West Lafayette, Indiana - An engineering professor from Purdue University spearheaded research partnership efforts for a new transportation safety laboratory in Shanghai, China.

Andrew Tarko, professor in the Lyles School of Civil Engineering and director of the Center for Road Safety, worked toward the creation of the Joint International Research Laboratory of Transportation Safety.

The laboratory is the result of two years of efforts between Purdue and Tongji University in Shanghai as well as other partners. It is intended to collaborate with international universities to deliver safety research to China’s transportation problems

“Purdue is highly regarded in China, and our involvement has helped our Chinese partners get attention and support from the Chinese regional and national governments,” Tarko said.

David Ayers, associate dean of Purdue International Programs, and Rao Govindaraju, head of the Lyles School of Civil Engineering, were among the officials who also worked to establish the partnership.

Although the partnership was announced recently during a ceremony in Shanghai, Tarko says several projects already are underway. Research at the new laboratory will focus on four topic areas: traffic behavior, road design, safety management and intelligent transportation systems.

Collaboration with universities like Purdue is intended to bring advanced research methods and experience to Tongji University while taking on the mounting task of improving road safety in China.

Tarko, international director of the research laboratory, says work at the lab will span across a number of problem points, including China’s growing motorization, road infrastructure and the presence of pedestrians. The intent is to identify sources of excessive risk and to advise effective countermeasures.

He hopes the new partnership will begin to reach across to other schools at Purdue.

“Transportation safety requires interdisciplinary research,” Tarko said.