As it celebrates 20 years of devising innovative technologies for public agencies, BSU’s GeoGraphics Lab has a new reason to take pride in its work.
The lab was selected by the Federal Transit Administration as the northeast regional winner of two awards in a federal competition to design innovative transit technologies.
“It’s a really humbling experience to receive these awards,” said Dr. Uma Shama, a professor and graduate coordinator of mathematics, who co-directs the lab with Larry Harman.
The lab’s faculty and students collaborate on research, mostly focused on transportation, but also stores and monitors hurricane data, pioneered key mapping programs and was even an early adopter of unmanned avication devices, or drones. Dr. Shama said the awards – both for “Best Software Solution” – will show students “that their work has national significance.”
One of the awards, shared with the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority, is for the lab’s creation of a computerized mapping program that provides the agency real-time figures on passenger boardings at various locations. The data, collected from the buses’ fare box and GPS systems, has been transformed through the program into a valuable tool in route planning.
The other award, shared with the Community Transportation Association of America, recognized a mapping system the lab created to aid federal officials managing a grant program to improve access to transit services for veterans and military families.
Mr. Harman said the recognition will help the lab secure funding for future projects.
“It certainly gives you some credibility,” he said. (File photo, University News)