Five UMTC Research Affiliates Speaking at MassDOT’s Innovation and Mobility Conference

By: Courtney Murtagh, UMTC Intern

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is hosting its annual Innovation and Mobility Exchange April 10th and 11th at the DCU Center in Worcester. The conference includes over 40 sessions and will kickoff Tuesday with keynote addresses by MassDOT Secretary and CEO Stephanie Pollack and Karyn Polito, the Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts.  

The University of Massachusetts Transportation Center will be represented at the conference by the numerous UMTC staff and by five UMTC Research Affiliates who will be presenting on areas of their expertise.  

Dr. Michael Plotnikov’s area of research is Unmanned Aircraft Systems and their integration into the National Air Space. Plotnikov a researcher at UMass-Amherst, will present a talk entitled The State of the Practice of UAS in State DOTs on April 10th, 10 AM. (Session 1)

Dr. Scott Civjan is a professor at UMass-Amherst who studies Structural Engineering with an emphasis on experimental research. He will be speaking April 10th, 10 AM, on the Bonded Anchor System Test Methods for Creep. (Session 1C)

Lawerence J Harman has been the co-director of the geo-graphics laboratory at Bridgewater State University for over 20 years. His talk on Drones Part 2- Data, Asset Management and the Living Lab will be April 11th, 10:45 AM. (Session 6E)

Dr. Walaa Mogawer is a professor at UMass-Dartmouth and his focus of study is on the emerging critical needs of the roadway industry. He will be presenting April 10th, 11:15 AM, on the Latest Developments in Pavement Research. (Session 2C)

Dr. Yuanchang Xie is a professor of Civil Engineering at UMass-Lowell. His research includes various transportation topics, including traffic control and simulation, traffic safety, and intelligent transportation systems. His talk on Cooperative Highway Work Zone Merge Control will be April 10th at 3:45 PM. (Session 4A)