UC students present future of transportation at forum
The University of Cincinnati on Tuesday hosted an Uptown Innovation Transportation Corridor Forum, which showcased students’ smart transportation projects from courses in transportation engineering, urban planning and architecture.
Each project’s goal was to create a connected transportation network and accessible hub in the Uptown Innovation Corridor. The cooridor is a community partnership between UC, Uptown Consortium, the city of Cincinnati and other regional entities.
“We are using emerging technologies to promote economic development and improve the quality of life for local residents and employees,” said UC professor of intelligent transportation and civil engineering Heng Wei, Ph.D., co-coordinator of the grant that funded the six courses.
UC professor of civil engineering Jiaqi Ma speaks at the Uptown Innovation Transportation Corridor Forum. Ma is heading UC's autonomous vehicle research. Photo/Corrie Stookey/CEAS Marketing
UC Forward, a university initiative that promotes interdisciplinary education opportunities, provided the grant. With a focus on improving surrounding community, the forum reflected the urban impact platform of UC’s strategic direction, Next Lives Here.
The Uptown Innovation Corridor, with its position between the university and downtown, provides a great location for a transportation network and hub. With UC’s 1819 Innovation Hub and the forthcoming Digital Futures Building, as well as a potential National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health laboratory, the area is at the center of industry and innovation. The area also provides great backdrop for students to test smart transportation projects.
“Students are applying their knowledge to a challenge in the real world,” said Wei. “The courses let students explore innovative solutions from the perspectives of technology, engineering, planning and architecture design.”
The courses let students explore innovative solutions from the perspectives of technology, engineering, planning and architecture design.
Heng Wei, UC professor of intelligent transportation and civil engineering
UC students present their work at Tuesday's forum. The forum showcased students’ smart transportation projects from six courses in transportation engineering, urban planning and architecture. Photo/Corrie Stookey/CEAS Marketing
UC students discuss poster presentations on display.at the event. Photo/Corrie Stookey/CEAS Marketing
Students presented pedestrian-friendly solutions that focused on infrastructure design, like additional bike lanes, enhanced bus stops and autonomous shuttle routes. Several engineering students presented their work on traffic signal controls, using connected vehicle technologies to improve the timing of traffic lights and reduce the use of detectors that need regular maintenance.
A group of architecture graduate students presented designs of the transportation hub, applying simulation technology and eye-tracking software to visualize their models. Students in a geographical information systems course tracked each project in an online story map.
“This is collaborative coursework,” said Wei. “Socioeconomic changes affect land use. Traffic pressures affect new development. We need to work together to solve these problems.”
The presentations and posters will provide data for a final report, which may lead to more funding to plan a smart transportation hub. The forum highlighted UC’s commitment to leading urban public universities into a new era of innovation and impact.
“We feel excited with the opportunity offered through the UC Forward grant,” said Wei.
Featured image at top: A UC graduate student speaks at Tuesday's Uptown Innovation Transportation Corridor Forum. Photo/Corrie Stookey/CEAS Marketing
Posters showcase UC architecture students' designs of the transportation hub. Photo/Corrie Stookey/CEAS Marketing
UC students, faculty and staff attended the Uptown Innovation Transportation Corridor Forum. Students presented work from six different classes, funded by a UC Forward grant. Photo/Corrie Stookey/CEAS Marketing
Urban Futures
Our urban identity must be part and parcel of who we are, what we do and why we matter. Learn more about the urban impact platform of UC's strategic direction, Next Lives Here.
Related Stories
How safe is nuclear power proposed for Kentucky?
November 12, 2026
An expert in nuclear energy at the University of Cincinnati helped provide context to listeners of WVXU during a discussion about a nuclear power plant complex proposed along the Ohio River in Eastern Kentucky.
Pioneer of sports medicine, biomedical engineering invests in UC
November 12, 2026
Fifty years ago, Frank Noyes, MD, and his colleagues understood something not yet obvious to many: the intersection of orthopaedics and biomedical engineering would benefit patients for decades to come.
Why so much hype around the new Grand Theft Auto?
November 6, 2026
UC experts from DAAP's game and animation program to a doctor at the Lindner Center of HOPE discuss the pros and cons surrounding the upcoming billion-dollar game Grand Theft Auto VI.