Transportation Network Optimization Workshop
ARPA-E held a workshop aimed at identifying transformational research and development opportunities for transportation network optimization. Mobile communications linked to GPS systems are transforming the American transportation grid. At the heart of the transformation is an explosion of information that can be used by technologists, governments, and consumers to make more intelligent and efficient choices, paving the road for more intelligent vehicles, driving toward more intelligent highways and public transportation systems, and expanding the transportation options for individuals. However, as these information systems become more pervasive, the interaction between agents (individuals, vehicles, and modes) becomes increasingly significant and unpredictable.
The workshop envisioned the innovative technological approaches and scientific advances that will be needed to collect, analyze, and distribute information to and from transportation agents, to provide a more optimized and dynamically responsive travel grid that is capable of rapid adaptations through non-monetary, individualized incentives. This workshop seeded the development of transformational approaches to network modeling that can predict the consequences of such incentives, as well as the identification and quantification of appropriate incentives strategies.
This two-day workshop was held on Monday & Tuesday, March 10-11, 2014 in San Francisco, CA. Approximately 40-50 experts from academia, national/federal labs, and industry participated. Information gained from the workshop will assist ARPA-E leadership in the development of potential programs and funding opportunities which target key technological roadblocks relevant to the ARPA-E mission.
Day 1: Morning Session
Dr. Eric Rohfling, ARPA-E
Dr. Jonathan Burbaum, ARPA-E
Challenges & Opportunities in Traffic Data
Mr. Rick Shuman, Inrix
Challenges and Opportunities in Transportation Modeling
Dr. H. Michael Zhang, University of California - Davis
Agent-Based Methods for Transportation Network Optimization
Dr. Lei Zhang, University of Maryland
Principles of applied psychology to incentivize individual choices
Dr. K. Carrie Armel, Stanford University
Day 1: Morning Breakout Sessions
Group 1
Transportation Network Models & Optimization
Group 2
Incentives & Data Presentation
Group 3
Day 1: Afternoon Session
Emerging Privacy Issues in Traveler Data
Mr. Yves-Alexandre de Montjoye, MIT Media Lab
Dr. John Doyle, CalTech
Applications of Behavioral Economics in Transportation Decisions
Ms. Kristen Berman, Irrational Labs
Day 1: Afternoon Breakout Sessions
Group 1: Breakout Feedback
Group 2: Breakout Feedback
Group 3: Breakout Feedback
Day 2: Morning Session
Emerging Business Models in Transportation Apps
Dr. Balaji Prabhakar, Urban Engines
Challenges in Monetizing Transportation Data
Ms. Monali Shah, HERE
Discussion of Business Models
Mr. Josh Gould, ARPA-E Technology-to-Market Advisor