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State-of-the-Art
Transportation Resources
CTS
has a number of state-of-the-art facilities dedicated
to transportation
research. Many of these resources are co-sponsored
and used by government engineers and researchers,
as well as the Center's research programs.
Traffic Operations Laboratory
The Traffic Operations Laboratory
(TOL) supports research and education related to
traffic signal control, optimization, and simulation.
TOL is equipped with the state-of-the-art traffic
signal controllers and microscopic simulation programs,
as well as hardware in the loop simulation (HILS)
system. The HILS system allows testing of advanced
features of actual traffic signal controllers within
a laboratory environment. TOL has access to real-time
traffic data from the VDOT traffic control systems
through the Smart Travel Laboratory. TOL research
mainly focuses on applications of advanced statistical
techniques and optimization methods for developing
traffic signal control algorithms and improving
calibration and validation procedure for microscopic
simulation models. Find out more here.
Smart Travel Lab
The
Smart Travel Lab is a state-of-the-art
facility that supports research and education in
the
rapidly emerging area of intelligent transportation
systems (ITS). Find out more here.
Transportation Computational
Laboratory
A transportation computational laboratory that
facilitates the research and educational activities
of the Center includes state-of-the-art computer
equipment and work stations. This supports the
initiative of teaching Geographic Information
Systems (GIS) and related research. The laboratory
also
provides software for transportation engineering
applications and research, particularly for traffic
operations and control, transportation planning,
and design which enables various teaching and
research activities. Software is available
for transportation
planning, geographic information systems, statistical
analyses, traffic engineering and simulation,
artificial intelligence, and other research
and applied programs.
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The Smart
Travel Van, a vehicle designed to collect on-site,
real-time data.
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Smart Travel Van
View
NBC29 Video about the Smart Travel Van
(Flash - 2.1
Mb)
A recent addition
to CTS resources is the Smart Travel Van, a vehicle
designed to collect on-site,
real-time data. The van allows
the Smart Travel Laboratory to collect highly detailed
traffic data at any location - heavily traveled
freeways, busy signalized intersections, work zones,
or remote rural locations. In addition, the Smart
Travel Van is a non-intrusive data collection device
- it does not require placing or installing any
equipment in travel lanes. The van's data collection
capabilities complements the Smart Travel Laboratory's
extensive permanent data collection locations (obtained
via VDOT Smart Traffic Centers).
The Smart Travel Van was designed and integrated
entirely by Smart Travel Laboratory students, staff,
and faculty. In addition to its current configuration,
the Smart Travel Van will serve as a platform for
research and evaluation of new sensor technologies.
Library Facilities
Facilities are available through the Science
and Engineering Library and the
University's Alderman Library. The University
of Virginia is a participating member of VIVA,
the Virtual Library of Virginia, a consortium
of academic libraries in the Commonwealth of
Virginia which share resources to permit rapid
access to texts, journals, and electronic files.
VTRC Transportation Library
In addition, the Virginia
Transportation Research Council maintains
a Transportation Library on the Grounds of
the University of Virginia.
VTRC Laboratory Resources
VTRC Asphalt Laboratory
The VTRC asphalt laboratory, which is accredited by the AASHTO Materials Reference Laboratory (AMRL), has two primary functions:
1. Asphalt binder testing - The binder testing laboratory is equipped to perform Superpave performance grading (PG) on binders as well as perform special research tests such as the new mixture stiffness test.
2. Asphalt mixture testing - The mixture laboratory is equipped to perform all routine volumetric tests and also specialty tests such as fatigue, materials characterization, stripping, and rutting.
Research projects often require some field testing, and equipment is available and used to obtain field samples and to perform testing on the construction site.
VTRC Concrete Laboratory
The VTRC Concrete laboratory is well equipped to test aggregates, mix concrete, and determine the fresh and hardened properties of concrete.
For aggregate tests, complete sets of sieves for fine and coarse aggregate grading, apparatus to determine specific gravity, and the Micro-Duval machine for abrasion resistance are present.
For fresh concrete, equipment for temperature, density, slump, and air content measurements are available. Pan, drum, and mortar mixers are used to mix paste, mortar, and concrete mixtures.
For strength tests two universal testing machines are present. One is a load controlled machine with a 300 kip capacity; the other has a 220 kip capacity with closed loop control. Apparatus to test for splitting tensile and shear tests are available. A freeze-thaw machine and two environmental chambers are capable of simulating a wide range of temperature and humidity conditions. The lab also has 8 data loggers that are mainly used in the field projects to collect temperature and strain data.
VTRC Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory
The VTRC Geotechnical Laboratory is equipped for performing a variety of soil tests. Modern, automated equipment is used to determine strength, permeability and index properties of soils encountered on VDOT construction projects. Computerized systems are provided for triaxial, consolidation, permeability, and direct shear testing. In addition, field testing and monitoring equipment is available for field projects, including automated data loggers, earth pressure cells, piezometers, strain gages and weather instrumentation.
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