TREC research addresses complex transportation problems by drawing on multiple disciplines, including engineering, planning, economics and design, from across the Portland State University campus. Use the search box at right to search for a specific project.
NOTE: If you're looking for projects from our partner campuses, use the NITC research search.
Research Highlights
A Decentralized Network Consensus Control Approach for Urban Traffic Signal Optimization
Gerardo Lafferriere
The main contribution of this project is the simulation platform that allows for comparison between the proposed consensus approach and a standard traffic signal control protocol. The main features of the mathematical model and the simulation tools are explained and illustrated in the report. The complete open source for the code is available in the online depository. The code is in the form of MATLAB files with extensive comments explaining the various parts of the model. The tool has an int...
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Exploring the positive utility of travel and mode choice
Patrick Singleton
Traditionally, travel is considered a disutility to be minimized, and travel demand is derived from activity demand. Recently, scholars have questioned these axioms, noting that some people may like to travel, use travel time productively, find other benefits in traveling, or travel for non-utilitarian reasons. These are instances of “the positive utility of travel” (PUT). In this dissertation, I conceptually and empirically investigate PUT, its determinants, and its impacts on travel behavio...
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