About
Our Mission
The mission of the National Institute for Advanced Transportation Technology is to develop engineering solutions (knowledge and technology) to transportation problems for the state of Idaho, the Pacific Northwest and the United States; and to prepare our students to be leaders in the design, deployment and operation of our nation’s complex transportation systems.
Six core values inform our work:
We are committed to preserving and protecting the natural and pristine environments of the Pacific Northwest and its small cities and towns. We contribute to the sustainability of this environment through the development of clean vehicles, alternative fuels, efficient traffic control systems, safe transportation systems, sound infrastructure, and the policies that support these systems.
Universities exist primarily to educate the citizens that it serves. We value our students and engage them in practical, experiential-learning centered environments.
We provide life-long, continuous learning opportunities for transportation professionals in Idaho and the Northwest at all levels of practice.
We engage our faculty and students in challenging, practical and relevant transportation problems that have regional and national significance. Our research results in technology that satisfies the needs of our clients. Our research informs the actions and decisions of our clients.
We create interdisciplinary teams of undergraduate students, working with graduate students, mentored by expert faculty. We seek partnerships with organizations committed to our values to work on problems of mutual interest. We look to partners in the Pacific Northwest, both at universities and departments of transportation, for collaborative partnerships.
We are committed to integrating our research with the educational programs of the university.
Goals
Researchers and students working for NIATT are seeking to find the answer to these eight questions:
- How can we make our transportation systems more sustainable?
- How can we reduce environmental impacts of our transportation system and preserve the Northwest’s pristine environments?
- How can we reduce our dependence on petroleum use for transportation?
- How can we reduce delays and improve travel time reliability through improved traffic control systems?
- How can we improve the safety of our transportation systems?
- How can we improve the durability, reliability, and life of our physical (built) transportation infrastructure?
- How do we make good choices in transportation investments?
- How can we improve the skills and abilities of transportation workers so that they can do their jobs more effectively?