About

About

As part of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the University of Michigan, along with its partners, have created the Center for Connected and Automated Transportation (CCAT). CCAT aims to significantly advance the evolution of the U.S. next-generation transportation systems with emerging technologies on safety, mobility, cybersecurity, and equity. CCAT serves as the Region 5 University Transportation Center designated to address the field of comprehensive transportation safety, congestion, connected vehicles, connected infrastructure, and autonomous vehicles.

Located at the focal point of the U.S. auto industry, CCAT will play a unique regional role in promoting connected and automated transportation research, education, workforce development, and technology transfer activities, which are of critical importance to the future of the region’s economy. The CCAT team’s extensive and substantive collaborations with stakeholders such as the region’s state DOTs, local governments, and the CAV industry will ensure that its research translates to practical outcomes through prototypes, field tests, technology transfer, implementation, and policies.

The USDOT invests in the future of transportation through its University Transportation Centers (UTC) Program. The UTC Program advances the state-of-the-art in transportation research and technology and develops the next generation of transportation professionals. UTC awards and administers grants to consortia of colleges and universities across the United States. In 2023, the USDOT renewed CCAT under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

U-M’s partners include the University of Akron, Central State University, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Northwestern University, Purdue University, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Washtenaw Community College.


CCAT Directory of Key Personnel

Headshot of Henry Liu. The link directs to their bio page.

Henry Liu • University of Michigan
CCAT Director

2901 Baxter Road – Room 103
Ann Arbor, MI 48109

Ph: (734) 763-6076

Debby Bezzina Headshot. The link directs to their bio page.

Debby Bezzina • University of Michigan
CCAT Managing Director

2901 Baxter Road – Room 105
Ann Arbor, MI 48109

Ph: (734) 763-2498

Samuel Labi Headshot. The link directs to their bio page.

Samuel Labi • Purdue University
CCAT Associate Director

550 Stadium Mall Drive – Room G175A
West Lafayette, IN 47907

Ph: (765) 494-5926

Headshot of Ping Yi. The link directs to their bio page.

Ping Yi • University of Akron
Professor of Civil Engineering

302 Buchtel Common – ASEC 213
Akron, OH 44325

Ph: (330) 972-7294

Headshot of Krishnakumar Nedunuri. The link directs to their bio page.

Krishnakumar Nedunuri • Central State University
Professor of Environmental Engineering

105 C.J. McLin Center – 111
Wilberforce, OH 45384

Ph: (937) 376-6455

Headshot of Imad Al-Qadi. The link directs to their bio page.

Imad Al-Qadi • UIUC
Illinois Center for Transportation Director

1207 Newmark Civil Engineering Bldg – 205 N Mathews Ave, Urbana, IL 61801

Ph: (217) 265-0427

Headshot of Zhi-Li Zhang. The link directs to their profile page.

Zhi-Li Zhang • University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Distinguished McKnight University Professor & Qwest Chair Professor

6-187 Kenneth H. Keller Hall
200 Union Street Se
Minneapolis, MN 55455

Ph: (612) 625-8568

Headshot of Hani Mahmassani

Hani Mahmassani • Northwestern University
William A. Patterson Distinguished Chair in Transportation

2145 Sheridan Road
Tech A335
Evanston, IL 60208-3109

Ph: (847) 467-7445

Headshot of David Noyce. The link directs to their profile page.

David Noyce • University of Wisconsin-Madison
Arthur F. Hawnn Professor

1415 Engineering Drive (Room 2630)
Madison, WI 53706

Ph: (608) 265-1882

Headshot of Al Lecz. The link directs to their bio page.

Al Lecz • Washtenaw Community College
Advanced Transportation Center Director

4800 E Huron River Drive – OE 160 F
Ann Arbor, MI 48105

Ph: (734) 677-5472