Research

Areas of Interest

Dr. Chimba has interest in the following areas:

Highway Safety Analysis
Traffic Operations and Analysis, Simulation, Bicycle, and Pedestrian Studies
Application of Statistics in Transportation
Public /Transit Transportation
Traffic Demand Forecasting and Modeling
Transportation Emergency Management
Land Use Growth Management

RESEARCH GRANTS

Deo Chimba (TSU Site Director): Center for Healthy and Durable Transportation (CIDT), University Transportation Center (UTC). Funded by USDOT, 2023 to 2028. Amount $700,000.
Deo Chimba (PI): OPTIMA-FLEET: Optimization and Machine-learning Analytics for Freight Logistics Efficiency Leveraging Emerging Technologies. Funded by TNDEC/TNGO, 2025 to 2027. Amount $500,000.
Deo Chimba (PI): Optimizing Adaptive Intersection Signal Control System In Nashville Through AI Based on Digital Twin Modelling. Funded by TNDEC/TNGO, 2025 to 2026. Amount $125,000.
Deo Chimba (PI): Investigating the Capability of ESRI Roads and Highway Network. Funded by TDOT, 5/15/2024 to 05//31/2026. Amount $175,000.
Deo Chimba (PI): Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Program (DDETFP) Local Competition.. Funded by FHWA, 10/1/2020 to 3/31/2025. Amount $150,000.
Deo Chimba (PI): Estimate Annual Average Daily Truck Traffic on Tennessee Roadways without Permanent Count Stations. Funded by TDOT, 9/1/2024 to 03/31/2025. Amount $250,000.
Deo Chimba (PI): Transforming Last-Mile Logistics with AI-Driven Route Optimization and Dynamic Routing. Funded by Amazon, Inc., 9/1/2023 to 09/31/2024. Amount $80,000.
Deo Chimba (PI): P Advancing Railroad-Highway Grade Crossing Safety and Operations through Education, AI/ML, Simulation, and Statistical Modeling. Funded by Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), 9/1/2022 to 08/31/2026. Amount $500,000.
Deo Chimba (PI): University Technical Assistance Program (UTAP. Funded by TDOT, 9/1/2022 to 08/31/2027. Amount $1,000,000.
Deo Chimba (PI): Updated Median Cable Barrier System Safety Effectiveness Evaluation. Funded by TDOT, 8/1/2022 to 07/31/2024. Amount $162,000.
Deo Chimba (PI): Investigation into Towing Regulation in Tennessee. Funded by TDOT, 8/1/2022 to 01/31/2024. Amount $155,000.
Deo Chimba (PI): Transportation Resilient Under Catastrophic Events (TRUCE). Funded by DHS, 3/15/2021 to 9/30/2023. Amount $470,000.
Deo Chimba (PI): Comprehensive Analysis on the Conversion of the Existing HOV Lanes into HOT Lanes in Tennessee. Funded by TDOT, 9/1/2020 to 8/31/2022. Amount $205,000.
Deo Chimba (PI): Evaluating Freight Intermodal Connectors (FICs) in Tennessee. Funded by TDOT, 8/01/2016 to 02/01/2019. $214,935.
Deo Chimba (PI): Highway Safety Manual, Safety Performance Functions (SPF) & Roadway Calibration Factors. Research collaborating with UTK (lead), Funded by TDOT, 10/01/2015 to 03/31/2019. TSU portion $113,431.
Deo Chimba (PI): High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Detection System Testing. Funded by TDOT, 10/01/2015 to 03/31/2018. Amount $157,937.
Deo Chimba (PI): Evaluation of Transit Priority Treatments in Tennessee. Funded by the US Department of Transportation (USDOT), (UTC Consortium led by Western Michigan University, WMU), 09/01/2017 to 6/30/2019. Amount $64,205.
Deo Chimba (PI): Simulating the Impact of Traffic Calming Strategies. Funded by the US Department of Transportation (USDOT), (UTC Consortium led by Western Michigan University, WMU), 09/01/2017 to 6/30/2019. Amount $64,205.
Deo Chimba (PI): Impact of Access Management Practices to Pedestrian and Bicycle Operations. Funded by the US Department of Transportation (USDOT), (UTC Consortium led by Western Michigan University, WMU), 09/30/2016 to 12/31/2017. Amount $80,000.
Deo Chimba (PI): Impact of Access Management Practices to Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety. Funded by the US Department of Transportation (USDOT), (UTC Consortium led by Western Michigan University, WMU), 09/30/2015 to 03/31/2017. Amount $74,560.
Deo Chimba (PI): Development of Decision Support Tools to Assess Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety. Funded by the US Department of Transportation (USDOT), (UTC Consortium led by Western Michigan University, WMU), 07/01/2014 to 06/30/2016. Amount $89,028.
Deo Chimba (PI): Establishing Traffic Enforcement Performance Evaluation Standards for Tennessee. Funded by the Governors Highway Safety Office (GHSO), Sharmila Patel (Project Manager), 10/01/2014 to 9/30/ 2015. Amount $33,494.
Deo Chimba (PI): Guidance for Site Selection, Safety Effectiveness Evaluation, and Crash Modification Factors of Median Cable Barriers in Tennessee. Funded by TDOT, Brian Hurst (Project Manager), August 01, 2011 to July 31, 2018. Amount $105,000.
Deo Chimba (TSU-PI): Retrace Pavement Marking Retroreflectivity levels in Tennessee Highways. In Collaboration with University of Tennessee Chattanooga (UTC), Funded by TDOT, Jerry Hatcher (Project Manager), August 2013 to July 2018. TSU Portion $78,360.
Deo Chimba (PI): Statistical Assessment of the Impact of Disabled and Abandoned Vehicle Incidents on Tennessee Highways. Funded by TDOT, Gary Ogletree (Project Manager), 8/2011 to July 31, 2018. Amount $70,000.
Deo Chimba (PI): Statewide Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety Analysis and Safety Investment Policy. Funded by the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT), Jessica Wilson (Project Manager), August 01, 2011 to July 31, 2013. Amount $43,200.
Deo Chimba (PI): Safety Effectiveness Evaluation of the Cable Rail Systems in Tennessee—Phase 2. Funded by the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT), Steve Allen (Project Manager), 12/14/2011 to December 13, 2014. Amount $35,000.
Deo Chimba (PI): Safety Effectiveness Evaluation of the Cable Rail Systems in Tennessee—Phase 1. Funded by the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT), Steve Allen (Project Manager), 12/14/2010 to December 13, 2011. Amount $25,000.
Sachin Shetty (PI), Deo Chimba (Co-PI): HS-STEM for Undergraduates: Preparing Minority Scholars in Protection of Digital and Transportation Infrastructure through Vertical Integration of Concepts, Laboratory Experiences and Research Training. Funded by DHS, 2011 to 2015. Amount $500,000.

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D. Chimba