• September 30, 2014

    Tsinghua University Delegation Visits PacTrans to Discuss Smart Cities

    A delegation led by Professor Zhang Yi, vice provost in global affairs, from Tsinghua University was welcomed by PacTrans and members of the University of Washington community on September 11th, 2014. The exchange brought faculty and administrators from both universities together to discuss cutting edge research in intelligent transportation and smart cities.

    Professor Zhang of the Tsinghua delegation, who hosted the UW delegation in 2008 and visited the UW in 2010, expressed enthusiasm for long-term cooperation between the institutions. “I’m excited to see that seed grow,” responded Dr. Yinhai Wang, PacTrans director.

    Dr. Wang led the presentation, introducing PacTrans’ research, the work of Smart Transportation Applications and Research (STAR) Lab, and important questions for research. Though there are many questions, Dr. Wang explained, the most important thing is to effectively use the data and derive effective solutions from data-driven research investigations.

    It may be the “age of big data,” but certain data challenges persist, such as the quality of existing data, the sensitivity of sensors, and missing types of data. PacTrans researchers work toward solutions for these issues, including e-Science transportation framework, the Digital Roadway Interactive Visualization and Evaluation Network (DRIVE Net), and new sensor technologies for pedestrian detection and safety.

    A robust discussion time following the presentation revealed a strong interest in big data, as many connected with the challenges surrounding its definition and data quality, as well as the opportunities of big data in civil and environmental engineering.

    ???????????????????????????????