University of Washington

Technology Transfer PacTrans is committed to a program of technology transfer directed toward researchers, transportation professionals, public policy makers, and the general public. As such, technology transfer is integrated in all research projects from beginning to end. At the proposal stage of research, PIs submit an implementation plan describing their intentions for disseminating the results of their research. A representative from transportation agencies of private industry participates in the monitoring panel for each multi-institutional project to ensure the potential practical value and facilitate the possible technology transfer activities of the research products. PacTrans Region 10 Transportation Conference scheduled on October 6, 2017, offers a great platform for people from the practice side to talk to researchers for technology transfer opportunities. Additionally, through peer-reviewed journals, conference proceedings, other scientific arenas, and through social media, PacTrans researchers share the results of their PacTrans-funded research projects and seek for partners for technology transfer. PacTrans newsletters and annual reports also serve as vehicles for outreach and technology transfer. People can access publications through the PacTrans website (www.pactrans.org) or via e-mail. To take advantage of receiving publications via e-mail, contact pactrans@uw.edu. Sometimes the results of PacTrans research warrants technology transfer above and beyond what PIs committed to in their implementation plans during the proposal stage. PacTrans calls these projects "Success Stories," and secures additional funding for further, more elaborate technology transfer processes to take place. Several projects that PacTrans afforded these extra funds have completed specific products in the past year. The following are highlights from those projects. PACTRANS PI PARTICIPATES IN WHITE HOUSE ROUND TABLE ON VEHICLE AUTOMATION AND ENERGY DEMAND Late last month, University of Washington Assistant Professor of Transportation Engineering and PacTrans PI, Dr. Don MacKenzie was invited to the White House for a roundtable on vehicle automation and energy demand. Participants included (of which there were 30 in total) officials from the Department of Transportation, Department of Energy, the EPA, and the Executive Office of the President, as well as representatives from industry, academia, and the non-profit sector. The purpose of the roundtable was to gather input for federal policymakers, in an effort leverage vehicle automation to help reduce energy consumption including the associated environmental impacts of vehicles. "In light of the uncertainty over how much emphasis the incoming Trump Administration will place on energy conservation," said MacKenzie, "there was a lot of discussion about the potential roles of state and local governments in achieving these goals." Dr. MacKenzie's contributions to the discussion included the idea that we should not assume that the energy savings potential of automation will necessarily be achieved absent further policy actions: "The biggest opportunity for saving energy is to increase occupancy factors, either through travelers sharing rides more often, or riding in smaller vehicles more often. It is widely thought that these changes will be more feasible if self-driving cars lead to increased use of on-demand mobility services." 32 Pacific Northwest Transportation Consortium

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