UTC e-Newsletter- Spring 2018

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the Center for Accessibility and Safety for an Aging Population (ASAP). In this our Spring 2018 newsletter, you will read about news and events at the Center, on the various activities on research, education and outreach programs. Dr. Thobias Sando is recognized as our outstanding faculty for his various contributions to the Center. ASAP’s various outreach activities are also presented, including the Annual Transportation Day.

Fourth Annual Transportation Day

The Fourth Annual Transportation Day was held at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering (COE) on December 8, 2017. In spite of inclement weather, attendance included more than 80 faculty and students from the affiliated universities, along with community members and representatives from state and local agencies who work with transportation and/or aging populations.

Older Drivers’ Behavior at On-Ramp Merging Areas

This study, based on field observations, examined the driver merging behavior at freeway on-ramps at two sites by evaluating three traffic measures – gaps, merging location, and ramp approach speed. The study revealed that the merging position appears to be significantly influenced by driver age on both sites at the 90% confidence level.

Dr. Thobias Sando, Ph.D.

Dr. Thobias Sando is a professor at the University of North Florida (UNF) School of Engineering. He received his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering with a focus on Transportation Engineering from the Florida State University in 2005. He teaches and conducts research in the area of transportation engineering. His research interests include modeling of highway safety data, intermodal facility design, intelligent transportation systems, operational analysis of bicycle and pedestrian facilities, and traffic simulation.

CEE Students Winners at Gainesville Conference Poster Competition

The faculty and graduate students from the Center for Accessibility and Safety for the Aging Population (ASAP) at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, recently participated in the 5th Annual University Transportation Centers (UTC) Conference for the Southeastern Region.

CEE Student Selected Top-rated at Tampa Conference Poster Competition

The 6th Annual Florida Automated Vehicles (FAV) Summit was recently held in Tampa, Florida, on November 14 and 15, 2017. The FAV Summit was hosted by the Florida Department of Transportation, the Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority, and the Center for Urban Transportation at the University of South Florida.

Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP)

Mary Byrd, a sophomore in the College of Business, joined Dr. Ozguven’s lab as part of the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) during the 2017 fall and spring semesters. Dr. Ozguven is an ASAP researcher. Dr. Ozguven’s PhD students Mehmet Baran Ulak and Ayberk Kocatepe mentored her throughout her stay, and taught her the ArcGIS software.

Women in Math, Science, and Engineering (WIMSE) at FSU

The Center for Accessibility and Safety for an Aging Population (ASAP), a University Transportation Center (UTC), on October 24, 2017, hosted a laboratory visit by members of the Women in Math, Science, and Engineering (WIMSE). Based at the Florida State University (FSU), WIMSE is a living-learning community (LLC) on campus that supports the growth and development of women in STEM fields.

Tampa Bay Times: Lessons to be learned about evacuating and sheltering older adults

We were all shocked by the tragic consequences of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, from older people sitting waist-deep in water in Houston to the air conditioning failure that killed residents in a southwest Florida nursing home. Today the question is: How can we protect older adults from such tragedy?

ASAP Researchers Win Best Paper Award at the 2018 BHAA Conference in Chicago

ASAP Graduate Research Assistants and Florida A&M University (FAMU) students won the Best Paper Award in Physical Therapy Track during the 54th Annual Business Health Administration and Association (BHAA) Conference, in conjunction with the Midwest Business Administration and Association (MBAA) Conference, held in Chicago, Illinois, April 18-21, 2018.

ASAP Researchers at NSF Research Coordination Network (RCN) Workshop

ASAP Researchers and Professors Neil Charness and Wally Boot (FSU Psychology), John Sobanjo, Eren Ozguven (FAMU-FSU Civil Engineering), and Arda Vanle (FAMU-FSU Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering) participated and made presentations at the recent Research Coordination Network (RCN) Workshop, held at Stony Brook, New York on April 19 and 20, 2018.

ASAP Research Assistants Participate in the ITE Collegiate Traffic Bowl

Each year the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) student chapters from Canada and United States usually participate in the Collegiate Traffic Bowl where the participating student chapters are represented by teams comprising of three students.