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CR2C2 Researchers Co-Organize IEEE ITSC 2026 Workshop on Mobility Solutions for People and Freight
CR2C2 Researchers Co-Organize IEEE ITSC 2026 Workshop on Mobility Solutions for People and Freight
Center for Regional and Rural Connected Communities | Christina Mosley
Published September 18, 2026
The Center for Regional and Rural Connected Communities (CR2C2) strengthened its international presence in intelligent transportation research through its participation in a specialized workshop at the 2026 IEEE International Conference on Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITSC) in Naples, Italy.
The workshop, “Integrated Last-Mile and Last-50-Feet: Mobility Solutions for People and Freight,” was organized by Dr. Evangelos I. Kaisar of Florida Atlantic University, with an organizing committee that included Dr. Petros Ioannou of the University of Southern California, Dr. Ali Karimoddini of North Carolina A&T State University, and Dr. Dimitrios Dimitriou of Democritus University of Thrace. The workshop brought together researchers from universities across the United States and Europe to examine how automation, data analytics, electrification, infrastructure innovation, and advanced logistics can improve the movement of people and freight.
Karimoddini, director of CR2C2, also presented “Deployment of Connected and Automated Technologies in Rural Areas,” bringing the Center’s focus on rural transportation into a broader international discussion on the future of intelligent mobility.
The workshop also featured research from Dr. Yunlong Zhang of Texas A&M University, Dr. Montasir Abbas of Virginia Tech, Dr. Simona Sacone of the University of Genova, and Dr. Silvia Siri of the University of Genova, along with presentations from Kaisar and Dimitriou. Collectively, the sessions addressed rural delivery, connected and automated transportation, smart infrastructure, port and freight operations, electrified logistics, truck platooning, and last-mile delivery.
For CR2C2, participation in the workshop reflects the Center’s broader mission to ensure that emerging transportation technologies are developed with rural and regional communities in mind. By contributing to international research conversations such as IEEE ITSC, CR2C2 is helping connect rural mobility challenges with advances in automation, infrastructure, freight, and intelligent transportation systems.
The workshop also created opportunities for researchers across institutions and disciplines to exchange ideas, identify areas for collaboration, and advance transportation solutions that can move from research into real-world deployment.
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