CEE Professor Organizes Transportation Conference in China

Dr. Fang Zhao, a CEE faculty member, was the co-chair of the 5th International Conference of Transportation Professionals, held in Xi'an, Shanxi, China June 25-26, 2005. The conference was hosted by Chang'an University, which has one of the best transportation programs among the Chinese universities. As the president of the North America Overseas Chinese Transportation Association (NACOTA), Dr. Zhao has been working with colleagues worldwide and in China to promote collaboration and technology transfer. This conference was attended by about 200 transportation professionals from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, the U.S., Canada, South America, Japan, Germany, and Greece. With the backdrop of a rapidly growing economy and fast expansion of transportation infrastructure in China in the recent years, the transportation industry also faces many challenges including highway design, maintenance, safety, ITS standardization and integration, traffic operations and management, urban planning, land use policies, institutional issues, etc. These issues were addressed by the conference participants through presentations and discussions. More information may be found at http://www.nacota.org/htdocs/China_Conferences/Xian2005/events2005-2.htm