Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Carnegie Mellon study finds that rideshare launches boost regional GDP and flexible jobs

A new study from Carnegie Mellon University and Oxford Saïd Business School found that the entry of ride-hailing platforms drove measurable increases in economic output and intermittent employment. Regional GDP per capita increased, and the number of seasonal, temporary, or intermittent jobs rose after Uber and Lyft entered the region.

UMass Amherst researchers identify top risk factors for pedestrian-vehicle crashes at Massachusetts bus stops

Researchers used machine learning to evaluate 1,773 bus stops across Massachusetts, identifying 13 crash-relevant characteristics and proposing countermeasures. The study found that bus stop types in mixed-use arterial corridors and dense urban cores have the highest prevalence of crashes.

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalData Science for Transportation·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 22, 2026

Crosswalk confusion: MA drivers flummoxed by pedestrian hybrid beacons, find UMass Amherst researchers

A study by UMass Amherst researchers found that nearly a quarter of MA drivers run through the red light at pedestrian hybrid beacons. Drivers also often stop too soon or fail to slow down during flashing yellow phases, causing confusion and potential safety issues.

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalTransportation Research Record Journal of the Transportation Research Board·TypeObservational study·DateOct 7, 2025

FAU engineers develop smarter AI to redefine control in complex systems

Researchers at FAU have developed a smarter AI framework that can manage complex systems with unequal levels of authority and adapt to imperfect information. The framework, based on reinforcement learning and game theory, reduces unnecessary computation while maintaining system stability and optimal strategy outcomes.

SourceFlorida Atlantic University·JournalIEEE Transactions on Systems Man and Cybernetics Systems·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 23, 2025

New study: Teen drivers safer with more practice

A new study by Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that teen drivers who practiced more had 30% fewer crash or near-crash incidents. Researchers analyzed data from 82 teen drivers monitored for 22 months, revealing that supervised driving experiences and safety education are crucial for reducing novice driver risks.

UCF’s ‘bridge doctor’ combines imaging, neural network to efficiently evaluate concrete bridges’ safety

Researchers at UCF used a combination of emerging technologies to evaluate the safety of concrete bridges. By combining infrared thermography, high-definition imaging and neural network analysis, they can quickly identify defects and prioritize repairs.

SourceUniversity of Central Florida·JournalTransportation Research Record Journal of the Transportation Research Board·DateMay 16, 2025

The secret behind pedestrian crossings – and why some spiral into chaos

Researchers discovered that pedestrians form neat lanes in crossing roads only until people start veering off at extreme angles, after which the flow becomes disordered. The team's theory predicts that critical angle of 13 degrees marks the point where crowds collapse from order to disorder.

SourceUniversity of Bath·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 24, 2025

Researchers from Incheon National University advanced adaptive traffic monitoring with smart cameras

The researchers developed a novel camera-based system that adapts to traffic flow in real-time, ensuring efficient monitoring and resource use. The system's two approaches, the Random-Value-Camera-Level Algorithm and the ALL-Random-With-Weight Algorithm, optimize camera usage and save energy while maintaining reliable surveillance.

SourceIncheon National University·JournalIEEE Internet of Things Journal·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 15, 2025

Traffic jams? Let's learn from ants

A team of researchers from UniTrento examined how ants manage traffic congestion using pheromone trails and observed individual ant movements. Their findings could provide a model for optimizing autonomous vehicle traffic flow, reducing congestion and emissions.

SourceUniversità di Trento·JournalTransportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives·TypeObservational study·DateJan 13, 2025

Cars as particles

A mathematical model developed by Alexandre Solon and Eric Bertin describes the movement of particles in situations similar to cars on a road or bacteria attracted to a nutrient source. The model identifies conditions that favor traffic jams, including high vehicle density and driver inertia.

SourceSissa Medialab·JournalJournal of Statistical Mechanics Theory and Experiment·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 30, 2024

Retention ponds can deliver a substantial reduction in tire particle pollution, study suggests

A new study reveals that retention ponds and wetlands can significantly reduce the amount of tyre particles entering aquatic environments, with an average reduction of 75%. The research found that tyre wear particles outweigh other forms of microplastics, but are also removed in greater quantities.

SourceUniversity of Plymouth·JournalEnvironmental Science and Pollution Research·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 12, 2024

New traffic signal would improve travel time for both pedestrians and vehicles

A new traffic signal concept, known as the 'white phase,' uses autonomous vehicles to expedite traffic flow at intersections. The concept has been shown to improve travel time for both pedestrians and vehicles, especially when autonomous vehicles make up a higher percentage of traffic.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalComputer-Aided Civil and Infrastructure Engineering·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 12, 2024

Seattle metro residents near Amazon delivery stations face more pollution but order fewer packages

Researchers found that neighborhoods within 3 kilometers of an Amazon last-mile delivery station experience twice the amount of delivery van and truck traffic as farther-away areas. These neighborhoods are disproportionately home to low-income households and people of color, who order 14% fewer packages than average. The study highligh...

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalResearch in Transportation Economics·DateDec 14, 2023

INU researchers develop novel deep learning-based detection system for autonomous vehicles

A new deep learning-based detection system has been developed by INU researchers to improve the detection capabilities of autonomous vehicles. The system, aided by IoT technology, generates bounding boxes and confidence scores for visible obstacles using point cloud data and RGB images as input.

SourceIncheon National University·JournalIEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 30, 2023

Self-driving cars can make traffic slower

Researchers at North Carolina State University found that connected vehicles improve travel time through intersections, but automated vehicles without connectivity actually increase wait times. The study suggests that incorporating vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication is crucial for optimizing traffic flow.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalTransportation Research Record Journal of the Transportation Research Board·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 14, 2023

How to predict city traffic

A new machine learning model can predict city traffic activity in different zones of cities, enabling targeted responses from policymakers. Understanding people's mobility patterns is crucial for improving urban traffic flow, and the model provides insights into urban interactions.

SourceComplexity Science Hub·JournalScientific Reports·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 28, 2023

Researchers propose a fourth light on traffic signals – for self-driving cars

A new approach, called the white phase concept, uses autonomous vehicles to control traffic flow at intersections, reducing fuel consumption and travel time. The system informs human drivers through a clearly identifiable signal, improving safety and efficiency.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalIEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 7, 2023

Chung-Ang University researchers develop a meta-reinforcement learning algorithm for traffic signal control

The study developed an extended deep Q-network (EDQN)-incorporated context-based meta-RL model that can autonomously detect traffic states, classify regimes, and assign signal phases. The model outperformed existing algorithms in simulation experiments and showed adaptability to new tasks without adjusting parameters.

SourceChung Ang University·JournalComputer-Aided Civil and Infrastructure Engineering·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 11, 2022

The deadly impact of urban streets that look like highways

Researchers analyzed over 240,000 Google Street View images to find that streets with more visible sky, roadway, and signs have 48% more crashes than residential areas. The study highlights the dangers of 'open road' segments in urban areas, which drivers often perceive as highways, despite being near pedestrians and human activity.

SourceOhio State University·JournalEnvironment and Planning B Urban Analytics and City Science·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 12, 2022

Researchers find way to make traffic models more efficient

A new method reduces computational complexity of traffic models, making them operate more efficiently. The modified algorithm breaks down complex forecasting questions into smaller problems that can be solved in parallel, significantly reducing run time. This approach also allows for a good enough solution within an error bar, rather t...

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalIEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 5, 2022

Navigation tools could be pointing drivers to the shortest route — but not the safest

A study by Texas A&M researchers found that navigation systems frequently guide drivers to take paths with a greater risk of crashes, despite reducing travel time. The study analyzed road and traffic characteristics in five metropolitan areas and proposed a new system architecture for finding the safest route using navigation systems.

SourceTexas A&M University·JournalTransportation Research Part C Emerging Technologies·TypeNews article·DateFeb 23, 2022

NYUAD study offers new insights about urban traffic management

Researchers at NYU Abu Dhabi have published a comprehensive review of 50 fundamental traffic models using an extensive data set of 2.3 billion vehicle observations from 25 cities worldwide. The study found that a non-parametric model outperformed other traffic flow models, regardless of road type and congestion level.

SourceNew York University·JournalIEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems·DateFeb 3, 2022

Still waiting at an intersection? Banning certain left turns helps traffic flow

A new method developed by Gayah and Aalto University researcher Murat Bayrak suggests eliminating left turns at busy intersections to reduce congestion. The hybrid approach uses heuristic algorithms to identify the most efficient configurations, banning left turns in city centers while allowing them on periphery roads.

SourcePenn State·JournalTransportation Research Record Journal of the Transportation Research Board·DateJul 6, 2021