N.C. A&T Unveils Cutting-Edge Smart Intersection Technology to Revolutionize Transportation Safety

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is once again proving why HBCUs lead in innovation and research excellence. The nation's largest HBCU has unveiled a groundbreaking Smart Intersection Test Facility that promises to transform how we think about transportation safety and traffic management.

Located at the intersection of East Market and Dudley streets in Greensboro, this outdoor laboratory represents a powerful collaboration between N.C. A&T, the City of Greensboro, and the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

"Creating knowledge that impacts and improves society is what we are about," said Chancellor James R. Martin II.

How It Works

The facility operates as a living laboratory where the technology can:

• Track vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians in real time
• Detect approaching emergency vehicles to support signal preemption
• Help autonomous vehicles safely navigate complex intersections
• Analyze traffic flow patterns and model crash risks
• Monitor pedestrian safety with advanced sensing

The project was developed in collaboration with industry partners Commsignia, Ouster, Smartmicro and BlueCity, showcasing how HBCUs create powerful partnerships that bridge academia and industry.

Training the Next Generation

Beyond the technology itself, this facility serves a crucial educational mission -- providing hands-on experience for the next generation of transportation engineers and researchers. Students get to work with cutting-edge technology in smart mobility systems, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, data science and connected vehicle technologies.

Transportation Secretary Daniel Johnson praised the partnership: "This facility reinforces our shared commitment to safety, innovation and preparing North Carolina for a connected and automated transportation future."

Greensboro Mayor Marikay Abuzuaiter emphasized the collaborative impact: "The partnership between the City of Greensboro and North Carolina A&T State University continues to demonstrate how collaboration between local government and higher education can drive innovation."

Looking Ahead

Future plans include expanded research partnerships and coordination with local law enforcement and emergency response agencies to improve incident response times across the region. The facility supports ongoing research through the Center for Regional and Rural Connected Communities and the North Carolina Center for Autonomous Vehicles.

Want to see the Smart Intersection in action? Check out the demonstration video at https://tinyurl.com/3kmsrvm6.

This achievement reinforces why North Carolina A&T continues to be recognized as one of the top 25 "Most Innovative" universities in America and the nation's leader in graduating African American students in engineering and STEM fields.