AR-STRIDES

Driving Data-Driven Research for Next Generation Transportation and Logistics Systems Supporting Arkansas

The Arkansas Smart Transportation Research Incubator through Data Engineering and Science (AR-STRIDES) is positioning researchers in Arkansas to be leaders in data-driven supply chain technologies and data analytics solutions for next generation transportation and logistics.

About AR-STRIDES

Funded by National Science Foundation Award OIA #2445877, AR-STRIDES is building competitive research infrastructure and capacity to position teams of researchers and educators in Arkansas to be leaders in data-driven supply chain technologies and data analytics solutions for next generation transportation and logistics.

NSF EPSCoR Funded

Statewide Initiative

Research Infrastructure

Partner Institutions

University of Arkansas, Fayetteville (Lead Institution)

Providing overall program leadership, core research infrastructure, and coordination of statewide research and workforce development activities.

Arkansas State University

Leading secure and reliable cloud computing research for smart transportation systems and contributing to statewide research capacity building.

North Arkansas College

Community college partner strengthening workforce pipelines through associate degrees, micro-credentials, high school outreach, and transfer pathways in data analytics and related fields.

Southern Arkansas University

Contributing to advanced algorithm development, data analytics, and graduate-level research in computer and information sciences.

University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff

Leading activities in workforce development, student outreach, and engineering-focused education pathways.

AR-STRIDES Core Projects

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Core Project 1

Data Provisioning

Developing a readily accessible data repository and provisioning service focused on representative and public transportation datasets for ML/AI models.

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Core Project 2

Geospatial AI

A Geospatial Foundation Model to enable next-generation transportation analysis and prediction, resulting in a research testbed for transportation tasks.

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Core Project 3

Secure Cloud Computing

Designing and implementing a prototype secure and reliable cloud computing system tailored for smart transportation services.

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Core Project 4

Synthetic Data Generation

Quantifying variation in supply chain activity to generate synthetic data for research, testing, and development in transportation statistics.

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AR-STRIDES

Workforce Development

Providing students and teachers in Arkansas with data analytics and AI learning opportunities to meet the state's demand for transportation and logistics talent.

Research Focus Areas

Arkansas is a natural laboratory to address use-inspired research challenges for next generation transportation and logistics systems.

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Artificial Intelligence for Next-Generation Transportation & Logistics

Developing artificial intelligence solutions for multimodal mobility

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Harnessing Data for Next-Generation Vehicles

Creating innovative data-driven solutions in connected and autonomous vehicles

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Unmanned Aerial Mobility Data Mining

Interpreting large and complex data sets generated from unmanned aerial systems

Programs & Opportunities

AR-STRIDES offers multiple programs to support Arkansas researchers whose expertise contributes to our mission.

🤖	Use-Inspired Early Career Research Seed Grants

Use-inspired research seed grants up to 5,000 for early career faculty at IHEs within Arkansas. Funded seed projects have the potential to increase federal funding, strengthen ties to Arkansas industries, and enhance the talent pool by expanding and/or leveraging research collaborations.

🚗	Small Equipment / Software Grants

Small equipment or software grants for researchers across Arkansas to enhance their research programs related to AR-STRIDES.

🚁	Travel Grants

Travel grants for Arkansas researchers whose interests relate to AR-STRIDES to develop or advance research collaborations, visit potential funding agencies, or establish relationships with new industry partners.

🌱	Collaborative Connections

Database of Arkansas research expertise and company information related to AR-STRIDES vision.

2024 Arkansas Science & Technology Plan

The 2024 Arkansas Science & Technology Plan challenges data science and analytics researchers across Arkansas to explore modern solutions to next-generation transportation and logistics challenges. The plan recognizes the value of advancing the State's transportation and logistics ecosystem in support of translating use-inspired research to tangible economic and societal benefits and developing a relevant workforce to grow the knowledge-based economy.

⇩ Download the 2024 S&T Plan (PDF)

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Award No. 2445877. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.