Researchers Showcase Transportation Innovation at TennSMART Mobility Expo

Last week, Vanderbilt University faculty members took the stage at the TennSMART Mobility Expo to share groundbreaking research and forward-thinking initiatives in transportation and mobility. Their presentations highlighted the university’s leadership in developing data-driven, sustainable, and equitable transportation solutions across Tennessee.

Research Highlights:

🔹 Dr. William Barbour presented work on deploying mobile LiDAR technology in Clarksville, TN. This project, funded through the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development’s TNGO Phase I grant, aims to enhance multimodal traffic safety using advanced sensing capabilities.

🔹 Dr. Dan Work shared findings from a unique collaboration with the Tennessee Valley Authority. The project leverages the I-24 MOTION testbed—an innovative smart highway infrastructure developed with the Tennessee Department of Transportation—to study and improve freight transportation: i24motion.org.

🔹 Dr. Ayan Mukhopadhyay discussed progress on a U.S. DOT ATTAIN grant focused on applying AI and data analytics to improve public transportation across Tennessee’s four largest metropolitan areas: Memphis, Nashville, Chattanooga, and Knoxville. The initiative targets greater efficiency, accessibility, and sustainability.

Vanderbilt continues to drive impactful research that’s shaping the future of mobility—locally and nationally.