RBU: Illinois Center for Transportation - Field Trip

Road Builder University hits the road with a one-of-a-kind IRTBA educational trip to the Illinois Center for Transportation (ICT). Professor Imad Al-Qadi and his team will provide a presentation on the Illinois Center for Transportation and the Illinois Autonomous and Connected Track. As well as tour the ICT Laboratory and preview the smart vehicles and accelerated pavement tester.

Attendees will meet at the IRTBA Office to board the shuttle bus which will take the group to and from Rantoul, Illinois. Beverages will be provided on the bus. Upon arrival there will be a presentation on the ICT, I-ACT, and Partnerships, tours of the Lab, Smart Vehicles & Accelerated Pavement Tester, and wrap up with lunch and discussion. The shuttle will take the group back to the IRTBA Office.

What is ICT:

The Illinois Center for Transportation was established in 2005 at the University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign. The ICT develops and implements cost effective technologies that enhance safety, reduce congestion and minimize environmental impacts. Their partnerships include the Illinois Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, industries and national/international agencies.

Some areas of research include:

• Autonomous and Connected Vehicles
• Congestion
• Electrification
• Pavement
• Safety
• Sustainability

What is I-ACT:

The Illinois Autonomous and Connected Track​is poised to lead the rapidly growing field of smart mobility by expanding the Rantoul-based research facility into a full-fledged, state-of-the-art research arena for the development, integration testing and commercialization of smart, autonomous and multimodal transport. This track is not yet built, but the planning and design phases are complete. The testing facility will be tailored to autonomous and connected vehicles, where a high-speed track replicates varied driving environments and weather conditions.