SEMPACT Priority Area 2: Inclusive Advanced Technology Innovations

COLLAPSE OF FRANCIS KEY BRIDGE: PROTECTION OF BRIDGE PIERS FROM LARGE SHIP IMPACTS

The Key Bridge in Baltimore stood for more than half a century until it collapsed when a massive ship it
was never designed to withstand collided with it. Ship collision design provisions established in 1991, well
after the bridge was built, suggest that the chance of collision was extremely low, estimated to be around
1/100,000. This risk assessment, which ultimately proved to be overly optimistic, likely contributed to a
false sense of security about the bridge’s vulnerability and may have impeded proactive measures to

Exploring Drive-by Sensing for Urban Truck Characterization using Google Street View Imagery

Trucks are vital to urban economies by facilitating the movement of goods and services, but their
presence can significantly affect urban infrastructure, traffic congestion, air quality, and noise pollution.
Effective urban planning and policymaking depend on a comprehensive understanding of truck activity.
However, urban truck data collection remains limited. This study will make the first attempt to address this
urban freight data gap by leveraging drive-by sensing technology, specifically leveraging data from Google

Dynamic Toll Lane Microsimulation Calibration and Simulation: Improving Mobility by developing new pricing and control strategies for Dynamic Toll Lanes

This project constitutes a research effort to verify and calibrate a Dynamic Toll Lane (DTL) microsimulation model (Phase I) that will be used to test innovative pricing and control strategies aimed at reducing congestion (Phase II), specifically in a DTL and the main tollway lanes in the Metropolitan Area of San Juan, PR. The DTL was built recently and has already experienced congestion at the entrances and exits. The primary objective of this facility is to reduce, in some way, the time it takes to traverse the congested section of the freeway during peak hours.

Evaluating the Impact of Data-Driven Traffic Signal Optimization on Traffic Operations and Safety

Signal optimization and coordination represent a cost-effective approach to mitigating congestion and improving traffic flow, obviating the need for expensive infrastructure upgrades or construction. By effectively optimizing traffic signals, delays, travel times, and stops experienced by drivers can be significantly reduced, resulting in decreased fuel consumption and improved safety. In addition to the immediate benefits of reduced congestion and improved traffic flow, signal optimization and coordination offer long-term advantages.

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