Geoffery Agorku, a master's student in civil engineering, garnered recognition at the recent Missouri Valley Section of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (MOVITE) Spring Meeting for his research poster. Titled "Traffic Cameras to Detect Inland Waterway Barge Traffic: An Application of Machine Learning," Agorku's work exemplifies innovation in transportation engineering.

MOVITE, dedicated to advancing transportation professionals' knowledge and skills, organized a student poster competition to nurture engineering education and celebrate talent across regional universities. Agorku's poster, reflecting his research endeavors, secured second place in the competition.

Agorku's research introduces a pioneering method to enhance the efficiency of monitoring barge traffic on inland waterways, crucial for supporting transportation planning initiatives by public agencies. By harnessing existing traffic camera infrastructure, his work implements a real-time detection system driven by advanced deep learning algorithms, notably the YOLOv8 model. This approach not only streamlines monitoring processes but also significantly reduces data processing latency, enabling more timely and accurate traffic assessments.

The primary objective of Agorku's research is to tackle challenges encountered by public agencies in freight transportation planning. By furnishing a reliable and immediate source of traffic data, his study aims to enrich decision-making processes and enhance transportation planning strategy efficiency.

Agorku, pursuing his master's degree under the guidance of associate professor Sarah Hernandez, earned his bachelor's degree from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana. His research focuses on developing long-range planning solutions for the public sector in freight transportation planning, driven by a passion for innovation in transportation systems and a commitment to sustainable infrastructure development.

MOVITE serves as a professional organization dedicated to advancing and exchanging transportation engineering knowledge and practices within the Missouri Valley region of the United States. The organization champions education and research initiatives related to transportation engineering; advocates for policies improving transportation systems' safety, efficiency and sustainability; and fosters collaborations between public and private sectors to effectively address transportation challenges.

Karla Diaz Corro, a graduate student in the Civil Engineering Department at the U of A, takes on the crucial role of student outreach for MOVITE. In her capacity as co-chair of the Student Activities Committee for MOVITE, Diaz Corro spearheads initiatives such as organizing professionals to serve as judges for events like the poster competition mentioned earlier. Additionally, she actively encourages students to showcase their research posters, fostering engagement and participation within the student community. Diaz Corro's dedication and contributions greatly enhance the student experience within MOVITE, facilitating valuable opportunities for networking, learning and professional development.