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TECH 263
This is a state-of-the-art laboratory dedicated to education, training, and research for traffic signal operations. This lab integrates signal timing design and hardware-in-the-loop traffic simulation for teaching traffic signal control and coordination in a virtual lab environment. It uses real traffic signal controller hardware to control traffic that is being simulated in a traffic simulation program. The traffic signal was designed by TranSync software, which can optimize signal timing and enhance signal coordination without relying on expensive traffic volume counts. This system provides the capability of designing and testing optimized signal control strategies in a virtual environment. It allows for the realistic evaluation of controller operations and traffic control strategies without disturbing real traffic flow.
The Maritime Transportation Lab
The Maritime Transportation Lab is also the location of the annual Summer Maritime Academy, a program for high school juniors and seniors designed to introduce students to the maritime industry.
Houston Port authority
Maritime Transportation class
TECH 155
The Mini-TranStar lab in the Department of Transportation Studies was established in 2006 according to an agreement between Texas Southern University and the Texas Department of Transportation, which allows TSU to access all the real-time Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) traffic videos and speed data that are currently available in the Houston Traffic Management Center, TranStar.
This lab is equipped with an exclusive internet connection between the Houston TranStar and TSU lab. In the lab, there are five big LCD monitors and a couple of computers for displaying, selecting, recording, and analyzing traffic video images. The main function of this lab is to provide a surveillance of real-time traffic at any location on Houston freeways. Mini-TranStar Lab is used for the courses TMGT810, TMGT812, and TMGT862.
Traffic management centers deploy traffic management strategies to reduce congestion and coordinate state and local authorities during daily traffic, special events, and emergencies. Accessibility of a mini traffic management center at the school and the work experience with the equipment in this lab provide the students with better opportunities to apply for jobs in the area of traffic management and operations.
MiniTranStar Lab combines the use of the research lab and a real-world Traffic Management Center. The lab is equipped with a TrafficVision Traffic Management Center Remote unit, which can process and analyze real-time or recorded traffic videos and collect traffic-related data from any location on Houston freeways to support research in transportation operations, safety, and security areas. This lab can maximize the efficiency and productivity of the research work in the Department of Transportation Studies.
Students in the Special Computer Lab
Traffic software system
The special computer lab in the Department of Transportation Studies is equipped with 26 computers installed with a variety of transportation software, including transportation planning software (CUBE, TRANSCAD, etc.), traffic statistical analysis software (Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, SPSS, SAS, etc.), and Geographic Information System (GIS) software (ArcGIS, etc.). Students will learn the use of these softwares through a series of classes, including TMGT 815, TMGT 882, TMGT 850, TMGT 830, TMGT 811, TMGT 823 and TMGT 812. Regular trainings or workshops are also held in this lab by faculty or invited experts.
Students will gain experience and skills in the following areas: 1) traffic demand forecasting. With the use of transportation planning software, e.g. CUBE, students can estimate the future travel demand and the impacts of alternative transportation policies and improvements, 2) transportation system design and data analysis. With the use of Geographic Information System (GIS) software, e.g. ArcGIS and data analysis software, e.g. SPSS, students can spatially analyze the performance of different transposition designs and develop mathematical models to predict traffic conditions. Through these experiences, students will gain marketable skills to facilitate placement in both academic and industrial fields after their graduation.
Most federal or state funded transportation projects include tasks that require data analysis, traffic demand forecasting, or ArcGIS based system design and analysis. By using the state-of- the-art softwares installed in this lab, TSU researchers could conduct research in the fields of travel demand forecasting, air quality analysis, public transit systems, transportation design and analysis, Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), and transportation planning and management.
This lab significantly increases our research capabilities and improves the funding opportunities for TSU.
Traffic Signal Cabinet
Traffic Signal Lab setting
Traffic Signal Box
Traffic Signal equipment
Simulation of Intersection traffic
Transportation professionals have used traffic simulation as an important tool for testing different traffic design alternatives in a realistic and highly detailed manner before field implementation. Simulations are widely used in the industrial and academic fields. With the state- of-the-art simulation software available in this traffic simulation lab, students will acquire important skills related to the use of software, which could significantly increase their employment potential in the transportation related public and private sectors.
This laboratory allows TSU researchers to conduct advanced transportation researches including 1) development, evaluation, and fine-tuning of signal priority logic, 2) evaluation and optimization of traffic operations in a combined network of coordinated and actuated traffic signals, 3) easy comparison of design alternatives at intersections, roundabouts, and grade separated interchanges, 4) modeling and simulating flows of pedestrians, etc. The enhanced research capabilities for TSU researchers will be an advantage when applying for external funding.
Traffic Simulation Lab
TECH 264
With the advanced the 3DATX proSYNC™ innovative Portable Emissions Measurement System (iPEMS), which is a portable, compact, accurate, and affordable solution to pursue emissions compliance, the researchers and students at the Department of Transportation Studies can sample tailpipe emissions and provide up to 1 Hz reporting of NO2, NO, CO2, CO, HC, O2, PN, and PM. The iPEMS test unit can be installed on a vehicle in under 30 minutes and data can be reviewed in real-time on the laptop provided. We can measure the second-by-second real-world fuel consumption, Greenhouse Gas (GHG), and pollutant emissions from a variety of on-road vehicles and non-road equipment such as yard tractors, construction machinery, forklifts, locomotives, small aircraft, etc.
The students will be trained to learn how to use the iPEMS equipment for collecting vehicle emissions in the field study. This is a very practical training with interdisciplinary skills required. Students will receive interdisciplinary training, not only in transportation operation and management, but also in vehicle emission testing and modeling, and environmental technology and science. Due to the nature of the training, students will have the opportunity to learn some basic knowledge of vehicle manufacturing. Students who attended the training from this lab will be more competitive in finding jobs in even wider areas such as transportation engineering, environmental protection agencies, companies, and vehicle engineering.
The vehicle emission testing equipment, iPEMS, is a state-of-the-art device that can measure real-time vehicle emissions and fuel consumption. This iPEMS equipment is a very convenient and powerful tool for conducting advanced transportation and environmental research in evaluating the impacts of adopting environmentally friendly traffic management strategies to reduce air quality and energy consumption. This is a great asset for TSU to win more external funding.
TECH 255
The Virtual Driving Lab was established in 2023 with the support of Title III funding to advance transportation research, education, and safety. This cutting-edge facility features two integrated high-fidelity driver-in-the-loop simulators: the RDS-1500 Half-Cab Driving Simulator and the RS-Bike Research Simulator. Both systems operate independently or within a shared virtual environment, providing a robust platform for studying human behavior, transportation safety, and autonomous vehicle (AV) systems.
The RDS-1500 is a half-cab simulator built from a cut-down OEM vehicle, complete with a force-feedback steering system, brake and throttle controls, automatic gear shifter, touchscreen center stack, and a glass dash virtual instrument cluster. It is equipped with a 3-degree-of-freedom motion base and a 5-channel, 4K ultra-high-definition visual display system using 86-inch monitors, offering immersive driving experiences across city, highway, and rural scenarios. The system includes a powerful sound system, vibration transducers, and customizable in-vehicle interfaces designed via Altia Design.
The RS-Bike simulator features a full-size hybrid bicycle mounted on a platform with front-projected, 3-channel visual display and integrated sensors to capture steering and pedaling actions. It simulates realistic cycling dynamics and shares the same virtual environment as the RDS-1500, enabling interaction studies between drivers and cyclists.
Both simulators are powered by SimCreator DX, a modular and open-architecture simulation software suite that supports scenario development using a rich library of pre-built maneuvers, advanced scripting in JavaScript, and behavior customization for automated and human-controlled vehicles. The lab also includes options for SimDriver (SAE Level 3–5 automation), SimADAS (advanced driver assistance systems), and SimObserver Pro HD, an after-action review system that synchronizes high-definition video and telemetry data for detailed behavioral analysis.
Researchers can leverage over 60 miles of pre-built virtual road environments, including “Generic World” and “Linear Land” databases, to quickly deploy experiments. The system collects extensive vehicle and behavioral data (e.g., speed, acceleration, lane position, headway, eye gaze, and more), making it a powerful tool for interdisciplinary research in human factors, AV transition protocols, traffic safety, and beyond.
With full customization capabilities, perpetual software licenses, and a built-in training and support framework, the TSU Virtual Driving Lab provides a scientifically validated, real-world proxy environment for next-generation transportation research and education.