David Levinson
David Levinson is an associate professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Minnesota. In 2005 he was awarded the CUTC-ARTBA New Faculty Member Award by the Council of University Transportation Centers. He recently completed the books Assessing the Benefits and Costs of ITS, co-edited with David Gillen (published by Kluwer), and The Transportation Experience, written with Bill Garrison (published by Oxford University Press). He also has authored the book Financing Transportation Networks, published by Edward Elgar. His current research focuses on understanding the process of network growth, evaluating transportation technology and policy, and modeling travel behavior. He was awarded a TEL grant. in 2003 to develop a model of network evolution for use in the classroom.
Teaching Activities
Interests
Levinson's teaching interests are in transportation policy and economics concerning the interaction of people, places, and networks, including network evolution and travel behavior.
University Courses
He has taught the following University of Minnesota courses:
- CE 3201: Introduction to Transportation Engineering;
- CE 5212: Transportation Policy, Planning, and Deployment;
- CE 5214: Transportation Systems Analysis;
- CE 8214: Transportation Economics; and
- PA 8202 Networks and Places: Transportation, Land Use, and Design.
Research Activities
Interests
Levinson's current research projects involve measuring regional accessibility, understanding the needs of the transportation disadvantaged, and studying how networks grow.
TEL Publications and Presentations
Chen, Wenling, and David Levinson. "Effectiveness of Learning Transportation Network Growth Through Simulation." ASCE Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice (in press).
Levinson, David, and Bhanu Yerra. "Self Organization of Surface Transportation Networks." Transportation Science (in press).
Zhang, Lei, and David Levinson. "An Agent-Based Travel Demand Model." Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board 1898 (2004): 28–38.
Fellowship Project
Development of Transportation Planning Model Software for Classroom Instruction
Teaching Challenge
Transportation planning is a major element of transportation engineering that addresses the location and design of new transportation facilities. In CE 3201: Introduction to Transportation Engineering, students have about four weeks to cover this topic, which is essential to the entire profession. Students need to learn the basic assumptions, models, and processes that are used in transportation planning without getting lost in details (which are quite important, but detract from key concepts). Currently, transportation planning tools include models that are very complicated and require a significant amount of time to learn to use, making them inappropriate for classroom use.
Technology Solution
Levinson plans to develop a classroom-appropriate tool that reveals key concepts without too much detail, essentially idealizing the problem of transportation planning and forecasting. He will develop a modern platform independent software package that is consistent with present understanding of travel behavior and that can be learned in a classroom setting in less than two class periods. The learning outcomes will be students' improved understanding of travel forecasting processes.
Consultation Areas
Levinson is able to consult with faculty member about the following educational technology topics:
- teaching with case studies;
- teaching with simulation models; and
- implementing active learning strategies.
Contact Information
- Office: CE 138
- Telephone: (612) 625-6354
- E-mail: levin031@umn.edu
