UA Traffic Congestion App Receives Patent

UA Technology that Incentivizes Commuters to Help Improve Traffic Congestion Receives Patent

Tucson, Ariz. – An invention created by University of Arizona Civil Engineering associate professor, Dr. Yi-Chang Chiu, has received a patent for the “Active traffic and demand management system(link is external)” he invented to increase the efficiency of existing transportation systems while at the same time easing traffic congestion. Dr. Chiu is also the founder of Metropia Inc(link is external)., a Tucson-based startup with roots in the University of Arizona and an exclusive license to the patent.

The patented technology involves a city-wide ecosystem connecting commuters, businesses, employers and governmental agencies to help drive improvements in metro mobility. An essential element in this ecosystem is Metropia’s mobile app, which gives commuters advanced traffic prediction and vehicle-routing technology so that they can make choices to help alleviate traffic by changing their traditional travel routes and times. Those who make smarter and safer travel decisions earn rewards that are provided by community and business partners in participating cities.

Dr. Chiu began working as a professor for the University of Arizona in 2006. The idea for incentivizing commuters to commute at different times to help balance traffic load on the system moved from definition of the initial problem and idea in 2011 to what is quickly becoming a key platform for an advanced urban traffic solution. Tech Launch Arizona, the UA unit dedicated to commercializing inventions born of UA research, was instrumental in helping to protect the intellectual property and guide the patent application to this recent successful outcome.

Chiu says that “[the] UA was the seed that was able to jumpstart the whole thing,” as his journey from associate professor to company founder and tech entrepreneur has all taken place while instructing and researching at the University (Arizona Daily Star). Chiu originally pitched his idea in May 2011 at Startup Tucson’s incubator event, Startup Weekend, winning second place. Building on this momentum and initial seed funding from various sponsors, the concept has quickly evolved into a thriving, innovative company with over 14 employees and offices in Austin, Texas, and New York City.

Chiu himself articulates the mission of Metropia Ecosystem as “a new way of thinking of how we manage our urban transportation in the future” – one which calls for all community stakeholders to contribute to tackling traffic congestion in our growing cities.

Doug Hockstad, director of technology transfer at the UA, says that this is the kind of impactful technology that has real potential to affect change. “Dealing with traffic is a huge pain point for our modern world,” he says. “Helping a great UA faculty member like Dr. Chiu to develop and commercialize this kind of technology is another example of how UA research is making its way out into the world and improving lives.”

The patent itself can be found at http://www.google.com/patents/US8744734(link is external).

The latest news on Metropia technology is posted on the Metropia blog at http://www.metropia.com/blog(link is external).