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Projects

The National Center for Sustainable Transportation funds a variety of research grants, organized by our three research themes (Infrastructure Provision; Travel Demand; and Vehicle Technology), and by project type (applied research projects, white papers / research synthesis, seed grants, translational projects, dissertation grants, and graduate student-led research). 

Leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Asset Inventories and Management

  • Principal Investigator Fengxiang Qiao, Ph.D.
  • Texas Southern University
Texas Southern University, in partnership with the University of Houston, will expand the Texas Department of Transportation’s Transportation Asset Management Plan which currently only includes pavements and bridges.
Project Status
In Progress

Investigation of the Abilities and Limitations of Travel Demand Modeling in Informing Decision-Making

  • Principal Investigator Susan Handy, Ph.D.
  • University of California, Davis
This project will investigate the capabilities and limitations of Travel Demand Models by delineating their ability to accurately forecast project outcomes and determining how susceptible model analyses are to bias. The findings inform policymakers of the opportunities and limitations in relying on TDMs as regulatory tools.
Project Status
In Progress

Exploring Induced Travel Effects from Other Projects

  • Principal Investigator Jamey Volker, PhD
  • University of California, Davis
The purpose of this project is to explore the induced travel effects of categories of roadway expansions not currently covered by the Induced Travel Calculator, including minor arterials, interchanges, on- and off-ramps, and non-general-purpose facilities.
Project Status
In Progress

Equity Concerns Related to Induced Travel and Mitigation

  • Principal Investigator Jesus Barajas, Ph.D
  • University of California, Davis
This project will develop guidance for evaluating sociodemographic disparities from the impacts of State Highway System expansion projects and associated vehicle miles traveled (VMT) mitigation strategies.
Project Status
In Progress

Simulator Evaluation of Emerging Countermeasures for Speed Management to Reduce Conflicts with Vulnerable Users

  • Principal Investigator Fengxiang Qiao, Ph.D.
  • Texas Southern University
This project will conduct a literature review and expert survey to investigate the most promising emerging technologies for advanced speed management, such as Connected and Autonomous Vehicle technologies, Advanced Driver-Assistance System messaging, Advanced Traveler Information Systems, Advanced Vehicle Location, remote sensing and detection technologies for pedestrians, bicycles, and other vulnerable users; advanced signal timing technologies, etc.
Project Status
In Progress

Envisioning Micromobility as Public Transit: Two intervention studies in the living lab of Davis, California

  • Principal Investigator Kari E. Watkins, Ph.D.
  • University of California, Davis
To begin to envision micromobility as serving existing public transit and acting as public transportation itself, the researchers will examine the role of pricing on micromobility demand. In this project, the researchers will conduct two pricing-focused field experiments, partnered with the micromobility operator, SPIN, and a railway operator, Capitol Corridor.
Project Status
In Progress

Towards a Just Electric Vehicle Transition in North America: Analysis of Regional Trade and its Effects on Supply and Life Cycle Impacts

  • Principal Investigator Francisco Parés Olguín
  • University of California, Davis
With increasing electric vehicle (EV) demand, EVs have entered the international second-hand (SH) vehicle market, risking economic and environmental burdens through spent batteries. This research addresses challenges associated with the EV transition in North America.
Project Status
In Progress

Modeling Traffic Noise and Light on Natural Landscapes at the State Scale

  • Principal Investigator Fraser Shilling, Ph.D.
  • University of California, Davis
The researchers will develop a method for statewide modeling of noise and light intrusion into areas adjacent to roads to aid locating and designing crossings to maximize wildlife approach and use.
Project Status
In Progress

Equity in the Path to Full Light-Duty Vehicle Electrification

  • Principal Investigator Trisha Ramadoss
  • University of California, Davis
This dissertation will develop a representative synthetic population of California including household and vehicle variables crucial to modeling electric vehicle (EV) adoption and equity.
Project Status
In Progress

Understanding of Tire-Wear Gaseous Emissions and their Impact on Secondary Aerosol Formation from On-Road Vehicles

  • Principal Investigator Georgios Karavalakis, Ph.D.
  • University of California, Riverside
In this study, the researchers will measure the gaseous emissions from the off-gassing of tires during laboratory and real-world testing conditions. The researchers will also evaluate the secondary organic aerosol forming potential from the off-gassing of tires during only laboratory conditions using state-of-the-art instrumentation.
Project Status
In Progress