Research summary
Canada’s prosperity and economic growth rely significantly on our ability to transport people, goods and resources effectively, safely and efficiently. But traffic congestion is a major issue in many cities, costing billions of dollars in lost time and productivity. Innovative solutions are needed to ensure better use of existing roadways and infrastructure and address increasing traffic demand.
As Canada Research Chair in Cooperative Transportation Systems, Dr. Tony Qiu’s vision is a fully connected and automated transportation system in which vehicles can “talk” directly with each other as well as with components of roadway infrastructure, such as traffic lights. Wireless communication between vehicles and infrastructure, called connected vehicle technology, is key to allowing this to happen.
Qiu and his research team are exploring ways to integrate connected vehicle technology with existing data sources and infrastructure to better assess and manage traffic. They are trying to shed light on the benefits and challenges of implementing connected vehicle technology and its role within the greater traffic environment, using ACTIVE-AURORA—Canada’s first connected vehicle test-bed network.
Working with government, industry and other researchers, Qiu’s goal is to better support the needs of transportation users and organizations and advance transportation research, technology development and knowledge. Ultimately, his aim is to increase the competitiveness of Canada’s transportation industry and position Canada at the forefront of transportation innovation.