Spotlight
October 20, 2026This quarter’s newsletter is unofficially centered around Richard Baum’s Inside America’s Opioid Crisis: 12 Hard Lessons for Today’s Drug War. It changed some of my long-held beliefs regarding addiction, expanded on others, and was an excellent road map as to how we got here and where we need to go. This issue also seemed like the perfect opportunity to introduce or re-introduce the Sequential Intercept Model (SIM).
October 20, 2026Truck platooning offers a promising approach to reducing fuel consumption and emissions while increasing freight transport capacity, yet its adaptability to varied roadway infrastructure remains a critical research gap. This webinar examines a project that addresses this need through the design and prototyping of a dynamic truck platooning regulatory system. Presenter Yu “Fred” Song, PhD, whose research centers on traffic operations and safety, driver behavior, intelligent transportation systems, and vehicle automation, will share insights from this work. Before joining the University of Wyoming, Dr. Song conducted research at the Connecticut Transportation Institute at the University of Connecticut.
October 19, 2026Accurate pavement assessments are critical for effective maintenance and asset management. However, traditional methods can be time-consuming and labor-intensive. This research explores an innovative approach using AI, deep learning, and advanced imaging to automate distress detection, severity estimation, and pavement condition evaluation. The goal is to improve efficiency and deliver clear reports to support informed maintenance and investment decisions.
October 16, 2026The statewide driver survey provides baseline metrics for the North Dakota Department of Transportation Highway Safety Division and others to use in understanding perceptions and self-reported behaviors related to traffic safety.
Trucks are an important mode of economic connectivity in rural states like North Dakota. Therefore, as changes in traffic volumes and patterns are recognized, it is important to monitor levels and effects of increased safety-related interactions between trucks and passenger vehicles.