tentative) |
2026 TTT Winner
The winner of the 2026 Transportation Technology Tournament (TTT) is the team from Iowa State University. In their winning solution, Iowa State designed a connected vehicle-based queue warning system that detects queues in real time and warns approaching drivers, reducing secondary crashes on high-speed rural interstates.
The 2027 Transportation Technology Tournament will focus on AI for TSMO and ITS. The Final will take place at the ITE Annual Meeting in Calgary, AB, July 25–28, 2027. If you have any questions, please contact Adam Hopps with the National Operations Center of Excellence.