Embedded Files
Interested in CR2C2 activities and engagement opportunities?
CR2C2 Presents Research and Autonomous Mobility Demonstration at TRB 2026
CR2C2 Presents Research and Autonomous Mobility Demonstration at TRB 2026
Center for Regional and Rural Connected Communities | Christina Mosley
Published January 19, 2026
The Center for Regional and Rural Connected Communities (CR2C2) concluded a successful presence at the 2026 Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., where researchers, students, and collaborators presented technical research and demonstrated advanced autonomous vehicle systems throughout the week.
CR2C2 participated across exhibit demonstrations, poster sessions, and lectern presentations, engaging with transportation professionals, policymakers, and industry representatives from across the country. The center’s participation highlighted ongoing research efforts in autonomous systems, rural mobility, transportation safety, healthcare access, cybersecurity, and data driven transportation planning.
A central feature of CR2C2’s presence was a live autonomous shuttle demonstration in the TRB Exhibit Hall. Attendees observed the real time operation of an autonomous vehicle located on the test track at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro, North Carolina, while the system was monitored and controlled remotely from Washington, D.C. Researchers demonstrated remote supervision, real time control, and system response to changing roadway conditions, including mitigating unexpected challenges such as road closures. The demonstration illustrated how connected vehicle systems support reliable operation, system monitoring, and flexible deployment strategies.
In parallel with the exhibit, CR2C2 researchers presented technical studies through poster and lectern sessions covering autonomous and connected vehicle technologies, transportation safety analytics, cybersecurity, healthcare transportation access, and mobility planning in rural and urban settings. These presentations reflected the center’s interdisciplinary research portfolio and its focus on advancing transportation systems through applied research and data driven methodologies.
CR2C2’s participation reflected strong collaboration across its research consortium. Faculty, graduate students, and partners from multiple institutions contributed to presentations and technical discussions, including participants from North Carolina A&T State University, Florida Atlantic University, the University of Tennessee, Clemson University,
Their work demonstrated the scope of the consortium’s research activities and the value of cross institutional collaboration in advancing transportation science and engineering.
By the conclusion of the conference, CR2C2 had engaged in numerous technical exchanges and networking activities that will support future research initiatives and collaborative projects. The center’s presence at TRB 2026 reinforced its role in advancing connected and autonomous transportation research and contributing to the development of next generation mobility systems.
CR2C2 extends its appreciation to conference organizers, research partners, and attendees who engaged with the team throughout the meeting. The center looks forward to continuing its research and demonstration activities in support of transportation innovation and system advancement.
JANUARY 12, 2026
JANUARY 12, 2026
8:00 AM – 9:45 AM ET
Resilience and Recovery of Points of Interest Following Hurricane Helene: A Temporal Mobility Analysis
Authors: Ali Gorji Sefidmazgi, Komal Gulati, Venkatesh Pandey
Hall A, Board #A127
10:30 AM – 12:15 PM ET
A Mixed Perspective on Rural Transportation from Local Users, Providers, and National Trends
Authors: Tahmina Sultana, Pamela Murray-Tuite, Maranda McBride
Room 201, Lectern Session
Estimating the Benefits of a Shuttle Service for Healthcare Providers
Authors: Musa Sabit, Gregory Erhardt, Andrew Martin
Room 202A, Lectern Session
Understanding Service Accessibility in Georgia Through Mobile Mobility Patterns
Authors: Lin Pang, Hao Zhen, Jidong Yang, Venkatesh Pandey
Room 202A, Lectern Session
A Hybrid Framework for Statewide Speed Limit Segmentation Using Deterministic Sign Inventories and Probabilistic Crash Data Models
Authors: Farhad Farzinpour, Wayne Sarasua, William Davis
Hall A, Board #A238
Navigating Mobility in Later Life: How Vehicle Access and Community Context Shape Travel Behaviour Among Older Adults
Authors: Muhammad Adeel, Asad Khattak, Moetasim Ashfaq
Hall A, Board #B572
1:30 PM – 3:15 PM ET
A Spatial Framework for Evaluating Autonomous Shuttle Readiness Across Rural Counties in Florida
Authors: Soheila Saeidi, Nithish Manikkavasagam, Sudhagar Nagarajan, Evangelos Kaisar
Hall A, Board #A140
Securing Rural Networks for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles Through Trustworthy Federated ML-Driven Intrusion
Authors: Mahsa Tavasoli, Abdolhossein Sarrafzadeh, Ali Karimoddini, Milad Khaleghi, Tienake Phuapaiboon, Amauri Goins, Aiden Harris, Jason Griffith
Hall A, Board #A144
6:15 PM – 7:45 PM ET
Statewide Safety Analysis of Highway Curves in South Carolina Using a GIS
Authors: Farhad Farzinpour, Wayne Sarasua, Pamela Murray-Tuite, Jennifer Ogle
Hall A, Board #B552
JANUARY 13, 2026
JANUARY 13, 2026
8:00 AM – 9:45 AM ET
Rural Multi-Period Inventory Pickup and Delivery Problem with Multi-Attribute Alternative Routes: A Case Study
Authors: Soheila Saeidi, Evangelos Kaisar
Hall A, Board #A212
Development of a Learning-Based In-Vehicle Intrusion Detection System for CAN-Bus Cybersecurity in Connected and Automated Vehicles
Authors: Mahsa Tavasoli, Abdolhossein Sarrafzadeh, Ali Karimoddini, Milad Khaleghi, Tienake Phuapaiboon, Hannaneh Barahouei Pasandi
Hall A, Board #B595
Text Mining Analysis of Connected and Automated Vehicle Deployment Challenges in Rural Areas: A Systematic Review
Authors: Mahsa Tavasoli, Abdolhossein Sarrafzadeh, Milad Khaleghi, Mohammad Zakaria, Hannaneh Barahouei Pasandi, Ali Karimoddini
Hall A, Board #B506
Robust Decision-Making Approach for Safe and Efficient Intersection Navigation for Autonomous Vehicles
Authors: Miressa Mamo, Tesfamichael Getahun, Ali Karimoddini
Hall A, Poster #B401
10:30 AM – 12:15 PM ET
A Digital Twin-Based Simulation Framework for Safe Curve Speed Estimation Using Unity
Authors: Araf Rahman, Sabbir Salek, Mashrur Chowdhury, Wayne Sarasua
Room 202A, Lectern Session
Real-Time Deer Detection and Warning in Connected Vehicles via Thermal Sensing and Deep Learning
Authors: Hemanth Puppala, Wayne Sarasua, Srinivas Biyaguda, Farhad Farzinpour, Mashrur Chowdhury
Hall A, Board #A142
Shared Autonomous Vehicles for Short Car Trip Replacement in Small-to-Medium Urban Areas: An Exploratory Simulation Case Study Using Large-Scale Vehicle Data
Authors: Xiao Zou, Jun Liu, Alexander Hainen, Steven Jones
Hall A, Board #A206
Evaluating Regional Healthcare Disparities Using a Gravity–Radiation Framework: A Multi-Resolution Accessibility Analysis
Authors: Ioannis Ioannou, Sudhagar Nagarajan, Venkatesh Pandey, Komal Gulati, Evangelos Kaisar
Hall A, Board #B440
Exploring the Determinants of Service-Specific Healthcare Utilization at the Census Block Group Level
Authors: Lin Pang, Hao Zhen, Jidong Yang
Hall A, Board #B441
4:00 PM – 5:45 PM ET
Infrastructure-Enabled Risk Assessment of Hazardous Road Conditions on Rural Roads During Inclement Weather
Authors: Suhala Rabab Saba, Sagar Dasgupta, Mizanur Rahman, Nathan Huynh, Li Zhao, Mehmet Can Vuran, Qiang Liu, Eren Ozguven
Hall A, Board #A243
A Multidisciplinary Approach to Customer Service Evaluation in State Transportation Systems
Authors: Mohammad Ashraf Ali, Fahim Kafashan, Ali Gorji Sefidmazgi, Venkatesh Pandey, Ali Hajbabaie
Room 151, Lectern Session
JANUARY 14, 2026
JANUARY 14, 2026
8:00 AM – 9:45 AM ET
Evaluating the Impact of Mileage-Based User Fees on Travel Route Choices
Authors: Rifa Tasnia, Ali Gorji Sefidmazgi, Venkatesh Pandey, Daud Nabi Hridoy, Md Sami Hasnine
Room 147A, Lectern Session
Multi-Lane Centerline Prediction for Enhanced Lane Following
Authors: Tesfamichael Getahun, Ali Karimoddini
Hall A, Poster #A218
Beyond Daily Travel: Understanding Shared Autonomous Vehicle Usage Behavior Across Emergency Preparedness Segments in the United States
Authors: Ningzhe Xu, Jun Liu, Steven Jones
Hall A, Board #A228
User’s Preference for Trip Planner Interface and Factors Influencing Sustainable Transport Choices in Rural and Urban Areas
Authors: Ridwan Tiamiyu, Doreen Jehu-Appiah, Venkatesh Pandey
Hall A, Board #B548
10:30 AM - 12:15 PM ET
Enhancing Autonomous Vehicle Safety: Combining Radar and Camera Technology for Robust Object Detection
Authors: Tekalign Mengistu, Tesfamichael Getahun, Ali Karimoddini
Hall A, Poster #B530
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse