Introduction, Mission and Goals of ATLAS

Two major factors in the economic competitiveness of a country and the quality of life of its people are (1) the mobility of people to move easily between home and workplace and other destinations, minimizing the attendant impact on clean air, and (2) the efficient movement of goods from point of origin to points of destinations. Thus, economic competitiveness and people's quality of life can be enhanced considerably by better management of vehicular traffic on the road network through advances in, for example, traffic-adaptive signal control and ramp-metering, demand management through congestion pricing, and real-time dynamic network load control. This we refer to as Advanced Traffic Management.

Economic competitiveness can also be enhanced by better management of logistics dealing with the movement of goods through advances in, for example, scheduling of resources (trucks, cranes, containers, warehouses, etc.) for intermodal facilities, electronic clearance at border crossings, methods for routing and scheduling of carriers (trucks, cargo ships, airplanes, etc.), decision support systems for designing distribution networks and making better logistics decisions by carriers. Included in Advanced Logistic Management issues is the global distribution of manufactured goods, where consideration of world-wide shipping and supply-chain management can improve the efficiency and cost of goods movement.

Vision Statement

It is envisioned that, within the next five years, The Center for Advanced Traffic and Logistics Algorithms and Software (ATLAS) at the University of Arizona will be an internationally and nationally recognized resource for excellence in research and learning of technologies, algorithms and systems for efficient and effective traffic and logistics management. Public agencies and private firms will seek out ATLAS for assistance in assessing research needs and conducting research and development projects. ATLAS will be a continuing source of talented researchers and graduates who are engaged in researching, developing and deploying the state-of-the-art traffic and logistics management systems.

ATLAS Mission

The mission of the University of Arizona's ATLAS Center is to establish a global research center that conducts basic research on advanced technologies and methods for traffic and logistics management, aggressively develops algorithms and software for that purpose, assists in the implementation of this research, and enhances education and technology transfer activities that advance the state-of-the-practice in traffic and logistics management. In more detail, the mission of ATLAS is:

--to conduct basic and applied research on technologies (including communication and computer technologies) and methods (including algorithms and software) for traffic and logistics management, with the goal to make the implementation of systems for this purpose effective, efficient, and economical.

--to enhance, through course and curricular development, the current traffic and logistics related teaching activities at UA; it will provide the education that relates to the understanding of technologies, methods and systems, and their implementation, for traffic engineers, logistics managers/planners, transportation practitioners, shippers, cargo carriers, system operators and other related decision makers.

--to assist in the effective transfer of Intelligent Transportation Systems and other computer/communication technologies, and traffic and logistics management software, to the transportation industry(including roads, ports, and border crossings operators), private companies and public agencies, through seminars, short courses and participation in operational tests and demonstration projects.

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