Research

Students can be expected to be exposed to and participate in a wide variety of research activities being conducted by the Transportation Group. The focus of our research initiatives tends to be transportation problems in the Atlantic Region. However, problems of national and international significance are regularly the subject of research and study as well. Example of research projects and activities completed over the past few years include:

  • Study of the applicability of Vehicle Infrastructure Cooperation to Low-Density and Rural Rail Grade Crossing Safety
  • Developing a Canadian field guide for detailed safety assessments of road/railway grade crossings
  • Road Safety Audit Guidelines
  • Long Combination Vehicle (LCV) Safety Project
  • National Rural Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Research Program
  • A study of highway traffic noise levels on New Brunswick highwaysRemote Track Switch Position Indicator Project
  • A study of environmental screening of highway projects
  • Multi-disciplinary motor vehicle accident investigations
  • An analysis of motor vehicle accident costs on climbing lanes
  • The identification of hazardous highway segments in New Brunswick
  • Analysis of the structure of the high and low level airways system in the Atlantic Region
  • An evaluation of optical fencing to mitigate vehicle-deer collisions
  • Motor vehicle accident costs in New Brunswick Development of a truck training simulator for driver training
  • Hosting of rail and marine transport policy seminars with industry, business and public sector leaders for Transport Canada
  • A study of the impact of electronic toll collection using micro-simulation at the MacKay Bridge in Halifax
  • Productivity measurement and analysis of various transportation industries, including U.S. urban transit systems
  • Developing strategic plans for various transportation agencies
  • Evaluating transportation commercialization initiatives in the marine sector

Much of this research is funded through government and the transportation industry. Individual faculty members also have research grants from NSERC, Transport Canada (Accident Investigation Team), the Transportation Association of Canada, and other agencies. Further to this, faculty members are regularly engaged in consulting activities for a wide range of private and government agencies.

While such activities are normally outside the university framework, the experience gained from these assignments often end up in the classroom in the form of specific examples or as cases. Along with faculty research, a number of student research projects are undertaken in conjunction with trucking firms, railroads, airlines, ports, or shippers. Over the years, the Transportation Group has gained an excellent rapport with a large number of private transportation firms. These cooperative projects are undertaken as a course project, thesis research, or summer employment. The projects provide the student with a practical "real-life" transportation problem to address. The firms benefit in their receipt of free or inexpensive research related to their specific transportation problems.