Arizona Laboratory for Applied Transportation Research

AZTrans was founded informally by Craig Roberts in the early 2000s. As the first Transportation Engineering faculty member within the Department of Civil Engineering, Construction Management, and Environmental Engineering, Dr. Roberts paved the road for applied transportation engineering at Northern Arizona University. AZTrans was officially incorporated within the Department and the College of Engineering, Forestry, and Natural Sciences in 2018.

Latest Press

NAU part of new research partnership aimed at improving Arizona’s transportation system.

By The NAU Review on November 22, 2024

AZTrans Graduate Student Researcher Wins Research Paper Contest at ITS Arizona 2023 Annual Conference.

By The NAU Review on September 26, 2023

AZTrans Student Researcher Selected as 2024 TRB Minority Student Fellow.

By The NAU Review on August 22, 2023

Mission statement

The mission of AZTrans (The Arizona Laboratory for Applied Transportation Research) is to improve the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of transportation systems through research which results in immediately implementable solutions. Housed on campus at Northern Arizona University, AZTrans maintains a state-of-the-art research and teaching traffic signal laboratory, equipment, and software for performing traffic safety research, and is fully equipped to conduct traffic simulation and developing and constructing prototype equipment for traffic data collection. Core to the mission of AZTrans is contribution to student success, which is achieved through hands-on involvement of students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, in all facets transportation research.

Research

Education

People

Member of Pacific Southwest Region 9 UTC

The Pacific Southwest Region University Transporation Center is the Region 9 University Transportation Center funded under the US Department of Transportation’s University Transportation Centers Program. Established in 2016, the Pacific Southwest Region UTC (PSR) is led by the University of Southern California and includes nine partners:

• California State University, Long Beach
• Northern Arizona University
• Pima Community College
• University of California, Berkeley
• University of California, Davis
• University of California, Irvine
• University of California, Los Angeles
• University of Hawaii
• University of Nevada, Las Vegas

The Pacific Southwest Region UTC conducts an integrated, multidisciplinary program of research, education and technology transfer aimed at improving the mobility of people and goods throughout the region. Our program is organized around four themes: 1) technology to address transportation problems and improve mobility; 2) improving mobility for vulnerable populations; 3) Improving resilience and protecting the environment; and 4) managing mobility in high growth areas.

Member of the Arizona Transportation Institute (AZTI)

NAU is member of the Arizona Transportation Institute (AZTI) which is a collaboration with the Arizona Department of Transportation, University of Arizona, and Arizona State University. AZTI is charged with the responsibility of carrying out transportation research processes that support the needs of ADOT and the State of Arizona. The institute produces useful information and recommendations that address transportation concerns for ADOT, local jurisdictions, and other states. Together, AZTI members are committed to supporting the development and operations of an integrated, multimodal transportation system that facilitates the efficient economic movement of people and goods while promoting community development.