Interested in CR2C2 activities and engagement opportunities?
12:00 - 1:00 PM
Zoom Link: https://ncat.zoom.us/j/97378234531?pwd=tMNoKaZ4OZ1KjiEslKlkWk4iDx45Bc.1 (Registration not required)
Part 1: Optimal and Safe Route for Freight Transportation in Rural Areas
Speaker: Dr. Evangelos Kaisar
Abstract: Transportation of goods in remote regions often faces challenges such as inadequate road infrastructure, limited access to real-time information, and potential safety hazards. This presentation explores the development of an intelligent routing system designed to improve freight transportation efficiency and safety in rural areas. The research incorporates road conditions, weather, traffic congestion, and cargo characteristics into route planning using advanced technologies and data-driven approaches. By integrating geographic information systems (GIS), machine learning algorithms, and sensor technologies, the system identifies efficient and secure freight routes while dynamically adjusting to real-time conditions. The discussion will highlight how predictive modeling, spatial analysis, and real-time data collection can support safer, more reliable freight movement while reducing transportation costs and delivery delays in rural communities.
Part 2: A Structured Approach to Rural Transportation Integration
Speaker: Dr. Abhay Lidbe
Abstract: This presentation highlights research from the DRIVE-SMART project, which focuses on improving transportation coordination across rural West Alabama. The project examines how existing public transit, demand-responsive transportation, private microtransit, and non-emergency medical transportation services can be better integrated to improve access to healthcare, employment, education, and daily services in Tuscaloosa and surrounding communities. Using the 4Cs framework—Connected, Coordinated, Comprehensive, and Collaborative—along with an Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), the research evaluates stakeholder priorities and transportation coordination strategies. The seminar will discuss operational, financial, and regulatory barriers, while exploring solutions such as shared dispatching systems, broker-based coordination, and public-private partnerships. The project aims to create a scalable, data-informed framework that enhances efficiency, expands service coverage, and improves mobility access in rural regions.
Dr. Evangelos I. Kaisar is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatics Engineering at Florida Atlantic University and Director of the Freight Mobility Research Institute (FMRI), a USDOT Tier 1 Transportation Center. His expertise includes transportation systems analysis, freight logistics, large-scale mathematical modeling, traffic management, and emergency preparedness. Dr. Kaisar has led numerous transportation research projects sponsored by organizations including the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Federal Transit Administration, FEMA, and the Department of Homeland Security. His work focuses on freight transportation, supply chain resilience, and intelligent transportation systems, and he currently serves as an Associate Editor for the IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems.
Dr. Abhay Lidbe is an Assistant Research Professor in the Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering at The University of Alabama. His research focuses on transportation services that improve mobility access in rural communities. Through funded research projects and publications, Dr. Lidbe has examined transportation barriers and their impact on quality of life, with an emphasis on improving safe, reliable, affordable, and convenient mobility options. His work explores strategies that strengthen transportation systems and expand access to essential opportunities and services in rural regions.