Projects
TESPA: Transportation Engineering Student Project Area
The TESPA serves as a center of transportation innovation on campus. Thanks to the generosity of the College of Engineering, the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, and several donors and sponsors, Cal Poly's transportation students have a place to create projects they're passionate about. Check out our newsletter for student research projects, or scroll down the list below to see what we've been up to.
We're always looking to address real-world problems and partner alongside firms, agencies, and other universities. Please contact us at calpolyite@gmail.com with suggestions or questions!
The TESPA serves as a center of transportation innovation on campus. Thanks to the generosity of the College of Engineering, the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, and several donors and sponsors, Cal Poly's transportation students have a place to create projects they're passionate about. Check out our newsletter for student research projects, or scroll down the list below to see what we've been up to.
We're always looking to address real-world problems and partner alongside firms, agencies, and other universities. Please contact us at calpolyite@gmail.com with suggestions or questions!
Western District Data Collection Project
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo proposes to the Western District Data Collection each year. The Student Chapter was successful in the RFP process and collected parking counts over the course of three days early 2019 at Madonna Inn at SLO.
The efforts include pairs of students monitoring the entering and exiting vehicles of a parking lot throughout a 12 hour day. All students are volunteers, paid only in snacks throughout their shift, and the Data Collection coordinators take the extra effort to ensure accurate collection and concise reporting. Project advising is provided by Dr. Anurag Pande.
Data collection funds help our Chapter make its way to the Western District Annual Meetings each year!
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo proposes to the Western District Data Collection each year. The Student Chapter was successful in the RFP process and collected parking counts over the course of three days early 2019 at Madonna Inn at SLO.
The efforts include pairs of students monitoring the entering and exiting vehicles of a parking lot throughout a 12 hour day. All students are volunteers, paid only in snacks throughout their shift, and the Data Collection coordinators take the extra effort to ensure accurate collection and concise reporting. Project advising is provided by Dr. Anurag Pande.
Data collection funds help our Chapter make its way to the Western District Annual Meetings each year!
BlueMAC Data Collection
The BlueMAC Data Collection devices collect travel time information of passing pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists through Bluetooth-enabled devices. Graduate students Alex Chambers, Krista Purser, Bobby Sidhu, and Bryan Wheeler as well as Dr. Robert Bertini coordinated the implementation of the devices in October and November of 2015 and are at present processing the data. The team coordinated with Cal Poly, the City of San Luis Obispo, and San Luis Obispo County to install the devices.
After the initial testing along California Boulevard and Foothill Boulevard, the devices were relocated to study Los Osos Valley Road. Travel time and origin-destination data will provide an understanding of the roadway performance and potential for improvements.
The BlueMAC Data Collection devices collect travel time information of passing pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists through Bluetooth-enabled devices. Graduate students Alex Chambers, Krista Purser, Bobby Sidhu, and Bryan Wheeler as well as Dr. Robert Bertini coordinated the implementation of the devices in October and November of 2015 and are at present processing the data. The team coordinated with Cal Poly, the City of San Luis Obispo, and San Luis Obispo County to install the devices.
After the initial testing along California Boulevard and Foothill Boulevard, the devices were relocated to study Los Osos Valley Road. Travel time and origin-destination data will provide an understanding of the roadway performance and potential for improvements.
Traffic Bowl
Cal Poly has a traffic bowl team that competes every year at the Western District Annual Meeting. The three member team and alternate are selected through consensus in spring and prepare for the annual meeting in the summer. The traffic bowl team has competed well since its resurrection, always placing in the top three of the Western District.
In 2012 the team won the ITE Western District Annual Meeting Traffic Bowl in Santa Barbara, California and competed at the ITE International Annual Meeting in Anchorage, Alaska.
In 2015, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo saw a victory at the Western District level again in Las Vegas, Nevada. The team moved on to compete at the International Annual Meeting in Hollywood, Florida, and emerged the victors!
In 2016, the traffic bowl team successfully defended their title at the Western District Annual Meeting in Albuquerque, New Mexico. And after narrowly qualifying for the final round at the International Annual Meeting in Anaheim, California, Cal Poly took an admiral second place.
In 2022, our team competed at the Western District Annual Meeting in Palm Springs, California and won the Traffic Bowl!
Cal Poly has a traffic bowl team that competes every year at the Western District Annual Meeting. The three member team and alternate are selected through consensus in spring and prepare for the annual meeting in the summer. The traffic bowl team has competed well since its resurrection, always placing in the top three of the Western District.
In 2012 the team won the ITE Western District Annual Meeting Traffic Bowl in Santa Barbara, California and competed at the ITE International Annual Meeting in Anchorage, Alaska.
In 2015, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo saw a victory at the Western District level again in Las Vegas, Nevada. The team moved on to compete at the International Annual Meeting in Hollywood, Florida, and emerged the victors!
In 2016, the traffic bowl team successfully defended their title at the Western District Annual Meeting in Albuquerque, New Mexico. And after narrowly qualifying for the final round at the International Annual Meeting in Anaheim, California, Cal Poly took an admiral second place.
In 2022, our team competed at the Western District Annual Meeting in Palm Springs, California and won the Traffic Bowl!
Traffic Counts, Speed Surveys, & More!
In February 2015, the Student Chapter partnered with a local traffic firm by providing traffic counting services in return for a donation to the club’s general fund. Students were sent out across several time frames to measure peak hour intersection turning movements and compile the resulting data.
In January 2016, the Student Chapter partnered with the University Police Department to complete speed surveys around the Cal Poly campus. The Student Chapter enlisted the bright minds of the Fundamentals of Transportation Engineering Lab, introducing students to the importance of traffic safety and providing a service to our campus. Data were then processed and drafted into a professional report.
In February 2015, the Student Chapter partnered with a local traffic firm by providing traffic counting services in return for a donation to the club’s general fund. Students were sent out across several time frames to measure peak hour intersection turning movements and compile the resulting data.
In January 2016, the Student Chapter partnered with the University Police Department to complete speed surveys around the Cal Poly campus. The Student Chapter enlisted the bright minds of the Fundamentals of Transportation Engineering Lab, introducing students to the importance of traffic safety and providing a service to our campus. Data were then processed and drafted into a professional report.