The Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) was well represented at this year’s South by Southwest (SXSW) Interactive Conference in Austin, TX. SXSW Interactive focuses on emerging technology, a focus which has earned the festival a reputation as a breeding ground for new ideas and creative technologies.
TTI Agency Director Greg Winfree participated in the fourth-annual Smart Mobility Showcase on March 11 from 3:00 – 3:45 pm. The panel discussion focused on the future of self-driving cars.
TTI Policy Research Center Director Ginger Goodin participated in the session “Self-Driving Cars and the Policy Maze” on March 11 from 5:00 – 6:00 pm. This panel identified the policy challenges and opportunities toward full integration of this technology in our nation’s transportation system.
TTI Assistant Agency Director Steve Roop delivered a talk entitled “Lightning Talk: Autonomous Freight: Bringing the Future to the Present” on March 11 at 10:30 am. Roop discussed how the Freight Shuttle System is a low-emissions alternative to moving freight and relieving congestion created by trucks in heavy freight corridors.
TTI Senior Research Scientist Johanna Zmud participated in a Mentor Session on March 11 from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm. Zmud’s discussion topics included automated & connected vehicles, travel behavior analysis, transportation policy, demographic trends and research methods.
Zmud also participated in the session Designing Infrastructure for Autonomous Cars on March 11 from 3:30 – 4:30 pm.
SXSW is an annual conglomerate of film, interactive media, and music festivals and conferences that took place on March 10-19 in Austin.
