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Center for Advanced Public Safety

The Center for Advanced Public Safety (CAPS) is an applied research center focused on the integration of technology into real-world problems that impact public safety and well-being. CAPS develops new technology for police officers, emergency medical units, and for government business units that support criminal justice, transportation, human services, vehicle tax registration, and collection and a host of related services.   With the provision of cutting edge technology that impacts lives in so many different ways, we engage in engineering and applied social/behavioral science research made possible by technology-produced substrate data.  To support this applied research, we also maintain a strong basic research stream in data analytics and the computing technology needed to support big data in society.

In The News: TV Meteorologist Gets Death Threats After Station Cuts Into Masters Coverage

April 16, 2019 - Weather.com - Center for Advanced Public Safety

An Atlanta meteorologist says she received death threats Sunday after her station cut into the Masters coverage to warn viewers of tornado threats … Dr. Laura Myers, director of the Center for Advanced Public Safety at the University of Alabama, can relate. “I’m a huge Masters fan and was watching Saturday”… Read more

Sources: Weather.com, PJ Media, ClickOrlando.com, NBC 10 (Roanoke, Virginia)

In The News: UA to receive $8 million grant to improve traffic control systems in West Alabama

March 30, 2019 - ABC 33/40 (Birmingham) - Center for Advanced Public Safety, Center for Advanced Vehicle Technologies, Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, University Transportation Center for Alabama

The University of Alabama is getting an $8 million grant to help improve traffic control systems in west Alabama. The money comes from the US Department of Transportation. It will be used to improve safety, reduce congestion, and help with local transportation systems. Read more

Sources: ABC 33/40 (Birmingham), NBC 13 (Birmingham), WAAY-ABC (Huntsville), Yellowhammer News, WVUA (Tuscaloosa), Travel Wire News, NBC 13 (Birmingham), Fox 6 (Birmingham), ABC 33/40 (Birmingham), CBS 42 (Birmingham), WAAY-ABC (Huntsville), Crimson White, Phone Week, Equipment World

UA Leading Transportation Project to Improve West Alabama Traffic

March 29, 2019 - Center for Advanced Public Safety, Center for Advanced Vehicle Technologies, Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, University Transportation Center for Alabama

In a partnership with federal, state and local agencies, The University of Alabama is leading a more than $16 million project to transform traffic operations in West Alabama and provide leading-edge research to address societal transportation needs. Read more

In The News: Alabama’s deadly tornado ripped through homes — and exposed vulnerabilities

March 17, 2019 - Washington Post - Center for Advanced Public Safety

Connie Moman thought these would be her last moments: huddling in her bedroom closet with her husband and her dog, feeling the wind rattle their double-wide trailer, listening to the towering trees in her yard splinter in the tornado’s grip … While praising the initiative, Laura Myers, director of the… Read more

Sources: Washington Post, Savannah Morning News (Georgia), Alton Telegraph (Illinois), San Francisco Gate, The Bryan Eagle (Texas), Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer (Kentucky)

In The News: Editorial: Every Alabama county needs 24/7 state trooper coverage

March 16, 2019 - Anniston Star - Center for Advanced Public Safety

In comments to Alabama Political Reporter, ALEA Secretary Hal Taylor has said his goal is to have 670 troopers patrolling the state’s roads and highways … And that’s still below the 1,000 troopers Alabama should employ based on its geographic size and population, according to data from the Center for… Read more

Sources: Anniston Star

In The News: CAPS research shows increase in crashes around Christmas

December 21, 2018 - WBAL-AM (Baltimore, Maryland) - Center for Advanced Public Safety

David Brown, University of Alabama professor, analyzed 10 years of crash data in Alabama and found that the six days around Christmas were particularly deadly with accident numbers that were 27 percent higher than New Year’s Eve, and on New Year’s Eve everybody’s drunk, so it must be super stressful to… Read more

Sources: WBAL-AM (Baltimore, Maryland)

In The News: Days leading up to Thanksgiving most dangerous, University of Alabama study finds

November 20, 2018 - Tuscaloosa News - Center for Advanced Public Safety

More than half of all vehicle crashes during the week of Thanksgiving last year occurred in the three days before the holiday, according to the annual study of state traffic data by University of Alabama researchers. In 2017, 1,400 auto crashes, or 53 percent of the wrecks for the week… Read more

Sources: Tuscaloosa News, NBC 13 (Birmingham), Montgomery Advertiser , ABC 33/40 (Birmingham)

In The News: Put down that cell phone! Alabama lawmakers are getting closer to passing hands-free driving laws.

October 23, 2018 - Bham Now - Center for Advanced Public Safety

Hey drivers! Put down that cell phone because Alabama is on the verge of passing hands-free driving laws in March 2019. Admit it, your cell phone is your best friend. At work, at home, at the store and in the car, your phone is always right there with you …… Read more

Sources: Bham Now, WBRC 6 (Birmingham)