The transportation research that takes place at the College of Engineering has an immediate effect in the world beyond the lab. Thanks to collaborations between researchers, government and industry, these projects provide improvements and tools that affect the lives of Arkansans now and in the future. Many of these relationships are built through the College of Engineering’s transportation centers.
Center for Training Transportation Professionals
The CTTP performs all of the training and certification required for Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department employees and contractors whose jobs will involve quality control testing on highway construction projects. The center trains up to 500 workers a year. In addition, the center provides a link between the university, the state and the transportation industry. Students can serve as test proctors, which gives them hands-on experience, as well as opportunities to network with highway department professionals and transportation contractors. In addition, civil engineering researchers can make important industry contacts through the center.
Center of Excellence in Logistics and Distribution
CELDi is a National Science Foundation Industry/University Cooperative Research Center. At CELDi, U of A faculty members collaborate with Clemson University, Virginia Tech, the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Missouri. The researchers work with members of industry on projects that improve logistics and distribution—helping industry transport and track their products efficiently. CELDi’s member organizations include Bayer HealthCare, Lockheed Martin Aircraft & Logistics Center, the Missouri and Oklahoma departments of transportation, Sam’s Club and Walmart Stores, Inc. This relationship between industry and research ensures that the university produces results that industry can use immediately.
Maritime Transportation Research and Education Center
MarTREC focuses on maritime and multimodal logistics management, construction of resilient and sustainable multimodal infrastructure, and the creation and promotion of livable coastal and river-valley communities with effective emergency management systems. The consortium consists of the University of Arkansas, Jackson State University, Louisiana State University and the University of New Orleans. MarTREC’s advisory board includes representatives from government organizations such as the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department, the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as well as representatives from the transportation industry. It has received a total of $3.7 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Southern Plains Transportation Center
The U of A is one of eight university members of this consortium, which investigates solutions for climate-related transportation challenges, such as extreme temperatures and freeze-thaw cycles. Because water and temperatures can affect the pavement that makes up our roads and bridges, the work of researchers in this center is vital to ensuring that our transportation infrastructure can withstand threats from weather. The SPTC supports much of the pavement and infrastructure-related research in the college. Other university members include the University of Oklahoma, which is the lead institution, Oklahoma State University, Langston University, Louisiana Tech University, the University of New Mexico, the University of Texas at El Paso and Texas Tech University