Clara Fang, the chair of the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Biomedical Engineering in the College of Engineering, Technology, and Architecture, has received a $217,000 research grant for a cutting-edge study from the Connecticut Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration on roundabouts.
Fang’s research will focus on some Connecticut roundabouts to explore how these designs might lower pollution levels and help improve air quality.
“Intersections are often hotspots for vehicle emissions due to the stop-and-go nature of traffic,” Fang explains. “Roundabouts, by promoting a more consistent speed, have the potential to reduce emissions of carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide, both of which are key pollutants in urban areas.”
Fang’s research team includes Song Wang, assistant professor in civil engineering, and two third-year undergraduate students, Kai Thammalath and Young Dinh.
In 2023, Fang was awarded a grant for a previous study using artificial intelligence to evaluate and predict infrastructure needs of Connecticut’s more than 5,000 bridges. That effort was spotlighted in the Hartford Courant and other news outlets.