National Institute for Advanced Transportation Technology

Shaping tomorrow’s transportation leaders through cutting-edge research

The National Institute for Advanced Transportation Technology (NIATT) is a nationally recognized center for transportation research, innovation and education. Housed within the College of Engineering, NIATT brings together students, faculty and industry partners to address critical challenges ranging from sustainable transportation and autonomous vehicles to traffic operations, safety and infrastructure development. While much of NIATT’s work focuses on Idaho and the Pacific Northwest, our research and impact extend across the United States.

At NIATT, students engage in hands-on research that directly impacts the future of transportation. Working alongside experts and industry leaders, they gain the skills and experience to become innovators and leaders in the ever-evolving world of transportation. 

Leading the future of transportation

We believe transportation shapes how communities live, work and connect. Our mission is to develop practical and innovative engineering solutions (knowledge and technology) for current transportation problems in the state of Idaho, the Pacific Northwest and beyond while preparing students to lead the design, deployment and operation of tomorrow’s systems.

Our vision is to be a premier hub for transportation research, innovation and education, understanding the needs of rural and urban communities and redefining how people and goods move. 

Research priorities

At NIATT, we address real-world transportation challenges in both rural and urban communities. By working with agencies, tribal governments and regional partners, we deliver solutions that improve mobility, safety, energy systems and infrastructure while preparing future transportation leaders. From smarter traffic operations and safer roads to durable infrastructure and sustainable technologies, our research shapes best practices locally and globally.

Through partnerships with federal agencies, national research centers and international collaborators, we contribute to high-impact transportation research that informs global best practices:

• Using machine learning and AI to improve traffic flow and infrastructure management
• Promoting traffic safety through education and community engagement
• Supporting sustainable road construction with recycled materials and alternative aggregates
• Enhancing freight movement, trade flow and supply chain resilience
• Exploring public perceptions and adoption of emerging transportation technologies
• Analyzing and modeling data using AI, machine learning and transportation simulation tools
• Designing and testing energy systems for infrastructure and storage technologies
• Evaluating transportation systems using safety audits and mobility assessments

NIATT advances transportation science and engineering through applied research, field data collection, simulation modeling and technology development. 

Outreach in action

NIATT recently hosted the National Summer Transportation Institute (NSTI), a program funded and supported by the Federal Highway Administration and the Idaho Transportation Department. Local partners included the Port of Lewiston, the Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL), Moscow Safe Routes to School and J-U-B Engineers.

The outreach program gave middle school students a unique opportunity to explore transportation and engineering through hands-on activities, interactive field trips and presentations from guest speakers working in the field. More than just a summer learning experience, NSTI served as a powerful tool for outreach and awareness by connecting students, schools and community partners with the shared goal of building safer, more sustainable and more innovative transportation systems.

By engaging young learners from across Idaho, the program strengthened community connections, broadened access to STEM opportunities, and helped to inspire the next generation of transportation leaders.