On Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) researchers shared their research at the Customs and Border Protection El Paso Field Office (EPFO) 2024 Annual Trade Fair. The event, themed “Building Toward the Future,” gathered representatives from state, local and federal agencies focused on enhancing cross-border transportation.
At the trade fair, Rafael Aldrete, TTI senior research scientist, and his team showcased their research on advancing transportation solutions through an interactive booth and an overview presentation. The booth featured engaging videos and informative displays, with team members Aldrete; Swapnil Samant, TTI research scientist; Ayla Turner, TTI research technician I; and Valeria Martinez, TTI associate transportation researcher, discussing the projects and answering questions.
In his presentation, Aldrete outlined several initiatives led by TTI’s Center for International Intelligent Transportation Research. These included the DCET-SE Dashboard, a tool to estimate commodity-based delay costs for northbound commercial motor vehicles, and a comparative analysis of the direct costs to shippers and carriers across six commercial ports of entry on the US-Mexico border .
Aldrete also discussed the Border Flow Analysis study, which uses recent INRIX data to understand the influence of the new Tornillo crossing and to develop a decision-making model that highlights the factors influencing bridge selection by cross-border travelers. This study aims to inform policymakers about traffic dynamics and future planning.
“The EPFO Trade Operations Trade Fair provides a platform to present our research and its potential impact on transportation efficiency,” Aldrete stated. “Engaging with the community and stakeholders is crucial for addressing real-world challenges.”
Further, Aldrete highlighted a project quantifying the environmental impact of border crossing delays in El Paso. This initiative utilizes mobility and crowdsourced data to estimate delays and apply environmental impact analysis tools to assess emissions. He also discussed a cutting-edge cross-border ITS project, sponsored by the Texas Department of Transportation and the City of El Paso, in which TTI will leverage radio frequency identification, Bluetooth and LiDAR technologies along with AI-based video analytics technologies to improve lane-specific wait time measurement for passenger vehicles traveling Southbound at the Zaragoza and Bridge of the Americas border crossings.
Aldrete further noted, “Our continued efforts in transportation technology and border operations are driven by the goal of developing effective solutions and fostering collaboration. Events like this are instrumental in sharing progress and cultivating partnerships that propel innovation.”