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TSA could save money by waiving PreCheck fees for frequent travelers, study finds

A new study suggests that waiving the $85 fee for frequent fliers to enroll in TSA PreCheck would result in significant cost savings for the Transportation Security Administration. The study found that costs saved by frequent travelers using expedited security exceeded the cost of waiving their enrollment fees.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalJournal of Transportation Security·DateDec 5, 2016

FAA announces new Center of Excellence

The University of Oklahoma and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University have been selected to lead the FAA's new Air Transportation Center of Excellence. The center will focus on researching innovative training methods, including part-task training, modeling, and adaptive learning technologies.

Getting from here to there

Researchers at the University of Delaware have developed a new algorithm to reduce massive amounts of connected traffic data, enabling real-time information to be provided to users. The HTGD approach identifies similar communities in the data and finds the shortest route at the highest level, reducing search space and increasing effici...

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalIIE Transactions·DateMar 2, 2016

Racial bias in crosswalks? Study says yes

Researchers have found that drivers tend to discriminate based on race when stopping for pedestrians at crosswalks, with African-Americans experiencing a 32% longer wait time before yielding. The study, which controlled for age, clothing, and socioeconomic factors, suggests that implicit racial bias plays a role in driver behavior.

Inside climate politics

A study by MIT economist Christopher Knittel reveals an essential mechanism underlying the politics of climate change. The research shows that certain climate policies, like transportation fuel subsidies, contain asymmetries that benefit a smaller group at the expense of most people.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalThe Review of Economics and Statistics·DateSep 11, 2015

CU Denver study shows excess parking at some Denver sports stadiums

A new study reveals that Denver's sports stadiums have excessive parking spaces, leading to heat islands and missed economic opportunities. The research suggests transforming inefficient parking into better investments to incentivize carpooling and other modes of transportation, improving the spectator experience and downtown businesses.

SourceUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus·JournalTransportation Research Record Journal of the Transportation Research Board·DateAug 4, 2014

Home visits by nurse may help reduce mortality in moms, children

A randomized clinical trial found that women who received prenatal and infant/toddler home visits by nurses had lower maternal all-cause mortality rates compared to those who did not receive these services. Additionally, children whose mothers received home visits were less likely to die from preventable causes before the age of 20.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Pediatrics·DateJul 7, 2014

Fueling aviation with hardwoods

A multi-university team has developed a technology to transform lignocellulosic biomass into a jet fuel surrogate via catalytic chemistry. The proposed approach could potentially produce aviation fuels at a cost of $2.88 per gallon, making it a promising alternative to traditional petroleum-derived fuels.

SourceSyracuse University·JournalEnergy & Environmental Science·DateMay 8, 2014

One currency, one price?

A recent study by MIT economists finds strong convergence of prices within the Eurozone, with prices differing by 30-50% lower than in neighboring countries. The research suggests that the common currency drives identical pricing, contradicting previous findings.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalThe Quarterly Journal of Economics·DateApr 1, 2014

Flying the not-so-friendly skies

A new MIT study found that passengers of low-cost upstarts tend to complain less about service quality than network carriers. In a study published in the Journal of Air Transport Management, Michael Wittman tallied airline-related complaints made to the U.S. Department of Transportation from 2002 to 2012.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalJournal of Air Transport Management·DateJan 30, 2014

What makes telenovelas so popular?

Researchers found that realistic stories with identifiable characters and plots lead to 'narrative transportation,' a phenomenon where consumers mentally enter the story. Five characteristics - familiarity, attention, fantasizing ability, higher education, and female gender - contribute to this effect.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateOct 15, 2013

Slow and steady wins the baggage search

Researchers found that trained Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening officers were slower than undergraduate students but more accurate in identifying T-shaped arrangements on computer screens. Consistent search patterns freed up brain processing, improving performance.

SourceDuke University·JournalVisual Cognition·DateJun 17, 2013

Warning, automatic braking systems on autos will help save lives, research predicts

Research published in IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems suggests that automatic braking systems can significantly reduce injuries in rear-end collisions. The study found that the use of three systems - warning, assisted braking, and autonomous braking - may prevent up to 50% of serious injuries.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalIEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems·DateOct 3, 2012

Cash talks when overbooked hotel guests walk

Researchers found that cash-based overcompensation leads to higher satisfaction ratings than industry-standard compensation or voucher-based overcompensation. Participants were most satisfied with a $400 cash bonus, but satisfaction levels did not increase linearly with the amount of cash provided.

SourcePenn State·JournalJournal of Hospitality & Tourism Research·DateJun 7, 2011

Organ procurement air transportation displays poor safety record

A new report reveals sub-standard transportation practices for donor organs led to fatal air crashes and emphasizes the need for improved safety measures. The study suggests implementing measures like quality aircraft, two-pilot crews, and aviation safety consultants to improve safety in organ procurement travel.

SourceWiley·JournalLiver Transplantation·DateNov 18, 2010