Anticipating a World of Automated Transport: Opportunities for Vehicle- and Ride-sharing Systems

A lecture with Dr. Kara Kockelman

Connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) will disrupt the ways we travel. Each CAV can save $2,000 to $5,000 per year because of crash savings, driving burden and parking cost reductions, and fuel economy. However, vehicle-miles traveled are likely to rise, due to empty vehicles, longer-distance trips, and access for those currently unable to drive.

Using the right tools (e.g., small/electric vehicles, dynamic ride-sharing, road tolls), shared AVs may decrease emissions, energy demand, and travel times without increasing VMT. Credit-based congestion pricing may increase traveler welfare and optimize systems. Dr. Kockelman will present on research relating to these topics and tools to improve quality of life for travelers.

Kara Kockelman is a registered professional engineer and holds a PhD in civil engineering, a master’s of city planning, and a minor in economics from UC Berkeley. Dr. Kockelman has been a professor at UT Austin for 21 years and authored over 150 journal articles. Her research interests include planning for SAVs, statistical modeling of urban systems, energy and climate issues, economic impacts of transport policy, and crash occurrence and consequences. www.caee.utexas.edu/prof/kockelman

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