Zero Lab

Research on ‘Zero Revolution’ Transportation System

The ZeRo laboratory is a research group under the direction of Dr. Suman Kumar Mitra within the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Arkansas. The research agenda of the ZeRo lab centers around ‘zero revolution’ in transportation system, which consists of four ‘zeros’ (zero ownership, zero inequity, zero emissions, and zero accidents) that define the next-generation mobility system (e.g., self-driving cars, electric vehicles, in-vehicle data connectivity, mechanism for sharing rides and vehicles). We apply and develop behavior and demand modeling techniques involving big data analytics, machine learning tools, spatial econometrics, discrete choice modeling, Geographic Information System (GIS), and simulation to understand everyday decision-making behavior about how, when, and where to travel. At the University of Arkansas, our group has engaged in developing four research thrusts to address several transportation challenges aimed at boosting economic growth and improving the quality of life. These four research thrusts focus on S⁴(Smart, Square, Sustainable, and Safe) transportation system to achieve the above mentioned four zeros. The long-term research goal of the ZeRo Lab is to develop a data analytics platform for travel behavior and demand modeling centered on the following ‘zero revolution’ research thrusts.

Cities and mobility providers are scrambling to coordinate the public’s needs with the realities of smart-city technologies, which are transforming personal mobility dynamics from car-ownership to shared mobility (zero ownership). Our research demonstrates how effectively transportation engineering can draw upon the strengths of a broad range of disciplines to inform smart-city solutions that prepare states/cities for transitioning towards ‘zero revolution’. It integrates big data analytics with econometrics modeling and machine learning tools to enhance our understanding of mobility choice and accessibility for short and long-distance travel in response to emerging transportation services and changes in the built environment.

Relevant Research Papers:

Tuli, F.M., Mitra, S.K., & Crews, M.B. (2021). Factors Influencing the Usage of Shared E-scooters in Chicago. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tra.2021.10.008
Ahmed, T., Sarma, N., Hyland, M., Mitra, S.K., & Ghaffar, A. (2020). Evaluating the Employment Accessibility Benefits of Shared Automated Mobility Services: A Multi-Classification Consumer Welfare Approach. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tra.2020.09.002

Square transportation (that serves everyone equally) is the key to ensuring accessible and affordable transportation for everyone in the community. While the emerging technology has the potential to be square transportation that can move needles towards zero-inequity in transportation, it may be unattainable to those who need it most without an intentional focus on equity. Our research demonstrates how technological advancement in transportation can best serve the disadvantaged population and underserved areas (e.g., low-income people, older adults, people living in rural areas, people of color, carless households, etc.) through the integration of transportation systems, economic activities, and land uses.

Relevant Research Papers:

Mitra, S.K., Mingqi, Y., & Ritchie, S. (2021). Gender Differences in Elderly Mobility in the United States. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice.
Mitra, S. K. (2021). Impact of carsharing on the mobility of lower-income populations in California. Travel Behaviour and Society, 24, 81-94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tbs.2021.02.005

Transportation, a vital part of our economy, is a major source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions — accounting for about 29 percent of carbon emissions across the United States. The future of transportation involves moving into new, smarter sources of energy, modes of transport, and physical and technological infrastructure that provide hope for sustainable transportation. Developing these solutions requires innovation and fundamental change — from the way we commute to the movement of goods to the establishment of our communities. Our research enhances our understanding of the adoption behavior of these new zero-emission technologies to help cities develop policies to achieve sustainable transportation goals.

Relevant Research Papers:

Bae, Y., Mitra, S.K., Rindt, C., & Ritchie, S. (2022). Factors Influencing Alternative Fuel Adoption Decisions in Heavy-duty Vehicle Fleets in California. Transportation Research Part D.
Mitra, S. K., & Saphores, J. D. M. (2019). Why do they live so far from work? Determinants of long-distance commuting in California. Journal of Transport Geography, 80, 102489. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2019.102489

Transportation affects the public’s health in numerous ways, partly via roadway fatalities and injuries, air pollution impacts, and opportunities for physical activity. Motor vehicle collisions are one of the leading causes of unintentional death in the United States. The next-generation mobility system creates great potential for reducing road fatalities, improving air quality, and protecting public health. However, with the introduction of emerging technology systems, traffic safety risk evaluation, prevention, and control have become more challenging, especially when integrating multisource data inputs related to traffic safety. Our research focuses on the emerging methodologies in multisource data fusion using GIS, machine learning, and econometrics tools to address the related challenges of traffic safety analysis.

Relevant Research Papers:

Diaz-Corro, K., Moreno, L.C., Mitra, S.K., & Hernandez, S. (2021). Assessment of Crash Occurrence Using Historical Crash Data and A Random Effect Negative Binomial Model: A Case Study for a Rural State. Transportation Research Record. https://doi.org/10.1177/03611981211027569
Hyun, K. K., Mitra, S. K., Jeong, K., & Tok, A. (2021). Understanding the effects of vehicle platoons on crash type and severity. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 149, 105858. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2020.105858