Oxford, Miss. – The Center for Traveler Information at the University of Mississippi has selected several academic, governmental and industry leaders as members of its new advisory board. The board will provide guidance as the center, known as UM-CTI, moves forward with its education, research and technology transfer activities.

With funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation, the UM-CTI is addressing critical issues in research, development and transition-to-market of technologies that provide information to travelers. This information serves as a planning tool before and during travel, with an emphasis on the dissemination of geospatial data to both mobile devices and fixed locations.

Incoming UM-CTI advisory board members include:

• Tim Akers, city planner for the city of Oxford.
• Steve Davidson, manager of product development for Cellular South, the largest privately-held wireless provider in the U.S. He brings leadership in location-based services and smartphone application development.
• Joy Foy, director of asset development for the Mississippi Development Authority, the state economic development agency.
• Bobby King, program manager for the Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area who has conducted research and developed tourism impact information for Mississippi over the past 30 years. He is helping guide the development of a Mississippi Hills NHA traveler information program that, through a partnership with UM-CTI, includes geospatial data about the 30-county region in a downloadable Digital Trip Ticket.
• Michael Stokes, Intelligent Transportation System program manager for the Mississippi Department of Transportation.

• Michael Cribb, transportation engineer with the Federal Highway Administration - Mississippi Division.

• Dawn Wilkins, UM associate professor of computer science.

“I am really pleased with the experience and talent represented on the incoming UM-CTI board,” said Greg Easson, director of UM-CTI and professor of geology and geological engineering. “These members represent key stakeholder areas for the success of the center, including state and local government, the telecommunications industry, transit users, university research, the geospatial industry, tourism and transportation.”

 ##

The University of Mississippi Center for Traveler Information specializes in research, development and transition-to-market of technologies that provide information to the traveling public as a planning tool before and during their travels. The primary research goal of UM-CTI is to develop solutions that provide information to travelers to allow them to more effectively plan their travels, more effectively use public transportation, avoid potential safety hazards and safely reach their destinations. The center is supported by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of the Secretary, Grant No. DTOS59-10-G-00103. For more information, contact Greg Easson at 662-915-5995 or Email Contact.