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The 2025 Southeastern Wisconsin Transportation Symposium, co-hosted by UWM’s Institute for Physical Infrastructure and Transportation (IPIT) and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), brought together more than 220 transportation professionals, researchers, and students on October 10 at the UWM Student Union—the largest turnout in the event’s history!

The symposium featured engaging presentations and discussions on topics such as artificial intelligence in transportation systems, driver behavior and safety innovations, infrastructure preservation, and regional mobility planning. The event showcased collaborative research that advances Wisconsin’s transportation systems and reflects IPIT’s growing impact in connecting academia, industry, and government partners.

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Frustrated by sitting at red lights with no cross traffic, UWM PhD student Joel Roberts turned a daily annoyance into innovation. His startup, Shepherd Traffic, uses computer vision and algorithms to automate traffic data collection—providing more detailed, accurate, and cost-effective insights for smarter signal timing and road design.

Roberts’ pitch earned the $2,500 grand prize at the WiSys Big Idea Pitch Competition, standing out among top student innovators across Wisconsin. His system not only counts vehicles, bikes, and pedestrians but also tracks trajectories and delay times—offering a scalable, real-time solution far beyond manual clipboards.

Backed by UWM’s Lubar Entrepreneurship Center and mentored by Civil Engineering Professor Xiao Qin, Roberts integrates his startup into his academic research. With support from the national I-Corps program, he’s now exploring ways to expand his system to include near-miss detection and risky behavior forecasting—insights that could revolutionize intersection design and urban safety.

As cities move toward smarter infrastructure, Shepherd Traffic is helping lead the way.

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On May 16, 2025, Traffic & Parking Control Company, LLC (TAPCO) generously donated advanced traffic equipment to UWM’s Institute for Physical Infrastructure and Transportation (IPIT), enhancing hands-on learning for civil engineering students. The donation, including a state-of-the-art SWARCO McCain 352i ATC Cabinet and accessible pedestrian crosswalk buttons, was unveiled at a ribbon-cutting event attended by TAPCO representatives, faculty, and students. This real-world equipment will be used for classroom instruction and research, supporting student development and promoting community safety. TAPCO’s partnership reflects a shared commitment to innovation in traffic engineering and accessible transportation infrastructure.

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Master’s student Joely Overstreet (Civil Engineering) has been awarded the 2024–2025 Beimborn Graduate Fellowship, receiving $7,500 to support her research on improving pedestrian visibility from tall vehicles, advised by Professor Xiao Qin. Overstreet earned her BS in Civil Engineering and Mathematics from Valparaiso University in 2024.

The fellowship was established by donors Curtis C. and Maureen E. Lueck to honor Professor Emeritus Edward Beimborn, recognizing excellence in transportation research.

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Xiaowei (Tom) Shi, an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM), was recently interviewed about his research into autonomous vehicle technology, particularly its applications in rural and tribal communities. This initiative is supported by a $1.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, part of a larger $15 million allocation aimed at advancing self-driving technologies in less urbanized areas. Dr. Shi emphasized that this funding enables UWM to conduct vital testing of autonomous vehicles in rural settings, addressing unique challenges and opportunities in these regions. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy highlighted the national significance of this research, citing potential improvements in safety and national security. The project’s goal is to enhance the safety and efficiency of autonomous vehicles, especially in areas with limited transportation options.

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Tom Shi, assistant professor; Xiao Qin, professor; and Yang Li, research associate, civil engineering, are partners with UW-Madison on a six-year U.S. Department of Transportation grant to explore the use of autonomous vehicles in rural areas where transportation services are limited. The college’s share of the grant is $1.4 million.

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Tom Shi’s lab at UWM are developing a data-driven system to improve road safety by tracking risky driving behaviors in real-time. Partnering with the UWM Police Department, they analyze traffic footage using deep learning algorithms to detect behaviors like distracted driving and speeding. Their system creates 3D digital maps with detailed vehicle and pedestrian data to identify unsafe road conditions, such as pedestrian hotspots where drivers fail to yield. The final goal is to develop an intervention system that provides real-time alerts for risky driving, potentially integrating C-V2X communication technology to warn drivers via a roadside unit or mobile app.

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The Northwestern Mutual Data Science Institute (NMDSI) has awarded over $700,000 in grants through three annual programs that support cross-institution collaboration in data science research and education. As part of a long-term commitment, UWM, Marquette University, and Northwestern Mutual will invest $35 million over the next five years to position Wisconsin as a hub for data science and technology. Awardees from UWM include faculty and students working on AI-driven rehabilitation, rural connectivity, digital twin risk prediction, and explainable AI for healthcare. The funded programs—Paving ROADS Seed Fund, Pioneer Collaborative Curricula, and Student Research Scholars—aim to advance interdisciplinary research, integrate data science into curricula, and engage students in cutting-edge projects.

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The 2024 Southeast Wisconsin Transportation Symposium, co-hosted by UWM’s Institute for Physical Infrastructure and Transportation (IPIT) and WisDOT, brought together over 200 students, professionals, and researchers to explore innovative solutions in transportation. Key topics included pedestrian and bicyclist safety, Milwaukee’s Vision Zero program, and emerging trends in autonomous vehicles. UWM researchers Robert Schneider and Xiao Qin presented their study on rising pedestrian fatalities, offering insights into trends and potential solutions. The event featured engaging sessions, keynote speeches, and a “walk-shop” tour of UWM’s latest pedestrian facilities.

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Members of the College’s Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) student chapter received the 2024 Momentum Award at the ITE Great Lakes District annual meeting in June.

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