Transportation Research and Education

Autonomous shuttle driving along a citiscape.

Olli, a self-driving UB shuttle being used to conduct comprehensive testing of autonomous and connected vehicles.

Helping first responders get to patients faster. Finding drivers the most fuel efficient routes with "green navigation." Developing machine learning methods for accident analysis. It all happens here, at the University at Buffalo.

On this page:

UB Transportation Video

Changing The Way The World Works

SSISTL's Benefactor and Professor of Practice, Stephen Still, is featured in UB's We Are Boldy Buffalo Campaign. Stephen gave $4 million to support the Stephen Still Institute for Sustainable Transportation and Logistics. His gift–and many other gifts–are being immediately invested in opportunities for faculty and students to address society’s biggest transportation challenges.

Research Centers

Stephen Still Institute for Sustainable Transportation and Logistics (SSISTL)

Redefining what's possible and shaping the future of sustainable transportation and logistics

The Stephen Still Institute for Sustainable Transportation and Logistics unites faculty from across the University at Buffalo in truly cross- disciplinary fashion to transform the transportation, logistics and supply chain management industries. We are engineers, visionary planners, business administrators, and political scientists working to create livable, connected communities through interdisciplinary research and education. Through our cutting-edge research and interdisciplinary master's degree and graduate certificate, we create mechanisms for collaboration that can truly impact transportation on this planet.

Institute of Bridge Engineering (IBE)

Advancing sustainable bridge design, construction and preservation through research and education

Established in 2013 to improve the performance of bridges through research and education, the Institute of Bridge Engineering is a research center aimed at educating new and mid-career professionals in bridge engineering and conducting ground-breaking bridge, rail and wind tunnel research to improve and aid in the creation of sustainable, cost effective hazard-resistant structures.

SEAS Department: Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering (ranked 5th in the US and 12th in the world)

Research Facilities

The University at Buffalo’s driving simulator features a simRING, a full 6 degree-of-freedom motion-based driving simulator, with the front end of a car mounted on a moving platform that emulates the real-life motions of a car as it reacts to turns, changes in elevation, and other road conditions. It is implemented primarily for the custom design and development of ground vehicle simulations for applications in clinical research, education and training, as well as next-generation transportation and human factors studies.

The Applied Cognitive Engineering Lab (ACEL) at the University at Buffalo conducts research to understand and improve human behavior and performance in dynamic, complex transportation systems.

Educational Offerings

Research in transportation systems engineering focuses on improving the efficiency, safety, sustainability, and resiliency of surface transportation systems. The program integrates transportation research with research in intelligent systems, advanced computing, hazard mitigation, simulation and econometric modeling and is offered through the Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering.

Research in bridge engineering drives the use of new construction methods, components and materials. Current areas of investigation are Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) in seismic regions using prefabricated segmental construction, multiple-hazard mitigation, and response modification devices. MS students work with a mentor to tackle real engineering assignments such as computing the live load capacity of a unique bridge or designing a repair of a bridge flagged for structural deficiency.

The MS program in Sustainable Transportation and Logistics is a 30-credit, full-time, 3-semester program with a minimum GPA of 3.0 required in every semester. The program is designed to provide ample opportunities for learning state-of-the art knowledge and industry best practices validated with industry interactions. It can also be pursued on a part-time basis to enable those working in industry to benefit from the program.

Exclusively for high school students, NSTI is a highly competitive scholarship program that provides 30 high school students with a great chance to investigate careers and educational opportunities in today's transportation industry and beyond. Students participate in discussions, hands-on design competitions, and trips to study local and regional transportation hotspots. They also spend time with industry role models and a diverse group of students.