UMTRI Research Groups and Initiatives

Groups

Behavioral Sciences - conducting research that enhances the safety and efficiency of transportation by advancing expert and public understanding of the social and behavioral issues important to transportation.
Biosciences - involved in many aspects of research related to the biomechanics of occupant injuries and crash protection and the biomechanics of occupant accommodation during normal vehicle use.
Driver Interface - working on the development and evaluation of driver-operated equipment in motor vehicles to make those systems safe, easy, comfortable, and useful for drivers.
Engineering Systems - researching engineering systems and human-machine interactions, primarily in the ground vehicle/driver-interaction domain and by serving as a collaborative research partner with other groups based on its world-class capabilities in data-architecture and data-analysis techniques.
Human Factors - researching the interactions of the driver, the vehicle, and the environment.
ITS Integration - research in to systems which allows vehicles to send data to other vehicles and to roadside devices to communicate traffic, navigation, and weather data.
Transportation Data Center - providing expert consultation on the use of traffic crash data as well as access to that data.
Vehicle Safety Analytics - producing objective information that will ultimately lead to a reduction of traffic accidents and their associated injuries and fatalities.
Vehicle Systems and Control - researching the dynamics and control of vehicles and the driving process.
Young Driver Behavior and Injury Prevention - taking a public health approach to advance understanding and safety, and to reduce injuries and fatalities among young drivers.

Initiatives

Center for Injury Prevention among Youth - conducting research and to train researchers and practitioners to reduce injuries and fatalities among youth, and to reduce the economic cost associated with those injuries.
Commercial Vehicle Research and Policy - providing a forum for communication and multidisciplinary research focusing on the common theme of commercial vehicle research and policy.
Human Factors - Industry Affiliation Program - performing basic applied research that will contribute to the advancement of the industry.
M-CASTL - advancing expertise and US technology in the many disciplines comprising the safety and mobility of both young people and older adults.
Naturalistic Driving and GIS Data - the data repository of naturalistic driving studies, including field operational tests of safety technology.
SMART - undertaking research, demonstration projects, education, and global learning exchange on a range of issues related to the future of transportation in city regions around the world.
Sustainable Worldwide Transportation - addressing major safety, environmental, economic, and social issues of road transportation.

Other Research Activities

Automotive Analysis - providing industry and affiliates with research and analysis, information resources, and communication forums that meet the evolving needs of the international automotive industry.
Human Factors - Industry Affiliation Program - performing basic applied research that will contribute to the advancement of the industry.