MSU Campus to Become ‘Mobility Ecosystem'

Michigan State University plans to turn its 5,200-acre campus into a test site for advanced transportation technologies.

1 minute read

November 16, 2018, 6:00 AM PST

By Elana Eden


Michigan State Capital

Jason Grindle / Shutterstock

Michigan State University is launching a campus-wide mobility research initiative that will apply artificial intelligence, behavioral science, and cloud storage to advance autonomous technology.

Already, the university has installed charging stations for electric vehicles and a testing site for autonomous vehicles on campus. Off campus, MSU has embedded smart sensors on the Mackinac Bridge as part of a project developing the hardware that will allow autonomous vehicles to communicate with infrastructure and other cars. Faculty and student researchers are also using artificial intelligence to predict human and vehicular behavior in hopes of improving guidance systems for autonomous vehicles. 

On top of studying technological advancements, the university is taking a holistic approach to new mobility—tackling potential legal challenges, forecasting consumer behavior, and developing navigation apps that integrate ride-hailing, public transit, and a suite of other options.

Monday, November 12, 2018 in Ward's Auto

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Concrete Brutalism building with slanted walls and light visible through an atrium.

What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities

How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.

February 28, 2025 - Justin Hollander

Complete Street

‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge

Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.

February 27, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Green electric Volkswagen van against a beach backdrop.

The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan

Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.

March 3, 2025 - ABC 7 Eyewitness News

Blue train on coastal rail in Southern California.

SoCal Leaders Debate Moving Coastal Rail Line

Train tracks running along the Pacific Ocean are in danger from sea level rise, but residents are divided on how to fix the problem.

March 7 - The New York Times

Woman and two children sit on bench at public transit stop waiting for tram with stroller next to them.

Are Mobility Hubs Child-Friendly?

‘Mobility hubs’ aim to make urban travel easier by connecting travel modes. Adding more services could make them more accessible and useful to women and families.

March 7 - Streetsblog USA

Rendering of blue and white light rail train passing next to tree-shaded walkway with pedestrians in Austin, Texas.

Austin’s Project Connect Funding Safe for 2025

The light rail project is moving ahead with plans to finalize its environmental impact review by late 2025.

March 7 - Smart Cities Dive