About CUIP
The Center for Urban Informatics and Progress (CUIP) is a smart city and urbanization research center at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Using the power of big data, artificial intelligence, statistical modeling, machine learning, and more, we are studying how cities can adapt to our generation's challenges to ensure that our future is safer, smarter, and healthier for all. Our applied research efforts pioneer ways to improve traffic flows, reduce vehicle and pedestrian accidents, reduce carbon emissions, optimize healthcare patient outcomes, and more. Please use the navigation above to learn more about our work, our team, and our research.
The city of Chattanooga has emerged as a pioneer in urban renewal and sustainable development. As part of this renewal an extraordinary infrastructure has been put in place that includes high-speed, high bandwidth information networks that connect a large number of citizens to the internet. This infrastructure provides the foundation for the collection and exploitation of large amounts of heterogeneous data intended to improve city services. It allows for more effective transportation systems, energy efficiency, production and delivery, and for improving quality of life in general, including human wellness and health management and care delivery. As a regional partner, CUIP has many ties and collaborations with the city of Chattanooga and plays a major role in the Chattanooga Smart Community Collaborative.
Citywide Testbed
UTC hosts a citywide smart city testbed that spans over 120 signalized intersections, underscoring its commitment to advancing urban mobility and smart city technologies. Developed as a platform known as Testbed-As-A-Service, this initiative aims to accelerate access to large-scale data and deployment opportunities. Each intersection is equipped with IoT devices, C-V2X communications, edge computing, and various sensors, offering an unparalleled environment for conducting cutting-edge research. This extensive infrastructure supports numerous research projects and collaborations, facilitating innovative solutions to urban transportation challenges and fostering advancements in intelligent transportation systems.
Smart Mobility Lab
UTC's Smart Mobility Lab provides a comprehensive research and development environment focused on enhancing urban mobility. The lab features an array of traffic signal controllers, C-V2X roadside units, driving simulators, edge computers, and a traffic management center. Additionally, it includes a mock intersection equipped with the same technology deployed throughout the city. This setup offers a hardware-in-the-loop and software-in-loop facility, allowing researchers to test and validate their work in a controlled environment before field deployment. The Smart Mobility Lab serves as a vital resource for developing and refining technologies that improve traffic flow, safety, and efficiency in urban areas.
Connected and Autonomous Vehicle Research Platforms
CUIP supports cutting-edge research and development in connected and autonomous vehicles through two specialized vehicle-based platforms. The first is a dedicated connected vehicle equipped with an on-board unit, facilitating research into vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications and connected vehicle technologies. The second platform is an autonomous vehicle research unit, outfitted with an AV stack that includes radar, lidar, cameras, system monitoring, and compute capabilities. These platforms provide a robust foundation for exploring and advancing autonomous driving technologies, contributing to the broader goals of improving road safety, reducing traffic congestion, and paving the way for the future of transportation.